Fine Art by Deann

The Harding Art Show 2013

Deann — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:54:39 +0000

Just wanted to share a few pictures from The Harding Art Show, held every year here in Nashville, Tennessee. Marking the 38th year of Middle Tennessee’s premier art event, the 2013 show once again highlighted fine art available for purchase from approximately 70 artists from throughout the United States. This show always brings a fun crowd and we had a blast! I was once again invited to collaborate with the children of Harding Academy on an art project this year, and the finished painting went to the highest bidder. Thank you to Harding Academy, and to everyone who purchased a painting, whether you were a returning client or a new one. You helped make the show a HUGE success! Now it’s time for a little R & R.

The Tale of Two Artsy Mice

Deann — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:06:13 +0000

This is the tale of two artsy mice.

One mouse had a studio in the country where she painted the rural world around her, little churches, dirt roads, and windflowers in the soft, pale colors of clay and straw.

Then, one day, another artsy mouse came to work in her studio. This mouse was different, dressed in black ( as city mice often do ), she painted in the palette of the nearby city, the colors of concrete and clouds.

As they worked beside each other, their curiosity grew. The city mouse noticed the country mouse piled her paint on thick and gooey with a palette knife.

The country mouse admired the way the city mouse worked her canvases by brushing soft, translucent layers one on top of the other.

“Your style of painting is very much different from mine”, observed the country mouse, “yet I am very drawn to it.” The city mouse replied, “And you paint much differently than I, yet I can see the world your are painting. Your way of seeing makes me love this country life.”

Although their ways were different and each unique, the city mouse and country mouse became fast friends.

They shared their love of art over many mouse-sized cups of coffee in their little studio. And they continued to paint happily ever after.

By: Christina Baker, Lesley Frenz, & Deann Hebert

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In case you have missed it, I am participating in an online exhibition of my small works alongside fellow artist, Christina Baker, in a show entitled, “City Mouse, Country Mouse”. The show is running through the end of March, and is being hosted by Artsy Forager, with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Nashville Zoo, because of our shared love of animals. Several years ago, Christina moved to Tennessee from Florida, and we were both drawn to each other’s work though our techniques are very different from one another. The idea of us doing a cute little online show was born and now here we are! We could not have turned to a stronger supporter of the arts than Lesley Frenz, creator of the internationally acclaimed Artsy Forager blog. I am so honored to be associated with Lesley over at Artsy. At the time, Lesley was already making her own plans to open an online virtual gallery called “Found” so the timing of this event could not have been more perfect for all of us!

The show is sponsored by Gregg Irby Fine Art in Atlanta, the representing gallery of both my work and Christina’s work.

Since the opening of the show, we have received lots of tweets, facebook posts, and blog love! A huge thank you to the following:

If you haven’t checked out the show yet, now is a great time to do so! Just click here!

Love what you do. Do what you love.

Deann — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:53:14 +0000

Love what you do and do what you love, and I’m telling you, you will be a happier person. My “down” time, which usually happens in January, didn’t happen this year. Since Christmas things have been just as busy as ever, but I am doing what I love to do so it doesn’t seem like work. Well okay, sometimes it does, like when I’m burning the midnight oil getting ready for a show when I’d rather be at home catching up on Downton Abbey.

A few quick shots of some paintings before they went out the door at Trinity School’s Spotlight on Art…

Just finished another great show, The Art Event, hosted by David Lipscomb Campus School.
This show is always fun because it is a local show for me and I just love hanging out with all of my artist friends. I love this quick picture I shot of a mom and son enjoying the artwork…

More paintings delivered to Gregg Irby Fine Art in Atlanta…

Coming soon this month, I will be teaming up with fellow artist Christina Baker and participating in an online exhibition of small works that will be hosted by none other than Artsy Forager. It is truly an honor to be associated with such a respected force in the world of art. The show is also sponsored by Gregg Irby Fine Art in Atlanta and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Nashville Zoo. The show is entitled, “City Mouse, Country Mouse,” and is a parallel of the Aesop classic story, inspired by two artist friends (Christina and myself) whose styles and perspectives differ on our home here in Tennessee, but in the end, they are still two mice (artists) doing what they love. Here is a sneak peek at some of my smalls that will be for sale…

Are you doing what you love? Hope so.

2012, what a year!

Deann — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:24:17 +0000

As I close 2012 and reflect, I am thankful for another successful year. I set several goals for my business at the beginning of the year and I am proud to say I met every one of them. Business ventures this year included a new website, blog, new shows, traveling literally across the United States, new galleries, live wedding event painting, meeting the most fabulous people and, oh yeah-LOTS of paintings sold.

The question I get most from other artists is how do I manage a successful art business, while at the same time managing a busy household. Part of the answer is I have a wonderfully supportive husband and family who tolerate my crazy ideas and helps me to make it all work. (I am not going to say its all roses all the time, because yes I do have the occasional panic attack and, to use a southern word– hissy fit). So a huge thank you goes out to my supportive family and friends, without whom it just would not work.
I can’t wait too see what 2013 brings!

I wanted to share a few photos from my travels, studio, and shows this year.

Hotlanta, High Heels, & Holidays

Deann — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:51:37 +0000

Georgia on my mind these days!

Artwork and high heels…ahhh. What a perfect combo!

