The Perfect Complement

Thank you Mary Butner of King, NC for sharing this photo of your beautiful log cabin quilt and, yes, it is the perfect complement to Dempsey's painting of "Carolina Heritage" which features a log cabin pattern as well. We are so honored to have Essick Art hanging above your bed.

 Note: Mary's mother, Mae Davis, made the quilt for her in the 80's. Mae was not only known for her quilting parties but also her homemade rolls and coconut cake. "I sense Mama's presence with me every day in that beautiful quilt," Mary shared.



Mary Butner's Art & Quilt

Two Guys and a Puzzle or Don't Go to Pieces!

How many men does it take to work one B.A.S.S. puzzle? Obviously 2 if you ask ROY GARDNER and DEMPSEY ESSICK. Roy brought the completed B.A.S.S. Corner puzzle in to be signed and framed but Dempsey dropped the puzzle while carrying it to the framing room. Nothing would do but for the artist to re-work Roy's puzzle. Roy was very pleased to have a puzzle painted by Dempsey, signed by Dempsey, framed by Dempsey and even worked by Dempsey!

Dempsey signs Roy's B.A.S.S. Corner puzzle.

Yikes!

"If I can paint it, I ought to be able to work it!" Dempsey shared.

Congratulations Roberta

THUMBS UP to Roberta Crawford, our door prize winner at our recent Fall Open House.
"I've never won a thing," Roberta shared but we encouraged her that maybe her luck was going to change. Roberta is pictured here with Dempsey and her own personally signed copy of 'Hangin' Out in the Pines'. We are so pleased to have a presence in the Crawford home.


Roberta was one happy gal!
 

Have Props, Will Travel

'Have Props, Will Travel" says local customer Judy Greer who was in the shop with her pillow and bed post. She brought those items to assist her in making a framing decision and it was worthwhile as everything coordinated. She even took her pillow shams to Sherwin Williams so Dempsey's Place is in good company. She's a Pisces and they are very creative- what more needs to be said? 

Judy & Dempsey: Fine Taste in Fine Art

                                                 

Move over Hummingbird Artist...Grace Has Arrived!

Fifth Grader, Grace, from Sheets Memorial Christian School sent Dempsey the sweetest thank you note and I just had to share it with you. Grace is a hummingbird artist too has she included her own hidden hummer and even signed her name with an adjoining hummer as Dempsey does.

A Thank You Note from Grace!



Notice Grace's hummingbird signature as well as
her hidden hummingbird. Clever!

'Hummingbird Lover of the Year' Award

If there is a dedicated HUMMINGBIRD LOVER out there it has got to be this guy. STEVE sustained a broken foot while attempting to hang his freshly filled HUMMINGBIRD feeder. He stepped on the chaise for a little extra height and heard his leg  'pop' as the chair flipped. Needless to say STEVE'S HUMMERS went hungry that night. He hobbled in the shop today and shared his story and I in turn had to share it with you.

A Bummer Hummer Story

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to Cecilia Yarborough, the winner in our recent Gummy Bear Contest. The intent was to guess how many gummy bears were in the jar without going over. Cecilia came closest  guessing 256 when the actual number was 279. Other guesses ran from 41 to 891. Hubby Jerry visited the shop with her and sure was proud of his wife's good fortune.

Cecilia and Dempsey
each enjoy a gummy from the contest jar. 

4 Generations of Shoppers

It was GIRLS DAY OUT when 4 Generations of Beautiful Women visited the shop today (Cornelia, Cindy, Jenny and lil' Elizabeth).  There was a lot of shopping going on until Baby Elizabeth gave the word that she was ready to go. Hurry back girls!


4 Generations & Dempsey

UNC Fan Produces DUKE DOODLE

Due to popular demand by those fans flaunting Duke blue T-shirts, artist and avid North Carolina fan Dempsey Essick forced himself to create a 2015 Duke National Championship Doodle. "It killed him to do it, but turnabout is fair play," Shelley Essick said.The cartoon, autographed, hand touched in blue and brown by the artist, and packaged in a glacine sleeve is available with a $1 donation to the Workshop of Davidson Country. If Dempsey happens to be in the shop he will gladly personalize it at no charge. Limit 2 per visit though you may come back. DUKE Doodles may also printed off at Dempsey's website.http://www.dempseyessick.com/default.asp?p=artdoodles

Cutest COUPLE Wins Perfect PAIR

Hannah, Dempsey & Braydon

Congratulations to Braydon Hughes, door prize winner at our 2015 Spring Open House event. Braydon won a framed pair of Dempsey's prints, "Pansy Faces". He registered on day 1 of our 3 day event while shopping for a Mother's Day gift.  Braydon and his girlfriend Hannah Swicegood (pictured here with Dempsey) were recent winners in the CUTEST COUPLE CONTEST sponsored by our local newspaper, The Dispatch. They are indeed a cute couple and we wish them much happiness.

