He's Come A Long Way, Baby!

Corey is really turning into quite the artist. He has learned so much at Alabama School for Fine Arts, which is his high school. It's a public school but is very difficult to get into. He's planning to go to Atlanta in the spring where art schools hold a "Portfolio Day". He will be able to meet with up to four college representatives and show them his portfolio. Although he is only a junior he has been avidly researching art schools. He and Steve visited MICA last summer - Maryland Institute for ....something. I forget! It's in Baltimore. And he's also looking at schools in New England and Chicago. So looks like he'll be moving away from us in a year and a half.

This is a self-portrait done in oil or acrylic. I love the colors he has used in his hair.












This is done on a piece of ply wood with acrylics.





























His unusual pottery creations are influenced by the style of his pottery instructor, Scott Bennett. Scott and his wife Dori have become very good friends of Steve and Corey. They own The Red Dot Gallery here in Birmingham and their work goes for. Dori is an oil painter and tile maker and her work can go for 4 figures.







I believe this piece was his entry into a National Teen Pottery contest for which he won an honorable mention at the show in Louisville, KY. Steve and he went up for the show last summer.















This is a huge acrylic he did that hangs in their home office. I don't know why, but I really like it! Notice the people on the cow's tongue. It's meaning? You've got me!

Granted, his style is a little way out and reflects his youth but it's obvious he will only get better. So, the lesson to be learned is get your piece of artwork by Corey now...it may be worth a lot later!

Love to all,
Mom

I've Been Taking Photos

Do you realize that we haven't actually seen the inside of any of our present domociles? We have all moved in the past year! I really appreciated the photos of your apartment in Berlin, Erin. Actually I had started taking photos a few weeks ago but then decided to wait until I got my purple curtains up...yes, PURPLE!

You may have seen these outside photos before....I feel like I live in a cottage in the woods. It's an old in-laws quarters that has been added onto. The addition gives me a great place for my home office.

This one looks sort of plain...but I had huge bloomin' pink impatients in the window boxes. Dan took the window boxes down for me last night so I can plant pansies in them for over the winter. Yes, they plant pansies down here in November and by March you have a big mound of them. It's cool!

Now guys, I just know you are going to want to see every room in the place...NOT. But here goes anyway.

This is of course, my office where I spend A LOT of time...but it's great looking out the window and I'm high enough that I feel like I'm up in the trees. The cats sit to the left of my computer a lot and look out until they start walking in front of the computer and plop themselves down right on my papers so I can be sure to know they want some ATTENTION! :)

Look! I have an old claw foot tub..

And speaking of cats...yes, Jesse is still a bit, shall we say, CHUBBY. But he is much more social than Wade these days. Jesse hangs with me. Wade is getting older and likes to nap...a lot. Of course, that's after he has gone out through the doggy door and caught his chipmunk for the day which he sometimes brings to me as a present. Then I scream at him and he gets all hurt. I've become fairly good at picking up the little critters by the tail while they are still in shock mode, and carrying them outside. I also find that those that revive too quickly run behind the fridge, so I stick Wade in the bedroom and leave the back door open a crack. They figure out the escape route pretty fast! Others haven't been as lucky...

Wade just after his nap...

Well, there will be more later. And I have to tell you about seeing Lily Tomlin live here in Birmingham Saturday night!