Flowers and Art Prize

I have know idea what type of flower this was but painted it because I thought it was pretty. I say it in my friends yard so took a picture of it.

The news on Art Prize is as follows. My art will be placed at the Butterworth Hospital entrance with several other artist. I will not be with other Legacy Prize winners and this is very upsetting to me. I basically had a melt down last night about it. I don't know if I will have the support I had last year and this is freaking me out. My friend suggested we go to see the venue this week end to check it out. I am thinking about asking people to sit with me during the event but it is a lot of time and will probable be difficult for people to lend me the time for support. I will have to think about it. Thank goodness we have time to figure it out. I think asthma is triggered by anxiety.

Pfc Shane Michael Reifert

So any feedback. This is a long and tedious process. I am learning a lot about each young man and how he lived and died.

From: Cottrellville, Michigan Age: 23 Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died: November 6, 2010 Pfc Shane Michael Reifert

Fatal incident occurred in Kunar province, Afghanistan Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 6, 201 Gone but not forgotten. So any feedback. This is a long and tedious process. I am learning a lot about each young man and how he lived and died.

ArtPrize artists with disabilities: Words fail her, but art doesn't | MLive.com

ArtPrize artists with disabilities: Words fail her, but art doesn't MLive.com Here is a cool article on me and the other Two Legacy trust winners. It is in the Grand Rapids Press on Monday 10/4/2010. Enjoy. Sorry I have been to tired to blog for the last couple of days. This art prize stuff is really wearing me out.

Art Prize 2010 and the Beat goes on.

This is me and the two other artist that won the Legacy Trust Prize. Phil Seagal is first in the picture. He painted a lot of birds. He is quite and plays bird sounds that put me to sleep. I am in the middle. Lane Cooper is on the end. He did a real neat sculpture of the medical mile construction from a birds eye view. He is very funny and a lot of fun to be around. A lady prayed over me and Lane yesterday so we would be healed. I don't feel much different but Lanes wife said I just need to be patient. Another one of those patient challenges. Oh my god I think I will go nuts.

Yet Another Art Prize day

All in all it was a hectic day. Up early to babysit the kids and then home for a quick nap. I had these pictures with me all day to remind me why I'm doing all this. Willa is 3 and loved her doll house. We played with it this morning. Art Prize was not as busy as it was over the weekend. I was interviewed by the press who will take photo's tomorrow. Not bad for an old lady. I saw Tim Pierre and his wife and it was fun to see a familiar face. I was pretty punch drunk by the end of it all. Good night.

Ok. These are the six images for the art prize contest. 45 days until the contest begins. Then hopefully two weeks until I hit the winners circle. The Legacy foundation promices to get us a lot of publisity and I will truthfully be glad when it is over. I tend to get nervous in crowds but know this is a part of getting my name out there.

The sixth painting

This is the sixth and final painting in the Dance into manhood series. It will be on display for art prize at the Civic Theatre. I hope a lot of people get to see it this year as last year I was in a venue that was so far out no one came to see anything. Oh well that's life.

Fourth Art Prize Picture.

This is the fourth picture in the art prize series. This young man was so innocent and sincere looking. I admired his dedication and reverence. Again, this is a water color pencil painting on canvas. This picture took me approximately three days of non-stop painting. It filled me with serenity.

American Indian at 2010 Pow-wow

Well it was a very fun but hectic Day. The grand kids were over and we did non-stop swimming. I didn't get to paint until after dinner. It is more difficult starting so late and being tired on top of it. I have to stop the flow of the work because I just can't get to the right place in my head were the beauty is. I painted this guy about a month ago. I say him at the spring Pow-wow. He was very interesting to me. This is a water color pencil painting on Canvas.

Captain Jason and Captain Melisa

These two wonderful people took Nathan, Zack and I fishing for walleye. It was a present from Nathan. I never had so much fun in my life. They like the picture of themselves when I gave it to them for a present. Turns out Jason has the same birthday as I do. Another Gemini in this world. He is a very good fishing guide.

Daane Deboer

Daane Deboer was a 24 year old Marine who recently lost his live in Afghanistan. His father is my brothers boyhood friend. I painted this picture for the family in his memory. My heart goes out to his family and his friends.

Another Year of Art Prize

Well here we are in 2010 and Art Prize is getting close again. This year I won the Legacy Trust Award so I am receiving help with all the hard parts. I already have a venue, Civic Theatre in Center City. Maybe this year people will see my art. Last Year was discouraging because I don't think many people even new some of use were out there.

This year I have decided to go with a native American theme. It is a series of paintings of young American Male's dancing. I call it Dance Into Manhood. The regalia at the Pow-Wow was wonderful which I found my inspiration in.

The picture above is the first of six. I will write about the others another day. The flow of the regalia was wild. Painting this picture was also a flowing experience. It took me about three non-stop days. I then fell asleep for a full day. It was exhausting but fulfilling.

Awe and Wonder

I made it into The Art Prize Contest.  What a difficult Task.  There is a lot more politics than I thought there would be.

This is my picture.  I based it on the Wizard of Oz because that is what my life has felt like for the last 2 and 1/2 years.

Those who know me know that after surgery I thought I lost my brain.  I struggled with verbal  communication(aphasic).  It was a new world and a new life I was no longer in Kansas.

I  was afraid and angry and I withdrew into my art.  Here I found a hidden talent that I did not know I had.  I work with water color pencil on canvas and practice every day.  Although I have given away many more painting than I have ever sold I have faith that someday I will be able to earn a meager living at it and pass it on to my grandchildren.

Introductions

Biography of Photo and Water Color Pencil painting.

Elaine J. Hoogeboom was born on June 12, 1954. Elaine was born, grew up,
and has stayed in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She received a BA in 1982
form Aquinas College. She went on and obtained a Masters in Social work
in 1984. She worked successfully in the Social Work field for over 25 years.
Do to a childhood injury she struggled with increasing back pain which
inevitable lead to three successive back surgeries within four years. She
began taking pictures while participating in physical rehabilitation following
her first back surgery. Elaine would walk a minimum of two miles a day
always carrying a camera and taking shots of birds, flowers, butterflies and
anything that caught her fancy. She has had no formal training in
photography but seems to have a good eye for the focused beauty of nature.
She has been shooting pictures for the last 3 years but has never shown any
of her work.
Elaine began working with water color pencils about 2 years ago when her third back surgery left her with many hours of solitary time. The anaesthesia left her aphasic and she withdrew into art. After a year of speech therapy she is now beginning to show the world the gift she feels she has received for the adversity of the
complications of the last surgery. She has had no formal training in the art
field.

Elaine has developed a good support team including: Dee Ann Hands her
best friend and partner, Mike and Sue Callihan her art mentors, Julia Bomia
her speech therapist and Jamie Williams, Lori Holstege, Mike Ryan, and
Pamela Wright-Hatchet. These are the core people who believe in her and
have encouraged her to draw.