Happy 2007!!! The Other Side of Something

It seems appropriate to share with you an artist I love so much for her songwriting skills. Sara Groves is a very conversational, introspective writer. One of my favorite albums of Sara's is "The Other Side of Something"--check it out!...and don't I feel like I'm on the other side of something! An old year. An issue that's been bothering me. It's great to be on the other side of hurdles we go through. Are you going through a challenging time? Know that the other side will come soon. Share with me in the Comment section below! Have a very blessed start to your 2007!

Michael Buble - Happy New Year To Our Troops

Another reason why I like Michael Buble! This is so sweet! Yes, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Along with MB, I, too wish our troops a very awesome one!

Chattanooga Images

Last month my good friend Carla and I attended OSP South--a get together for photographers, in Chattanooga. It was so beautiful with the glory of autumn. After a lecture outside an auditorium at Southern Adventist University, we pulled out our cameras wanting to capture the leaves--well, really wanting to roll around and play in them! We couldn't believe the golden wonderland!

Carla was enduring the camera while I shot this one. It's one of my favorites...



Carla shot this one of me...



Just as we were packing up our gear to go--I saw this awesome red leaf sitting alone on this stone. Look at that shape! God appears to me in these ways--and I didn't fail to notice this one! I couldn't get over the unusual shape of this oak leaf. What a blessing that was. The leaf is now dry and sits on the little table next to my "nest" where I read in the mornings. It stands as a reminder to notice God's hand in His creation.



And then Carla pulled out her fish eye! I couldn't help it....

The Littlle but Special Things...

Today, I did nothing but read, learn my new Macbook Pro and research some stuff on the web. It was great. A much-needed time to stay in my pj's and recover from my strep/laryngitis combo (like the doctor told me to do last Friday, but couldn't till today). This evening I was enjoying a treat that I discovered last year at Williams Sonoma--some gourmet peppermint marshmallows.



They come in a cute box and are cube-shaped, fresh, according to the box, it takes a full 3 days to make these. What a treat they are! They are delicious plopped into a hot cup of cocoa like I just had. Mmmmm.



The book I finished today was "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. What a gift to finish the day after Christmas. If you haven't read it get it now and be on your way to enlightenment. I hope your holidays are being spent doing just what you want to be doing and that you are being nourished and comforted with love from family and friends. We are blessed!

Fish Eye out of the box!

My first shot with my new fish eye lens! Thanks, Todd! What did YOU get for Christmas? Hope it was great!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Carole Foret Fine Art! We wish you the best of holidays and hope that you are with ones you love relaxing and making memories. I, Carole, am still recovering from laryngitis and strep after almost a week! I finally have some time to relax and rest my voice. No one heard me sing at our Sister Grace concert on the 23rd, but I was able to contribute the rhythm with my drums. My father joked that I could do the solo for Silent Night. haha Well, hopefully my voice will be back in the next few days--whispering is getting tiresome...not to my family though. Despite the illness, I have been able to treasure my blessings of family and friends. Relationships! That's what life is really all about. Thank you for being such great friends and clients. Let's look ahead to a great new year! Be blessed, Carole

Photo Specials!

GREAT GIFT CERTIFICATE IDEAS! GET THEM THROUGH DECEMBER!

Book for a January date - Receive 16x20 mounted on 3/4" foamboard!
These rea really cool on the wall with a black edge and don't require framing.
This shoot is great for anyone, but also for couples for a Valentine's Couple shoot!

Call Leslie at the studio to secure your session time: 256.232.2521

Cheerleader Party!

Chicken fingers, fruit with yogurt, chips, desserts including a gourmet white cake! The 8th grade Cheerleaders from AMS had their Christmas party at my studio tonight. They were so cute!! A great group of rockin' young ladies--I have to say. Their Moms are awesome too--they helped provide the spread of food and support throughout this year so far. Check out some photos I shot of dirty Santa and a precious group shot. Um, some of them really gravitate to the camera!






Beautiful packaging! I love prettily-wrapped gifts...

