The Lake

Whipped cream topping?

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

The weekend after the July 4^th weekend has always seemed to me as the time that summer really sets in.   Around here it usually gets really hot and sometimes pretty humid. The days are kind of lazy and long.  A great time to sit back and enjoy the scenery of life.  

 

 

Let's Sit

Buy a print in my online gallery or in Paris Landing at T. F. Rice & Co.

 

 

There’s an old song by Nat King Cole that has always made me think of summers on Kentucky Lake.

“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

Just fill your basket full of sandwiches and weenies
Then lock the house up, now you're set.

….. You’ll wish that summer could always be here.”

-Words by Charles Tobias and music by Hans Carste

 

In The Works

In the works in my dining room studio. I gave up a long time ago on having a formal dining room and just turned it into my studio.    Unfortunately, folks who don't know me and come to my front door hardly ever get to see my finished art.  Instead, they see things like this.

And I know they must wonder about me.

Backing up doesn't help.  You just see more stuff "in the works."

Sometimes I hang unfinished work on the wall - to study it and decide what to do next.  I forget it's hanging there until I catch a visitor looking at it and wondering if I'm crazy.

This morning it's really deep in here and I need to stop and dig my way out.

Every now and then it looks a little neater.

I have to stop and clean out a spot to take a photo.

Of course this is just the table top where I work.  You did notice that I didn't show the rest of my "studio" didn't you? 

Bird Feeding and Petunias

Bird Feeding is a major activity here at Paris Landing. 

New Art

My latest works ...

"Mid Autumn"

Acrylic on 12"x12" gallery wrapped canvas.

Both of the above are available at Herron & Wills Co.

on court square in downtown Paris, Tennessee.

100 East Washington Street - 731-642-2494

 

They also have a few of my art prints and a couple of my "Paris" signs like this.

On 8"x24 gallery wrapped canvas.

 

Thank you for coming by!

 

 

Busy, Busy, Busy

 

 

If you haven't checked out my painting classes and the craft classes at T.F. Rice & Co. - you are really missing out on a lot of fun.   The "Margarita" class was a great success.

 

Last Thursday we played in the "Craft Room" and painted on canvas to make banners. 

 

 

Kathi made a banner with paint and buttons.

 

 

Sharon (a.k.a. Superwoman) mistook the banner as her cape.

 

Susan painting dragonflies.

 

The finished "Dragonfly" banner. 

 

Come Play With Us Every Other Thursday. 

Next Play Date- Thursday, June 20th.

 

Our last paint "Paris" class was a major success.  Everyone chose these panaromic canvases that are 8" x 24" and got REAL creative in their lettering.  I love that each canvas came out different.  Lot's of folks are afraid to do artwork with lettering but you would be surprised at how easy (and fun) this project is.  Click on "Painting Classes" at the top of the page for our other classes.

 

New Stuff at Merison's That's All About Paris

I have some new things at Merison's that I wanted to share with you. 
There are all about Paris, Tennessee.

I've taken some of my most popular (and personal favorites) from my "Windows On The Square" series and created a 16" x 20" collage.  It is printed on archival paper with a matte finish.  Ready to frame, no matting necessary.  Just pop it into a standard 16x20 poster frame.

 

The one above is shown in color with a light sepia overlay but it can also be ordered in black and white or full color as shown below.

 

 

Also ....

 

 

An entire alphabet created from photographs taken in Paris and Henry County. 

A great conversation piece.  You and your friends will have fun guessing where the photos were taken.  It is 16" x 20" and ready to frame.  It may also be ordered with a

black background as shown below.

 

 

 

And the pièce de résistance ...

 

"Paris" on 12" x 30" gallery wrapped canvas.

 

I paint these signs myself in acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas (no frame necessary).

No two are alike.  The letters are even different on each one as you can see below.

 

 

You can order them in whatever colors you like and they don't have to say "Paris."  I can paint your last name or your favorite inspiration word like "dream" or "laugh" - whatever you like. 

 

They come in different sizes:  large 10" x 30", medium 8"x24", small 6" x 12".

 

Questions?  Check with me or the folks at Merison's. 

 

 

 

 

On mornings like this -

On mornings like this ....

It's easy to think you might have the whole lake to your self.  And then the peace and quiet is broken when you catch this.

Thanks to John Peddy for the photos.

May Painting Classes

I just posted my schedule for painting classes at T.F. Rice & Co.  You can see it here or by clicking "Painting Classes" at the top of this blog. 

These classes are a lot of fun.  We provide everything you need - canvas, supplies and an instructor (me).  In about 2 hours or less you will have a painting ready to take home and hang on your wall.

Just look through the selection of paintings and contact Cindy Rice at T.F. Rice & Co. or 731-336-1290 to schedule.  Cindy can also set up a special date for you and a few friends (at least 3).

Hope to see you soon!

Little Thrills



Fitzhugh & McWherter

Today when I was checking in at my dentist’s office, I gave my name - Lee Owenby - and just as I was about to sit down in the waiting room when another patient ask, “Are you Lee Owenby - the artist?” I replied, yes and she proceeded to tell me had some of my artwork. Her latest acquisition was a print of “Fitzhugh & McWherter” she had purchased at T.F. Rice & Co. and she also had some of my jewelry made from recycled art paper. We had a brief, but wonderful conversation all about my artwork. I thanked her and told her how much I appreciated her and she left.

Hours later I still feel the afterglow. This has happened several times lately - strangers, upon hearing my name, recognize me as an artist. I just can’t explain the thrill this gives me. To think that someone was so impressed with my artwork that they actually remembered my name - well - it just makes me feel … wonderful!

