Artful Living
with Carole Foret

Packing and Leaving!

2008-05-10T20:43:00.006-05:00

I'm leaving tomorrow for what is going to be a dream come true! I've had the dream of going to take a fabulous workshop from another artist somewhere else in the U.S., but I've never found the right artist or workshop. But a few weeks ago, I was flipping through a magazine and found Artista Creative workshops in Carmel, California. "Perfect!" I thought. So the stars aligned, no kidding, and my twin sister Claire and I are going tomorrow on Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!) to beautiful Carmel to begin our week of relaxing, artistic luxury! I will let you know how it goes. I plan to be away from technology as much as I can be--phones, email, laptop....I'll see you when I get back next week. Please pray for us to have a safe and enlightening trip. I plan to bring back all that I learn to share in my future workshops! Can't wait....

If you're wanting to visit the gallery in Athens, feel free! Leslie will still be there Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm.

Update!

2008-05-06T21:55:00.004-05:00

It's always good to see change. I love it! So now when you go to my site, you will notice some major changes--I have lots of information about my different workshops. My Wine & Paint Nights and Creative Spirit Workshops have their own menu buttons! That's how important they are to me.

Also, you can download my Summer Workshop Schedule. You can get it here or on the sidebar in the DOWNLOADS section.

My Husband's Site!

2008-05-05T16:34:00.004-05:00

I just couldn't wait any longer! Todd's site has been in the works for a long time, and finally we have it somewhat presentable. Getting his photo shot is what is taking the longest since he hates being in front of the camera. So take a look! Todd is a genius at Audio / Video installations! Want the latest in hi-def tv's? Want to consolidate your system in one easy-to-use system? Give them a call!

Bookmark his site at:

www.avworks.tv

New Carole & Claire Workshop Being Planned!

2008-05-02T09:33:00.000-05:00

If you are waiting on a new workshop from the twin painters, then stay tuned for one that is going to be fantastic! Think, lazy, hazy days of summer on the river--a painting retreat. That's your only hint! When we get details all finalized, we'll post it here!

Wine & Paint Night!

2008-05-01T09:59:00.006-05:00

Come join me in a beautiful, relaxed studio filled with the sounds of great music, great people, great antipasto, great wine--but most of all--great painting! We will all paint together a still life that will include wine, olives, wine glass--a very sophisticated piece of art you will go home with! This summer-evening experience is open to the first 12 people who respond! Pre-register OR come that night-if seats are left. First come first serve. Grab your friends for a different kind of social event! Check this blog for additional wine & paint nights! The scoop:

Tuesday Evening, June 3rd Wine Still Life
Carole Foret Studio
7-9pm $50 per person
Canvas, paints and hors d'oeuvres provided
You bring yourself a friend and your beverage of choice

GUS!

2008-04-28T21:29:00.005-05:00

We finally have our new puppy! Meet Gus. We are so excited to have found our way to him in Jack, Alabama--we got lost for about 45 minutes, but it was worth it when we finally found him. He is 6 weeks old today and very healthy and beautiful and the most precious thing. He has already gone to work with me today as I taught my last Creative Spirit class for this session. He did so well. What joy I've had in all 30 hours that I've had him! Thank you to Stephanie who took such awesome pictures! Below are us excited gals with the breeder, Margie from Weepin Oaks Farms.

Fresh Off My Easel

2008-04-24T20:48:00.004-05:00

This is a large piece that I was finally able to do. I've had this canvas sitting in my studio for a while now, and all I've been doing lately are smaller pieces. It was time for a big one! I was inspired by some other artists online as I love looking at and studying the works of other great artists. This week I discovered Michael Naples' daily painting gallery online, and loved the growth I've seen his work take the past year since he has painted daily. He had some pears that I loved. Now pears--people know that I have painted them a million times in my past, but I just had to try it with an awesome sense of dramatic light like Michael did in a couple of his paintings. This was done with lots of paint and with a knife in most places, so it has some texture. I finished it off with a satiny gloss varnish. Acrylic on Canvas, 40x30, $1400

This piece will be available at The Commissary Design Warehouse in Birmingham, AL by the weekend. I'm delivering it tomorrow. It will also be available in most sizes as a giclee print on canvas. Just inquire!