You are Invited!
Open House with Sister Grace
Saturday Night December 23rd
7pm - 9pm
Carole Foret Fine Art Gallery
Downtown Athens, AL
(MAP)

Dessert & Song

Sister Grace's gift to the community: Come and go as you are and enjoy a bite of sweets and Christmas caroling!

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

My dear "sista" friend, Marcia Whitaker critiqued my site today--she always comes up with the neatest words to describe things. Read this:"...I would describe your “site” as “SWASSY” (sassy, warm and classy, LOL!)

Does she maybe look familiar?? She is a model with Real People like I am. She had the honor of being filmed in Montana at Old Faithful for a War Eagle Moment commercial for my alma mater Auburn University . The commercial airs during every Auburn football game--I had the pleasure of seeing that infamous gasp really big on the Auburn scoreboard during the Arkansas State game. See the commercial here!

Thanks, Marcia!! Big hugs for you!

Kick Up Your Heels!!

Click on the invite to read about an awesome getaway weekend planned at Rosemary Beach this February! Don't miss this chance, Girls!

Christmas Party at the Haught's!

Todd and I attended a beautiful party last night with our friends Herb & Julie Haught who live in the most gorgeous home in The Ledges in Huntsville. (This is the home I'm desperately trying to finish painting for Julie to give to Herb for Christmas!) It was so awesome to see them since it had been quite some time since we'd visited. Julie looked beautiful, the home was decked out in Christmas splendor, the food was out of this world (Chef Julie made all of it!). Best of all was just getting to be with friends celebrating the wonderful holidays! Friends and family make Christmastime special! Thank you Haughts for such a beautiful time!



The Lovely Haught Home

Friends Leslie, Julie and Me



Discussion about paintings from some "unfinished" DaVinci drawings! 2 of them are in this home--both awesome!



Dr. Herb and Julie Haught

I'm on BluDog's Blog!! Wow!

How sweet of BluDomain to feature me on their awesome blog. My experience with them has been top notch from the beginning. I love my new site so much--they have genius minds when it comes to building flash sites. Check out Kailee's first site that just went up for sale this week--it's awesome!

Anyway--thank you, BluDog! I really appreciate the feature. My sister Claire's site went live this week too. It looks great. Look similar to mine? Well, we're twins aren't we??? haha

Sharing Inspiration

Last night was so much fun during my Share Inspiration time painting with fellow artist and former student Rickie Higgins. We painted for 4 great hours on paintings we are getting done for clients for their Christmas giving. It's amazing what all you learn just by being with other artists. I've experienced that lately with photographers on OSP, and thought that I could begin doing the same thing with artists/painters. Rickie reminded me that, in his words, "I changed his life" with that oil painting workshop a few years ago that he took with me. Wow! How much more inspiring can that be? He also said that the only reason he would miss the Victoria's Secret fashion show was to come paint with Carole Foret! Now that is flattery for sure! Check out his work on his site and send him some love. Rickie is a great guy!

I Feel Loved!

Well, I got so much done over the holidays and enjoyed Thanksgiving so much, being with family and sharing good food. I worked on my new website and it went live Monday night, and I went "dead" on Tuesday. I must have caught the virus my daughters had over the holidays---much like the flu, but not quite as bad. What was awesome tonight is my Sister Grace sisters called and sang some songs for me since I was missing rehearsal tonight. It was awesome! I felt so loved. That's artful living! I am blessed! You be blessed too...

Change is Happening!!

Wow! New Gallery Hours with sweet Leslie Willard keeping it and helping me out so much. AND a new website!

With this transition on the web, there is a problem with my email until I get it handled, hopefully on Wednesday, the 29th. We appreciate your patience! But please pick up the phone and call us so that we can serve you better: 256.232.2521.

Be blessed! Carole

Painting Workshops at Rosemary Beach!

Wouldn't it be awesome to enjoy at Girl's Getaway at Rosemary Beach AND learn to paint?? Well, it's going to happen! Be a part of this wonderful weekend. Email me to learn more!

This is an email from one of my students from my most recent workshop--it's emails like this that keep me planning more!

