Hello everyone

Hope you are well. There's a little chill in the wind at the moment here in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Nothing too scary though. Not quite meriting a coat yet in the mornings. Will, I ever get to wear my coats again? A jumper? I don't understand why the shops here sell things like coats, hats, gloves? It's a mystery to me - even balaclavas! Then; of course, given that there is a respectful dress-code for ladies here, why, oh why, are the shops filled with mini-skirts and teeny tops? Another mystery to me. I guess a lot of it is aimed at the passing trade.

Anyway, our lovely dog Suki has discovered her wimper! A very strange sound indeed: she sounds like an old man moaning! And Bonnie has discovered the pleasures of jumping on my husband in the morning to wake him up. She then tries to snuggle down very quietly on the bed, to try and not be noticed, since she's certainly not allowed on the bed at all.

Now I have some wonderful traditional artists exhibiting at THE MILLENIUM HOTEL, Abu Dhabi. Have I mentioned our venue enough yet? I keep banging that nail, don't I? I just don't want you to miss a crazy-good oportunity at gaining some unique artwork and of course, giving to 'Strays Of Abu Dhabi' one of the Animal Rescue volunteer groups here. Giving, so gently.....you won't even know you are doing it

Mo Elsaleh

Yes, wow, indeed! Isn't the patterned detail beautiful against the folds of the man's clothing. You can find Mo on facebook at the present time.

I will stress, I am only showing 'samples' of our artists' work at this stage. The actual Auction Catalogue will be displayed on 'straysofabudhabi.com' website nearer to April.

Also, introducing Jojie. M. Casiao. Josefino M. Casiao is a Filipino comics illustrator who drew in the Golden Drama Magazine in the early 1990's. He began his interest in drawing when he was working in cinema advertising. He has illustrated comic stories like 'Kuyom na Palad' by Elena M.Patron, 'Takas sa Langit' by Pablo S. Gomez, 'Japanese Bat' by Hal Santiago and 'Hell Troopers' by Carl Comendador (in Pioneer Komiks) and many more. He is mainly working in advertising as a graphic designer in Dubai.

Jojie is astonishingly versatile as an artist. Skilled with cartoon/animation as well as traditional artistry.

Jojie M. Casiao

Also, introducing Natasha Gunaratna who is studying art at The Cambridge School, Abu Dhabi. A very creative young lady, also involved in setting up exhibitions for other talented local artists. She favours contemporary art and has a style all her own.....

Natasha Gunaratna

She often works with vibrant colours and bold shapes in her art expression.

Hey, didn't I tell you it was a wonderful mix of styles and talent? Now, you can see what I mean  So, keep your sunglasses on, because this will be one 'coooool' exhibition.

I'm not sure I'll manage to showcase ALL our 51 artists in time for our Art Auction in April, but, I will do my best to give you a run-down.

Hello bloggers,

Bless all of you who have given so kindly to the Haiti appeals. What a horrendous start to any New Year!

It's easy to live life in a kind of bubble here. The weather always warm, the skys always blue. I know I'm guilty of that  Sitting out in the garden, any afternoon until I overheat. Guilty pleasures indeed!

Well, just to brighten your day I'll show you a funny photograph. It certainly makes me laugh. My husband has long-lamented his poor camera skills. Well, I think IT and art can often be opposing skills. So, he wanted to take a nice photograph of our two new (strays of abu dhabi) dogs. And yes, before you ask, the light was perfectly good!

Can you see anyone there? Well, it's Suki on the left and Bonnie on the right. And how was it possible to make two mad, evil dogs with eyes like that? Hee, hee, hee.......That's a skill that cannot be taught, I think. And to get both eyes doing that at once! Genius! Who said that the 'eyes are the windows of the soul'?

Anyway, managed to find a little desert in amongst the building constructions in Abu Dhabi. And here's a little taster for you.

A little slice of desert.

Isn't that just beautiful? Those were the true colours at 7 am under a crisp blue sky. And with my new Nokia phone. How incredible these gadgets are now! Good enough to paint. And I love all those violet hues as shadows.............

Well, it was Suki's day at the desert this time. Never have I seen a dog so 'at home' in an environment before! I guess she is a true desert dog. The history of the Saluki is interesting. They were used by the Bedouin tribes not just for companionship but also hunting. The Saluki would work in tandem with the falcon. The Saluki to tire and out the prey, the falcon to make the catch. What a twosome! Faster than a greyhound too.

I think if Suki were a model, she'd probably be a supermodel. Thankfully, she seems blissfully unaware of her supermodel status, or the fact that we've never experienced the temperament of a pedigree before. She tolerates our ignorance fairly well

Anyway, I've been showcasing our wonderful artists in no particular order. Though, some might say alphabetically, might've been best. And some, would probably be right! Anyway, I've just got time to add my own painting, up for bids in April. I know, I can't give you a date yet. It's Abu Dhabi time, after all  So, here it is again, my horseracing painting, of medium size, oil on canvas, up for bids with NO RESERVE.

I think lucky number '5' is winning this race. What's your lucky number?

www.moorethanart.com Have  good week

Hello bloggers. So nice to see you again.

And how nice it was to have my two little visitors (mum and son), escaping the English snow for Christmas. How hard it is in Europe at the moment, with such crazy quantities of snow! My mum told me that (yes, it's a doggy story) her friend's Chihuahau's dog disappeared into a snow-drift by the side of the road and had to be dug-out and rescued!

