BE a Work of Art ... or WEAR a Work of Art!

Just added one of my designs on Zazzle.com ... buy it here:

http://www.zazzle.com/ggsfunctionalart

Painting "Functional Art" Garden Delights

The "Echinacea purpurea", or pink coneflower ... is a perennial with bright pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies.  I have enjoyed growing these in my garden since moving to Kentucky.  I have captured dozens of photos of butterflies on these flowers over the years ... so I am finally painting them on my 4" ceramic tiles. This is a grouping I just finished. One is an abstract of a tiger lily in the same color combination.

 

This original art is sold, but prints on high quality paper or canvas can be purchased here: http://www.imagekind.com/Purple-Iris_art?IMID=4d8d17ed-afd1-4e73-85c9-775da6b786af

Rembrandt Tulips from GG's Garden

Well, I don't really have a garden.  I have small flower beds scattered around my yard.  Several years ago, I purchased both red and pink colored tulips.  Every year, one of the red bulbs bloomed with yellow stripes.

Thanks to Richard Weber, owner of Springhilll Gardens, I now know the history of this interesting tulips. (Springhouse Gardens is located at 6041 Harrodsburg Rd Nicholasville, KY). 

I have completely ignored this lonely, odd bulb until this spring, when a patch of my pink bulbs from my front yard ... also bloomed with stripes. Their interesting stripes really caught my attention. These tulips have never bloomed with stripes before. Could it be the really harsh winter we had this year?  Did the stripes occured due to our lawn being sprayed by a chemical company accidently. (Twice this past summer, a lawn care company accidently treated our yard instead of a neighbors.)  

Well according Richard and a few other websites, my unique tulips may be a virus! Geez, we have flu viruses, computer viruses and now ... "flower" viruses? It appears there is a long history to these tulip viruses, dating back to the 17th century. Who would know? 











For more info about Rembrandt Tulips click here:http://www.suite101.com/content/growing-tulips-history-and-use-of-the-rembrandt-tulip-a297104

or here:

http://www.theplantexpert.com/springbulbs/Tulip9Rembrandt.html 

Perhaps, I need to use these interesting tulips as subjects for some of my "functional art" projects.

Always remember ~ the beauty in your garden, will give you peace. Flowers feed the soul. 

The Haley Prevatt Law Office Art of Giving Charity Art Show

The Haley Prevatt Law Office
Art of Giving Charity Art Show

Click on collage to enlarge

Benefiting:

NAMI Lexington

date/time:

Friday, April 15, 2011

5:30pm - 8:00pm

location:

Lion Building

Suite 210

155 East Main Street

Lexington, KY 40507

artists exhibiting:

GG Burns - Lexington, mixed media artist http://ggsfunctionalart.blogspot.com/

David Toczko - Elizabethtown,  photographer/author ~ “Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill”

Connie Tucker - Lexington artist, watercolors

Stephen Wiggins - Lexington artist ~ www.okya.co.uk/wiggins

Theresa Williams - Versailles artist ~  owner of Solaris Art Gallery, (online Facebook)

sponsors:

catering donated by: BabyCakes Cupcakes, www.bb-cakes.com

media donated by: GG Burns, www.ggsfunctionalart.com, http://ggsfunctionalart.blogspot.com/
flowers donated by "House" by JSD Designs, www.housebyjsd.com

donation: $5 per person

for more info contact: (859) 259-0083

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Featuring GG Burn's newest Derby Inspired Divas and other Kentucky horse racing themed originals and framed prints.

Click on collage to enlarge

GG Burns - Lexington, mixed media artist  ~ www.ggsfunctionalart.com
Read more about GG and what is "functional art" here:

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Featuring: David Toczko - Elizabethtown,  photographer/author 

New Shaker Village book commemorates restoration of historic Kentucky site

Ashley Judd provides foreword for new coffee-table book

David Toczko is owner of Lone Dakota Photography in Elizabethtown, Ky. His work has been published nationally and internationally, and has been acclaimed for its richness and depth. His photos have appeared in the Shaker Workshops® catalogs and were included in Kentucky Derby 133 Review. The book, published by Acclaim Press, features more than 260 photos of iconic Shaker arts and crafts, architecture and furniture. The photos were culled from more than 30,000 images shot by Toczko over four years and depict all four seasons at Shaker Village. The book is available through the author’s Web site and major online book retailers.  

        Click on collage to enlarge

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Featuring: Connie Tucker - Lexington artist, watercolors

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Featuring: Stephen Wiggins - Lexington artist ~ www.okya.co.uk/wiggins

Read more about Stephen here:

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Featuring: Theresa Williams - Versailles artist, acrylic and oil ~ owner of Solaris Art Gallery

Click on collage to enlarge

Upcoming Art Exhibit ~ The Solaris Spring Art Show at Wildside Winery

 

 View Photos from the Solaris Spring Art Show 

at Wildside Winery here on my Picture Gallery

or here on Neil Sulier Photography website

New Derby Divas ~ Inspiration from Churchill Downs

Lately, I've been attempting to spend more time in my studio and less time on the computer. Since I'm a geek who needs to seek a "Facebook Anonymous" support group, (plus, I also manage other websites) ... sometimes I squander too many hours before I realize there is little time left to create.

