Where My Okies At

I lived in Oklahoma for seven outta-sight years. It's where my art career really began. I'm in Austin now, but Oklahoma will always have a cherished place in my heart.

That's why I have a special message for my Okie supporters and collectors. (Hi, guys! Lookin' good!)

I've lived in Austin for three years now, and I work with two excellent Texas galleries:

Cerulean Gallery in Amarillo Ro2 Art in Dallas

I have a show coming up soon at Cerulean. On Edge opens on Friday, 16 September 2016, and runs through 28 October. I've been working very hard this year to present you with the best paintings I've ever created.

On September 16th, I'll be at the opening with a big big smile on my face.

You know who I would love to see there? You.

Would you consider making the trip?

I'm asking two months in advance so you'll have time to make travel plans. Amarillo is about 3.5 to 4 hours by car from Oklahoma City. You won't believe how that time flies when you're carpooling with friends.

In addition to the amazing art show at Cerulean Gallery (wink), here are some other things to do during your visit:

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Have chicken fried steak at Lucille's Roadhouse

Visit Palo Duro Canyon

Take selfies at Cadillac Ranch

Indulge with wine & cheese at OHMS Cafe & Bar

Wake up to Roasters Coffee

Take in two great exhibitions at the Amarillo Museum of Art: Light on the Plains: Frank Reaugh pastels from the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum Side by Side: Larry Bell and Gabriel Dawe

Take the challenge at The Big Texan

Hope to see you there!

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A Mini Quilt for Refreshing the Palette

Well, I've finally done it. I worked up the courage to submit a quilt to an art show! Hendry Unoaked Chardonnay. Machine-pieced and hand-embroidered quilt, 10 x 10 inches, 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $275 (buy-it-now price)

What: Refreshing the Palette, an art show, silent auction and wine tasting event benefiting the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. (Facebook event page)

When: Sunday 8 November 2015, 4-6 pm

Where: Metro Wine Bar & Bistro, 6418 N. Western Ave, OKC OK  73116 (map link)

Tickets are $40 per person, including wine and hors d'oeuvres. For reservations contact The Metro at 405-840-9463.

A little bit of everything, strip-pieced.

Join The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro for a special wine tasting and art show event benefiting the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition.

How it works: Twenty artists are creating original works of art based on the wine labels. Each artwork will be auctioned during the event, with silent bidding beginning at $125. Guests who fear losing a piece in the auction can also trump the bidding process by purchasing an artwork at the “Buy It Now” price.

The pieces are coming together.

This is one of my favorite annual shows, and I'm always excited when I get to participate. See my previous entries Titus and Veritable Quandary.

This year my wine label was Hendry Unoaked Chardonnay (Napa Valley 2013). From the winery's tasting notes:

"Aromatically delicate.  Peach and nectarine on the palate. Tangy, with a slight citrus-pith edge.  Rounded mid-palate and moderate acid. A tasty wine well-chilled on a hot summer day, best with lighter foods. This would be well-suited to a citrus-dressed cold chicken breast, pasta primavera, or a bay shrimp salad."

Doesn't that sound delightful?

Detail of machine stitching.

About OVAC

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) helps artists realize their potential through education, exposure and funding. Organized in 1988, OVAC is a non-profit organization that supports visual artists living and working in Oklahoma. OVAC promotes public interest in the arts and helps people of all ages understand the visual arts.

Sadly, I am not able to attend this year's event in person, so you'll have to go taste lots of wonderful things on my behalf. Cheers!

Last Week to See Wyld Flowerz at STASH

Sorry Not Sorry. Acrylic on canvas panel, 7 x 5 inches (12 x 9 framed), 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $225

It's been a trip. Many thanks to STASH for providing me with the opportunity to show my work.

Wyld Flowerz is on display through this Wednesday, November 11.

Square Peg

Square Peg. Acrylic on canvas panel, 7 x 5 inches (12 x 9 framed), 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $225

Interested in purchasing Square Peg? She is available at STASH through 11 November 2015 with the rest of the Wyld Flowerz. Get all the details here or email me directly at sarahatlee@gmail.com.

The opening was amazing, and I could not have ordered a more perfect evening.

Departures and More

Departures. Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, 2015 by Sarah Atlee. $1,080

To purchase Departures, contact me at sarahatlee@gmail.com.

About Departures

I'm into Quilting. It influences my painting in a big way. I'm a member of the local chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild. What distinguishes "modern" from traditional quilting? There are no hard and fast rules, of course, but the MQG has a handy list of things to look for:

"...several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt. These include, but are not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. 'Modern traditionalism' or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting."

Improvisation is the element here that really gets my juices flowing.

But the Juices Were Not Flowing

Earlier this year I was noodling away on an abstract series, finding myself stymied. I wanted to go in too many directions. I was being fussy. I was thinking too hard. I was stuck.

I asked myself, "What if I painted the way I quilt - without fear?"

Sherri Lynn Wood and Improv Patchwork

In February 2015, I was lucky enough to attend QuiltCon and take an improvisational patchwork class taught by Sherri Lynn Wood. She taught us to be present in our space, and to cut, cut, cut and sew, sew, sew - without worrying about the overall design. It was a revelation. We made quilt tops that seemed to grow organically in our hands. The patchwork pieces grew, and I grew. I went home and pre-ordered Wood's new book.

Order your own copy of the Improv Handbook here.

Then I had to wait for, like, six weeks before the book shipped. What on earth was I to do in the meantime?

Departing

I took a painting that wasn't working. I laid down a stroke of color with my brush. Then I put down another, next to that. Then another. It became a row of stripes. It curved here and there. Another row grew next to it. I had found a path, and I followed it. I was through.

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