Watch Dog

Maisie looking out our window

March 31, 2008

"'Tis sweet to hear the watch dog's honest bark
Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home;
'tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark
Our coming and look brighter when we come."

Lord Byron

A New Cat in Town

"Brisbane"
5" x 7" pencil, crayon and collage on bfk paper

Maisie doesn't like me to draw cats very often...but this was an exception. A friend commissioned me to draw Brisbane...a wonderful girl who is no longer with us. Her mom, Patricia misses her very much so it was an honor for me to create this portrait for her. I love the color of her eyes! I used to do these mixed media drawings quite often and still really enjoy doing one now and then.

And hey...there's an Artist out there I just met this week that you should know about. Her drawings of animals are really exquisite. Her name is Leslie Moore from PenPets.com Leslie grew up in the Bay Area but has lived in New England for the past 25 years. Nice to know you, Leslie...you do beautiful work!

"Shingles"
by Leslie Moore

Have a good weekend. Sheesh...March is almost over already??!

Digital Art and The Red Pony

"The Red Pony"
8" x 9" Digital Painting
2006

I've enjoyed reading Art Paw's blog posts this week about Digital Art and how often times it is not considered "real art". Those who think that have probably never attempted to paint digitally and just don't understand enough about it. For myself...it allows me to achieve things artistically that I can't achieve otherwise.

I have always loved digital art and consider it to be an extremely important and overlooked medium. I gained a real appreciation for it when I worked as a Digital Painter for LucasFilm many years ago; painting color and texture onto 3D creatures and objects. Before Abby Creek Studios came into being...my first business here in Colorado was named "Digital Images". I digitally restored and manipulated photographs and created digital fine art pieces.

Some recent exciting news is that the above digital painting, "The Red Pony" was recently selected for possible inclusion in the next issue of the Steinbeck Review...a bi-annual journal that explores the life and works of John Steinbeck; possible inclusion meaning that the Editorial Board is still in the review process for the May publication. Mike Meyer, a Steinbeck Scholar had seen "The Red Pony" on EBSQart.com and asked to interview me. I'm hoping it's a go...I'll keep ya posted!

So thanks, Rebecca...for bringing this issue to light again and for doing the incredible digital work that you do. And check out Rebecca's post today for a list of some of her favorite Digital Artists.

Digital Art rocks!

"Enunciation"
6.5" x 9" Digital Painting
2003

Paws for Prayers

From SFGate.com

This gave me a good chuckle today. Think I can teach Maisie to do this? Hmmm...

"Holy Chihuahua! Conan puts his paws together to pray with owner Joei Yoshikuni, chief priest of the Zen Buddhist Shuri-Kannondo temple in Japan's Okinawa islands."

It's Been a Year...

It's one year ago today that I lost my girl, Abby Louise. Even though she's not physically here any longer...she will always remain in my heart and by my side.

James and I believe that Abby had a rather big paw in sending Maisie to us. Abby never liked other dogs or many people so she sent us a dog that does. With her usual sense of humor, she also sent us a dog that does things she DIDN'T do. Abby never chewed on anything, hardly barked and never got up on the furniture. Maisie does all three with guiltless abandon. I think most of all...Abby sent us another dog to ease our pain and bring a smile to our faces again. That's what she did every day we had her too.

Thanks for bringing Maisie to us Abby, but know that you will never be forgotten. Your papa and I will always miss you and love you. Happy Easter, sweet girl.

It's Been A Year And I Still Miss Her

The missing just goes on and on,
From sunrise, then she sets;
An image branded on my brain,
The greatest, no regrets.

I celebrate the joys we had,
That I have known real love;
Oh yes, I loved, and yes I gained
Vital lessons for my life.

~ Emily Margaret Stuparyk

Painting and Prozac!

"Inner Circle" #3

6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy shop here

Interesting blog title you say? Well, let me explain...the above is another installment of the Inner Circle Series I've been working on. It's morphing and I'm not sure where the heck it's going...but that's part of the fun!

The Prozac part is about a new book I'm going to get..."Puppy Chow is Better than Prozac" by Bruce Goldstein. I saw it in the Sunday paper and it looks like a great read. The name alone makes me want to buy it. In a nutshell, it's about a very depressed Author who's saving grace is a new slobbering puppy that comes into his life...and actually ends up saving his life. You can get it here if you're interested.


"I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source." ~Doris Day

By the way...Happy first day of Spring! It's about dang time!

Pay It Forward!

