Purple Skies

I have titled this piece Purple Skies. It is a tribute to the High School that my husband attended. The school was founded in 1951.

St. Augustine is known for its fabulous marching band. The band is called the, “Marching 100.” My husband was a part of the “Marching 100” when he attended the school. His father as well as many of his cousins attended the school as well.

-Just another page of history

A Day On The Lake

This painting is a page from My Delgado days. On any given day, my friends and I would gather on the lake front to eat crawfish.

In this painting at the table is my friend Sabrina, Rhonda, Rene, Darrel, myself and Darrel’s then eight year old sister. I have also painted the cars that Darrel and I drove back then. I have very great memories of my lakefront day trips!

Soul Train!!!!

A good friend, Pedra Randolph, of mine is always shooting me ideas that I should put on canvas. When Don Cornelius passed away recently, she said I should do a Soul Train painting. When I was growing up, me and everyone I knew would hurry up their chores on a Saturday morning. If you planned to watch Soul Train at 11am, the chores had to be about finished before the television was turned on.

My friend’s idea was to show a girl, ironing while watching TV. My mind began putting the piece together. If you don’t my now, the majority of my paintings are things really personal in my life.

So, here it is. I recalled how my bedroom looked when I was 16. I have my Encyclopedia on the shelf, my wall color and my TV. The statue on the chest is a ceramic cheerleader that my dad and I made. I was probably 5 years old. Next to it is a perfume decanter that was owned my my grandmother. Behind the cheerleader is a Purple Rain poster. I also featured my record player and a Michael Jackson poster. The performer on the Soul Train scene on the TV. is Sheila E at the drum. The cherry on the top for this painting is the girl wearing Chic jeans. All girls had to have a pair of Chic jeans back then. Perhaps, this isn’t just a tribute to Soul Train, but a tribute the 1980’s!

Thanks for the idea, P!

Another piece of my history: Trio

My mother and father both have played an important part in my creativity expression. Completion of my latest piece simply title, “Trio,” reminds me of dad. My father is an excellent photographer. He taught me how to shoot pictures as well as the lost art of processing and developing the film.
During my High School years, my dad was actively working as a photographer. He took wedding pictures, team sports and some of the marching unit for St. Mary’s Academy (my High School). Dad was great at posing his subjects. He had a real eye for this.

As dad was clearing out old photos recently, he came across some he took of two of my best friends and my sister. Since my return to painting, things strike me different. When I looked at the pictures dad sent, I saw all three pictures coming together as one in a painting.

I finally got it on canvas. Featured in the painting are Rachel Oliver (color guard), Rene (Washington) Waddell (drum major) and Linda Williams (drill team). They are standing in front of what was the “Senior” building at St. Mary’s Academy. This is another bitter sweet part of my history. The building stands no longer (thanks to Hurricane Katrina). The school has since been rebuilt. But the Senior building that I knew is no more. Hope my friends like the painting!!

One Drink Too Many!!

This piece was so much fun for me to do. I think we all know someone or been that someone at the table. I enjoyed adding the personal connection in this painting of the Shreveport, La skyline picture in the background. I would love your feedback on this painting.

Returning Home

If you have been reading my blog, you know I have written about my art career starting after I moved to Shreveport. I love the art community I have been lucky enough to be a part of. However, I have been longing to showcase my art in my hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana.

My chance has arrived. I feel highly favored to be an artist at the St. Mary’s Academy event that happens this month. The Cougar Jam & Music Festival will happen on March 31st. It will be held on the grounds of my High School. This High School gave me many sister’s for life. It taught me great values. The school provided the foundation for me to be the strong woman I am today.

It will be so surreal displaying my “Sisterhood” print on the grounds of the very place that inspired it. I cannot wait. I also can’t wait to be among my “sisters” again!!!

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!

What's your favorite time of year?? For the average New Orleanian, it's Mardi Gras! It is definitely my favorite time of year. Since I have relocated to North Louisiana, it's been hard to get my Mardi Gras party on. I am feeling a little blue this year.

To dull the ache of missing the whole Mardi Gras season in NOLA, I had my first Mardi Gras party. Everyone enjoyed themselves. I believe I may make it an annual thing. I heard one of my friends say that it was fun and she wondered why more people in North Louisiana don't have them. I hope to see more people having them next season.

Back in the day, we hit as many parades and events leading up to Mardi Gras Day. The eve of Mardi Gras (Lundi Gras) was spent getting the final food preparations together for the big day. I would be making my infamous chicken salad among other things. After, attending the parades on Monday night, it's straight home to pack up the car and hit the sack. Normal roll out time is between 4am and 6am on Fat Tuesday! Yes, it's that serious! Got to get a good parking spot and a good spot to be camped out in all day.

For those who don't know, it is Catholics last day of extreme good timing before Lent begins. If you have never been to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, it really is the biggest free show on earth!

I must give props to Shreveport, La trying to have bigger and better Mardi Gras every year. This year, was very enjoyable. Even though there really aren’t any Fat Tuesday activities here on Tuesday. The Sunday before, is like Fat Tuesday.

The Highland Parade rolled this past Sunday. The Highland Parade is by far the most enjoyable and closest to home that I have found. We were invited to party with some cool folks this past Sunday. We really enjoyed their company. The weather was great! The floats where nice. There was even a few double deckers’! The parades are even having more bands, which is important!! Got have some music.

I do realized that as far my NOLA folk that has relocated across the country, I am fortunate to still be in the state of Louisiana. It affords me to still have a taste of Mardi Gras. As well as allows for quick trips home when I really need a fix.

I also have to thank Marilynn's Place Restaurant for a great Mardi Gras Bash yesterday evening. They had it going on. From live music to the boiled crawfish, right down to the Hot Air Balloon flying over the restaurant. The Hot Air Balloon had Mardi Gras colors on it.

Home is always home, but thank you Shreveport for making it a little easier being away from home!!