Kentucky Derby Diva, by GG Burns, 16 x 20 watercolor

To purchase prints, framed artwork or this design on canvas click here:

Complicated in KY", by GG Burns, Mixed Media 12" x 12

To purchase Derby Diva US postage stamps, click here: 

At any rate, this spring I wanted to create some new pieces for upcoming spring art and gallery events. 

Everything in Kentucky, seems to revolve around horses, races and of course, the notorious KY Derby at Churchill Downs.  I have sketched horses, painted them in every medium and even collaged them on tiles. Even though they usually sell, I wanted to paint something other than horses.  There are hundreds of artist in Kentucky who have seized that market! 

To purchase wearable art featuring GG's Complicated in Kentucky, click here:

My first love with art was "fashion", even though I grew up around horses and have sketched horses since early childhood.  I studied fashion illustration in college and was actually a real life fashion illustrator for a large department store chain ~ long ago before the days of computers and digital cameras.  That said, I decided to paint something that reflected The KY derby other than horses.  If you have ever attended races at a horse track in KY, you will know it's the place for beautiful, colorful hats and well dressed spectators. 

"ROSE OF CHURCHILL", 

by GG Burns, Mixed Media 12" x 12"

I spent quite a bit of time, (hours actually)  ~ researching dozens of hat websites and images of women in their fine millinery.  These are just a few of my finished works. I hope to have a few prints made of these in the near future. Stay tune ... enjoy ~ gg

VOTE for GG's Lexington Humane Society's Logo Design

VOTE for GG's Lexington Humane Society's logo design - MUTT STRUT LOGO COMPETITION here:

I made some time to enter a local design contest to benefit the Lexington Humane Society.  I created my own survey among a dozen dog-lovin' friends who selected the color combination and even some of the graphic elements. The sassy little dog taking a stroll, was inspired by my own "mutt", a 10-year old min-pin. I love taking him on walks, as it's the highlight of his day and mine.

Please "LIKE" on Facebook, Tweet, e-mail, etc., to all your friends.

Here's the design, printed on a blue shirt:

Mr. KING, "stutt" himself. My inspiration.

Winter 2011, Reflections from the Bluegrass

While riding home from Louisville with my husband, I took the 
time to 'exhale' from being a mental health advocate and shot 
some images of the winter scenery on the side of the road. 

This is a distance image of the famous Castle Post ~ for more info click here.

As often happens, I forgot to check the batteries in my digital camera. Wherefore, I grabbed my faithful SM Smartphone and held it up to the window.  

I was a bit astounded with the results.

I'm always amazed how many colors one can see in "white" snow.  For 

anyone viewing this, who haven't traveled through the Kentucky Bluegrass 

region ~ these are classic images of what the countryside looks like. That 

is, before you drive from the west into Fayette County. Once you cross the 

county line, it's basically businesses and thousands of subdivisons everywhere. 

I once stated, I lived in a city of rooftops.

The temperatures were a brisk 25 degrees today. Which is considerably 

warmer than the past few days. I am ready for spring, but in the meantime 

I try to find beauty whenever I can find it ~ 

even a flowerpot holding an ice flower.

Reflections of Winter in the BLuegrass
I hope you enjoy my images. gg

Ready or NOT, for Valentine's Gift Season

 

Lately, I have been consumed with my other life, "advocating" for mental health care in Kentucky" ... it's time to turn off the phones, turn off the computer and make time to create. Valentines are great inspirations.  Write to ggsfunctionalart@yahoo.com, if you need a special Valentine gift for your sweetheart.

Also, check out my newly upgraded website: http://www.ggsfunctionalart.com/ Design by Pixels and Media

Holiday Bazaar 2010

Just a sample of art currently being packed up for 2-day Holiday Bazaar tomorrow and Friday.  Coasters, trivets, candle holders, magnets ... something for everyone on your list. Special holiday prices for matted prints also. Other vendors include handmade jewelry, doggie treats, crochet gifts, candles, soaps ... and more.

4910 HARTLAND PKWY ~ LEXINGTON, KY 40515 THURSDAY, DEC. 2 ~ 2:00 - 8:00 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 3, 10:00 . - 3:00 P.M. ADMISSION: FREE

Eyes of Copper

 

"He who cannot howl will not find his pack."  ~ Charles Simic

I've had a photo of a wolf lying on my desk for a while. I finally painted this guy on a 6x6 red and bronze trivet.  His eyes are painted with copper metallic paint.  The eyes make the art ... they speak to me.

The Witch is In ...

Getting in the mood for October, even though it is only Sept. I'll haven't had time to journal about life and projects lately.  However, I hope you enjoy viewing a few of my newest "functional art" works.