I am excited to announce that my artwork has been selected to the prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue Gallery display (in the shoe department!) at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta as part of Trinity School’s Spotlight on Art events, showcasing 23 of leading Southeastern artists and I am thrilled to be a part of it! If you live in the Atlanta area this is an absolute must. Tomorrow I will also be leading the children of Trinity in a collaborative art project and this is going to be so fun. I absolutely love working with the children, because, as I have said before, they are soooo creative and aren’t afraid to do something in art because they think it’s “right” or “wrong”. They just do it because it feels good to them. I love to see this spontaneous creativity from the little ones.

And speaking of Trinity’s Spotlight on Art, a little bit of history on this awesome show–since 1982, this show has introduced art lovers to new works by some of the Southeast’s greatest established and emerging artists. A community experience unlike any other, Spotlight on Art brings artists and art enthusiasts together with a full season of events, starting with the Saks Fifth Avenue Gallery in Buckhead.

I am also excited to announce my Atlanta representation, Gregg Irby Fine Art. What an honor to be represented by such a prestigious gallery. Gregg really knows how to market and represents emerging and established artists across the Southeast. It’s important for a visual artist to find the right “fit” in a gallery, and it’s definitely been a good one so far…

St. James Court Art Show

Deann — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:18:36 +0000

Every year, during the first weekend of October, I load up the trailer with my artwork and head to beautiful historic Old Louisville, to participate in the St. James Court Art Show.

Nestled among the nation’s largest collection of Victorian homes, the St. James Court Art Show ® was voted best art show in the nation in an annual survey of artists by the trade journal Sunshine Artist in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 & 2010, and I am proud and happy to be a part of it!!

Now a business tradition, this is one of my favorite art show weekends of the year! Although lots of hard work– setting up the tent, hauling and moving my old doors that I use for my display– it’s totally worth it. I love the people I meet and every year we stay at the beautiful DuPont Mansion Bed & Breakfast owned by Gayle & Herb Warren of Louisville. Here’s a few pics from the show this year…

More Live Event Paintings…

Deann — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:25:24 +0000

Wanted to share a few recent completed live event paintings. These events were so fun to be at, and paint the “party” scene as it was happening! Enjoy!

Doing what I am meant to do…

Deann — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:12:23 +0000

It’s been a while since I last posted, mostly due to the fact that the last part of the summer I was absolutely slammed with art camps, shows, getting my 5 year old ready for kindergarten, all while managing gallery inventory, creating new works for my fall 2012 collection, and trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep at night. whew.

It’s alot to manage. But somehow amidst the chaos of it all there is a calmness in my heart because I know that I am doing what I am meant to do with my life, and it’s a wonderful feeling. From as young as I can remember, I have always been an artist at heart. I remember sitting in my aunt Betty’s sunroom using watercolors for the first time, and that feeling of being the creator of something, and watching the painting come to life. But most of us love art as a child, then we grow up and move on. For me, creating remains a lifelong love. I never thought that I would actually be a painter one day and sell my artwork for thousands of dollars to collectors, or become a best-selling nationally published artist with prints available in retail locations coast to coast, or meet all of the wonderful people along the way. But it has happened. And I am grateful.

I have some exciting news on the horizon that I can’t reveal just yet, but will I wanted to share some pictures from Art Effects—a recent fundraiser for the Maury Regional Healthcare Foundation— that I had the honor of being Featured Artist, and also was voted People’s Choice artist! Over 450 people attended this year and it’s one of my all time favorites. I don’t know if it’s because of the small town atmosphere, the setting, (the show is held at the historic Memorial Building in beautiful downtown Columbia, TN), or just the people, but it’s definitely up there on the shows that I enjoy the most. Great people, great sales, great weekend.

Me at my booth this year at Art Effects

Country Roads take me home

Deann — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:01:54 +0000

Today I wanted to share a recent blog post that Lesley Frenz over at Artsy Forager did on my work. As a lifelong lover and student of the visual arts, Lesley created the blog, Artsy Forager, as a way to showcase some of the amazing artwork and artists that she meets both virtually and face to face every day. She captured the essence of my work and has quite a way with words. Thank you Lesley for such an awesome shout out, it is an honor to be featured on Artsy Forager!

I also wanted to share a few inspirational photos I took on a recent trip through the Tennessee countryside… as Lesley at Artsy quoted from John Denver, “Country Roads take me home“.

Couldn’t have said it better.

I absolutely loved this white fence…

The beauty of an old barn…

The elegance of a simple white country church… you KNOW they throw down some covered-dish suppers here. Am I invited?

“Every child is an artist”

Deann — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 23:44:10 +0000

As Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”. I couldn’t agree with this more. It’s July at the studio… and you know what that means?! Art Camp time! This year we are doing a country and western theme, “Cowgirls & Canvas”. I always enjoy working with kids, I think it’s because kids are so creative and truly think outside the box. They aren’t afraid of taking risks and being daring with their art. My style of teaching is just to loosen up and have fun, because when you aren’t worried about getting something “right” usually those are the times when the most creativity and magic happens. There is still still time to sign up your child if you think this is something they would enjoy. What makes my art camps so special is the fact that I meet each child where they are on their specific skill level from beginner to advanced.