2008-04-24T10:32:00.000-05:00

I got to paint alot yesterday--yay! A large one I finished is going to the Commissary in Birmingham AL. But the other thing I've been working on are some charcoal drawings for my Dad's latest book. This is the last one, and it's off to the publisher.

My Dad approving it...the messy desk of an author :)

The Dogwood Festival Downtown!

2008-04-18T07:40:00.000-05:00

The dogwoods are ready for the festival! April 18th and 19th, come visit downtown Athens and Carole Foret Studio / Gallery and feel the glory of spring! Everyone is celebrating! Live music, kids activities, sidewalk sales, the Tour de Pig bikeride--you just can't miss it!

To see a schedule of most events: Visit HERE....

Joining Kevin Derryberry

2008-04-13T16:08:00.004-05:00

Leslie and I will be heading down to Birmingham Thursday for a great cause! Kevin Derryberry is hosting a golf tournament to raise funds for his awesome ministry, and he is making it a fun time for all who want to participate. Kevin is an amazing singer and musician using his talents to serve our awesome Jesus through music as well as serving the less fortunate through raising donations for Lifetech and prison ministries. If you are a golfer you should plan to go. You know who else is going to be there?--Rick and Bubba! Yes, the radio duo will be there along with some well-known former Auburn and Alabama football players. Don't miss it! Read here for more info....

Oh! Leslie nor I play golf--we will be offering our artistic talents, Leslie will be photographing the event, and I will be offering a couple of paintings to the silent auction! Look for the paintings that will be auctioned off here on my blog before Thursday!

Workshops Coming Up...

2008-04-10T14:36:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone, don't forget about my workshops/event schedule that is always on the right sidebar. Tuesday night of next week is my first Open Studio night where I want to invite any artist to come and draw, paint, sculpt a live model. Make your plans to attend--I invite you! The fee will be $45. Call the studio (256.232.2521) to reserve your easel or your spot. Can't wait!!

Happy Birthday, Carla!

2008-04-10T11:50:00.008-05:00

Yesterday was my friend Carla's birthday--her 4? birthday! haha! We got together for the first time in tooooo long to share a birthday lunch. We ate at Limestone Bay Trading Co. in beautiful Mooresville, AL--a place where I have been wanting to eat for quite some time. In the lovely springtime weather we ate outside. Despite the pollen-filled air, it was really nice, and let me tell you, the food was wonderful! So fresh and tasty. The best thing was catching up with Carla and sharing what all we have been doing and HOW we are doing. It was a warm time.

The inside of the restaurant, full of charm and Southern hospitality

with homemade jellies and baked goods....mmm!

After that great time, I had a chance to enjoy some sweet time at Starbucks before to pick up my daughter--enjoying a cappuccino and listening to and watching (on my iTouch) the 6th webcast of Oprah and Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth discussion. Man! It was great! I can't tell you what this study has done for me. I praise God for what the two of them are doing to help us create peace within ourselves and collectively as the world. I loved the beautiful way Eckhart described the crucifixion of Jesus--endearing me ever much more to my dear Lord...Oh! Did you see the American Idol contestants sing "Shoud to the Lord??" What is going on? God is good...Be blessed!

The Week in Review

2008-04-06T12:30:00.005-05:00

The 3-day painting workshop I taught this week was so much fun! The ladies did a fabulous job on their paintings. The weather got too chilly to paint outside like we had hoped, but we made up for it inside the studio. Thank you Michele, Becky, Meg, and Angie for allowing me to spend time with you painting. Thank you too for the awesome snacks you contributed to our snack stash! Yummy!

What have I been up to this weekend? Well, Sister Grace was honored to be the entertainment for the Huntsville American Cancer Society Survivor Dinner to kick off "Relay for Life" that took place Friday night. In the picture above, we are with Lindsey Jones, the Alabama junior spokesperson for the ACS. What in inspiration Lindsey is with her positive attitude after her battle with cancer at her young age left her blind! She is involved in many activities--ballet, tap, band (snare drums) and Girl Scouts. Does she let her handicap stop her? She sang a beautiful inspirational song and spoke like she were some adult. So precious!

