Painting Show for Farrah Brings Life to a Book Signing

Evening of the Dragonfly Book Signing and Art Show

Having a book signing to go with my painting show for Farrah Ferand, the artist heroine of Evening of the Dragonfly, creates lots of possibilities for talking with readers. Book signings are all too often awkward affairs. The art show is fun and came about as an idea for the A to Z Blog Challenge. The paintings helped me, as the author, get to know Farrah much better than I did while writing her story.

The art show for my character makes me wonder about other unique ways to promote books. What is the profession of the hero or heroine? Or what hobby is important to a character to the book?

Thinking outside the box can produce a flurry of ideas for authors who struggle with book signings. Being your character and dressing the part is still one of the most fun things I've seen authors do.

"Looking at Farrah's Art Show" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Thanks to Arts Alive in West Point for the opportunity for Farrah's Art Show which will hang in the Art Center until October 13.




Fractal Art

For the past few weeks, my life has been consumed with art. At the Crossroads Art Center Open House last week, I was delighted to discover an artist showing across from me who is using fractal art in his creations. I have long loved fractals and used many of those images to inspire my elementary school art students. Mike Turner is putting his fractal images on metal which gives them a beautiful shiny look and depth. He also has printed some of his work on fabric, and his sister has created an array of beautiful neckties from the material. What a great idea!

"Lines in the Desert" Encaustic ©Mary Montague Sikes

"Lines in the Desert", my small encaustic painting, was inspired by a petite section of a fractal image. Other pieces of my art work are related to some of the fractals I've seen. 

I'm delighted to have discovered Mike Turner's work. 

Painting Like Georgia at Hilton Head and More

"Painting Like Georgia, the Last Day" - some participants with work they produced ©MMSikes

"Cookout at Island Club" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Even without ideal weather, a week on Hilton Head Island can be special. The rain wiped out the tennis welcome event as well as the pro exhibition. But my "Painting Like Georgia" workshop at the Art Academy went well, and I loved being with the artists there. Our daughter flew her Mooney into the Hilton Head Airport; my sister and brother-in-law visited; and I discovered the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. It was a fun week.

"Getting Ready for Flight" ©Mary Montague Sikes

 Have you ever returned home from a trip and wished you could have spent more time with each of the activities?

That's how I feel. I wish the artist workshop I taught had gone on for longer than three days.

"Art Gallery at Coastal Discovery Museum" ©MMSikes

"Spanish Moss at the Coastal Discovery Museum" ©Mary Montague Sikes

   

 

Finishing Up August and Needing to Travel

Sunrise Clouds over Key West ©Mary Montague Sikes

Last week, we spent a few days in Key West FL which seemed a fitting way to finish up the month of August and bring about the end of summer. There is something poetic about traveling by air along the coast of Florida and then over water along the Keys. So much is visible from the skies, and, of course, I have long been fascinated by the magnificent views of clouds from the window of a plane.

Several years ago, we flew into Miami, then rented a car to drive along the Overseas Highway to Key West. What a fabulous journey that was. Along the way, we enjoyed a magical, tropical passage. The flight from Miami to Key West is much faster--only a few minutes.

Both the highway and the air provide unforgettable memories for reaching the southernmost point of the continental USA. For the traveler with only a few days, air travel is best. But for those with time to spare, the

Key West near Sunset Point ©Mary Montague Sikes

Overseas Highway is an unique experience.

Leaving Miami ©Mary Montague Sikes

Approaching Key West ©Mary Montague Sikes