Carole,

Thank you so much for the wonderful art class this past Tuesday evening! Words can't express how much I enjoyed being with you...you're enthusiasm is so contagious! It was such an honor to watch you begin your painting you did in our class...I truly didn't want to paint anymore...I was content to simply watch your gift of art pour onto the canvas!

Thank you again for a memorable night! I hope to see you again soon to add a new piece to my collection!

Fondly,

April Whitley

Booking now for 2007!

I am booked through 2006 now and will also be spending my time finishing up commissioned paintings from now through year's end. It has been a wonderful year--thank you, my precious clients! For those of you waiting on photography, Christmas card orders--don't worry, we're working on them right now! We have all the work we can handle and feel very blessed--thank you! !If you wish to book a shoot with Carole--go ahead and don't delay, her schedule is getting booked for January already. I have some exciting events going on this winter. I'll let you know about them in a future post. Have a very blessed Thanksgiving, remembering that no matter what you're going through, you can still feel gratitude--gratitude for our Savior dying on the cross for YOU. And for me. Carole

NEW Happenings at Carole Foret Studio

New is everywhere here! And still to come too (like my new site being designed right now)! So much is going on that I'm so excited about, reminding me how blessed I am. A beautiful girl is coming to work with me so that I can have gallery hours again. She will inevitably be a huge part of Carole Foret Fine Art & Photography. Leslie Willard will be working with me beginning November 28th with our big red door opening at 11am! Leslie has experience in photography, graphic design and marketing--yes! Just the person I have been looking for. Having Leslie will help to serve YOU better. We can't wait to work with you. Our new gallery hours will be Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm. I will still require an appointment to be seen, so don't hesitate to email or call us.

Dragonfly Art Opening!

Carl Gleghorn's annual Holiday Show featured several of us artists. His gallery is awesome and totally cool! Located in beautful downtown Fayetteville, Tennessee, it was a hit a few nights ago when this opening was held. I loved it because come that afternoon, I had been so tired and didn't foresee having the energy to drive up to Fayetteville, but my awesome Dad, came by my studio and told me he would take me (since my husband was out of town). So I agreed to gather up my energy! We went and had a wonderful time as I knew we would. Carl said one of my 3 paintings there had sold before he could actually open the show! I was really fired up. While I was there ANOTHER sold. So, wasn't I blessed? That's what happens when you do the right thing even though you're tired! What was nice too is that my Dad (the renouned author, Bill Hunt) met some nice people through my artist friend JOANNA, and now he is going to be doing a book reading up in Fayetteville! Wasn't he blessed for offering to drive me up there? I love noticing blessings like that! Be sure to notice yours because they are there...
Notice Dragonfly's cool window decor!

Carl and his beautiful wife


Artist friends JOANNA and Connie Ulrich


My Dad and artist friend Sloane Bibb

Mikey from Widespread Panic

I finally finished a painting that was commissioned a year ago. I've never had to tell my clients before that it may take a year to complete their painting, but it's becoming true. NOT to do the painting, but to get to it for all the other commissions on my list! The bulk of my painting work is by commission and that's why my gallery is suffering right now from lack of "attention" (new work). Anyway, Sam Bryan was very happy to receive his painting today. If you would like a giclee print of it on canvas, just let me know!

Have a great weekend!

OSP South ROCKED!!

Oh my goodness!! What an awesome time I had in Chattanooga with my new family of OSPers! Who would have thought that something like this could happen? God's hand --as well as His servant David Jay's,is in this professional and personal fellowship that we know as OSP. OSP South was an amazing event put together by some gracious Southern folks: Nathan and Amber Holritz and Garrett and Joy Nudd. What a treat we had getting to listen to them share such valuable knowledge, share shoots, share meals, share each other. We were all blessed! Below is a photo of this very sophisticated group!

Congratulations, Jenny!

Jenny is a New Face with the PAMA Agency! Yay, Jenny! Both of us being professional photographers who shoot headshots and model/talent portfolios, my sister Claire and I had the pleasure of photographing her during our Get Noticed Event last April. She had an interview this week, and they signed her along with her beautiful baby boy, Hudson! Keep up the great work, Jenny!