There were about 650 people at this dinner, and we were so honored to be a part of a huge group of heroes for the evening. Thanks to Bennie Jacks and Tricia Motts for asking us to be a part. To learn more about being a part of Relay for Life for the ACS, click here.

On Saturday morning, I was honored again to be on WAFF 48 talking about my art. I've been on the set of news stations many times but mostly for Mission Makeover, so it was great to be talking about my art. Georgi Bragg's Saturday morning news show is awesome, and it was great to finally meet her. How did it come to be that I was on her show? My newsletter. She got one that someone forwarded to her several months ago, and it all went from there. A testament to the power of email newsetters! Georgi is such an awesome person. Read more about her here. Thank you, Georgi!

And today--Sunday, my Dad and I took a little time to go to the Huntsville Museum of Art's Leonardo DaVinci invention exhibit. Some friend of ours had won awards in a competition celebrating the inventions--they had made inventions of their own. Marty and Kenny Davis are so smart and creative, and thier inventions were impressive!

If you get a chance, go to the museum and see on view my favorite things I saw today--the illustrations of J. C. Leyendecker. His art was used for advertisements back in the early 1900's for Kelloggs Cereals as well as the Saturday Evening Post. He may not have been as popular as Norman Rockwell, but I believe he was every bit as talented. I loved looking at these paintings!

Leslie's Launch Party!

2008-04-04T07:06:00.004-05:00

We are officially off and running with a tremendous "kick-off" to launching Leslie's new business Leslie Adair Photography as official photographer here at Carole Foret Fine Art! Last Friday night we opened up the studio for the public to come by and meet her, eat some good food, listen to some good music, enter to win and free photo shoot, and check out all that Leslie and I have to offer! L&G Decor decorated, transforming the studio into a gorgeous venue for a party! Leslie's mother prepared a mouthwatering array of hors d’oeuvres, and we had two cinema displays with scrolling slideshows of Leslie's awesome photography. We had a blast and we are so thankful to everyone that made it happen!

Photography by Stephanie Fenton

Remembering Rocco

2008-04-03T21:49:00.004-05:00

My precious, deceased "sweet boy", Rocco would have been 7 this week. We still miss him, but look forward to having a new puppy by the end of this month. These are photos of Rocco at about 10 weeks or so. My husband found them and shared them with me tonight and I just had to share with you.

Check out my SWEET new Art Mugs!!!

2008-04-03T16:09:00.000-05:00

Get 'em while they're HOT!!! :)

Boxer Puppy

2008-03-29T18:00:00.004-05:00

Well, we have finally decided on a puppy that should be ready to come home with us around the end of April. I have been longing for a new pup to have in my life since my precious Rocco passed away in January. The puppies we are considering were born on March 17th, and in this photo their eyes are still closed. We will be choosing from these male pups. Aren't they precious?? Any other boxer lovers out there?

Looking for models!

2008-03-28T06:30:00.003-05:00

My first Open Studio night is coming up April 15th from 7-9pm, and we are so excited to be offering a great opportunity for some independent work by local artists in a grand studio setting. This evening is going to be life drawing. I am seeking a model for this event. Experience preferrable, but not required. You would be needed for about 2.5 hours. Please contact me via email or by visiting the studio. Pay is included.

Interested in this classy, tasteful event? Call the studio to reserve your spot with $45. This includes a model fee. Perhaps you will accomplish a beautiful pastel like this one that my sister Claire did some time back. Isn't it beautiful?

Paint Parties Being Booked!

2008-03-26T12:19:00.005-05:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE

EMAIL OR CALL: 256.232.2521

FOR A FUN PAINT PARTY WITH CAROLE

Carole Foret Art Academy Member

2008-03-26T11:08:00.005-05:00

You may be a Carole Foret Art Academy Member! Did you know that? If you have attended a workshop this year already, then you qualify! Isn't that cool? What does this entitle you to?

receive news about workshops & open studio nights in your inbox prior to everyone else
receive 10% off your tuition for the rest of 2008

How is that for rewarding my students? The membership is good through 2008. You must qualify for membership the beginning of each year. So begin now! Enroll for all of my new workshops at 10% off today! Scroll down to see all the exciting events we have planned.