Sailing In The Moonlight

My latest .....

Buy Prints or Notecards

 

Buy The Original

 

I'm having a lot of fun with these playful, whimsical paintings.

The inspiration for this one was the McWherter Bridge crossing over the

Tennessee River at Paris Landing.

 

What to paint next?  Trees or flowers?

 

 

 

 

 

Weather Report

We've had some very foggy mornings lately.

I promise ... there is a really big lake out there somewhere.

The sun trying to come through.  If you look close you can barely see a fisherman

right in the middle of this gorgeous ray of light.

Then .... all of a sudden -

The fogs lifts and you wonder where all those boats came from.

Painting Classes at T.F. Rice & Co.

I'm going to be teaching painting classes at T.F. Rice & Co.!!!!

I'm excited!  I know this will be fun!  So if you are going to be in my neighborhood - please join us.
Call Cindy at T.F. Rice & Co. for prices and more information.  Her number:  731-336-1290. Classes are $30 and include all supplies.

We are starting with Paris! at 6 pm on Thursday, April 11th.  There are 2 different color versions shown below.  I'll be teaching with the top one.  But you can use whatever colors you like.  We'll be painting on 16x20 gallery wrapped canvas - no frame necessary!

 

 

 

Saturday, April 13th at 10 am.  we'll be painting this adorable pair of

flip flops on a 12x12 square, gallery wrapped canvas.

 

 

Friday, April 19th at 6 pm ~ "When Life Gives You Limes"

on 16x20 gallery wrapped canvas.

 

 

 

Hope you'll join us!

 

 





Grand Spring Reopening!

This Friday, March 27th, T.F. Rice & Co., will be having their Grand Spring Reopening and I'm really excited. 

Located at 11620 Highway 79 North.  This is the "Lake" highway, about 4 miles from

Paris Landing State Park or 13 miles from the courtsquare in Paris, Tennessee.

This has become "The Place" in my little corner of the world for local artisans and crafts people to show their wares .... people like me. 

This is where you can see  ... in person .... my original paintings, my art prints and my hand-made jewelry.   You can get more details on their Facebook page but you really have to come see it all for yourself. 

Hope to see you there this weekend!
 

“Windows On The Square” Note Cards

I recently licensed Fine Art America to reproduce and market my artwork in a variety of formats. You can now purchase prints of my artwork online on a variety of archival papers, framed, or on canvas, or on note cards.

I really like their note cards. They are printed on good quality paper, you get to include an inside message of your choice, and they have my name on the back as the artist. You can order just one or a whole box full.

I just uploaded my “Windows On The Square” series (scenes of downtown Paris, Tennessee) and will be uploading more artwork in the weeks to come. This is a great way to show off Paris, Tennessee. 

I hope you’ll visit my page there at:  http://lee-owenby.artistwebsites.com/
 

It can also be accessed via my Facebook page for Artist Lee Owenby. Just click in the white and blue box that says “shop.”

In Paris, Tennessee my art is also available at T.F. Rice and Co. and Merison’s.

 

 

New Release's  exclusively at Merison's. 

My latest Happy Tree!

A new original ink drawing ...

Sunflower By A Full Moon

Ink

Approximate size 8"x 10"

Framed in an 11 x14 black frame with a white mat.

I also took a new framed print of one my favorite tinted ink drawings ...

Playtime

This is actually 4 pieces in one sparkling white mat in a 16x20 chrome frame.

My original ink drawing was in black.  I scanned it then tinted it in Photoshop.

 

 

Available at Merison's.
 

Winning Photos

Can't believe it's been so long since I posted here. I've been really busy and time has just flown by.

I did take a couple of hours this week to mat and frame some photos for the 21^st Annual Paris Henry County Arts Council Photo Showcase right down the road in Paris, Tennessee.

Sit A Bit
Honorable Mention

Elvis at the Paris City Auditorium
2nd Place Winner Computer Composition

Glad I took the time to enter.  Both of these are part of my "Windows On The Square" series about downtown Paris, Tennessee and can be purchses at Merison's or T. F. Rice & Co.  (See links in top right corner.

Dancin' In The Mist

I never get tired of this view.

"Dancin' In The Mist"

I'm On a Roll!

More Happy Trees!  I can't help myself!

 

Weather Report - January

Oh January!  This has to be my least favorite month on the Lake. 

Actually, I think it's my least favorite month anywhere.

It's really not bad for January.  It's 60 degrees, cloudy, and has been drizziling rain all day -

but ....

it's still beautiful!

Sometimes It's Hard ....

Sometimes it's hard to give up a piece of artwork. 

For several years now - well actually since about 2006 - most of my artwork has been photographic.  I do a lot of photo manipulations, artwork that starts out as a photograph which I digitally add to or subtract from, alter colors, add textures and finally create a dazzling piece of artwork - like this.


"Come Away"

And I love creating artwork like this.

But lately, I've started painting again.  I mean like really painting with a paint brush, watercolor or acrylic paints and paper or canvas.  And - it's different.  When you actually paint every little spot of color that you have mixed to just the right shade of blue or yellow or ... whatever, it becomes very personal.

So sometimes, once I've finished a painting, it's really hard to put the painting up for sale.

"Happy Trees at Twilight"

 

 But here it is.  "Happy Trees at Twilight" is on display and for sale at Merison's in Paris, Tennessee.  It's fairly large, 24" x 30", acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.  The sides of the canvas are about 1 1/2" deep and painted black.  No framing required.  Ready to hang.