Art!

Julie Wiegand to Conduct Painting Workshop on October 1 in Ste Genevieve

This year, the Ste Genevieve Art Guild has invited Julie Wiegand, a gallery artist at Gateway Gallery in Clayton, to conduct it's annual autumn workshop on October 1. Past invitees have included Billyo O'Donnell, Thom Buttner and Michael Anderson.

Growing up in what was once the "small town of Chesterfield, Missouri," Wiegand writes, her "youth was spent discovering nature, art, music and sports." Today, with her art studio in a one room schoolhouse in Berger, Missouri, Wiegand states, "A large percentage of my oils are painted en plein air and I truly enjoy this challenging and rewarding work. Many of my plein air subjects then become larger studio works. There is true joy for me in capturing a mood with light and color." Julie Wiegand is also a partner in an impressive artist cooperative known as the Gateway Gallery on Forsyth Boulevard in Clayton, Missouri.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2009. Many of the participating artists will meet between 8:00 and 8:45 AM for coffee and juice at Studio de Michel on North Main Street before heading out to the workshop location, the Moses Austin house and grounds, located at South Main and Gabouri Streets. About fifteen artists will be seen carrying their painting supplies, portable chairs and easels in backpacks, shoulder bags or rolling carts. The workshop location, in case of rain, will be announced on that day.

At 9 AM, Wiegand will begin the workshop with a short lecture and painting demonstration in oils. Artists of varying experience, from beginner to professional, will then begin their own paintings, in their chosen medium, under the close instruction of Wiegand. After a short lunch break, the workshop will continue until 4 PM culminating in a group critique. Some artists will then break for a short supper and then head out to begin their first painting for the Art Rendevous plein air competition, before the daylight fades.

There are a few seats left for the workshop. Artists wanting to learn how to paint outdoors are invited to attend. The public is invited to stop by and observe what happens at a plein air painting workshop. Once in awhile, an eager visitor or art collector will buy a wet painting off an artist's easel.

The Art Rendevous plein air event and competition will continue through Thursday, October 8 at 2PM and will culminate with a reception, auction and awards ceremony at 188 North Main Street at 6PM. The public is invited. The weekend of October 9 to 11 is filled with other art events such as the Autumn Daze Art Festival, Art Rendevous and the Promenade des Arts held downtown in various locations including the Lion's Club Park and the "Mammy" Shaw House.

Comedy Showcase

Don't delay, get your tickets now!

Bad on So Many Levels

This is me, circa 1986. What was I thinking? I clearly wasn't. Like my side ponytail, or my huge glasses, or the sunglasses around my neck (how did I wear those?)or the photo taker's fingertip? How about those old whiskey barrels, have to blame that one on Dad. Nevermind the blatant underage drinking, the best (or worst) is the plastic cup.

New Labels

Here is what our new grape labels look like. I have been showing you the full color fruit wine labels as they come along, and now we have this label that will go on all the wines we make out of grapes. So far we have the Concord and LaRose Rose ready. Once again, Chuck did an amazing job on the picture. These new labels are just now hitting the shelf. Let me know when and where you are seeing them.

A Better Perspective

I thought the picture I posted yesterday was pretty cool, until I saw this picture on Diane Wilson's facebook page. It's evident that she's the professional photographer. Check out more of her pictures, and just all sorts of good info on her shop at Center for the Arts. Brilliant.

Tour of Missouri

"Linus, You've Got a Loose Sprocket"

It's funny (not really) how quickly this scene...















can turn into this scene.


First day of picking grapes this year, and something has to go wrong. That wonderful harvester, the one I could write a poem to, is the same one I could kick in the shin on days like today. I don't know how to fix it, and I don't think Larry, Moe or Curly do either, but they are trying. I was clearly no help when one of the guys said, "Linus, you've got a loose sprocket," and I gave a little giggle. I can't help it that I think of The Jetsons and Spacely's Sprockets everytime I hear that word. They all gave me a dirty look when I snickered, so I excused myself back up to the winery to make better use of my time, like blog. =)

I hope we have better luck tomorrow.