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Many years ago when I worked in construction and engineering Elayne Besson Kuehler worked on the other side of my cubicle. I was fascinated that Elayne was such a great artist. I still have the Christmas card she sent me with a doll under the Christmas tree drawn in pencil or pen (I cannot remember which, hey it’s been 17 years). One year for my birthday she drew a caricature birthday card of me, which everyone signed. It looked like a cross between Dolly Parton and Lonnie Anderson, and I still have it. I just remember thinking that if I were Elayne, I would be painting away in a loft somewhere

Fast forward to the future. Today Elayne and I are both full-time, working artists. That’s the phrase that means that you no longer “work” in some other field, while struggling or wanting to be an artist. You are actually painting, teaching, studying, marketing yourself as an artist and selling your work. From time to time, our paths cross as we both pursue our dreams as artists.

Elayne is the reigning president of Baton Rouge Art League. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Baton Rouge Art League and the New Orleans Art Association. She has won many national and regional awards. Her work is owned in private and corporate collections. She has had many one-person shows and participated in many group shows. Her work can be seen at the Elizabethan Gallery in Baton Rouge, the Collette Fine Art Gallery in Highlands, North Carolina and the Monticello Gallery in Dallas, Texas. She has exhibits in New Orleans at the New Orleans School of Glass and shows at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. She has had her work displayed at the Louisiana Governors’ Mansion for two years and was invited to show at LSU School of Art gallery in the Shaw Center. She has shown her work at LASM in Baton Rouge, the Ziegler Museum, the Mansur Museum, The Barnwell Museum of Art, Woman’s Hospital and the Baton Rouge Little Theatre, to name a few.

Elayne will be hosting the 2006 Annual Great Paint Out, an Oil Painters of America event, in Baton Rouge on September 23 and 24. She may be reached at 225-751-0340 or elaynesk@cox.net.

The public is invited to come out and paint. Meet in front of the Black Forest Restaurant at 321 North Blvd. At 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 23. Be sure to bring sun block, water, camera and painting supplies. You do not have to paint in oils and you do not have to be a member of Oil Painters of America. The event is designed to promote artists getting together, painting and having fun and it’s free. There will be a finale party on Sunday, September 24 at 4 p.m. to show off the work. Bring a bottle of wine and some cheese to share and invite all of your friends to come and view or purchase the work. Rain dates will be October 7 and 8.

The moral of the story is to be careful for what you wish for, because it just may happen. How cool is that. To actually be living the life that you use to dream about. It doesn’t get any better. Link-Up with me and let me hear about what is happening in your life. Happy Painting!