Well, no, this isn't the actual snow-drift-dog, but I couldn't resist posting this Chihuahua, who has obviously learnt how to smile  

I won't mention that I still have to wear my sunhat. That would just be bad-taste. Mind you, we'll get our punishment in the summer here, don't you worry. We'll be puffing and sweating and dripping..........enough!

Anyway, time to introduce another of our talented contemporary artists Noura Masri  http://www.nouramasri.com Kindly donating one of her artworks for our 'Strays Of Abu Dhabi' charity art auction (April 2010)

Noura Masri, was born in Dubai in 1981 to Jordanian parents of Palestinian origin; self-taught artist she started painting at age 12 and have held solo and group exhibitions in the Middle East and Europe. She has worked as a graphic designer and is currently a full-time artist. She teaches kids and adults alike as well as work on special projects.

Here's Noura at one of her many solo exhibtions.

Fame and Fortune sit lightly on the shoulders of Noura Masri, with no less than 13 publications/articles about her artwork under her belt.

The themes in Noura’s work introduce you to a world that merges fantasy and reality. Her figures are both seductive and mysterious. They exist in their own eccentric realm of fantasy, yet draw the observer to them with a sense of accessibility that freezes with time. Her  work has been compared to artists such as Picasso though the figures she paints captivate the feminine side of her Picasso-esque style with an air of enigmatic sensuality.

Noura Masri

Here's Noura happily imprisioned by her paintings.

My paintings are about the enjoyment of playing with images, imagining, creating fantasy, and of course most importantly the enjoyment in creating harmony with colors, expressions and how it evolves to become a personal narrative. To me, the end result doesn’t matter: It’s the enjoyment of creating /painting /writing, etc….......www.nouramasri.com  

There is a natural joy in Noura's paintings that really comes through.

''............inspiration comes from within and from anywhere and everything around you. To me, painting is not about the fugures or the shapes perfect, yet it is more about the process that you mentally go through when you paint.........I truly believe that you can create your own inspiration and that nothing is impossible........

Isn't it exciting to think you will be able to bid on Noura's painting? Don't worry, I'll be creating an online catalogue, showing all the paintings up for bids on the strays of abu dhabi website. That's straysofabudhabi.com

This will probably be the most varied and unusual group of International Artworks you may ever see! All together, under one venue roof!! (The Millenium Hotel) And all profits going to help care and rehome for strays found here in Abu Dhabi. It's just a win win. What and NO RESERVE on most paintings? Isn't that a risk? Yes, indeed it is a risk for the artists, who rightly value their work and the time and love and effort it takes to create it. But, not a risk for YOU the bidder  

Hello all  Enjoying all that winter weather?

I must confess, I have had to put on a light cardigan/sweater, just the once . Yes, I was shocked too! Don't hate me! What colour was is? Is was YELLOW of course. You can't beat yellow, can you. Indeed, why bother with all the other colours?

Well, you may have noticed from my last week's blog that my new rescue (strays of abu dhabi.com ) dogs are now famous! So, hoping you saw our article in Gulf News? Hope you didn't have to wrestle with your internet too much to find it? Anyway, if you didn't see it, go to gulfnews.com and type in Laurel Moore and our article on calling for an animal sanctuary here in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is there. Hurray!!

Honestly, I can't keep up with the demands for doggy chews from our dogs now! Fame has changed them!! I hope they'll manage to keep themselves grounded from their new celebrity life on the sofa.

Anyway, time to introduce our talented next mixed-media sculptor Artist Karen LeCocq at ://www.karenlecocq.com/pages/bio.html 

Karen Lecocq mixed media sculptor

Lovely photo Karen and what an intriguing box of pointy trees behind you? I'd like to know what you are going to do with them?

So Karen is a professional artist and lecturer and  a mixed media sculptor who has shown nationally and internationally in galleries as well as major museums, among them: The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, The Armand Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA, and the The Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA. Her work has gained international recognition through its use in the Absolut Vodka Signature Artist campaign. WOW!

Her work has been pictured in numerous publications, among them: Art In America, Art News, Artforum, Art and Antiques, Manhatten Arts, and Time Magazine and has been reproduced in the books The Power of Feminist Art, Sexual Politics, The Absolut Book, California Artists, Through the Flower, By Our Own Hands, and in her autobiography, The Easiest Thing To Remember.

I would add her lists of awards here, but honestly, I wouldn't be able to fit them on this page  But, of course you may read them at your leisure from her website.

But, more importantly here's a little taster of her lovely work. Can you see the little tree-frog? I particularly like the way she pieces together natural elements to create a little journey or story.

I'd also like to thank Karen and all her gallery artists (Gallery 10 and Gallery 25 in California and Washington DC) for their faith and support in shipping us an amazing total of their 35 professional artworks!! All for our charity art auction for a date to be fixed in April 2010 - with all profits going to strays of abu dhabi. BIG THANKYOU  Laurel Moore, www.moorethanart.com

http://www.karenlecocq.com/

View me Jazz Singing and playing my Saxophone at my Tedx performance this April in Abu Dhabi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_YF_Qocfw  

My Art at www.moorethanart.com

For your Art enquires questions@moorethanart.com (All art sent with tracking and insurance via TNT in a postal tube).