April 2014 Calendar Stories

The Ford Plantation

Two and a half years ago my sister got married at the Ford Plantation. I was lucky enough to stay at a house on the golf course. The host and hostess made sure every need was met. It was a glorious week. Every morning I got up and sat facing east watched the sun rise, sipped my coffee, listened to the birds sing and smelled the sweet jasmine that was blossoming, and did my daily painting. It was wonderful. I wish that life could always be like that, and maybe that is why I like this painting so much, it brings back the sweet memories of that week in Savannah. 

Also, this painting was out of my "box," different for me. I stylized what I saw before me and made it my own. I liked that part of the experience too. The whole trip was delightful and the my paintings from that time were very fun and not my norm. I have repainted this scene on paper, wood and canvas several time and in different dimensions, and I like them all, I don't know if it is the style, or the memories that I like. And I become connected with a new family. Thank you Mary Kay and Paul.

July 2014 Calendar Stories

Lemon Love

Kelli loves lemons and when her mom passed away, I tried my hand at painting lemons for Kelli. Loretta was an inspiration, she loved a good Lemon Drop Martini. She love sparkly high heels and continued to wear them till the end. She would show up at chemo dressed to the nines always wearing high heels. She said, proclaimed, "Cancer does not define me!" And I thought, no it doesn't, you are even more brilliant and vibrant. So many friends and family have struggled with this disease, and thru it all it does not define them,  thru the fire of struggle it refines them, turns them into gold. July was my most difficult month to paint. Just like lemons themselves, they can be difficult, but in our society they represent adaptability and courage, to take something difficult and work thru it and turn it into something good. Kelli and her mom, and so many of the others I can't mention here, choose to live fully even when handed lemons, they choose to have a delicious time. Cheers to you! 

July 22, 2013

Getting Ready for the Show

Overbluff Cellars in Spokane Washington will host 

my artwork for the month of August. 

I am looking forward to the trip and to 

tasting their fabulous wine. 

July 19,2013

Kid Art

 I found a little pencil sketch of this guy and knew I had to paint him in color. I've seen Chomp Chomp in all sorts of Jack's drawings but this time my daughter had outlined him and something in my brain clicked. When I told them I would give them a percentage of the profits, if Chomp Chomp sold, they were all over it. 

Not to be out done, Coco then handed me a drawing and wanted credit for it. So trying to be a fair mom, I painted her artwork as well. 

The robot piece is something Jack drew, Coco found and colored and I painted onto wood. Kid art is so fun, we all should do it sometime.

May 30, 2013

Sweet Dreams Wild One

May 28, 2013

The Birth of Venus

I love these wood panels by American Easel, they are fun to paint.

Layered paint.

May 18, 2013

Westie Calendar Art

December

Out on the Pond

November

Hiking in Peru

September

Puppy Preschool

January

Westies in a Snowstorm

May 9, 2013

It's That Time of the Year

Spring cleaning. Today, I finished cleaning up and totally rearranging my summer studio. It's still cold and dark in the mornings when I paint, so I might not be using it tomorrow.  I can't wait to be in my sunny, airy space, I might just have to bring out my space heater. The only thing left is to wash all the outside windows, no small task, but wonderful and sparkly when finished.

Notice the wee pup in the middle of the freshly washed rug.

She looks like a little toy.

May 9, 2013

West Highland Gardens

This is the winner of my own personal card contest. You can see my work for the last few days in my recent blogs. This is the card the committee chose.

May 8, 2013

Pupcake

My favorite. Love this one.

May 8, 2013

Westie Work

Barn Hunt

I believe Westies hunt out rodents, but I couldn't resist putting clothes on the little critters, makes the story more interesting.

It's a Dog's Life

Pupcake

I am currently working on a Westie cards. 

April 29, 2014

Yield!

Option #1

or 

Option #2

I am working on a few Mother's Day cards, 

I think I might yield to option #1. 

And I will definitely be yielding to a Cosmo on May 12.

April 27, 2013

Your First Love

I am not sure who George Sand was talking about, 

if it is your soul mate, your kindred spirit, your friend or lover,

 but the one who loved you first and the one who will

 always love you is your mother.

April 28, 2013

Woman and her cats

April 23, 2013

August 

Calm, and cooling, to me this painting is restful. 

From the 2014 calendar art

April 22, 2013

A Quote from Coco

After days and days of painting Westies last fall, Coco says to me,

 "Mom, a dog can be any color if you use your imagination." 

She was six. So we got out the paints and started adding color to our

 little white dogs.

April 22, 2013

Trying a New Technique

An Ode to Practice

This is a copy from a painting from Elle Decor. 

It is is layers of washes--this is a series of photos from my first attempt.

First layer of green totally wiped out my birds.

Have to repaint birds, notice that the art I am trying to 

copy hasfour birds hidden in the picture.

I didn't notice all the birds the first time.

More green and yellow washes. 

Time to add some color to these birds. 

Final wash with a different brush. Trying to hide the birds, I guess.

The original painting is so cool. I did not do it justice. I don't think I should 

be finished, I am just finished for now.

See what the computer can do? 

It can take my painting and make it look rather cool. 

I just keep telling myself to keep practicing and I will get there. I will get somewhere, whether by accident (which is highly probable) or by diligence.

April 20, 2013

Fresh Off the Farm

Headed to their homes, these puppies travel in style. 

I am working on the 2014 Westie calendar. This is March.

April 18, 2013

Fairy Tale Life

I love this quote by an unknown author, 

" Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary lilfe, 

 love gives us a fairy tale."

I am working on my 2014 Westie calendar and had to include 

this sweet sentiment for the month of February. 

April 16, 2013

If Only......

In Minnesota, it is oftentimes May showers bring June flowers. 

This year it is true. 

We have lots of snow with more on the way.

April 15, 2013

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

 Live the life you have imagined."

 Henry David Thoreau

The life I have imagined includes painting for a living. I want to live by the sea shore in the sunshine, with a few rainy days, but mostly sun. I want to wear a big, floral print, flowy tunic-y thing. That is one strong image I have had in my head for years. 

April 13, 2013

The art crawl is over, I am back from FLorida (where I have been working on my first wedding invitations and my calendar) and I am getting back to work. I am putting all my artwork on etsy. The following pieces are available, but didn't show up in my blog, so I am reposting them. Check out my etsy site. The link at the bottom of this paragraph will take you there, there are links under each painting to take you directly to that painting.

 Lemons

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129271589/lemons-on-a-pink-square

Sanibel Calling

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129311789/sanibel-calling

A Girl and her Dog

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129272433/a-girl-and-her-dog

Poppies

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129300861/red-flowers

Little Green Trees on Pink

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129274159/little-trees-on-pink

Red Gerbera

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129311255/red-gerbera

Peacock

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129312193/peacock

Ford Plantation at Sunrise

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129309518/ford-plantation-at-sunrise

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129309051/lemon-love