Nature Shared

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." ~ Albert Einstein

There's something about painting outdoors - "en plein air" - that renews the spirit like nothing else.
And it's all the better with the companionship of my best little plein air buddy, Fry.

Caught by Surprise

"Things never go the way you expect them to. That's both the joy and frustration in life. I'm finding as I get older that I don't mind, though. It's the surprises that tickle me the most, the things you don't see coming." ~ Michael Stuhlbarg

This quote precisely described me this morning upon learning that my pastel painting, "Kaleidoscope Myst" had received First Place (out of 29 entries) at the North Carolina State Fair in the Amateur Pastel/Drawing/Printmaking category of their Arts and Photography competition. I've spent so much time over the past couple of weeks trying to prepare myself for disappointment that I was really caught off-guard with the win (you know, that whole "hope for the best but expect the worst" thing). But I have to admit, I'm absolutely and utterly thrilled; it almost feels surreal to me. In the words of George Costanza from Seinfeld, "I'm busting!" with excitement.  :-)

© 2014 Tammy Kaufman - Kaleidoscope Myst - pastels on PastelMat 7" x 7"