I was fortunate enough to win a beautiful painting from Jonna on her recent "Pay It Forward" post. So...to keep the spirit of Pay It Forward going...the first three people that post a comment on my blog today will win an original painting of mine. The three below are acrylic paintings on paper...one which I will send to YOU, mounted and matted and ready to frame. All you have to do in return is to post a Pay It Forward to three people on your blog as well. Keep the good juju rolling and the spirit of giving alive!

"Fiesta Cup"

"Egg"

"EH Tomato"

Are you wearing green today?

Maisie Rose O'Neill - Irish girl

Maisie is! Let me promise you though that no dog was harmed with dyes during the making of this post. Geez, don't they have anything better to do in Boulder?!

Hope that you all have a lovely St. Patrick's Day. My hubby, (Chef JJ as he's know around these parts) was busy last night making Irish soda bread and colcannon for tonights dinner. You know, the O'Neill's take St. Patty's Day pretty seriously...so there has to be a celebration. We'll be taking the bread and potatoes to the Mooney's (another good Irish name) where it will meet up with corned beef and cabbage (blech for THIS vegetarian!)...and we will toast to the good luck of the coming spring. Here's a little blessing for all of you today...

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~ Irish Blessing

Back tomorrow with a "Pay it Forward" post!

Power and Pots

MinaLeeStudio.com

This is my favorite birthday card...from my friend, Kathleen. It cracks me up! Of course, you get a lot of this kind of thing when you turn 50...along with black balloons, age jokes up the ying yang and my favorite quote..."well, it's better than the alternative!". Oh geez! I think I liked Sandy's comment..."it's nifty being fifty, it's divine to be so fine". Thanks Sandy...you got it!

I've had (still workin' it) a really nice birthday and I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your wonderful birthday wishes. They warmed my heart and made my day!

I've also been spending a lot of time this week trying to fix my website. Seems that whenever I update something in Net Objects...something else goes haywire in the way of links. As I was going through lots of my files...I came across many of my oil pastels that I used to do before using acrylics. The paintings below are two of my favorites.

I'm currently working on a Cat drawing, a Dog painting and an Abstract painting...so hope to show you those very soon!

"Blue Pots"
8" x 9" oil pastel on paper

"Santa Fe Pots"

10.5" x 13" oil pastel on paper

Have a fun weekend!

Lordy Lordy...I'm not 40!

Me and Jiggsie

Oh my...today, I turn the big 5-0! I don't know quite how that happened considering I've been 39 the past few years! Yikes!

That's me in the picture above with my first dog, Jiggs. I don't know who's birthday this was...mine or his. We always celebrated his too with cake and hats...the works. He was a very special Boston boy. (Wasn't he cute, Leigh?)

And what a wonderful surprise to get this book in the mail the other day. It's called, "Pretty in Pink, Why It's Good To Be A Girl!". My friend, Carol sent it to me. Carol and I grew up together and have know each other since we were 5 years old. She remembered that I liked pigs so thought of me when she saw this. Go and get this book because it is adorable! It will make you smile. Thank you, Carol...for such a sweet b-day gift!

So wish me luck today...I'm venturing into the unknown territory of the next century of my life!
I won't think about that today though...I just want some cake!

xoxox ~ Linda (don't call me ma'am just yet) O'Neill

A Painting and a Playdate!

"Inner Circle #2"

6" x 6" acrylic, ink, collage on canvas

available on Etsy here

Here's the second installment of my "Inner Circle" series...this one, a little more bold and graphic than the first.

Below, we have a moment in history...Maisie's first playdate! We have been trying to hook her up with Lucy the Lab for four months now but something always got in the way. First it was the kennel cough, then it was the stomach surgery...then of course, the infamous cast. Well, Saturday...she had her day in the sun...and loved every minute of it. She and Lucy romped, rolled, tumbled and teased each other for a long, long time. Maisie was so tired the next day that she slept through most of it. It was the best tired she ever had though.

Aren't they ADORABLE?! Have a marvelous Monday! xox

First Dog of Spring!

"Boomer"
10" x 11" acrylic and collage on canvas

This is Mr. Boomer...the ONE dog painting I was able to work on and finish while "The Maisenator", our new name of endearment for Maisie, was recovering from her broken toe. Boomer belonged to some wonderful friends of ours who live in Priest Lake part of the year, right next door to my Dad. Boomer is no longer with us...but I can imagine what an amazing dog he was. He was an Airedale Terrier...a very smart one who had personality plus and a heart as big as Idaho. Thanks, Bobbie and Jim...for having me paint your special boy.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Before I go...here's a beautiful little taste of spring...

Spring flowers
preach the gospel:
we who have died
are alive today.

