Painting Show for Farrah Brings Life to a Book Signing

Evening of the Dragonfly Book Signing and Art Show

Having a book signing to go with my painting show for Farrah Ferand, the artist heroine of Evening of the Dragonfly, creates lots of possibilities for talking with readers. Book signings are all too often awkward affairs. The art show is fun and came about as an idea for the A to Z Blog Challenge. The paintings helped me, as the author, get to know Farrah much better than I did while writing her story.

The art show for my character makes me wonder about other unique ways to promote books. What is the profession of the hero or heroine? Or what hobby is important to a character to the book?

Thinking outside the box can produce a flurry of ideas for authors who struggle with book signings. Being your character and dressing the part is still one of the most fun things I've seen authors do.

"Looking at Farrah's Art Show" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Thanks to Arts Alive in West Point for the opportunity for Farrah's Art Show which will hang in the Art Center until October 13.




Fractal Art

For the past few weeks, my life has been consumed with art. At the Crossroads Art Center Open House last week, I was delighted to discover an artist showing across from me who is using fractal art in his creations. I have long loved fractals and used many of those images to inspire my elementary school art students. Mike Turner is putting his fractal images on metal which gives them a beautiful shiny look and depth. He also has printed some of his work on fabric, and his sister has created an array of beautiful neckties from the material. What a great idea!

"Lines in the Desert" Encaustic ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Lines in the Desert", my small encaustic painting, was inspired by a petite section of a fractal image. Other pieces of my art work are related to some of the fractals I've seen. 

I'm delighted to have discovered Mike Turner's work. 

Painting Like Georgia at Hilton Head and More

"Painting Like Georgia, the Last Day" - some participants with work they produced ©MMSikes

"Cookout at Island Club" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Even without ideal weather, a week on Hilton Head Island can be special. The rain wiped out the tennis welcome event as well as the pro exhibition. But my "Painting Like Georgia" workshop at the Art Academy went well, and I loved being with the artists there. Our daughter flew her Mooney into the Hilton Head Airport; my sister and brother-in-law visited; and I discovered the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. It was a fun week.

"Getting Ready for Flight" ©Mary Montague Sikes

 Have you ever returned home from a trip and wished you could have spent more time with each of the activities?

That's how I feel. I wish the artist workshop I taught had gone on for longer than three days.

"Art Gallery at Coastal Discovery Museum" ©MMSikes

"Spanish Moss at the Coastal Discovery Museum" ©Mary Montague Sikes

   

 

Finishing Up August and Needing to Travel

Sunrise Clouds over Key West ©Mary Montague Sikes

Last week, we spent a few days in Key West FL which seemed a fitting way to finish up the month of August and bring about the end of summer. There is something poetic about traveling by air along the coast of Florida and then over water along the Keys. So much is visible from the skies, and, of course, I have long been fascinated by the magnificent views of clouds from the window of a plane.

Several years ago, we flew into Miami, then rented a car to drive along the Overseas Highway to Key West. What a fabulous journey that was. Along the way, we enjoyed a magical, tropical passage. The flight from Miami to Key West is much faster--only a few minutes.

Both the highway and the air provide unforgettable memories for reaching the southernmost point of the continental USA. For the traveler with only a few days, air travel is best. But for those with time to spare, the

Key West near Sunset Point ©Mary Montague Sikes

Overseas Highway is an unique experience.

Leaving Miami ©Mary Montague Sikes

Approaching Key West ©Mary Montague Sikes

Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg Celebrates 300 Years

When I looked over the Virginia Gazette Daily News Release this morning, I noticed a link to photos in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Bruton Parish Church. How amazing. In our part of the world, a building with a history of 300 years is quite unusual.

Then I remembered that the iconic Williamsburg landmark which has been photographed and painted thousands of times is part of my "Snapshot in Time" book about the Williamsburg Inn. For these little books, I like to focus on a few side trips that make visits to these old hotels memorable. Bruton Parish Church is one of those focus stories.

Here are two brief segments from my book:

When local residents consider the dramatic stories of Colonial Williamsburg, Bruton Parish Church is one of the buildings that usually comes to mind. In continuous use since 1715, the salmon-colored brick structure is among the most historic buildings that line the streets of Colonial Williamsburg today. The current building is the third of a series of "houses of worship" dating back to 1660. The first structure at Middle Plantation (the name for Williamsburg before it was incorporated in 1669) was most likely built of wood.

Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, and Patrick Henry were among the men of the Revolutionary War who attended Bruton Parish Church. During the Battle of Yorktown, the church was used as a hospital or a storehouse, possibly both.  

"Bruton Parish Church" ©Mary Montague Sikes

I enjoy living close to Williamsburg where history thrives in the restoration area. Taking a stroll down Duke of Gloucester Street and heading down side streets never gets old. How fortunate Bruton Parish Church,  Williamsburg icon has survived for 300 years.

Bryce Canyon - A Picnic for the Photographer's Eye

"Pink Cliffs Rising" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Bryce Canyon is a truly exotic destination. The glowing pinnacles rise up from the canyon providing a picnic for the photographer's eye. When viewed from atop the rim, the scene becomes a wonderland of magic.

Our daughter arranged (a year in advance) for us to stay at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon, and it was a wonderful choice. The original building, designed in the 1920s by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, has been restored and is a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The furnishings in the lobby were commissioned to replicate the original hickory furniture. The food in the Lodge dining room was good but pricier than that at Zion Lodge. However, it was convenient to be able to dine at facilities near the rim of the canyon. A guide book says visitors can see 60 million years of geologic history in the amazing formations. We were impressed with the wide walkway that edges the canyon with benches along the Rim Trail. However, there were no guardrails.

"Lodge at Bryce Canyon Lobby" ©Mary Montague Sikes

We used the shuttle to go to several of the lookouts. The elevation at Bryce is well over 8000 feet. At the nearby Agua Canyon overlook, it is 8800 feet. Since this is double the altitude at Zion, we never quite
adjusted during the shorter stay at Bryce.    

As I look at my notes and photographs, I'm already longing to return to the Utah National Parks. There are so many things we did not visit or get to see. It is truly the place for photographers, both amateur and professional.

"Natural Bridge" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Agua Canyon Sign" ©Mary Montague Sikes