A gorgeous day celebrated as I joined with over 175 artists for Via Colori 2008 in downtown Houston today. Read more on my website's News link and Artist Blog. www.lilibethandre.com

A new exhibition is planned for December at my new art studio. Coming soon...Visit my website to read more on this event. Search the News link or check out my Artist Blog.

The grand opening of my new studio was great. Thanks to all who came. Read more on my artist blog at www.lilibethandre.com

I'm excited. I'm opening a new studio next Saturday in the Galleria area. Hope to see you there. Visit my website for more information.  

As Gustav approaches the gulf coast, I take advantage of the holiday and the fact that we have a sunny morning before the storm to work on more landscapes to prepare for this fall's exhibitions.

I like to travel to environments that invite me to paint. That is not hard to do as I like to find beauty in all things around me but some landscapes just beckon me to recreate them. It gives me pleasure to preserve the moment in my work.

With enough referencce material for many lifetimes, I am currently working on images I've sketched and photographed on my trip to Maine and Minnesota. I was intreagued to find a certain similarity between the Superior and Maine coasts, although they each have their peculiar characteristics.

Thank you to my collectors for their love of these coasts. I promise that the upcoming works will take them back to their favorite coves. Where I've been living this past month, transported by the brush and paint that redefines those coastlines on my canvas.

As we wind down for the fall, we in Houston still have plenty of warm days coming so our summer will continue. In a way, it extends the feel of leisure and repose. Behind the scenes, we are working like a busy ant hill to get the Green House Gallery ready for previews and our September grand opening. We are all very excited at the prospect of opening the artist co-op and featuring our work. Getting to this point has also been a challenge. Everyone brings different perspectives and experience and finding the mid-point among it all takes a bit of diplomacy and outspoken sharing of business experience to work in tandem with everyone, reaching consensus and directing those who are learning as we go. We expect to tweak the process through the end of the year and hope to start January with a bang! We are looking forward to sharing our work with the community and hope that if you're in town, you can stop by and tell us what you think.

As summer continues to glisten our life here in Houston, I prepare to bring art to you in two different ways. In July, I am participating in the Artistic Independence show at Elder Street Gallery with a revealing art piece. The show will feature several artists, each presenting one piece for one week. Elder Street Gallery has a story in itself. A former hospital built on a civil war cemetary, it is said to house more than artist lofts and a gallery. It is said you may encounter guests of a different dimension. The site is on an urban island just a hop from downtown Houston. Come and see the show and experience the works of up-and-coming artists and those who have arrived.

In August, I join the Green House Gallery as it opens its doors to the public. A grand opening is scheduled for September so don't miss the opportunity to be the first to witness the  Green House effect right in the Montrose area of Houston.  You will be able to sizzle among the work of eleven artists in various mediums and styles. You will always be able to find an artist ready to answer your questionns. Step in to cool your soul at the Green House Gallery and see what new works have germinated from the minds of our members. They are all unveiled for you.

As always, you can find specifics and more details at www.lilibethandre.com. Just click the NEWS link. See you there!

I was at the Bellaire Art Festival to wrap up the month of April. I did portrait sketches with fellow members of the Markos Group to raise funds for HCAA. Some HCAA members did some plein aire art. I brought my paints but had plenty of fun just doing the sketches. We also did a little Tai Chi to get flexible. Danny, David, Willie, Lienchen and I enjoyed visiting with our models. I also got to do an English Sheep dog, one of my favorite breeds. Who said hairy "children" don't make good models?

For May you can visit me at the HCAA gallery on the 8th, for "Art & Dessert". You can also pick up your favorite prints from the Mexico series at Casa Ramirez in the Heights. I'll be in production mode most of May so you'll be seeing more updates on the site. Until then, enjoy the weather and treat yourself to some new art.

The month is leading to longer days. This mean more daylight hours. There is something about them that charges me up with more energy to paint. So several pieces are in progress and a couple of commissions are in the works. The commissions I enjoy most are the portraits. Its a great opportunity to get to know an individual better and not because we are chatting but because of the hours that we share in the studio. Learning the features of the individual is like driving down a familiar road. The more we work together, the more I see of the individual, the more I get to know their features. The way the light and shadow hit the different planes allows me to chisel out a likeness that is closer to the person in front of me. The other ingredient is the essence of the sitter, the familiarity with their personality. I try to capture that character in the tiny glimpse I see of them and stroke it into my work. 

The year has come with a bounty of opportunities to put my work out in the public eye. I've also had the opportunity to meet many new artists. Now the balance comes in making sure I include time to paint. This time of course includes more than just the act of painting, it includes preparation which for me, means a ceremonial act to enter into the "zone". Recognizing this process can help accelerate the steps to painting time.

Weather is another ingredient to expanded paint time. I find that I am more likely to paint for longer periods of time on sunny days. Perhaps the brightness of the natural light motivates me as it highlights the natural colors of my subjects. Rainy days are less inspiring with the brush although they can be great for prep work.