Two Wonderful Artists

"The Gift"
by Shari Beaubien

I have two beautiful new art pieces that grace my house now. The above print was a gift from my friend, Shari Beaubien...from her original 22" x 28" painting, "The Gift". Shari is such a sweet person and sent me this to cheer me up knowing the Maisie Mayhem I've been going through. What a smile it brought to my face and what a talent she is. Thank you, Shari!

"Another Year"
5.5" x 6.5"
paint, collage, paper, graphite, beeswax on wood
by Michele Maule

I recently purchased this beautiful painting above on Etsy from another amazing Artist, Michele Maule. I did a blog post awhile back on Michele's work and when I saw this chair painting I just had to have it. What she wrote about it really spoke to me...

"Since moving to Michigan, and the few months before our move, I felt, and feel, like I am just waiting. Waiting for certain events to happen before I can move to the next step. I suppose most of life is like this..."

This is SO my life the last two months; waiting for Maisie to heal, waiting and hoping for a friend's recovery from cancer, waiting to have the time to do the work I need to do, waiting...waiting...WAITING! Besides all that though, I just think it's such a cool painting.

So did you see the Academy Awards last night? I was a little disappointed that Julie Christie didn't win Best Actress. Her performance in "Away From Her" was really stunning. We usually have some champagne on Oscar night...but this year we're saving that very special bottle for Friday when Maisie gets her cast off. She's gonna get some too! Cheers to Maisie girl!

Spooning

"Spoon"
6" x 6" acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy shop here

I can't believe I've let another week go by without posting. Geez! These last seven weeks with Maisie in her cast have been sort of surreal. Seems as though all my energy is going into her right now and my creative drive has taken a beating. I know it will all be worth it in the end...and I will have learned another cosmic lesson in patience. All I can say is that James and I will be bringing a bottle of champagne with us when we take this dang cast off next week! Seven days to go and counting!

What IS amazing at this point is that even though Maisie has driven me half crazy, chewed holes in most of my clothes and taken all my time and energy...I love her even more. This accident prone, goofy, silly, high strung dog has dug her way right down to the core of my heart.

"All my dogs have been scamps and thieves and troublemakers and I've adored them all." ~Helen Hayes

Be Mine?

"Jazz"

This little girl was a neighbor of mine a few years ago. I took this picture of her when she was a puppy... **no pugs were harmed with rose thorns during the making of this photo! Yes, the rose was actually a digital addition...even though I could see Jazz doing this. She was such a little ham!

Anyway...this is my Valentine of love and thanks to all of you out there. Hope you have a great day surrounded by those you cherish.

Thanks also for your very sweet and compassionate comments about Steve and Kathleen. They were appreciated more than you know. Steve comes home from the hospital today and is doing much better. What a great Valentine gift for Kathleen and the rest of us!

Been a little absent "minded"

As I was trying to organize my "out of control" office this afternoon...I came across this little collage self-portrait I did when I was probably about 8 years old. See...even then...I think I envisioned myself as a dog!

On another note...I'm sorry I've been sort of an absent blogger/commenter lately. A very dear friend of ours is battling renal cancer and ended up in the hospital again last weekend. They found that two tumors had spread to his brain so they had to remove one and perform radiation to shrink the other one. Between visits to the hospital and caring for Miss Maisie...our world has been a little upside down. If you can muster up some heavy duty prayers and send them to Steve and Kathleen...I would be forever grateful. We love them so much.

Back again hopefully soon...with some new art. Let's get the good juju going again! xoxo

Sweet Dog and a New Painting

"Orange Juice"
8" x 10" acrylic and collage on canvas
available on Etsy here

Here's another painting I managed to squeeze in between Maisie patrol. As you know...we went to the Vet last Friday for her one month x-ray. Unfortunately, her toe is not healing as fast as we hoped so she has to wear the cast for another month. Ugg! James and I were pretty upset for our girl when we heard the verdict...but we just have to be patient and hopefully time will go by fast. Yeah right...did I hear someone say MOLASSES!?

I think the photo below of Maisie is so sweet with her paw resting on the cast. You can also see her beautiful eyes so well. She's such a perdy girl.

"Maisie Rose with a big bad toe"

Friday Art

"Golden Apple"
6" x 6" acrylic and collage on canvas
available on Etsy here

I just finished this painting using more of Ro Bruhn's beautiful paper for the collage base. I should call it the "Ro Series" to give credit to the wonderful Artist who has graciously let me use her gorgeous paper. Thank you again, Ro!

I visited Rebecca Collin's blog today and read a post she recently did on "Who are your Mentors". It inspired me to write something about mine (thanks Becca!). I had two amazing Professors of Art at Dominican University in San Rafael, California where I received my BFA. One was Edythe Bresnahan and the other, Foad Satterfield. They taught me so many things about being an Artist and I am forever thankful for their dedication and talent. They made me think seriously about a full-time career in art and gave me the confidence to pursue it. They are both incredible Artists in their own right and you can see some of their work (Edythe)here and (Foad)here. Now...who are YOUR mentors?

Have a great weekend! Send good juju to Maisie's toe...it's x-ray day!