Margaret A. Dillard

Last Week I had a dream of mine come true! I got a call to show my work at the OKC Festival of the Arts!

It was wonderful! I had forgotten how much fun it is to watch the crowds and interact with people who came into my booth. I had some wonderful friends come by to visit. Craig McKnight and Sherry Keahey from OGE Telecom came by. I got to meet a lovely lady I had talked to on the phone several times. Lena Lawson and her husband Ken from Freedom City. Old friends David and Brenda Wheelock each came by. Karen Hill from my Christian Singles dances days visited and I got to meet her sons beautiful family. Of course my own family came by. It was great to see Amy and Ted Arellano and marvel at how fast Teddy and Ava have grown. My brother Danny and his kids Sarah and Daniel brought me lunch one day and Daniel even came to help me out at the tent one evening Bill needed to be gone!

I visited with the other 3 of FOUR students of Carol Armstrong who were showing at the Festival too. Tim Kenney, Herb Graves and Charles Steelman had booths this year too. I met new artists and got to geek out meeing artists I’d always admired like Rory Morgan and meet bunches of new artists too. There were some times that were hot and weary but I was so happy to be there!

I didn’t win anything, I didn’t sell anything, had to travel through a torrential downpour on Sunday, ate bad food that was way too expensive, attendance seemed pretty thin this year… Sometimes it goes like that 😦

On the plus side: I had a good time visiting with patrons, catching up with artist friends from past shows and making new artist friends! There was a band Friday night and I really enjoyed the music…even got to dance a little! My poetry teacher Carol Hamilton, who I hadn’t seen in too many years, came out to visit me.  That was terrific to see her!! I got to look at a LOT of REALLY good art all around the festival. My wonderful husband, Bill, bought me a beautiful beaded necklace and earring set from Yoneveah Hawkins! and I got to spend quality time with said wonderful husband Bill!

The day after Red Earth I went right after work to catch the last 40 minutes of open hours at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s exhibit of 2019 Prix de West contenders. I feasted my eyes on the beauty mostly. But I have to admit to feeling a little bit better after seeing that even the big guns in Art with such beautiful paintings as these don’t always sell right away! There’s hope for me yet…

I had a great time at the Artesian Arts Festival in Sulphur, OK

I won third place in the painting division with “Jeannie’s Boy”!!!

I was thrilled my friends Susie and Ron Powell came to join me at the opening reception and share the moment with me!

I got to spend quality time with my husband and with my cousin Shelly on a beautiful day at the festival!

There have been so many things I should have posted over the last year!!I had a marketing lesson with my good friend (and great painter!) Tim Kenny https://www.facebook.com/Tim-Kenney-Art-143209152460708/ and I promise to do better from now on!!!

My galleries will soon be updated with new paintings but if you want to come see them in person my husband, Bill, and I will have a tent set up at the Edmond Libertyfest Rodeo this weekend June 29th and 30th. Visit Edmond Round Up Club website for more details http://edmondroundupclub.com/

No More Open Range on Gate Display

Buffalo Family

American Rodeo Queen Original oil 10 x20

Little Brother Stickball

Last year I was fortunate enough to have my artwork featured in the September 24 edition of Discover Oklahoma Magazine! It was a little intimidating but really fun process and the interviewer Lisanne Anderson really made it a pleasure. You can take a look at the video at discoveroklahomatv.com/episodes/Sept24 or at YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGNwTxm0k-w

Thanks to family and friends who came  to celebrate with me at the Artist Reception yesterday! Anybody who missed the reception can still come see my work through the end of September at the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center just off I-35 at the Davis/Sulphur exit. It is a really nice facility and I was impressed with the number of travelers who stopped by.

Please join us at the

Chickasaw Nation

Welcome Center

for the

Featured Artist Reception

For

Margaret A. Dillard

Saturday July 16, 2016

1:00 – 3:00 pm

The Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center is located on the Southwest corner of I-35 exit 55 (Davis/Sulphur exit)

light refreshments will be served

This week began my 4 month exhibit at the Chickasaw Welcome Center! I’m so honored to have been asked to be a featured artist! My husband Bill and I met with Kelley Lunsford with the Chickasaw Nation Dept of Commerce to hang the work up. We had a wonderful time visiting with her and the staff there! The Chickasaw Welcome center is located just off I-35 on the SW corner of the Davis/Sulphur exit (#55). They will present an Artists reception for me on Saturday, July 16 from 1 – 3 pm with refreshments and a chance to meet and greet. I hope all my friends can come by to see me that afternoon, it should be a fun party!

Just got back from the Southeastern Tribes Artists Show and Market in Talequah Ok. This is held in conjunction with the Annual Chickasaw Festival every year. This is my second year to compete and show. I didn’t win any prizes but still felt like I had a great weekend. I sold one original oil painting and delivered a pencil drawing that had been commissioned earlier. I had a great time visiting with the other artists at the show. There is such a wealth of talent in the Southeastern tribes! So of course I’ve come back with lots of inspiration for new things to do!