Great Things Are Happnin'!

...at Carole Foret Fine Art. The wheels are turnin' and ideas are churnin'--hope to have some decisions made soon that will impact my business and make things so much more awesome for my clients and new clients! Meanwhile, I'm painting and doing alot of thinking. Wish me luck!

AHS SPIRIT!! WOW!!

A few weeks ago our team was victorious over an old rival, Decatur! It was a thrilling game--the crowd was into it, the cheerleaders had the spirit, the band performed in an awesome way! Yay, Athens High!


Check out Miss Madeliene McKenzie's skills here with this toe touch! I happened to see her do this a while before I asked her to do it for the camera--my jaw dropped!You go, Madeliene!


My friend and Sister Grace sister's son, Scott with his sax!


Cute chic-ys at the game. They stopped texting on their cool phones so I could capture their cuteness.


My friend and Sister Grace sister's son Ross--embarrassed, but agreeable to let me snap this shot of him. Thanks, Ross!





Our hard-working players! Go Athens!! Y'all are awesome!

The Spirit! Have YOU got it?

...the spirit of Athens, that is. I love my small town. It is so amazing what can get done when energetic people get focused and involved with a project--especially when it comes to revitalizing an old, rich-in-history town like ours. Athens, Alabama has such an awesome location with so much around it. We have so much WITHIN our town that is to be admired. There is so much talent, creativity, history, art, and love for our city. We even have a Starbucks now! Our downtown thrives with so many wonderful and unique shopping destinations~don't you agree?? Come to Athens and catch the spirit!
This photo is the view outside my big red gallery/studio door! I'm blessed...

Events & Holiday Parties! Book Now!

View Slideshow!


I am available for shooting photojournalistic style photography for your holiday party! Even better, I can shoot a personal shoot that includes your getting ready, and getting to your party! How cool would that be? Just view the slideshow below and see what you think! That really is Donald Trump in the show--I shot an event with him last year for a fundraiser! It was fun...

Mmmm Chocolate!

Precious Tess a Mess!! I have photographed little Tess alot. She is so photogenic and cute. This was taken Sunday at a bonfire held by our church children's ministry at this little girl's family farm. It was a beautiful fall evening for a smore-making time!



Check out her pink cowgirl boots!

Tour de Pig! (Not France)

Last Saturday was the first annual Tour de Pig Bike Ride here in Athens! It was four different rides: 62, 42, 21 and 3-mile rides beginning at the courthouse and ending at the Piggly Wiggly in Elkmont. These rides were to support the funding of a much-needed bike trail through beautiful historic Athens and Limestone County.


My brother Carl helped put this event together and asked me to shoot some cool pictures of it. My friend Carla and I had a ball shooting the cyclists! They were serious--let me tell you! Just look at those cool outfits! Despite the very cool temps we set out in her convertible Beetle on that beautiful fall morning,let the top down and stuck out our long zooms! We got some great shots and fun angles. We felt like sports papparazzi on the move! There is no prettier countryside than Limestone County on a fall day-it was a great event--thank you everyone who helped and volunteered! Feel free to support the Limestone County 2 Wheel Trail by calling 256 . 232 . 8725. If you were there that day and want to view/order photos you can do so on Pictage. Just enter "Tour de Pig" in the search event section! A portion of the proceeds will go toward the LC2WT!



Go Paul go!!



Downhill Carl! Weee!

Awesome!

My friend Carla had her one woman show opening Thursday night--it was so much fun! So fun to see her feeling like a queen for a night with all her beautiful Italy photographs hung so nicely in the gallery. I was so proud and happy for her. Steph and I went and had a great time...The show stays up for several weeks--get by to see it--if there's anything left--she sold a bunch the night it opened!! See her story in the Decatur Daily! Yay Carla!!

Maggie FUN!!

I had a Saturday shoot today with a fun-spirited Maggie! Wow. I love when my clients come in with an awesome personality like she did. We had a great time making some fun images. Her Mom came and was alot of fun too! Thank y'all for making a totally fun shoot! Here are just a few of my first-impression favorites...