Warm Holiday Greetings from Florida! 

I think there is nothing like a picture perfect chapel, nestled in the wilds of Florida, to bring the spirit of Christmas to life.  Hope you enjoy this newest addition to my Christmas chapel series.

Mary's Chapel

by CB Woodling, c. 2011

This historic chapel at Spanish Point in Osprey, Florida, was built in memory of Mary Sherrill, a young girl who came to Florida to recuperate at Webb's Winter Resort in 1892.  The current reconstructed chapel incorporates the original style, stained glass windows and bell from the 19th century chapel.  The history of the chapel and story of Mary Sherrill is nicely told in an article from the Sarasota County History Center at http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/stories/journals-of-yesteryear/historic-mary-s-chapel/

Historic Spanish Point is open to the public, and if you are in the area, you should definitely stop in and see this step back in history.  There are not only restored buildings from the time of Webb's Winter Resort, but also archeological digs which reveal information from Native American history in the region.  It's also a nice place to picnic on the water on warm, sunny Florida days.

Find out more at http://www.historicspanishpoint.org or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Spanish_Point.

Come See What Touch Drawing is all about

Some of my Touch Drawings will be on display at an upcoming Community Touch Drawing Exhibit, being held at Expressive Arts Florida in the Towles Court Art District in Sarasota, Florida.  The exhibit will open with an opening reception on Friday evening , November 18th and continue through December 16th.  If you are in the area, I hope you will stop by and see what Expressive Arts and Touch Drawing are all about.  Information is on the card above and additional information is on the Expressive Arts website  www.expressiveartsflorida.com.

Teton Majesties

Majesties

by CB Woodling

To my mind, the mountains of the Teton Range in Jackson Hole, Wyoming are among the most majestic mountains in the world.  Add in free roaming herds of American Bison across the golden plains, and you are transported back in time, to the land of the Native Americans, the land of cowboys singing about "a home where the buffalo roam", and a land which inspired the great song, America the Beautiful with her "spacious skies ... amber waves of grain ... (and) purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain".  So I hope you enjoy my newest painting of the American West. 

Dragonfly Art

Dragonflies are such magical creatures....irridescent and bright, yet you often don't see them unless you sit and watch quietly in their realm.  They are also symbols of rebirth, transformation, and renewal as they grow from colorless and flightless water bugs/nymphs into their bejeweled wings. 

Dragonfly by CB Woodling, 2011

 Nature Realm Dragonfly by CB Woodling, 2011

I recently heard a children's story, "Waterbugs and Dragonflies" by Doris Stickney which touched my heart ... if you are interested you can read the story at http://belovedhearts.com/stories/Doris-WaterbugsandDragonflies-632617144169637500.aspx

Wolf Creek Trading Co., Copley, Ohio

Washington County Barn by CB Woodling

Greetings from Beautiful Ohio.  A group of my original paintings  and prints are now available for purchase at a wonderful new find, Wolf Creek Trading Co. in Copley, Ohio.  They opened in November of last year  as "a unique consortium of like minded folks that want to share their hand-crafted quality artwork and cool finds with the public".   I am delighted to have my art on display  in their historic carriage house gallery building.  Examples of art on display are attached.   If you are in the area, you should definitely drop by and see all the unique, handcrafted items.  For directions and other information, visit them on their own blog at http://wolfcreektradingco.blogspot.com/

First Snow by CB Woodling

Toledo Harbor Lighthouse by CB Woodling

Shady Hollow Poppies by CB Woodling

Happy New Year

Happy 2011.  While I don't have any new paintings to post on my blog, I do have news about my art.

Thanks to a wonderful Salvation Army Benefit Art Tea, featuring 45 of my paintings and over a 100 prints, I was able to raise over $3,000 for the Salvation Army in late November.  I can't think of a better way for my art to "serve" others, especially during these times when we have so many more homeless families needing assistance. 

The tea was a great success and even got some press in the Sarasota Herald Tribune http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101124/ARTICLE/11241023
as well as the Siesta Key Pelican Press  http://www.pelicanpressonline.com/afterhours/112620409.html

One of my paintings was also recently selected for inclusion in the AGC 2011 desk calendar "52 Weeks, 52 Works" highlighting work of local Ohio artists.  My painting of the Cleveland Harbor Lighthouse is featured on page 116 for the week of Dec 4-10 2011. You can see the AGC calendar at http://visitagc.com/prophp/Main.php?MagID=3&MagNo=11

Of additional interest, that specific Cleveland Harbor Lighthouse was also featured in national and international news recently as it was covered with ice during high winds this winter.  See the article and picture of the ice encrusted lighthouse at  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1339132/Lighthouse-transformed-fairy-castle-encased-sparkling-ice.html

I hope you have a wonderful 2011, and may you see the beauty in your surroundings.  Cindy