Dori DeCamillis

A few weeks ago I visited my 94 year old Granny in Fort Collins, Colorado. Granny is a strong, funny, sharp woman, and had a fascinating life. One of her many pursuits was collecting salt and pepper shakers, and all told she amassed 2000 pairs. I took photos of a tiny fraction of the collection. This post features the pig area.

It's coming sooner than you think: student/teacher exhibition celebrating Red Dot's 10th anniversary. Please join us for an opening reception Saturday, September 6, 5 - 8 pm. We are grateful to have been a part of Birmingham’s art community for so long. Our students, collectors, and many supporters and friends have made it possible. Thank you!

Mathew Cornell's "Low Country" Huffington Post writer F. Scott Hess agrees with me and many other artists about the perils of wanting to be a skilled craftsman painter in today's art academia. In his well-articulated article, "Is De-Skilling Killing Your Arts Education?" he exposes the sad state of art education. I normally don't get preachy about issues on my blog, but this one has affected me and my family for a long time.

The small town of Fayette, AL has a noteworthy folk art collection with large holdings of the works of Jimmy Lee Sudduth and Lois Wilson, two well-known visionary local artists. Jimmy Lee mostly painted with mud and sand until later in life. Lois was educated and exposed to the world away from Alabama, but retains a singular, outsider-art style. We took a day trip with some friends to see the Fayette Art Museum and took lots of photos. The above piece is by Jimmy Lee Sudduth. Saints by Lois Wilson Cotton pickers and cotton wagon by Jimmy Lee Sudduth Football players by Jimmy Lee Sudduth Lois Wilson Benjamin Perkins Toilet seats by Lois Wilson Necktie quilt Gords in the basement, Benjamin Perkins

Eight year olds Grace and George did excellent renditions of home interiors in watercolor and ink in class. Above, Grace's finished piece. The photo Grace worked from. George's watercolor. The magazine ad he drew from.

Enjoy a selection of newly finished student work by Red Dot painters and drawers (or is it drawists?) Above, oil painting by Ricki Jill Treleaven. I think you'll agree I have a very talented bunch. Marcia Amason, oil painting Kathy Hinkle is still working on her quilt painting. Can you guess which one is the quilt and which is the painting? Jeanne Alexander, a portrait of her grandson Pat Conrad, oil painting Allyson Roebuck, colored pencil drawing

Mingus Mill is a historical grist mill from 1866 in the Smoky Mountain National Park on its original location. It is still working, only now it's for tourists. Note the big grinding stones in front.  Below the raceway Mossy detail From the beginning of the raceway, facing the mill. Raceway detail. Also called a millrace. The channel that leads from the creek to the raceway. Long and mossy. Fungus detail of the channel. A nearby tree.