Respond to me via email if you wish to be an Academy Member and start receiving news!

Oh! And don't forget to attend the Launch Party for Leslie's photography business Friday night. It's going to be fun!

The News!

2008-03-25T11:33:00.003-05:00

As some of you know from reading my blog, exciting changes have been in the works at Carole Foret Fine Art. While I turn my focus full time to my painting and teaching workshops, I am announcing Leslie Willard as the official photographer at Carole Foret Fine Art, operating through her business name Leslie Adair Photography and Design. We are both thrilled and eager to focus and use our individual talents and abilities! Leslie has been training with me to step into this position for over a year now, and I know that she will be stepping into a well-suited position--a dream for her! To celebrate launching Leslie Adair Photography and Design, I'm inviting everyone to a "Launch Party" celebrating Leslie's business opening. It will be held here at my studio this Friday night! There will be good music, good food, and a drawing for a FREE photo shoot with Leslie! I hope to see all my favorite faces there and feel free to bring friends!

Click the invite to enlarge and COME SEE US!

Takin' a Break!

2008-03-16T22:27:00.001-05:00

I'm headed out of town to Valdosta, Georgia with my band, Sister Grace for the next couple of days. We are having a concert, sharing our music ministry Tuesday night. Please pray for us, if you will, that we will glorify God through our music...After that, I will be meeting my family for a much-needed vacation at the beach. Have a blessed Holy Week, and I'll return by Easter Sunday and begin a new week that Monday. I'll leave you with links to Sister Grace's site and music.

Rick and Bubba Show!

2008-03-11T09:23:00.003-05:00

I am just sharing with you a fun secret! I am now a member of the X-treme Club on the Rick & Bubba website, and it is already paying off. I heard part of the show last week when they were reading to the World's Largest Classroom for Read Across America Week. They chose the book Green Eggs and Ham--my favorite childhood book! It was so funny--the part that I heard. I missed part of it getting ready and off to work, but I was so hoping that my daughter's class was tuning in and wanted to call her teacher, etc. but was moving too fast. Well, Sarah told me when I picked her up from school that they indeed tuned in to it and loved it!

With the X-treme Club membership, I was able to find that clip in the archives and enjoy it all over again plus hear the parts I missed. What I love about the comedic duo is that they are indeed funny, but most of all, they are mighty men of God--it's just simply part of who they are and many days part of the show. Do you listen to Rick and Bubba? If you haven't--you absolutely must! I listen to them on WQRV 100.3 The River. They rock!

Girlfriend Paint Party!

2008-03-06T09:35:00.007-06:00

Tuesday night, a group of fun ladies had me over for a Paint Party (a "GIRLFRIEND" one) in Huntsville, and we had a blast! Michele had a spread of great food and wine and had set us up in her beautiful dining room with protective plastic on her table and floor, and the we were free to create without much worry about messing anything up. I hauled in my tub of supplies, and then we were ready! Our subject we chose to paint was some cool martini glasses and olives that we added from our imagination to complete our paintings. I loved working with these lively gals--they just seemed to melt into the "therapy" and relaxation that creating can bring! Thank you Michele, Candy, Susan, Sonya, Courtney, Elizabeth and Anne!

If you are interested in getting a group together for a fun time with wine, paint--girlfriends, couples, etc., just call the studio and we can get you on the calendar! Download the Paint Party PDF for all the info....

2008-03-05T07:04:00.009-06:00

Give your child the creative experience of a lifetime! This summer at Carole Foret Fine Art, your child will have the chance to paint and create in Carole's professional art studio in downtown Athens in the very place Carole paints. There is a camp for every age, and for serious art students Carole's Art Academy will be for training teens in painting and the ins and outs of the artist profession. Click to enlarge the image below for more info. Summer workshops fill fast, so simply call or email to claim your child's spot with your tuition.

Artful Living with Carole Foret