mandacdesigns: 2011

November 22, 2011

"Christmas at Captain White's"

Join me the day after Thanksgiving for the 24th Annual Holiday Gift Invitational 2011, "Christmas at Captain White's", at the Alamance County Arts Council Captain White House in Graham, NC (the big yellow building that looks like a dollhouse). There will be local artwork on display, including some of my own paintings and smaller mixed media work. The Holiday Gift Invitational opens Friday, November 25th at noon and will continue through January 7th. Regular hours are 9AM to 5PM at 213 S. Main St. Graham, NC 27253. Happy Holidays!

November 18, 2011

The Colors Are Changing

24"x18"

oil paint on canvas

November 8, 2011

Boys and their PINK socks

Congrats to the Northwest Cabarrus Middle Schoolers! I’m so glad to have been a part of the October “pink out” and help raise money for Breast Cancer awareness by drawing kids having a great time with friends as they came together for a great cause: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=968933587458&set=vb.171938866182284&type=2&theater

Someone once asked me with a great deal of frustration… “Why does everybody care so much about BREAST cancer?” I immediately thought to myself, “Why WOULDN’T everybody care about breast cancer? I realized then that this person wasn’t aware of anyone they knew having breast cancer, but had a loved one with another form of cancer. I, like so many others, have a history of breast cancer in my family, but like this person, I am affected by other cancers and life-threatening diseases that cannot be forgotten… and won’t with everyone’s support.

October 9, 2011

Peanuts, Pomegranates, and a Blue Ribbon!

I took a little road trip to see friends this weekend and am glad I got to spend time with this awesome pair at the Edenton Peanut Festival. They have great artistic talent and an eye for fashion and craft. Melanie was selling handmade feather hair accessories, cigar jewelry boxes, and pocketbooks while George showcased his painting skills. I set up some framed abstract mixed medias like the one below and got to hang out with some cute kids too!

Abstract 17

7"x5"

mixed media

The next day I headed home for the BAL Fine Arts Competition Opening Reception. I had entered three pieces and was excited to see the variety of artwork on display as well as see which would be receiving awards. I’ve been in juried shows before, but not an art "competition" so I was very excited to find out that I won 1^st place!

The artwork is on display for all of October and there is a lot of nice work… so stop in if you’re in the area!

October 7, 2011

A Simple Balloon

What a night. I twisted motorcycles and dogs and unicorns. I made monkeys and countless flowers and swords. Do you want to know what the most interesting request of the night was though? A little boy came over, waited very patiently in line, and then asked very politely and very seriously, “Can you make a white circle?” You were expecting something more complex right… I know I was. Your guess is as good as mine as to why he wanted a white circle; I thought to myself, oh no a perfect circle is so hard. Then I thought about Steve Jobs:

“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

October 1, 2011

28th Annual Regional BAL Fine Arts Competition

I have three paintings on display at the BAL Fine Arts Gallery in Holly Hill Mall and Business Center for the month of October. The opening reception will take place Sunday Oct. 9^th from 2-4PM. It is located just off I 40/85 Exit 141 on Huffman Mill Road. I hope to see you there!

September 29, 2011

Footsteps

The Newman Center entrance was once a cold and uninviting former garage… but I was able to change that with a little paint and fellow volunteers.

The Fuddy Fridge is Blue

After completing a painting inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, an amazing Expressionist Artist whose work I absolutely love, I was asked to lead a group of actors in painting the Fuddy Meers theatre set using his work as my inspiration. His work is geometric, abstract, expressive and bold. This is the resulting kitchen and basement, which went along with the energy and humor of the performance.

P.S. Sorry about the picture quality.

Supporting Sustainability

L Reid and I combined our artistic styles and vision to create an environment for shoppers at ECOteal, a student store on the UNCW campus. Here it is before all of the merchandise arrived:

September 28, 2011

Mixing Paint and Patience

Collaborative murals are fun; although it is challenging to share ideas and techniques to create a work that fits it’s surroundings like the Georgia O’Keefe inspired mural in the Cultural Arts Building entrance stairwell on UNC Wilmington’s campus. The 2007 Art Circle and our friends completed it one square at a time.

September 24, 2011

Don’t Blink

Sunset 1

24"x18"
oil paint on canvas

Sunset 2

24"x18"
oil paint on canvas

Sunset 3

24"x18"
oil paint on canvas

It is incredible how fast things can change before we realize it.

September 18, 2011

Dear fellow artists,

Especially Ryan, or Brian, or Bryan… sorry I can’t remember your name or even spell it but… you and your mom asked me a question about finding inspiration and deciding what to draw as an artist and I hope I helped, but if you’re still searching, like many artists do over and over again…

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -H. Thurman

An artist and friend of mine, L Reid, shared that quote with me and it is so true. I have felt more alive this past week than I have in a long time because I have been able to express a part of me that I have unintentionally kept hidden from people I have known for years and consider friends. So if something is important to you, share it with the world… it is important because it is a part of you.

Sincerely

September 17, 2011

When it rains, it pours… so I danced!

I won Best in Show!

I was just excited to be able to display my artwork in my hometown and at the Carousel Festival. I never thought I’d receive all of the accolades and support from other artists and vendors who have been doing festivals and shows for years. Their work is great… come see it for yourself tomorrow (1:00-6:00PM) if you haven’t already and thank you to everyone who came by number nine today! I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Oh, and I have to give a shout out to my parents, my dad especially, for helping construct and waterproof my display.

September 15, 2011

Come see me at the Carousel Festival!

Here’s a peek at the artwork I’ll be selling this weekend at the annual Carousel Festival at Burlington City Park. So if you’re in town or in the surrounding area, check it out and don't forget to stop by to see me!

Sat. 17^th 10:00AM-6:00PM Sun. 18th 1:00PM-6:00PM

Birth of Burlington
24"x30"
oil paint on canvas

Caboose
18"x24"
oil paint on canvas

Abstract 2
7"x5"
mixed media

http://www.ci.burlington.nc.us/index.aspx?NID=867

Navigator Room Renovation Project

Before

After

This was a collaborative mural/renovation project I worked on at the Alamance County Community YMCA. The middle school Navigator Program room was in need… so with the support of the YMCA, participation of the kids, a few other volunteers, and the collaboration between myself and Alex Stevens, we were able to create a fun, safe, and stimulating environment for kids! Our work in progress: