Red Forest with India Ink

Red Forest
India Ink on Mixed Media Paper
7" x 7"
by Cheryl Harris White

I really loved allowing gravity to actually do the painting of these trees.  They look so firmly planted to the ground as if they actually fell from the sky into their spots instead of sprouting from the ground.  

Love, Joy, Live, Laugh, Hope, Wish

Six more hymnal mixed media art pieces, each one is 8" x 10".

These happy reminders brightened my day and serve as reminders of to be truly thankful for each and every moment.  These are the things in life that really matter.  

Heralds of Spring

  Torn pages from an old damaged hymnal and paper scraps are worked into these small 5"x5" whimsical mixed media pieces.  A happy color palate of pinks and purples heralds the arrival of spring.  

Singing Tree - Living Fully Engaged One Moment At A Time

As a kid, I spent many summers at Camp Rocky Point on Lake Texoma.  One of my favorite activities was after lunch each day, when we went to "Singing Tree."  There were benches to sit on like aisles in a church, and trees all around us and above us. The branches were so thick, it was like a "living" room  of leaves forming shimmering green  walls and a ceiling.   As we sang,  I thought about the beautiful nature around me and felt God there in our presence.  I was not home sick, felt no worry and no anxiety...just peace and joy.  The beauty around me just soaked into my soul and I was living in the moment.

As and adult, living in the moment becomes more of a challenge.  I must choose daily to NOT live in the past;  to NOT live in the future; but to live fully engaged in the here and now. Some of us lean naturally toward living in the past.  Having left our hearts behind somewhere between memories and losses, we can easily become blind to the missed opportunities for connection with the living hearts close by right now, in the present.  Others of us tend to skip ahead to the future; planning for it goes too far, to the point that we fall into habits of manipulation and control, trampling over the present on the path to what will be. 

This recently completed piece is called "Singing Tree"  and it inspires me to be different.  It helps me to remember that I am made to sing, to create art, to appreciate nature, to consider God and invest into His most beautiful creation, people.  I can still sing a song,  by simply listening to the music in the hearts of others.  I can paint a work of art, by engaging deeply with people one true moment at a time.  I can see God, by carving out time to appreciate His creation and it's beauty.  When I look at this tree, it compels me to stop crying, stop talking, stop worrying, stop managing, but to just be quiet and to give others the freedom to be with me in the moment.  This piece inspires me to rest, to listen, to accept, to trust and to live, completely engaged in the here and now moments of life.  Join me.

Singing Tree
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
24" x 36"
$300.00

FOODIE Opening show

Tonight was a great opening for the Foodie show at the MCL GRAND in Lewisville.  Art was created for the Visual Art League calendar, each month highlighting an area restaurant. Sponsors of the opening reception included Bisteca, Good Times Cajon Cuisine & Square One Cafe.  The show is still up through January 17th. My hamburger painting was selected for July in the calendar and they are sold out! 

Lolly pop art for The Ronald McDonald House

These fun whimsical lolly pops were just part of the Tolyland exhibit at the MCL Grand in Lewisville and will be donated to the Ronald a McDonald House.

Lone Star Holiday SOLD! to the highest bidder!

Lone Star Holiday
5 feet diameter
SOLD $625.00

Judge Becky Kerbow and Commissioner Bobbie J. Mitchell placed the winning $625 bid for the 5-foot wreath titled “Lone Star Holiday”.  The wreath will be displayed at the Lewisville Government Center where Judge Kerbow and Commissioner Mitchell’s departments are located.

  It was an honor to reoresent CoServ and participate in the Highland Village Wreath Auction and Tea raising funds for counceling services for area youth.  

Mouth Watering Hamburger Painting Selected for the VAL 2015 Calendar Sponsored by local Lewisville Area Restaraunts

VAL has 2015 calendars for sale for $15.  The calendars feature paintings depicting dishes available at th local restaurants listed below.  My mouth watering Hamburger Painting is the July entry.  Please support these establishments and purchase a calendar.  Proceeds support arts education.

We thank those sponsoring businesses: Christina’s, Good Times Cajun Cuisine, Square One Cafe, Johnny G’s, Mama” Daughter’s Diner, Village Grill Restaurant & Catering, Pho 7 Vietnamese Restaurant, Salerno’s Italian Restaurant, Bistecca and Italian Steakhouse, New China, Starwood Cafe, Tacos Regio Monterrey, Certa Pro Painters, Carmen’s Magic Touch Hair Salon, Premier Gallery.

Hamburger
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
18" x 18"
$75.00

Burger Paint

You can go to the Blick Art Materials Facebook page to vote. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/26-Ridgewell-Ln-Bella-Vista-AR-72715/70674525_zpid/

This is my entry for their Good Enough To Eat Contest.  I call it "Burger Paint"

Girl In Red Dress on La Rambla

I went to Spain once.  I loved the culture, the people and the paella! I came back with a paella pan, which is awesome by the way, and a lot of photos. My husband and I soaked in a lot of culture, art, architecture and history while we were  there, but my favorite days were when we walked down La Rambla.  The leaves on the trees danced with the pale blue sky and their shadows on the patterned walk way below and washed everything in shady, sparkling, dappled light.  My favorite spot for people watching and my inspiration for the oil painting posted here; Girl In Red Dress on La Rambla

Girl In Red Dress on La Rambla by Cheryl Harris White

Oil on canvas

24" X 36"
$300.00

Trees Of The Field

This is a new piece done with India ink. I loved how the trees look like they are singing joyfully. They are all lined up, as if they are playing follow the leader and dancing. As I was working on this, a song I haven't sung since I was a teen at First United Methodist Church of Carrollton kept running through my memory.  It was called TREES OF THE FIELD and here is just 1 verse of the Lyrics..

You shall go out with joy

And be let forth with peace,

And the mountains and the hills

Will break forth before you

There'll be shouts of joy

And all the trees of the fields

Will clap, will clap their hands

Trees Of The Field
by Cheryl Harris White
India Ink on Canvas Paper, Framed
12" x 48"
$250.00

Paint On My Walls ROCKED the CHALK FEST in LEWISVILLE!

Paint On My Walls ROCKED the Art Festival yesterday at CHALK FEST in Lewisville! I felt so blessed to be able to share my art with people yesterday.   I sold so much art, I had to ask my daughter to bring more up from my studio at home.  Earning money from my own creativity felt good, but what I most enjoyed from the day was connecting with the people.  People are sooooo interesting.  I truly enjoyed visiting with each and every person that I met in my booth yesterday.  It's so amazing what people will tell you if you just ask a question or two and start to listen.  I had a lot of people tell my my work was beautiful, but nothing compares to the beauty I saw inside the people of LEWISIVLLE, TEXAS!   Sharing my passion for color, light and life with them was an honor.  A big thank you to The Colony and the The City of Lewisville for partnering together to throw this event.  Great job everyone!  I loved it and I will be back! 

And now for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!  The winner of the Dripping Autumn Painting Raffle was The Wells Family!  Such a pleasure to meet them today in my studio and award them their new painting.  

Come see me at Chalk This Way In LEWISVILLE

9 AM to 6 PM Saturday in Old Town Lewisville between church and main st. Paint On My Walls art work for sale! Cards and crosses + lolly pop art + oil + acylic + mixed media + many items under $10.00 + Dripping Autumn painting raffle!

Two Tall Mosaic Birch Paintings Ready for Chalk This Way

 I finished these two Oil paintings just in time for the Chalk This Way Art Festival coming up this weekend.  I used a lot of thick oil paint applied with a palate knife in a mosaic pattern.  They are very large; each one about 8 square feet and they look amazing on my red entry way wall.   Almost too amazing to part with.   Come see me in the tent at Chalk This Way in Lewisville to see these up close in person. The festival hours are from 9AM to 6PM. Location is around MCL Grand and Lewisville City Hall, at Church and Charles Streets, Lewisville, TX 75057.

Tall Mosaic Birch I                  Tall Mosaic Birch II

Oil on Canvas                           Oil on Canvas

24" x 48"  $400.00                                 24" x 48" $400.00

Paint On My Walls new blog header

I have been experimenting with a lot more collage elements in my work lately.  So, I thought this would be a fitting new header for my blog.  Most of the letters are made of actual photos of my paintings, and the tree trunks and grass are from paper scraps.  The trees are done with layers of ink and acrylic paint applied with a sea sponge.  I love taking old photos or paper scraps that would have normally been thrown away and using that as a foundation in art work.  It just seems to be a great way to make something beautiful even more meaningful and adds story behind the work.  