The Real Cardinal Lover

Today, we sold the PERFECT CARDINAL ART to the PERFECT CARDINAL LOVER! Randy Phillips from Mechanicsville, Va had seen 'Hangin' Out in the Pines' displayed at the Holiday Inn Express and came on a mission to secure her own copy of the Dempsey Essick print. She is featured here wearing her cardinal shirt and even a cardinal charm in her origami necklace.

The Artist's Sweet Tooth

This CHRISTMAS ELF delivered Dempsey's favorite Christmas treat to the gallery- homemade chocolate fudge! Sherry is dear to us for not only the work she does in Quick Books but also for the work she does in the kitchen. M-m-m good.

Ready, Set, Go!

It was a 58 second challenge for young Nathan Lanier who visited the gallery recently doing some birthday shopping for himself. We set the 5 minute timer and wow,  in no time at all Nathan had completed the Scramble Squares Songbird Puzzle and won for himself the same free puzzle. Nathan loves Dempsey Essick Art and we are proud to have him as our youngest collector. Nathan is pictured here with Grandmother Kitty who  supports his art interest.

Kitty Lanier and Grandson Kevin

Christmas Reflection

Favored customer, Sherry Rowe, shared this photo of last year's Christmas décor that is perfectly enhanced by Dempsey’s  painting “View from the Veranda”. The tree, mantle candles and art work create the perfect holiday mood. Thank you Sherry and we would love to see more Essick Art that adorns your home.

The Perfect Setting

Bluebird Lovers Beware!

Gordon Saintsing shared this photo of a flying squirrel attempting entry to his bluebird box. Even through more and more boxes are put up, there seem to be more and more opposition to the success of the bluebirds. Between English sparrows, ants, blowflies, cats, snakes, and now squirrels, the bluebird population needs our help to proliferate.

Darn that squirrel!

Hell Who?

Helen L. brought her copy of “Zinnia Garden” in for Dempsey to add her name to the print (a great idea and he does it for free). A week later she picked it up and we all had a huge laugh when we read Dempsey’s personalization. He had added an extra L making in  HELLen’s….oh well, all we can say is that he must’ve been in a bad mood that day. PS He did, of course, correct the name at no charge and we sure did enjoy sharing the story about HELLen’s Zinnia Garden.

Remembering “Cottongrove Country Store”

Shelley,
      This is Ken Walker, your son John's former United States History teacher at Central Davidson High School.  I am so glad to find your blogspot on the web, fondly remembering John and all your family during my very special days years ago at Central. Be sure to share my greetings with him.
      Today as I sat in my living room, I found myself gazing at my print (#371/500) of the Cotton Grove Country Store.  I had given it to my mother for Mother's Day back in 1988.  With her passing in 2006, the print became mine. My mother and her  family often visited the store since she grew up in that community. She was born in 1917 and lived in Cottongrove until 1936.
Sincerely,
Ken Walker
(used with permission)

This painting, done as a Christmas gift for Shelley' in 1988,
started Dempsey's art career.

Seeing Yourself in a Painting

“Yes, that’s me,” Sharri Campbell acknowledged when she was in the gallery lately and Dempsey reminded her that she was included in one of his paintings. Sharri is pictured on a bench outside the entrance of the historic Davie Courthouse in the painting appropriately titled, Davie County Courthouse. “I have since retired but have many fond memories of my time there,” Sharri reflected.

 

Sharri Sees Sharri

Hardison UMC Visit

Group & Bird

Darlene Lagle & Dempsey

The Mocksville church group stopped by for a little visit. We chatted for a while, Dempsey shared the story of how we became known as the HUMMINGBIRD ARTIST, we played HUMMINGBIRD TRIVIA, had a drawing for a small door prize and then made photos. It was FUN time.

We Have a Winner!

“Take the Scramble Squares 5-Minute Challenge and Win a Free Puzzle”.  We advertise this and have had very few winners because these puzzles are very tough to work. Joy White and her husband Bradley were in the shop this week and Joy successfully completed the songbird teaser and went home with her very own Scramble Square.