Celebrating Another Art Show

This past weekend was my second year to participate in the big juried art show called “ArtXtravaganza”.

It was the very first sale of the show that will always stick out in my mind. A beautiful black woman, with a quiet, soulful spirit came by my work, and lingered over one particular abstract. She then left to take in the rest of the show, but it was not long before she circled back and said, “I have to have ‘Ebenezer’”.

Here is the abstract titled “Ebenezer” :

24x24” abstract, oil and gold leaf on triple primed mdf board

She asked me “why the name Ebenezer”, and held my gaze as I told her how that in ancient Israel, whenever God stepped in to mightily help His people, they would often build a memorial, and call it an “Ebenezer”. The idea would be to always remember, and remember to tell the story of the miraculous help of God to their children, and to their children’s children.

I told this new collector, “I have been through some things in the last four years. And God has mightily helped me.”

Looking forward to more shows this year and next. It has been nothing but a joy to connect “IRL” and in person, over online. It is so satisfying to not need social media (though I still have a presence there, and always will), and to sell locally. It is by far my favorite way to meet collectors.

Hey Knoxville, Come and See Me {Artxtravaganza Art Show}

Year after year, my disappointment grew. I would email my application to be juried into the Knoxville art show called “Artxtravaganza” and each year I would get a return email beginning something like,

“Dear Sheila Atchley, we regret to inform you…”

About last September or October, I saw the “Artxtravaganza” as “sender” in my list of emails for the day, and my heart beat faster. I steeled myself for the usual “…we’re sorry but” response - because the caliber of artists participating in this show is always very high.

Not this time. This time the email began something like, “We are delighted to tell you…”

…yours truly, headed to the show installation today…

Immediately following a rush of excitement, I promptly panicked. I have this really great problem right now, and it’s that I sell paintings almost as soon as I paint them, and my inventory was very low. As in…less than a half dozen paintings for a show that requires at least 30 medium to large size originals.

Of course, then came the holidays. And incredible, scary painter’s block. So, I prayed. As soon as our Christmas tree came down, I woke up one day and hit the studio - and basically did not come out until yesterday.

one wall of my booth

the other two walls

THEREFORE, my Knoxville friends, I invite you to zoom in on these photos and choose which painting you’d love to take home. My art truly shifts the spiritual atmosphere, because every victory I’ve won in heavenly realms is embedded in each paint stroke.

I paint in The Presence.

And my heart’s desire is to send that Presence straight into your home. I absolutely believe that is not only possible - it happens for me all the time. The Presence of the Lord is peaceful and lovely and life-giving.

Art is powerful, and let me tell you why: You live with A Thing in your home - A Thing that is artisan, handmade, and that draws you in. A Thing that incrementally changes the way you think. Every time you walk past it, your thoughts elevate. You think a different thought. The capacity for this one simple thing - a different thought - to change your whole life cannot be overestimated.

A good painting is a good influence, a powerful influence. Especially a painting that you bought yourself, for yourself…you never buy art to match the couch. You buy a piece that stirs your spirit in some way.

…it was a sweaty job, not to be accomplished without The Preacher’s help…

I’d love to meet you for the first time, or hug your neck if I’ve known you forever. Come on by and say hi, and see allllllll the beautiful art and designs to be found at 2023’s Knoxville Artxtravaganza.