New blog header for Paint On My Walls!
Mother's Day 2014

I have tried several different mixed media adhesives so far and the one I like the best is Aleene's Matt decoupage.  It is much less sticky than regular mixed media adhesive and easier to manage.  When it is dry it creates a good surface to add more layers of paint or ink on top.

Also; I am getting ready for an art festival next weekend.  Chalk This Way takes place at Lewisville City Call and MCL Grand area, 100 North Charles, Lewisville, TX 75057.  To find my booth, just look for the Paint On My Walls sign above.

New York City Collage

This one was for my daughter Courtney.  She has been to New York several times and LOVES Broadway.  Some of the scraps from theater flyers and maps from her trips were used in this collage as well as magazine articles and paper scraps.  Combining them with the paint really captures the excitement of the city.  More like this to come. Enjoy!

New York City
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
24" x 36"

Four Square Birch Oil Paintings

These 4 oil paintings remind me of confetti.  The trees seem happy to me, like they are having a party in the woods to celebrate the coming of spring.

Oil on canvas board
Framed in Black
8"x8" each
$40.00 each

Top Left  is Square Birch I,
Top Right is Square Birch II,
Bottom Left is Square Birch III,
Bottom Right is Square Birch IV,

Spontaneous II - Three Artist Show at MCL Grand in Lewisville throughout May, 2014

Left to Right:  Myself, Cheryl Harris White,  Scott Kilgore, Vanessa Lee
Spontaneous II Artists

“Spontaneous II” by the Visual Art League of Lewisville
April 19 – May 24
A collaboration of the member artists of the Visual Art League of Lewisville will be on display in the North Wing Gallery of the MCL Grand from Saturday, April 19 – Saturday, May 24.  The exhibit will feature art work from Cheryl White, Vanessa Lee White and Scott A. Kilgore.  Cheryl White is a versatile artist who uses acrylic, oil, mixed media and collage. Vanessa Lee White is a photographer working in abstract and sculptural photography and Scott A. Kilgore is a photographer with an eclectic mix of photography from nature to sports cars. For more information on the Visual Art League of Lewisville visit VisualArtLeague.org.
Photo credit: Vanessa Lee White, Cheryl White, Scott A. Kilgore

Spontaneous Trees I and II on display now at the MCL Grand in Lewisville

Theses two bright square paintings were a successful experiment I did with india inks. The tree shapes and blue background were done by covering the canvas with water and india inks and allowing them to become whatever shapes they wanted.  After it was dry, I saw trees... and developed their forms with acrylic paint.  I like the abstract look of the branches and trunks in front of the tree shape instead of up inside the trees, partially hidden.  They are the star of the show.  These are currently on display in the the north wind of the MCL Grand in Lewisville.  Enjoy!

Spontaneous Trees II
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic and India Ink
20" x 20"
$150.00

Spontaneous Trees I
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic and India Ink
20" x 20"
$150.00

First Place Asel Award Winner

I was honored to win recognition for one of my Posey paintings this month at the Visual Art League of Lewisville Monthly Meeting.   It is a group of such talented and varied artists whom I have had the privilege of learning and working with.  Many of them have realized amazing artistic achievements and I just LOVE the inspiration that comes from coversations I have had with each of them.  

This piece was done with acrylic and collage.  I actually tore up a hymn book for some of the flowers and glued them to the surface with mixed media adhesive.  I really liked how the old hymnal pages soaked up the paint.  

This was a mixed media technique I actually learned from Misty Oliver's Art Journaling workshop and I just tried applying it on a canvas board on a whim.  It turned out beautifully.

This painting along with 10 others are currently on display in Spontaneous II - A Three Person show in the North wing of the MCL Grand.  Free to the public and open Tuesday through Saturdays, 1-5PM from now through May 24th.  

Posies in a Pot I
First Place Asel Award Winner
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage
11" x 13"
$75.00

Posies in a Pot II
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage
11" x 13"
$75.00