The other night I headed up to Toronto to the SW (Super Wonder Gallery) for the preshow of the ETA awards. This was the "meet and greet" for the participating artists. It was also a gallery showing of all the nominated art for the awards. The peacock was representing me for THRIVING ARTIST and the horse head DAUNTLESS was nominated for the category "Innovation". The night was unlike anything I had ever participated in. People were dancing, drinking and having fun. I've always thought that a gallery showing would be stuffy, reserved and nerve racking. Quite the contrary! I forgot my Michael Kors and my Gucci at home, and it didn't matter!! It was a night of live music, live painting, and helpful seminars. The other artists were friendly and non competitive. Not what I expected at all! I really met some new friends!
And now the funniest story of the night. Driving home on the QEW we came up on a massive traffic jam. The signs were showing construction and the lanes were barely moving. At one point we sat in the middle lane for 20 minutes without moving! What is going on up ahead? An accident? Construction? We nudged along for an infinite amount of time. I started thinking about all the cars piling up behind us. By this time the traffic must be backed up to Pickering! Cars slowly started moving from the centre lane into the left lane. I decided to make the move to the left. We finally inched our way past what was holding the entire city up... A guy asleep, head back mouth open asleep, in his truck in the middle lane!!! Ok now wait, it gets better...so Now we were moving along a little better but it was still slow do to the construction pylons. About 5 minutes later a truck goes zipping by in the blocked off construction area. Whizzing by the entire traffic jam and butting in after he had gone as far as he could. Yep! The guy woke up! It was him!

This is MIKAYLA ECHO! Driftwood dolphin with wave. She's so sparkly! She's been glittered up from tail to nose with sparkles! My second attempt to alter the natural look of the driftwood. The first time was when I built the ALBINO RHINO for the albino rhino beer review desk. I painted the rino head with gloss white and it turned out amazing!

I named this sparkly dolphin after a little young lady that has been very helpful collecting driftwood for me. I wanted to do something different, special and girlie for this honourable name! She also has come to my house and has had a tour of "sculpture land". She's a dedicated follower and loves my work! She's an artist too! She does some pretty fabulous stuff for a young girl and I hope to be a great roll model for her. Her name is MIKAYLA BATEMAN. You can find her art page on Facebook at this link:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1518052441833639?tsid=0.4362273921724409&source=typeaheadPlease go and give her a follow and support your local up and coming artists!

So I placed 2nd in the 2nd round of voting for THRIVING ARTIST. Eight of us are moving onto round 3, the gallery round at The Super Wonder Gallery in Toronto. This is where my piece "EGYPT" the driftwood peacock will represent me. And "DAUNTLESS" The driftwood horse head, with sea treasures, will be judged for my nomination for the INNOVATION AWARD. This preshow is open to the public with a minimum entrance fee, so if your bored come support me, Friday night, Sept 23rd!
Also today I rolled the bones and mailed my application in for the ONE OF A KIND SHOW. fingers crossed I get accepted!

So my THRIVING ARTIST VOTE is going quite well, however, I'm behind a bit for first place. I sat thinking this morning at how I was gonna increase my votes. I'm slowly dwindling behind Alex Scovino, what should I do? What is my biggest online asset? INSTAGRAM!!! At over 2800 followers, I should be able to make up some ground!! Now there is some cons to this plan...first of all they are strangers and don't know you personally, next, you can't attach a Facebook link or web link to your photos, it has to be on your page. Next is to get them to look at your page and see the link. After that you need them to log into Facebook to vote. It's a lot of hoops for them to jump through!!! Crossing fingers that this works!!!
And in case you haven't voted, here's the link:
​https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPOOLWP
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The second round of voting for THRIVING ARTIST in Toronto is going down as we speak! It started yesterday and I was out of the gates fast!! Feeling very confident with 20 votes ahead of a guy "Alex Scovino". I've never heard of him, but googled his name and seems to be a known artist in the area. Toronto, and it seems Venezuela, obviously has his back, now leading with 41 votes ahead of me. To say the least, I'm nervous because I have 2 other artists also on my heals. Help from everyone is needed. We need to show Toronto, that the Niagara area means business! Please help by voting every day for me and my driftwood peacock, through Facebook. This will mean a lot to me to qualify for the finals for the ETA Awards! The peacock will then be shown in a gallery in Toronto, which would mean great exposure for me! It only takes less than a minute to vote!! If everyone votes just once a day until Sept 9th I should qualify!!! ❤️😘
Below is the beautifulwork of Alex Scovino,
​as you see I have my work cut out for me!!

Here is the link to vote:
​https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPOOLWP