Snow Dog Day!

Here's a picture of my sweet baby out in the snow today. Yes, it's snowing here again in Colorado. Will we ever see spring!? I must admit that I'm really getting tired of all this white stuff...but seeing Abby outside in it is a joy. I bet she looked like a little white snowball when she was a puppy. Since we adopted Abby from a shelter when she was two...we never got to see her when she was a little Abby. I wish I'd had the chance.

"Metamorphosis #16"

6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas

I just finished this abstract yesterday. I'm finding that often these days...I start out with one idea for an abstract...then end up with something completely different. They just seem to take on a life of their own as I go along.

Gotta get back now to working on "Jax" the Border Collie commission. I'll be able to show you the finished painting soon. :)

Pear Painting

"Tropical Pears"
Acrylic and collage on canvas - 8" x 10"

Good Monday morning to everyone...hope you had a nice weekend. This is my latest venture, "Tropical Pears". I've been experimenting with painting on textured papers as my base...and I'm finding that I really enjoy the look. Think I will continue with it and see where it goes...

About the Oscars, all I can say is wow Helen Mirren! At age 62...I think Helen blew away all competition last night with her natural beauty and grace. She looked amazing.

Oscar Diva

In honor of the Oscars tomorrow night (I admit I am an Oscar junkie)...I thought I should post this picture by Photographer John Chapple. Now, I TRIED to get Abby to dress up for you...but she just wouldn't have it. Unusual as she is the diva of all diva's!

Not too excited about the Oscars tomorrow night...of all the movies that are nominated for Best Picture I have only seen "Little Miss Sunshine" (I usually try to see each and every one). I will have to watch anyway though...mostly to see Ellen DeGeneres do her thing as host this year. I just love her. And Cate Blanchett is my favorite actress...but I think Helen Mirren is a shoe-in for "The Queen".

Get some champagne on ice and enjoy the show!

New art and jewelry

"Moroccan Lemon"
5" x 6" acrylic and paper on canvas

"Odd Bird" necklace piece

I just finished this new still life, "Moroccan Lemon" and realized that I might have been influenced by a certain new piece of jewelry I recently purchased. Ya think?! I bought this "Odd Bird" necklace piece (made out of an old domino) from Chocosho. I was so attracted to the imagery and especially the colors. Well...looks like it imprinted the colors on my brain because my Moroccan Lemons look very similar, don'tcha think? Thanks Chocosho for spurring on the creative gods!

If you're interested in purchasing the lemon painting...just drop me an email!

National Art Exhibit

"Plum on Yellow Plate"
8" x 10" Acrylic and Paper on Canvas

I'm doing a happy dance today! I was accepted by a jury to participate in the Northern Colorado Artist Association's 16th Annual National Exhibition. The above painting, "Plum on Yellow Plate" was chosen to be part of the exhibit and will be for sale. The exhibit runs from April 7 - May 11 at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. The artist reception will be at the Lincoln Center on April 7th from 5:00-8:00pm. If any of you fellow Colorado artists can make it...I'll be there and would sure love to meet you!

A "funny" and a chair

Warning...this could happen to YOU if you blog too much!

On the artsy side...I did this fun little abstract below that I'm calling a "doo-da". Don't ask me why. I've always had a thing for chairs. Maybe my psyche is telling me to sit down and relax more! Hope you're all having a nice weekend.

Lucy the Labrador

"Lucy"
12" x 13" acrylic on canvas

This is "Lucy Goosey" as I call her...my latest dog portrait. I have known Lucy since she was a puppy...and James and I are in fact...her godparents. Lucy is a very special lady and is trained as a service dog. She is taking part in the Delta Society's Reading to Children program which helps kids with reading problems. Lucy is the best!

On another subject...Camilla Engman's blog has the funniest picture this month of "Morran"...her sweet little Terrier...doing a yoga posture. A good friend of mine gave me a doggie yoga book awhile back that is really funny...a must for any of you dog lover yoga fanatics out there. I include myself in that group of course...although I haven't been able to do yoga for the past few months. Abby needs her morning care routine right around the time they have my yoga class at the Y. That's ok though..my baby comes first right now. By the way...here's another great site where dog lovers can buy their yoga wear to...as they say..."get in touch with your inner puppy!"

New Still Life

"Red Grapes"
8" x 10" acrylic on canvas

Finally finished this one. Hope ya like it. And hope everyone's Valentine's Day has been as sweet as these luscious grapes! Back tomorrow with the finished dog portrait...

Abby Valentine!

I'm working working working trying to finish two paintings today. Hope to have something to show you soon in the way of a still life and a dog portrait. In the meantime...Abby Louise wanted to pop and and say Happy Valentine's Day to all you sweethearts out there!

Saturday abstract & dinner to boot!

I think I decided on a name for this latest abstract series..."Metamorphosis". Since it feels like I'm changing and morphing in different directions lately...it sounded appropriate. If you can think of another name that comes to mind when you look at these...please let me know. It would be interesting to see what these paintings evoke in others.

Heading out soon to have dinner with two other couples. The guys are cooking us dinner tonight for Valentine's Day. Here's what's on the menu...talapia with pomegranate reduction, mashed potatoes with saffron, roasted asparagus and for dessert...lemon scented trifle with marscapone cream. WOW...I'm feeling the need for a brisk walk after even talking about all that food! Can't wait to sit down, relax and dig in!

Wishing you all a lovely Saturday night.

Painting and Paper

Just a quickie to show my most recent abstract work. Also...take a looksie at Two Hands Paperie, a most beautiful paper store here in Boulder. Their website is limited compared to the enormous amount of paper and products they carry in their store. They do have some cool things on the website you can purchase though. I buy lots of their paper to use as collage material.

Young Art Student

So, I was going through some of my studio drawers yesterday and came across a bunch of old crayon drawings that I did when I was about 8 years old. This particular one has always made me laugh...what in the heck was going on in my little brain?! I think I was already politically astute though! Anyway...just thought I would share a blast from the past with you.

Right now...I am working on a dog portrait and two still lifes...so hopefully I will have more to show you soon. Still moving ahead with abstracts too. Lots to do...so better get moving!

"You've got to keep the child alive; you can't create without it." - Joni Mitchell

Been sickie

I've been laying low this week. My husband (typhoid Jim as I am now calling him) gave me his cold! This is the second one we've both had in a month. We'd gone at least a year without getting a cold...until he got his new job in Denver and started to take public transportation. Those cold germies love nothing better than a nice enclosed space. Little suckers!

So...I haven't gotten much accomplished this week other than starting two paintings and finishing one. Just didn't have the energy. BUT...something interesting happened as it always does with paintings...they shifted in a new direction without my thinking about it much. The above abstract is a result...very different than the smaller ones I've been doing. This one is a 5" x 7" acrylic with collage on canvas. As always...you can email me if you're interested in purchasing it. I don't have a title for this series I've been working on...so this one is just called "Abstract 13" for now.

Have a good Saturday!