Summer in Colorado, Pikes Peak

I didn't realize that praying for rain would give us a flooded basement.  Oh, well, I guess I definitely got what I asked for!  Next year we may have a good laugh out of it, in the meantime, we got a dehumidifer!!  The sales clerks thought Dale was crazy when he asked for one.  "In THIS climate?" they said, looking at him like he was asking for a dinosauer!  After visiting almost every store in town, he finally found ONE, and only one, at our neighborhood Sears store.

If you are interested in watching my demo Wednesday night please come down to the Cocoa Gallery at 146 Oak Street in Fort Collins at 700 for the AANC meeting.  I will be demoing atmosphere and underpainting for pastel and oils.  Love to see you! 

Here's Lilli standing in front of Horsetooth Reservoir with the huge fire looming in the background.  This is only a mile or so from our house!  The worst, most scary fire I have ever seen and so close that we can smell every stick it seems that is burning.  We are so lucky that we are on the east side of that huge body of water!  Hundreds of houses have burned and many animals have perished.  We need rain so drastically, we're all doing the rain dance, but to no avail.  Our prayers are with all those fire fighters who are putting their lives on the line for all of us!

The last two weeks!!

From the Edge of the Swamp

My two paintings, From the Edge of the Swamp, as seen below and in the Roxburough Art Association, "Artists of Colorado Show" in the Madden Museum in  Greenwood Village, CO was chosen as a Sponsors Award for Sterling Ranch in Douglas County.  The Opening was yesterday and the show will be open the rest of June.

And my oil painting, Lower Chasm Falls, as seen here, was selected for First Place.  Also, the most exciting thing was that Lower Chasm Falls was chosen as the People's Choice Award at the AANC Celebration of Color Show in Fort Collins.  I feel that People's Choice is really a great honor.  Often a Judge's Award is while certainly informed, still just one person's opinion.  So I am one happy camper, as well as feeling very lucky.  My husband keeps asking me to buy a Lotto ticket!!

Lower Chasm Falls

Greeley National Show

Thisis one of my paintings selected for the Greeley National Show this June.  Opening is June 1, I have two other paintings in the show.  I'm so glad that they have resurrected their show again, it  was really missed.

My own Solo Show will be opening June 1 in Fort Collins in the Cocoa Gallery on Oak Street.  I have about 70 or more paintings showing in this venue (the same one the AANC National Show was in).  I am hoping a lot of my friends stop in, my friend Glenna is making great Scandinavian treats to go along with my paintings, and Norwegian and Swedish decorative Art.  I hope its a lot of fun for everyone.  My sister and step mother are going to be there, too! 

It's just amazing how much work I have created in the last 35 years!http://www.dianeedwardsart.com/

Master Signature Status

This has been quite the week.  Last Saturday the Pastel Society of Colorado approved my application for Master Pastel Signature Status!  What made me the happiest was that I had spent so much time in service to the Pastel Society as a board member, VP, workshop and publicity director and seven years as the Signature Chairman.  I had many points in entries and awards in National and International Shows and publications, 50 in all, which surprised me as the minimum for Master Pastelist is 12!!  Guess I could have done it sooner.

             From the Edge of the Swamp, 26 x 39.  Fountain Nature Preserve, Pastel
 This has been my goal for many years, along with my Master's degree and losing weight!!  Now I am thinking about new goals, but I will enjoy the ones I have achieved for awhile.
This week was also my birthday and I got a lot of greetings and cards and we went out to dinner at Canino's, a great Italian local restaurant.
This painting was chosen for the Artists of Colorado Show at the Madden Museum at Greenwood Village for the month of June.  The juror was well respected Master Pastelist, Doug Dawson, who has written best selling books on pastel, so that was really a thrill.

Paintings at Bath Nursery in Fort Collins

I was so thrilled last week end with the arrangement that Sarah from Jordan's Flowers made up for my painting showing at Bath Nursery.  She did an awesome job of interpreting it.