Asheville, North Carolina mornings from the Blue Ridge Parkway-my happy place.

I have traveled several times to my birthplace recently to settle an estate, and have taken images worthy of adding to my December show at Sammy T's. It is much easier to take a photo than to actually design and paint a similar image, which I will focus on in August along with 4-6 portraits.

This month (July), Rob Grogan's Front Porch Magazine has an article "Paying It Forward" by Sandy Skipper and Sue Henderson that features my role as the signature artist in September 24-25 Via Colori in downtown Fredericksburg, VA. Via Colori is a street painting festival, free of charge, for 100 artists to recreate an image, either their own artwork or some other work of art. All ages, experience levels, and themes that are family-appropriate and without corporate logos are welcomed. Visit www.viacolori.com fredericksburg and sign up!! You will receive all materials, a master class, and the square of your ambition (4,6,or 10 foot) to create for 2 days. Also this month, I was interviewed by a friend and fellow figurative painter Bill Harris for Artscape a 30-minute segment at the Comcast station in Spotsylvania. Thank you, Comcast and Artscape, for highlighting Via Colori and my art. It will be aired August 22-28 several times a day (7:30,10:30am, 5:30,8:30pm).

Summer Fun, lots of .....
Clay Camps are going wonderfully at FA. Two full classes Monday-Wednesdays come into my clay room and wheel throw, slab-build, coil design, Fimo play, and Model Magic construct.
So far....Chinese terra cotta warriors with bas-relief faces attached to glazed tiles with a special slide presentation of Mr. Eckerson- who visited the real warriors this Spring!
Secret coil jars with treasures inside- Neon Cupcakes with removable tops
Fimo fun... Beads of faux turquoise, Mini masks with plenty of beads
Mexican Gente Del Sol Sunfaces in bright underglazes, plenty of pinch pots
Frogs and toads will appear this week around a newspaper ball that will burn out magically.

Dragons from around the world- stoneware clay. We are learning about the many types of dragons in different cultures.

Finally, full puppets of cloth, silk flowers, and fabric will materialize from our imaginations in the next 2 weeks.

In private classes at The Creative Side, Mondays 3:30-5pm:
Silk scarf painting this week
Fimo clock patterns attached to our art books, drawing challenges with monotones
Acrylic painting on hardboard, inspired by Roxbury Mills ponds right across the street. Field trip to the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC August 14
Please email if interested in signing up for Fall classes, Starting Sept.12th, 4:30-5:30pm monthly all materials included. Fondly, mirindamurals@hotmail.com