Recently, I have been gardening with seeds and bulbs. As this is a new avenue in my life, it has been a huge learning curve with many lessons through metaphors of growth. Seeds and bulbs require time, good soil, water, and continuous effort of tending. I pray, reflect, and meditate as I plant the bulbs and seeds, prune, and water. Although my garden areas do not always look perfect, my whole heart goes into each seed and bulb planted as it reminds me how to continue to show up each day. It also reminds me not to worry about what the neighbors think as I figure out what I am doing. ;0) It feels like learning to have faith with each new day. I see why they call it a nursery, as each new budding seedling is filled with hope for the future fruits, vegetables, and flowers that will follow. It is believing in what you cannot yet see that feels like remembering what it is to have faith each day. Little things make a difference over time. These nuggets of wisdom are the actual fruits of one's labor. The flowers from those bulbs planted in the fall were fleeting, but I was enamored and overjoyed by their beauty at the beginning of spring after a cold winter. To attempt to slow time, I like to capture the energy and excitement of the new bloom on paper in watercolor or on canvas in oil. The colors are vibrant, and the forms are playful. Of course, I have learned these lessons in other ways in my life before, but it feels like the "great remembering" of how to keep moving in the face of obstacles and when to be still by enjoying the beauty of not just the blooms, but every phase. Harmony is difficult to achieve in this world with its beckoning distractions and rabbit holes. It can be challenging to find your rhythm once out of flow. Discerning what is a non-essential plant in the garden and what is a budding flower is difficult as a newish gardener. I love discovering how herbs like orgegano and lavender can be used to protect the vegetables and fruits from insects. My success has been found in planting the seedlings together instead of individually in separate containers. Even nature informs us know we are better together.
I remember my grandfather's hands as I use the tools he used to own from his small farm at the back of his yard in Indianapolis, Indiana. I did not particularly enjoy the farming nor the heat back then, but I "get it" a lot more as an adult. I recently transplanted the seedlings to a raised garden bed and was nervous about the change for the developing young plants. Trusting in the process allowed me to successfully create a beautiful, thriving garden. Although my tiny garden is yet to produce actual fruit, I am focusing on the process, the one arugula salad I made, and thrilled they are even growing. It's baby steps! A friend recently reminded me that our growth is not always visible. Sometimes it is the roots that are growing, adjusting, or settling, not always the visible leaves or blossoms. And that stuck with me to enjoy exactly where I am right now in my imperfection as a human. As parents age, kids grow up, and life keeps moving at a rapid pace, these efforts to garden remind me how to find stillness in the anticipation and hope in the growth seen and unseen. All that to say, life hands us multiple obstacles that prove these remembered treasures from my garden adventures to be more difficult in practice... But set the bar. That is all we can do each day is our best we have to give. If I have been quiet on https://www.courtneysaltonfineart.com, it's because I have been busy growing!

12TH ANNUAL SMALL WORKS SHOW

Friday, December 1, 2023 10:00 AM
Saturday, December 30, 2023 10:00 AM
Shain Gallery
2823 SELWYN AVENUE Charlotte, NC 28209 USA (map) USA (map)

See you there!

Hey Friends,
Fall has arrived - although some of the NC temps might have us fooled some days. What's happening in the studio? The Scouted Studio launched my new collection of 23K gold and copper collage on paper and linen this week called "First Days in Flight". The Scouted Studio is an online gallery and you can find my work at www.thescoutedstudio.com. The series is a labor of love from my heart. You see, since my father passed, I have wonder where he is exactly. Where is heaven? For me, he is in nature, the wind, the lights shining bright within us, and beyond what I can truly even imagine. All I do know is it seems like it is a place of peace and comfort beyond any thing we could comprehend.
I am grateful for this new perspective because that peace and comfort transfers to me if I slow down enough to pay attention, be still and open to things outside of my realm. I was telling a story to a fellow hummingbird admirer recently about a visit from a hummingbird where he was learning to fly. The tiny bird hovered ever so briefly above my hand while walking my 2 dogs...It felt rare. She told me hummingbirds are said to be "messengers of love". It made take a deep breath of gratitude that love lives on forever, just like prayers.

As always, I am grateful for each and everyone of you! May you feel free to fly and spread your wings in what you put your heart into this season.

Warm Regards,

Courtney

I am an assemblage of many qualities of my parents, teachers, family, coaches, friends, experiences, genetics, the places I have lived and traveled, heartaches, celebrations, and all the little moments I managed to be present in between. We are all collages of this one life we have. It's full of imperfections, but in retrospect those mistakes have molded me into the person I am. I still have many lessons I am learning every day.
A teacher once said to me, "Paint as if your life depended on it..." The impact was profound. When showing up to the easel, he was saying give it your everything and by all means, do not hold back or play small for any one else. Paint with the enthusiasm that it is determining life or death. This may feel like hyperbole, but we only live once! What will you do with this one precious life?

