Maisie's Halloween

So...I had about 3 minutes to take these pictures before Maisie and Lucy tore their costumes off! We had a little pre-Halloween party last night at Kathleen's house so Maisie wanted to show Lucy her dream bunny costume. Of course...our sweet little Maisie probably should have been the devil dog!

Have a Happy Halloween out there and a great weekend!

Bribes help to keep the costume on

Get this dang puff ball off my butt

A bunny ghost in the kitchen

I'm dreaming of an Airdale Christmas!

"Airdale Terrier" Holiday Card
available in my Etsy shop here

Here's the next pooch in line for the holiday cards! At least one more is coming so stay tuned.

By the way...can you feel the change in the air? My toes are tingling as the election is about to take place. Take a listen to LeRoy Bell's "A Change is Coming" and you'll know what I mean. Whatever you do next week...get out there and vote!

Salt and PeppA

"Salt and Pepper"
7" x 8" acrylic on canvas
available in my Etsy Shop here

This is a new still life that I finally completed last Friday. I had actually started it before we moved...but then it sat on my drawing board for quite some time looking very sad and lonely. I decided last week that it was time to give it some attention so I hunkered down with my paint brushes and finished it. Yay!


Here's a last shot of some beautiful Fall leaves blanketing our backyard. The next day we had a pretty big wind storm so most of the leaves are gone now. I miss them already and the beauty they graced us with the past few weeks. Maisie will miss them too; romping through them and having me throw big handfuls over her. She loved that...it made her do a happy dance.

Back tomorrow with another new Christmas card!

A Canine Christmas!

Puchase these cards in my Etsy Shop here

A very happy Thursday to ya! So how can you not love a "Puggie" Christmas card I ask? I just created this one today and am actually going to be releasing a few other new Doggie Christmas Cards during the next several days. They come ten cards per package with envelopes...and you can purchase them here.

Now...on to the little Halloween vixen below. That's my friend Shennon's daughter, Jenna (for those of you who follow my blog...that would be Ruby's little sister). Other than Ruby (and Maisie of course)...she's just about the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on. I'm thinking this would be a great costume for Maisie too...if only I could push her big ears up inside that hat. Maybe NOT?!

Miss Jenna, the candy corn girl

Love springs eternal

"Eternal"
7" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy Shop here

Here's the next in my series on transition called, "Eternal". When I was painting it, I was thinking about how some things remain steadfast through changes in our lives...like love and our own inner guidance.

And speaking of inner guidance...while I was unpacking some things in my studio awhile back...I came across an Artist's statement that I wrote for a show. It was about my older abstract work in printmaking...and I liked what it said. It still rings true with the work I do in different mediums today.

"The art of Printmaking is an illuminating process.
I am always surprised at what unfolds.
It is spontaneous and somewhat mysterious.
It gives me a voice."

Listen to your voice today and make some beautiful art!

Autumn is Awesome!

Our maple tree in full glory

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly above the earth
seeking the successive autumns." ~ George Eliot

Have a beautiful autumn weekend!

Taking Chances

"Happy Chances"
6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas
available at my Etsy Shop here

Transitions involve taking chances...and you never quite know how things will turn out or how you'll react. I'm finding though...that even though they're hard...the emotional growth you gain is always good. You just gotta hang in there to find out what that is.

Moving to a new home and neighborhood was not easy and the stress pretty much kicked me in the behind. However, it's pushing me to new beginnings and I'm grateful for that.

I'm also grateful to have a crazy dog that makes me laugh each and every day no matter what the heck is going on in my world!

The Goofball

Loving a dog...

...is one of the best things in the world. Here are a few shots of my studio partner...doing some of her favorite daily things that always make me smile.

Protecting the yard from vicious bunnies

Enjoying a Fall day while surveying her domain

Trying to get my attention by looking cute

On fly catching duty in the studio

"If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat ~Author Unknown

Moving Forward

"Spirit"
6" x 7" mixed media on canvas
Available in my Etsy Shop here

Hi everyone...I've missed you! Seems that my comment, "back in a couple of days..." from my last post in September...turned into three plus weeks. I guess I just needed more time away than I thought after the move and other events that have transpired this past year.

The new studio is finally set to go now...so I've taken this past week as a "sequester" week to get back on the creative track. Finally picked up a paintbrush after many weeks and the above painting is what I came up with. During this time of transition...I have needed to call upon and rely on an inner strength of spirit and a peaceful mind. That's what I wanted to convey in this new work.

Hope you're all doing well. Have a beautiful Fall weekend out there! xox

"This we can all bear witness to, living as we do plagued by unremitting anxiety. It becomes more and more imperative that the life of the spirit be avowed as the only firm basis upon which to establish happiness and peace." ~ Dalai Lama