Waving Goodbye to 2015

'Mount Katahdin from Millinocket Camp' F.E. Church

Here is this year's school mural. 'Mount Katahdin from Millinocket Camp' by: Frederic Edwin Church. It's a peaceful mural, a good fit for the 2015-2016 school year.

We have snow! It finally arrived two days ago. I was getting used to the warmer weather and bare ground.

It looks like I am staying up to midnight on New Year's Eve... 40 minutes to go. May you have a great 2016. I wish you health, plenty of time to read and listen to good music, peace of mind, and an abundance of people to love. Cheers!

Moose and another Peacock

 Driving home from school... I saw a moose. I stopped, took a few pics, and then he ran across the road right in front of me. Pretty cool!

At school, we teachers made handprints for a 'Helping Hands' bulletin board. Here's mine:

I scanned the design prior to painting it.
I thought I could use it as a coloring page.

I turned this work into an art print in my Etsy shop. Click the hand to see.

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

I spent last weekend oil painting in a Plein Air session at Haystack, on Deer Isle. The occasion was the Maine Art Educators Association annual fall conference. Did I have fun? Did I charge my art teacher batteries? Assuredly, YES! Instructor Cooper Dragonette led us art teachers off campus to wonderful locations on Deer Isle, and the weather was perfect. As I basically have not used oils since art college (California College of the Arts), I was intrigued and grateful to work with Liquin - a miracle medium that dries oils within days. In fact, most of our work was fairly dry to the touch the next day. This annual conference is great. Teachers pulling 'all-nighters' in studios, just like the days in art school. Here are a few photos...

I'm looking forward to next year's conference!

Peacock Mittens in July

Snow~Day Artist Peacock Mittens

Peacock Mittens






Here is a modified version of my Chicken Mittens. Details can be found on Craftsy and Ravelry.

NBPTS Teaching and Learning Conference 2015

WWII Memorial

I attended the NBPTS Teaching and Learning Conference in Washington. This was five seriously busy and wonderful days in our nation's capitol. The workshops I attended were inspiring, informative, and thought provoking. It was great to get away and see so much while gathering information and ideas for all the ways I teach and promote visual arts.
Here are some of the more 'arty' photos I took. I saw: the White House (from outside the gate), Washington Monument, Vietnam Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, WWII Memorial, Ford's Theater, The National Portrait Gallery, The National Gallery of Art, The National Archives, The Capitol, and The Botanic Garden. All this sightseeing was in addition to the conference!

The Capitol Dome - during the restoration project

Library of Congress

At the Capitol, we got in to the Senate chamber and heard Senator Angus King speak. He spoke about a couple from Windsor, Maine who carve canes for veterans, for free. It was quite a coincidence to hear mention of Windsor, as this is where I teach! 

Orange Clivia and -30 degrees

I just inherited a lovely clivia. It decided to bloom right off. The orange blossoms have been a nice touch of hope and warmth in my studio.
I am doing the school yearbook this year. Not much time to paint right now.

I've photographed the clivia for a future painting.
These days the morning temps are below zero... well below... as in -30 below zero! I believe this is the coldest we've ever had.
I'll be heading to Washington next week for 5 days. I am attending the National Board for Professional Teaching Conference: Teaching and Learning 2015. I'm hoping to get a whole day in at the National Gallery of Art. I'm making a list of paintings and sculptures I must see! I can't wait to go!

Clivia shadow... looks like poetry!

ahhh... yet another Snow~Day

Monarch Life Cycle - art print by Genevieve Keller

In denial of this (yet ANOTHER) snowstorm, here is my latest print in my Etsy shop. It is -3 degrees right now at 4:00pm. I will dream of flying to Mexico as the Monarchs do. I recently heard that their numbers have increased this winter in their seasonal Mexican habitat. Yeah!

3rd Snow~Day this week! Cabin Fever Art Show

Genevieve Keller will be at Longfellow's Cabin Fever Art Show

On this, my 3rd Snow~Day of the week, I have been in my studio finishing up a couple of watercolor paintings. Yes, I started these paintings last summer... such is the life of a busy visual arts teacher!
I will have prints of these paintings in the Longfellow's Cabin Fever Art Show next weekend: February 7th & 8th. Hours are Saturday 10-4, and Sunday 10-3. I hope to see you in Manchester!

Now it's a DOUBLE Snow~Day!

Chicken Mittens - pattern in 6 sizes

2 Snow~Days in a row! How about some knitting? My Chicken mitten pattern is now available on Etsy and Ravelry. Happy knitting!

Snow~Day!

Catching up on life this blizzardy Snow Day. Here is a past due photo of my very first quit. I completed it on Christmas Eve. The quilt was made in secret, and became a wonderful holiday gift.

I think I'll go for more subtle colors when (and if) I make another quilt. Perhaps also a more 'refined' design as well.
Working at school made it easy to keep the project a secret, and the company of other teachers was wonderful.

Looking out my studio window into the blizzard.

Chicken Mittens!

Chicken Mittens by: Snow-Day Artist

My chicken mitten pattern is almost ready to fly. I have put many an hour into this pattern in order to create directions for 6 sizes. The sizes range from a Baby (thumb-less) up to Medium Size Adult (women's). I've knit these in various color ways to inspire possibilities. Cluck, Cluck!