"Desert Run," a new original watercolor painting by E. C. Sullivan. 20"x24", $425

"Arab Bling" - a new original watercolor painting by E. C. Sullivan. 20" x 24", $425.

New Paintings, New Galleries

I have two new paintings recently completed - "Desert Arabs", and "Arab Bling."

I also have new work up in the W. W. Treenware gallery on Main Street in Elgin, and three new works up in Elgin City Hall. All of the paintings are for sale - contact me at 512 431 7756.

I finished this mosaic yesterday. I've had the idea to do this for a couple of years. I saw some Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altars to ancestors one November, and they were very artfully done. Memorials to those who had passed on. I thought I would like to do one for my mother, and I knew then that the centerpiece of it must be the big spoon that my mother had all her life, as far as I can remember. When I helped her write her will, I told her to leave me that spoon.

A couple months ago one of my brothers gave me a shadowbox he had created with things that belonged to our father. And again, I thought, I have to do an altar for Ma.

The things in the mosaic all have to do with Ma. She loved bright colors. She played cards. The photos show her at age 7, 21 and 88. She loved birds, expecially cardinals. The pin from her sorority is in the mosaic. The yellow paper is something she wrote for me. She loved baseball, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals, and all things Native American (she was one quarter Cherokee).

Today I showed the mosaic to my daughter, Diana. Her first comment was, "That's my spoon! That's my pancake spoon!" Ma used to make pancakes for her using that spoon, when Diana was a little girl. Unbeknownst to me, Diana had been wondering what happened to that spoon since Ma passed on. She didn't know I had it. I suppose I shall have to leave it to her when I go.

New Artwork

I set up my booth at the San Antonio Rodeo today. I will be showing my artwork there for the next 19 days, along with my brother Pat Sullivan, who is also an artist, and Nancy Lou Webster, who makes and sells "treenware." Treenware is kitchen utensils hand carved from wood.

This image is a new painting. I tell people that I used to paint more realistically, but what I really want to express is the graceful and powerful motion of the animals I paint...so every year my paintings get a little more whimsical. This painting is a return to the more realistic style of painting - except the colors!

I have recently published two books, both available on Amazon.com.

The first book is called "Cat Chat" and includes all my paintings of cats in full color. The text is email between my cat Punky in Texas and Leigh Ann's cat Max in Arizona. Punky and Max email back and forth discussing subjects of interest to cats, such as rodents and lizards, other cats and how to train your human.

My second book is called "In Search of Junonia - A Simple Guide to Shelling." It's all the information and know how I have accumulated during 30+ years of walking beaches looking for sea shells, and includes my illustrations of shells. The most interesting information in the book, for those interested in collecting shells, is lists of beaches where there are shells, and lists of beaches where there aren't shells. And how and when to find them.

I painted this painting of elephants with my grandson Wyatt in mind. Wyatt is 3 years old and just loves elephants. The only thing he loves more than elephants are dinosaurs. I took him to the circus a few months ago, and he got to ride an elephant. Too bad he can't ride a dinosaur these days.

This painting is 20" x 50" - original watercolor. It's called "The Game". It's one of my most recent paintings.

Artwork

To see some of my artwork, go to my website www.ecsullivanart.com.

San Antonio Rodeo

I will be at the San Antonio Rodeo, displaying all my artwork, from 5 Feb 09 to 22 Feb 09. I am on the concourse of the coliseum building. My next show after the rodeo will be in Naples, Florida March 7 and 8.

Then Wellington, Florida, March 14 and 15.

And next, Fairhope, Alabama, March 20 to 22.

I start Texas shows in April with La Villita in San Antonio on April 4 and 5.

April 17 and 18 I will be at the Old Settlers Music Festival in Driftwood, Texas, just south of Austin.

April 24 thru 26 I will be at Denton Art and Jazz Festival, then back to Austin for Old Pecan Street Festival on May 2 and 3.

Introduction

I am Elizabeth Sullivan, artist, living in Elgin, Texas.