The  door to the shows is almost open and we are getting up steam for the summer ahead. A few weeks ago I was sure we would have a broiling hot time under the tent, but considering the very, very cool, even cold weather at this moment, I wonder if we will really actually get to summer this year! We have to take a leap of faith to schedule all the shows on the horizon…

Here are two new paintings:

Amarillo Lovers “Armadillo Lovers” chronicles the love life of the ever evolving ‘dillo clan, those crazy-patterned, hard-shelled, Southwestern folks. Here, two lovers hold the ‘Impassioned’ position in the ‘Dillo book of favorite clutches. Their version of the ‘Dillo Kama Sutra.

Fiesta Wear “Fiesta Wear” is another bright, fat, full teapot reminiscent of the famous pottery by (almost) the same name. A jolly purveyor of good cheer in the form of (yum) hot tea with goodies.

May 20 will be our first show of the season, Wyoming, in Cincinnati.

Just today I got a call from our second show of the season, Cincinnati’s Summerfair; we plan to be there the first weekend, June 1-3.

June is definitely our busiest month, with Art by the Falls in Chagrin Falls near Cleveland, the weekend of June 9 and 10.

We hope to be in Shaker Heights ODC show the June 16 weekend, and Comfest here in Columbus, the final weekend of June.

While a few others have been confirmed, some are still pending for the remainder of the summer; stay tuned for more on the following months later.

For now, I hope to see you at one or more of these fine outdoor dhows. You can stop in the booth, say hi, and see the latest prints and some interesting originals as well.

Meanwhile painting in the studio has been slow for awhile. I am working to get my inspiration kick-started again by trying something a bit different; taking that leap of faith turns out to be many tiny leaps of faith in one direction, until a new idea can be moved from the back to the front burner.  I feel I am about to make that movement at last – I’ll let you know where it takes me so in the future front pages…

Hey! You’d never guess I like painting little checks! Well, I do get off on the  details and “Casserole” is no exception. A small tableau in a homely life.

Tabletops have been a passion of mine ever since school, where I drew whatever I could find, and the tabletop in my apartment was a prime candidate. I even got a cash award for one of them at University of Oklahoma at Norman.

I sometimes wonder what the new art building there looks like. The sophomores who call me every year say it’s incredible! Trouble is – I know it doesn’t look anything like the ancient architectural monstocity that contained our studio and classroom spaces back in the 60′s. I think going back after all these years might just muddy a lot of fond memories.

If you’re out there, Charles Ng, I’d love to get in touch! And anyone else who carrys a faint memory of life in Norman in the early 60′s, send an email to yours truly at judy@vierow.com. Same goes for everyone who visits this site, send me an email too!! Let’s have a party!

Guess I’m in a sentimental, goofy mood tonight. One thing about this web site, it makes me think about my life both past and present just to uncover content for a new front page. Life is a casserole, after all!

Sometimes as an artist I have to come up  with a statement, so I’ve been trying to decide just what is it that I do? – what are my paintings about? “I take what I find around me and I add the “odd” into the everyday. I mostly paint what is around me,  ordinary life -  and add to it color, weird shapes, unusual images, until it is transformed, off kilter, strange.”  I am not a folk artist though I feel like one and sometimes almost paint like one. I just hope you enjoy it. Here is a new selection of paintings from my 2012 collection:

Collection S&P Top of the list is “Collection: S & P”. Once again inspired by a friend’s collection  of salt and peppers. Not that her kitchen really looks like this; it doesn’t, but she does have a similar collection and it is in her kitchen – and all around her windows!

The Learning Tree “The Learning Tree” is a fancied spot in the imagination where all children come together for play and learning. Growing up in South Dakota I remember being part of a neighborhood “gang”. We threw snowballs together, read each other’s comics, rode our bikes to Saturday matinees. We were part of the local “tribe” and loved it. Inspired by competition for a library mural, when I did not get the job, I painted it small anyway.

Trio “Trio” relies on an old standby for me – chairs. Here are two chairs and a chest. Inspired by children’s chairs from Mexico, my ‘technique’ here is a little off-kilter, but the effect is the same: playful, colorful, chubby furniture just waiting for the nearest child to arrive. Even the chest is child height, just right for little hands to open all the drawers.