It's a bear

Some times life is just a bear. I can not understand why I stumble and trip when I think I am on a role. I try to meditate, stay on the straight and narrow and then something happens and I am off to the races. It is like rolling down a hill. Momentum begins to build and then boom it's over. I wake dazed an wonder were I am. Reality bites. I would rather paint. I am tired of dealing with reality. This is a 16 by 20 inch water color painting on canvas. Enjoy.

Old Habits Die Hard

This is a picture I painted for Sarah Miller of her and her husband Paul Miller. Paul was one of the Michigan Casualties in 2010. The picture that was in Art Prize was given to Paul's father. I have been trying to paint in reasonable time tables so that my body does not suffer from the over exhaustion of non-stop painting method that I have done in the past. In the past I would paint until the painting was done one or two days later and then I would just drop and sleep for a day or so. I have been practicing painting for 8 hour and then quitting so as not to overtax my body. This method takes much more discipline. Well needless to say I started painting this picture and could not stop painting. I found myself exhausted after two days with a finished picture. I know it isn't good for me but I do so enjoy the time I spend in this wordless place in my brain that loves to paint. It almost feels like an addiction.

Rest in peace.

A friend of mine asked me to paint this picture. The woman died in a motor cycle crash. Rest in peace lady. It is a 16" by 20" watercolor pencil painting on canvas.

Flowers a change of place.

United States 33

Thailand 5

Turkey 4

Ghana 2

Lithuania 2

Myanmar [Burma] 2

United Arab Emirates 1

Australia 1

Brazil

Germany

I find it interesting that this blog is being see by people in the above country's. Myanmar were is that. United Arab Emirates? I continue to see how out of touch I am with the world. Ghana? It sounds familiar but to point it out on a map would be beyond my knowledge base. I really must study more of life's places. Well people from all lands can appreciate flowers. Hope you like these.

Pfc Shane Michael Reifert The Swan.

This swan was done for Kitty Reifert. She doesn't know it yet but will receive it when she gets her picture of her son, Pfc Shane Reifert. I got the original Picture from her blog, Myfallensoldier.blogspot.com. I drew it in appreciation of her blog about her son. It is so well written. She says that her son's on line gaming name was swan. When she went to the zoo this year on the aniversery of the last time she was with her son at the zoo, this swan put on a show for her which she caught on her camera. So thank you Kitty your personal insights.

Legacy Trust Donates postage.

This young lady died about a year ago from cancer. A friend of hers had this picture painted for her cousin who was very close to her. It is a watercolor pencil painting on canvas.

Life goes on. The pictures for Art Prize are all packed up and ready to be mailed. I will take them down to the Legacy Trust building who have committed to paying the postage for me. Thank God. I did not know how I was going to come up with the money.

Silence and the hidden gift

I find it difficult to talk today. I just want the serenity I can find in my work of painting. I was watching TV the other day and saw this program. It described a man who had a concussion and suddenly could play the piano. It sounded like some of the same stuff I go through. With the headaches and the obsession to paint only he just does it with a piano. Check it out the link is below.

http://science.discovery.com/videos/ingenious-minds-derek-amato/

Just because Watercolor

Just because I like it. This watercolor is done with the tube type paint. As is tradition my worn out body is now sick after the stress of Art Prize. I will take a rest and then continue.

Art Prize the end

Well I ran the gantlet and finish the race. I slept almost all day. This afternoon I watch the Tigers lose the game and I started putting the Art Prize stuff away. I would like to get the portraits delivered. Maybe a few day trips will do it. I would like to see the colors. I fell the need to get away. We will see.

Art Prize one more day

Well there is one more day of art prize and I am ready for it to end. I find myself very exhausted. For the last four days I have been fighting Hives and inflammation from an allergic reaction to medication. I look quite puffy in this picture. One day and I can rest.

Art Prize 2011, Casualties

I feel honored to have painted the portraits of the 2010 Michigan Casualties in the war of Afghanistan and Iraq. I have bee an artist now for only four years and I know little about how the art world works. I paint to express my feelings about things. I was a social worker for over 25 years and I miss the career that let me help others and make change were change was possible. I have gained entrance into Art Prize for the last three years. My art is not big nor gaudy. My art is a simple statement about the projects I have taken on. Honoring these Casualties must not be mistaken for a cheap attempt to make some money. For me Art Prize is an opportunity for me to continue my expressions of concerns without the voice I once had to rely on. I do get frustrated with the lack of equal opportunity in this contest. I also realize that I was able to reach more people with Art prize than without it. These are my thoughts about this controversial subject that is so news worthy these days.

Sincerely,

Elaine Hoogeboom

Art Prize 2011 Causualties

I will be at Art Prize 2011 from 5:00 to 9:00 today. Come on down and pay your respect to " Our Boys." Watercolor pencil Paintings on Canvas. Hope to see you there.

Art Prize 2010

This is a picture of me and my display for Art Prize 2011. It was taken by Emily Hanson. Both the Hanson's and the Standfast's I am

hungry and the dinner smells Delicious. I am tired and my body is full. Good night all

Elaine

Mikies Minutes, Art Prize 2011

As I sit here at Art Prize I am reminded about Mikies Minutes. This is a fund raiser to get phone cards to the service men over seas. A mother came through and told me that her son who was oversea's recently called home. It cost him two hundred dollars. What an outrage. How many 20 year old boys spend 200 to call there parents. This should be free. Well it is not so this get involved and go to: www.MikiesMinutes.com and donate some money for phone cards for these guy and gals overseas. Mike's parents are working very hard for this cause. Think about helping this cause.