Amazing "Artful Angels"!

Thank you to everyone who came to my "Artful Angels" Art Party this Sunday (Mom, Anne Marie, Kathy, Carrie, Karen, Maribel, Jen, Yoon and Melissa!  We had an amazing time creating, connecting and celebrating the season!  Each of your angels is unique and beautiful--just like you!  I hope your "Artful Angels"  bring joy and blessings to you and your families!  Happy Holidays to ALL!  2015 Art Parties will be on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 4-7 p.m. starting in January!  Check back for registration information soon:)

Artful Open House for the Holidays!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Stop by and visit me at the Artful Gift Shop (145 Church Street in Vienna, VA) on Thursday, December 11th from 5-7 pm!  I will be the featured artist and will have LOTS of original artwork for sale at special holiday prices!  Come sip, snack, and shop for unique, hand-crafted gifts by local artists!  Don't miss this artful opportunity!

(Photo by Artful Gift Shop Owner, Peggy James)

(Preparing more artful gifts in my home studio)

Beach Bliss--Giving Thanks for Time at the Beach!

As Thanksgiving nears and we count our blessings and focus on gratitude, I give thanks for the following experience.  It has taught me that  by “giving in” instead of “giving up,” you open yourself up to possibilities and experiences you wouldn’t have otherwise had.  I am so grateful for this one!

I recently returned from a weekend at the beach.  Though it was not what I had originally planned or intended, it turned out to be EXACTLY what I needed and I couldn’t imagine it any other way!   As usual, I packed WAY too much stuff and planned WAY too many projects!  In the end, I was happy to just RELEASE and LET GO!  To REST and RELAX!   

From beginning to end, we were blessed with gifts from the sea and the sky!  Gorgeous sunsets where the sky was on fire with hot pinks fading into lilac mists…serene sunrises where the sky was a glow in radiant warmth…and my personal favorite—a beautiful full moon rise over the ocean, complete with shooting star!  Truly magical!  

The moon rose from the ocean a pinkish-orange, then turned yellow and white illuminating a clear path of moonlight across the ocean to the shore!  We rushed to touch our feet to the glowing waters like mermaids and  danced in the moonlight like wild women playing in the ocean’s surf and howling at the gorgeous moon!  We had gourmet meals from nearby restaurants and enjoyed our ocean-view round the clock!  We had plenty of solo time to rest, read, write, reflect, walk and just veg out to the sounds of the ocean waves!  

There were great shells to be found each day—whole whelks, moon shells, scallops, clams, oysters, and more!  Dolphins played in the waves in front of us!  I even had a 90-minute massage called a “body blessing” that included reflexology and a shen energy treatment!  Thank you Ashli, it truly was a blessing!  One of my other favorite experiences was painting on the beach ALL day Saturday!!!   I started 7 new intuitive painting canvases!  I would paint a layer, then go for a walk while it dried…paint another layer and go for another walk…you get the picture!

The last day was cooler and slightly overcast and the water was calm.  The whole beach seemed to whisper “peace”.  It was a perfect ending to this much needed Retreat!   It was pure Beach Bliss!  I feel blessed and full of gratitude!  Thank you God, thank you Universe for knowing what I needed before I did and giving me this wonderful gift!   Wishing you all Peace and a Happy Thanksgiving!

From Foo Fan to Grohl Groupie--New Orleans Rocked!!!

I recently spent a long weekend in New Orleans with my awesome hubby to celebrate his 50th birthday!  He is an artist, musician, and foodie and had always wanted to go to New Orleans and this seemed like the perfect time to do it—plus, our favorite band (the Foo Fighters) were playing at the Voodoo Music Fest that weekend!  Turns out, it was even BETTER than perfect!!!  Paul and I got a much needed adult getaway where we could eat and drink our way through this music and arts loving city!  We tried everything from ‘po boys at Acme’s to hurricanes at Pat O’Briens…beignets at Cafe du Monde to gumbo at Emerils.  We wandered graveyards and voodoo shops, Bourbon Street and Jackson Square.  We caught beads thrown from balconies, marched in parades, and visited Preservation Hall for some traditional jazz!  The streets were filled with art, street performers, magic, mystery and music—LOTS of music!  We loved it!  Live music was EVERYWHERE!  But wait, there’s more—

Just as we were following an impromptu day of the dead parade down Bourbon Street on Saturday night, I spotted Dave Grohl standing on the corner about a block away from me!  I ditched my poor hubby and RAN straight to Dave Grohl!  Somehow no one had noticed him, but me.  All I could get out of my mouth when I reached him was “Oh my God! Oh my God!”  He was so nice, he smiled down at me, grabbed my hand and said “Walk with me!”  Does it get any better than that?!?!  I got to hold hands with Dave Grohl!!!! THE Dave Grohl!!!! Rock God Dave Grohl!!!  Front man for my all time FAVORITE band, FOO FIGHTERS, Dave Grohl!!!!   I got to walk down Bourbon Street holding hands with Dave Grohl!!!  I thought, “Wow guess we’re gonna do this whole parade thing together—how cool!”  It was a surreal and magical moment for sure!  Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Then we stopped and I asked Dave for a photo.  This is the one time I wish I was better with technology and my cell phone!!!  I couldn’t get my phone’s camera to work :(  

Next thing I knew, Dave’s body guard came and pushed me aside telling Dave he had to go.  Dave said “Sorry, gotta go” and started walking away.  I pushed past the body guard and said, “ But, Dave, pleeeease!”  He came back, put his arm around me and posed for a couple more attempts with my camera!  This time I was able to get my phone to work and got a couple of good, but grainy Grohl photos!  THANK YOU DAVE!!!!!  Super awesome musician and all around great guy!   Then, I watched Dave disappear down the street with his body guard.  “There goes my hero…”  

