Looky Looky! Great Press!

We're tickled to the bottom of our spooky boots! Spirits in Sanford is featured in a six page spread in the October issue of Orlando Home and Leisure magazine.

Just take a look at the online issue and you'll be drooling like we were. You'll find us on page 54 when you select the Contents button from the home page.

We're proud to have Jorge de Rojas and Dianne Waldron so beautifully photographed for the spread.

Three days and counting...counting...counting! Can't wait to see all our Halloween friends!

Mixing it up for Halloween!

What a thrill to be listed in the "What's Happening" column of one of our favorite magazines, Where Women Create. That's how artist Sarah Whitmire found out about our Halloween art show. And once we saw Sarah's mixed media creations, we knew she would be a great addition to our event.

Check out how busy she stays on her blog!

All the way from Indiana and Maryland

My, that guy has some big eyes, doesn't he? All the better to scare you with!

Our show this year is growing, with the addition of several new artists.

Debb George will be traveling to the Sunshine State all the way from Indiana. She just might get the award for traveling the farthest for her love of Halloween art!

Also packing his bags for a little Florida time is Chris Klingler from Maryland.

Chris will be showcasing his wonderful talent for pen and ink illustration, plus an amusing assortment of watercolors and colored pencil creations.

Wickedly Good Fun

For this year's 2nd annual "Spirits in Sanford" Halloween art show, we are thrilled to add several new artists.

Dianne Waldron has been indulging her love of Halloween and her talent in the needle arts over the last 20 years. She designs, sews, stuffs, and sometimes sculpts each one of her whimsical figures.

Just like these little characters, we're eagerly anticipating the arrival of October 9!

Spirits in Sanford set to arrive soooooon!

Our wickedly fun sensibilities are stirring, with October 9 just around the corner! That's when Spirits in Sanford will take over the gallery.

We are thrilled to have 6 talented artists arriving with trunk loads of original Halloween art just for your picking.

Jorge de Rojas (fresh from his trip to California's Halloween and Vine event) will be making his second appearance with our show. Some of his handiwork is shown here.

Check out his blog for more creepy fun!

Farewell to Bob Ross

With sadness, we share the news that Butch's friend and fowl, Bob Ross, died in his sleep today.

Born in 1990, Bob Ross was by all accounts the oldest chicken in the world. And no doubt, the only mind reading chicken who traveled to art festivals from New York to California.

Bob was a show chicken, a White Crested Black Polish and he will be dearly missed.

The painting of Bob that Butch brought for the Straw into Gold show is a humorous portrait and will be a lasting tribute to a unique bird.

Came from Alabama with my Tin Fish on my Knee

Straw Into Gold

Jan. 22 - Feb. 14, 2010

Packing and unpacking, packing and unpacking....this is the UN-glamorous part of being an artist. But the hard work pays off when folks arrive for an opening and revel in all the handiwork.

Butch Anthony's trip to Florida was well worth it, as adoring fans clamored to take home a prize fish or a souvenir of his artwork at the opening reception of Straw Into Gold.

Check the website at http://jtfolkart.com/ under the Current Show tab for selected pieces from the show.

Special Delivery

Roy Minshew visited us just before Christmas and brought a very special addition to the gallery. This Jumping Dog is quite the attention getter! He stands over five feet tall, complete with his own stick for retrieving. Roy's detailed carving skills are shown off quite nicely on the dog's coat, don't you think?

Tablescape Fun

What a fun way to round out our year...with The Big Guy and four of his deer friends gathered for a festive meal. Thanks to artist Theresa Disney, our tablescape for the Holiday Tour of Homes was fabu!

Artistic Gifts

Forging good relationships with artists is one of the highlights of my work in the gallery. I was so tickled when Melissa Menzer shared a special gift with me at her recent trunk show. It's a "Monkey Artist" spoonbeam. Melissa has outfitted the monkey with a beret and an old tube of paint along with a paintbrush. Spoonbeams are one of Melissa's trademark creations, making good use of old silver spoons and pie servers, she sculpts and paints clay faces and adds ephemera and antique bits. You can see one of my favorite pieces on our website at http://www.jtfolkart.com/ (look under the tab marked Current Show.)