Happy Holidays!

oil 6 x 6

This painting is on the International Daily Painters Website for their Holiday Challenge. Check out the amazing work there:

http://dailypaintersinternationalartgallery.blogspot.com/

And thank you to everyone who made this such a wonderful year--you know who you are.

Love and all good things to you-

A gift for Jan...

Our newest custom tile available: Your home, office or favorite landmark on a 6" or 8" tile. Hand-carved and fired twice between glaze layers.

Arnie's newest tiles

Here are two of a new series... details to follow

Ready to set

The first eight are out of the kiln and ready for the wall. The border tile will be a stained glass sort of look to accent colors in the backsplash.

The tiles have been thru the first fire...

Entered a yo-yo decorating contest...

Underglazing the tiles... first four are bisque firing!

Backsplash is spreading...

I think it needs birds...

Backsplash continued...

The tiles have been drying-- I set them out in the sun to help them along. The shrinkage so far is between 1/4" and 1/2".

Corn Avocado Salad

Toss FRESH sweet corn (sorry don't believe in canned) with sweet tomatoes (halved) and dress with chopped avocado, basil and fresh squeezed orange juice and salt and pepper.

Deliciously refreshing!

Tomatoes from the garden recipes...

Flank Steak Bites

Caprese Garlic Toasts

These went fast. Taste better than they look--touch of horseradish and onion mayonaise compliments the flank steak. Garlic butter toasts and a drizzle of balsamic embellish the already flavorful caprese basil standard.

Still carving...

My muse and companion...

The Beginning...

Here are preliminary sketch ideas I am using for reference, however it is changing as I move into the clay. At this point I am simplifying as I carve and adding in other areas to balance the composition...

Project: Backsplash!

The 'space'.
Finally, after what? Three years? I am creating the backsplash for my kitchen.

Norris Cultural Arts Center!!!!

Garrett © Laura Crabtree Hollenbeck 2010

Faith and Noel © Laura Crabtree Hollenbeck 2010

Le Sorelle © Laura Crabtree Hollenbeck 2010

Three of my watercolors were juried into the Watercolor 2010 exhibit at the Norris Gallery!

Everyone is invited to attend the artist's reception tomorrow Sunday, April 18 from 2-4 p.m.

The paintings above are in the show.

One more week at this address

Although we will miss our spot here, we are happy to make room for Teresa Keenan. A very genuine, kind-hearted, bright and energetic soul who has certainly lived through her share of challenges. So, this address will continue to be a comfortable place, where perhaps you too, may even find a home.

Over the coming week we invite all to come and paint and enjoy our moving sale. Portions of our business will pick up again elsewhere, but for now they are going home while we get organized. There will be markdowns on inventory as we need to reduce our storage.

We will have our going away party April 2nd during the Geneva Gallery Walk, which will obviously be our last. Please stop by 6-9 for a toast. It has been a lovely three years!

Relocating...

Denise's Cherry Tree (watercolor) 11"x14"

©crabtree-hollenbeck

sold

Please stay tuned while I transfer from iPotpaint (and my former studio location) to iPotpaint Tile and Watercolor. Unfortunately I have lost access to my former blog and no matter how many times I write for help, I have had no progress.

And so we move on.

~And our South Street location in Geneva is pending a rezoning issue. If it passes tonight we will be relocating shortly and redefining our physical entity...

To all of our loyal customers, kind, strong-hearted supporters of independent business and now cherished friends who have helped to keep a one-man-band alive for three years in spite of the economy:

Although I will post a more formal expression of gratitude as things begin to wind down, please know you are in our thoughts as we go and your love goes on...