By the time my husband finally caught up to me, I was teary-eyed and giddy all at the same time!  I was still in SHOCK!!! (and AWE!!!)  Paul said when I ran off he thought “What stranger is my wife talking to?  She probably thinks he looks like Dave Grohl or something!”  When he caught up to us the first time, he realized “Holy shit, it IS Dave Grohl! and where is he going with my wife?!?!” When he caught up to us again, Dave was already heading down the alley with his body guard.  Sorry, Paul.  I spent the rest of the evening glowing and Grohl gushing to my hubby!  He said, “We might as well go back to Virginia now, don’t think we’re gonna be able to top this!  and How am I going to live with you now?”  But we stayed in New Orleans and fully enjoyed the rest of our trip, especially the “FOOdoo” Fest the next day!!!  

I was sorry I didn’t get to tell Dave that he and the Foo Fighters are like part of our family!  That we’ve been Foo Fans since the very first album and have gone to several shows!  They’ve all been great,  but my favorite was at George Mason when the sound board went out and Dave entertained the crowd until it was working again!  I didn’t get to tell him that my daughters rocked out to Foos as toddlers in our concert t-shirts and that a DC Foo Fighters show was their first rock concert or that I had done a mixed media portrait of Dave Grohl-Rock God for the Art show Paul and I curated “Music and Art” in Del Ray, Alexandria, only minutes from where Dave grew up.  I didn’t get to ask about Taylor, Pat, Chris or Nate.  But I did fully enjoy my moment with DAVE on Bourbon Street!!!! My new Favorite Foo memory!!!

The next day, we headed to the park for the “Voodoo Music and Art Festival.”  It was a gorgeous day and we loved being outside listening to music on four different stages, sampling the food and beverages and looking at the art (including huge kinetic sculptures) and the amusement rides—it was fair meets festival!  Everyone loved the shirts Paul had made for us to wear to the concert!  They had a sugar skull and said “FOOdoo!”  as in Foo Fighters.  Little did we know that it was also the name of the festival’s food court. Oh well, a little free advertising never hurt anyone.

We fully enjoyed Trombone Shorty’s performance (the other main act we came to see)!  He is truly a force of nature!  He puts his whole being and energy into one end of his trombone and allows his instrument to channel his passion with such force it explodes on stage!

We were able to maneuver ourselves to prime position for the Foo Fighters!!!!  We were front row and to the side!  Dave came and played right in front of us almost every song!!!!!  One time when he came out into the crowd, he was so close you could almost touch him!  Two nights in a row!!! Lucky I didn’t pass out!!!  The Foo Fighters rocked and put on an AWESOME show as usual!  They are such an great, tight, talented, energetic, down-to-earth, fun-loving band!   And now I love them even MORE!!!  I love my hubby even more too after our magical moments in New Orleans—yes, it was even BETTER than perfect!

Registration for December Art Party now Closed!

Class is FULL!  If you would like to be added to the waiting list or email list for future classes, please email me at: jackietury@gmail.com.  Thank you!

Come create "Artful Angels" on December 7th from 4-7 pm!
Click here for information and registration http://jackietury.blogspot.com/p/art-parties-create-celebrate.html

Art on the Avenue--an Awesome Artful Experience!

Couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous fall day for an outdoor art festival (though a little less wind would have been nice)!  We had great weather and huge crowds all day long!  I had lots of art admirers visit my booth!  Several people wanted to touch my paintings (and did) because the glossy finish gives my paintings a glass-like look.  Lots of people called my art colorful, happy, gorgeous, pretty, beautiful, bright, cheerful, and joyful!  All adjectives I am very happy to have associated with my art!  After all, the reason I create my art in the first place is because it makes me happy and by sharing it through shows, classes, and retreats, I am hoping to spread that joy to others and make them happy too!  Some of the highlights of the festival for me were:

1) Having a life/executive coach who had never purchased a big piece of art before buy my "let your spirit soar" painting for her office to help inspire her clients!

2) Another woman wanting to buy the same painting!

3) Seeing a steady flow of little girls come sit before my lotus painting!

4) Having both big and little girls ooh and ahh over my mermaids!

5) Having my entire family help and support me through the whole process!  Thank you SO much "Team Tury!"  I couldn't have done it without you!

6) Being interviewed by 5th grader Mia who was instructed by her art teacher to interview "a real artist!"

7) Having friends and family surprise me by stopping by my booth including my mother-in law, Anne Marie, Christine, Maureen and family, Sam, Kimberly and Mia, Stacy, Jen, Dawn, Martha and Anna, Linda, Bonnie, and more!

8) Having friendly, supportive vendors surrounding me!

9) Selling 2 large pieces of art and 10 small pieces!

All in all, a great way to spend a fall day and a great first experience with a juried outdoor art festival!

Thanks again to my family and friends, to everyone who purchased my art and to everyone who visited my booth!  You all helped make this a great experience for me!

ART on the Avenue here I come!!!

I have been working very hard to get ready (and so has my hubby)!  Here is a sneak peek at my booth!  We put it up in our driveway this weekend to practice.  I will have over 50 pieces of original artwork at the show!  Several new pieces are included.  You can find some of them by scrolling through my "paintings" and "collages" pages.  Each piece is colorful and uplifting!  Hope my art makes you as happy as it makes me!  Visit me in booth E3 this Saturday, October 4th from 10am-6pm at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Alexandria!  My booth is on Mt. Vernon Avenue near Bellefonte Ave.  For full event info and directions go to: http://www.artontheavenue.org  See you there!