"Rays of Light" is inspired by trips to Isle of Palms marina with friends and my family this past year. As I face a new season of life, the rays of light seem to summon angels among us that have provided guidance in uncertain times for me as my dad fights a terminal illness. The more gratitude I feel for the time we have been gifted, the more the support appears out of the most unexpected places. I am in awe as the positive guidance radiate on in a pay it forward sort of manner to those around me. Many things in life do not seem fair or are unexplainable, but if we are open, we will discover growth is at the other side of the grace we receive during the storms. The vulnerability allows us to break open, filling us with grace inside which shine so bright directly into our darkest places of fear. Even if for moments, the grace given fills us with the peace we all seek like the fleeting moments at dusk as the sun sets over the trees beaming light through the clouds onto the water.

Happy belated Father's Day to all the awesome dads out there!
My dad is a genuine word smith. He is always quick witted with a metaphor to lighten the mood or enlighten me in some way. He reminds me to be grateful and grab the joy out of each day. He also reminds me often... "This too shall pass" whenever I am in need of perspective. Of course, he loves his dad jokes and I can't imagine life without him. I am grateful for the time we do have and feel honored to call him dad.
Also, I would be remiss to leave out my husband of 18 years who is so very helpful in so many ways, but especially with our growing daughters!

This year I gifted my Dad my artwork of a silhouetted multimedia metal leaf collage of himself at age 18. I made the mistake of presenting it to him in the sun on the patio which practically blinded him with the reflection of the metal leafing from the sun. (Note to self: deliver inside, not outdoors. I told him it is because his spirit shines so bright!) Once he regained sight, I explained to him the meaning of the Aspen tree patterned through out the figure. We recently went to Colorado to ski as a family and learned every single Aspen tree in a grove is connected as single living organism which is fascinating to me! And it made me think about family and how we are connected. I think we can learn a lot from nature and how they all take care of one another.

It continues to be quite a ride after the last four years of Courtney Salton Fine Art. To thank you all for following along on this journey of creating original works of art, take advantage of 25% off at check out with code "SUMMERFEELING" for a limited time only. (The sale ends 6/30/23.)
If you would like to see artwork in person, schedule a visit to my working studio by email [email protected]!
Happy SUMMER and happy shopping!

Thank you to all who attended the First Friday Gallery Crawl over the weekend! I enjoyed talking to each and every one of you. Setting up for the First Fridays is always exciting and sometimes difficult as I create new work and curate what will be displayed for the show. As I have been creating a lot of work, I realize the need to do a studio clean out. For the month June, I will offer 25% off all work with the exception of the metal leaf multimedia collage collection with the code SUMMERFEELING. Follow along on instagram to see what I have been working on http://www.instagram.com/courtneysaltonfinart. My latest Tina Turner tribute, "Queen of Rock and Roll" is a personal favorite as Tina's songs are timeless.

Welcome and thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! You will be the first to know about special promotions and upcoming events! Visit in person each month to my studio for First Fridays at Dilworth Artisan Station during the Gallery Walks.  Please email [email protected] with any questions about specific works or to create an original commission. These typically take 4 to 6 weeks for oil to complete depending on my commission schedule and to allow proper drying time.  The metal leaf multimedia collages can be completed within 1 to 2 weeks (also depending on what the line up looks like at the time). If there is a painting you would like in a different size, I will recreate, but it will never be an exact replica.

     In addition to oil paintings, multimedia metal leaf collage, and watercolors, I offer prints of all the paintings on multiple substrates like wood panel or giclees.  Shop https://courtneysaltonfineart.shop for my "functional print such as wooden trays, playing cards, notecards, pickle ball paddles, pillows, lamps and more! Please know I create custom one of kind gifts, but about 2-3 weeks is needed to allot proper shipping time as well as creating and designing. 

     I am so glad you are here, and I look forward to working with you! 

Peace and love, 

Courtney

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This year has flown by already. It seems things are back to warp speed and life is feeling very full. My cup runneth over! I am feeling super inspired to create new series these days in metal leaf collage. (Please see added to works recently.)

I am thankful for the recent exhibit at the Mint Museum featuring Picasso and Charlotte's own Romare Bearden. I went the first day it arrived and was also fortunate to be a volunteer yesterday with other members of the Mint Museum Auxiliary. We had the privilege of randomly selecting attendees on community day to win a free membership to the Mint, Picasso books, and other door prizes. Saturday was community day to celebrate 50 years since Picasso's passing and open to the public. Experiencing the looks on peoples faces after returning from the exhibit was priceless and then, if they won an unexpected prize, I couldn't help, but giggle at their surprise. We were checking coats and many, many umbrellas, but I couldn't believe how much fun had interacting with the community at this special event!

If you attended the Dilworth Artisan Station on Friday night, I had a ball meeting you and am always thankful for our returning visitors and customers. Remember, the studio is open during the week by appointment and all work is available through the website. Mark your calendars for every First Friday at the Dilworth Artisan Station!

Also on the horizons is the Charlotte Country Day Fundraiser in Hance Gallery on April 20-22, 2023. Fifty Percent of the proceeds go to CCDS. You don't want to miss this event!

Lastly, if you are a member of the Guild of Charlotte Artists or thinking of joining, come listen to Sybil Godwin, owner of Shain Gallery, speak to the artists about gallery representation on April 26, 2023 at 6:30pm in The Mint Museum Randolph.

As always, I am thankful you are here! If you are new, welcome! I have recently made some changes to the website. Take a look around and buy that painting if it speaks to you. Life is short; surround yourself with things you love!

Peace and love,

Courtney