We who risked winter
now raise our heads high
to the glorious sun.

Delicate petals,
daughters of resilience,
they call to me,
encouraging the heart
of true believing.

~ Joyce Rupp

Bless this Mess

My temporary work table

This is my teeny tiny workspace of late. Since we've been living and working in one big room with Maisie...it's been a bit of a squeeze. Ok...let's be honest...a big mess is what it really is! This weekend, however, we plan to get our house back together and hopefully a decent studio space for me again. Until Maisie gets some of her pent up angst out though...I need to stick close to her and keep an eye on her antics. Let's just say it's pretty amazing that we don't have holes in our sofa yet!

I'm playing along with my friend, Kate today...to keep a book meme going because I think it's a pretty cool meme. Here's the scoop...

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

The book closest to my desk that I could actually grab without getting out of my chair (lazy butt) was "A Three Dog Life" by Abigail Thomas. Here it goes...

"You don't want to return to unhappiness. That's all." I will never forget that instant of absolute clarity.

Hmmm...sounds like something I need to listen to! Join in if you feel like playing along!

New art and seven things

"Inner Circle #1"

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

Finally a new painting...yay! This is the first of a series I'm going to be working on called, "Inner Circle". This one was painted to symbolize a return to joy and color as a release from the inner conflict and sadness I've been feeling the last few months. It's a return to spring...sort of a new beginning for James, Maisie and myself after all we've been through together.

Now...on to seven things about myself that Miss Karine tagged me to do the other day (I think Pono put you up to this?) hee hee.

1) I used to be a real hippy chick in my early 20's...I wore feather earrings, knee high Native American Yeti boots and all clothing had to be purple.

2) I love watching the Food Channel. My foodie dream is to eat at one of Mario Batali's restaurants in New York.

3) I don't like shopping for clothes. I would rather do anything else.

4) A Psychic told me many years ago that I had two German angels watching over me. Years later I was befriended by two elderly sisters. They're German, in their 90's now...and they definitely ARE my guardian angels.

5) Old antique dolls give me the willies.

6) I love pastry. I ask you...is there anything better than a really good croissant?!

7) One of my very favorite Artist's is Amadeo Modigliani. I always wished that I could paint people like he did.

I'm being lazy now and won't tag anyone else this time but next time around...look out!

Gotta go check on Maisie now...she's getting to like her new found toe freedom but I need to keep the reins on her for a few more days. Little bundle of energy that she is!

Sit Pretty!

Maisie says "thankie thankie" for all your sweet wishes about her healed toetoe. Here she is on Saturday...being a good girl and sitting pretty. It was 74 degrees here in Boulder on Saturday. What a spring teaser that was...because yesterday we had three inches of snow and it was a whopping 28 degrees!

Take a look at this beautiful sculpture below. I took this photo on Saturday in Niwot which is about 20 mintues north of us. James and Maisie and I have a favorite breakfast spot up there we go to most weekends and we've had the pleasure of seeing this amazing work in progress. This sculpture honors Arapaho Chief Niwot whom the community was named after and who helped negotiate peace there during the 1850's and 60's. When you see this up close and personal...it is stunning.

“Biitoheinen" (Spear Lodge Man)
Carved Red Willow Tree Stump
by Boulder Artist Eddie Running Wolf

Have a good Monday everyone. Back tomorrow with a 7 random facts post. Are you just wild with excitement? xox!

The Toe Tale

First of all, thank you all SO much for your sweet emails and blog comments wondering how it all went with Maisie yesterday. They really warmed our hearts!

It's been an interesting week to say the least...here's what happened...

~ Maisie decided to take off the cast HERSELF once again on Tuesday. (James said that in dog years, she thought it was time).

~ We took her right in to the Vet where they decided to x-ray her a few days early.

~ Our Vet said that the toe looked healed to her but there was a small hole in the middle that had not filled with bone yet.

~ She left Maisie's cast off and told us she would consult a Radiologist on Friday to make the final call.

~ Maisie was a crazy dog the rest of the week. Linda needs medication now.

~ Yesterday evening, it was decided by the Docs that her toe was healed with a slight malformation. The cast is off for good though! TRIPLE YAY!

Maisie is limping a bit and holding her paw up occasionally but that's normal because her foot muscles are so weak. We are supposed to baby it for another week or so and then she should start to have a normal life again.

What a two months this has been. I have a few new grey hairs, an aching back and our house is such a mess that the vacuum is running for the back door. All in all...what a relief...what a journey...what a dog!!

Thanks again for going along for the ride with me...and for helping me keep my sanity. I couldn't have done it without you! xox