Heading West!

"Inner Circle #6"
acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy Store here

Here's the next in my "Inner Circle Series". These paintings keep stretching and bending and taking me places I'm not expecting. I guess that's part of the beauty of a series. Whatever the case...I'm enjoying it to the fullest and will keep going until the time feels right to close the chapter.

James and I are heading to the Bay Area tomorrow morning to visit family. Time to see his parents, my parents, my brother and our two lovely 90 year old Aunties. On our way to Marin...we're going to try and sneak a visit to either the DeYoung Museum or the Legion of Honor. There is an Annie Leibovitz exhibit at the Legion that I would love to see. I miss the museums of San Francisco!

I'm having major separation anxiety about leaving Maisie. I miss her already! This is the first time we've been apart since last November. I'll have to be strong when I see her sweet head and big ears looking out the window as we pull out of the driveway. Thank goodness we have Mary, a wonderful friend and the best dog sitter on the planet coming to stay. You behave, Miss Maisie...and no chewing on Mary's favorite shoes!

See you Monday! xox

Is it Monday already?

Well that was one fast weekend! Hope you all had a good one. On Saturday, Melissa Langer and I spent the afternoon together in Boulder. We had lots of great art talk and fun meandering around. We went to our favorite paper store and found some very cool goodies...although we had to talk each other down from spending WAY too much moolah. My credit card thanks you, Melissa!

So have you taken the "What Celebrity Is Your Dog" Quiz yet by Dogster.com? Well Maisie and Melissa's Pug, Emmitt took it. Apparently, Maisie is Madonna...and Emmitt is George Clooney. I can sort of see the resemblance, can't you?


And on another note, you probably remember when I recently posted about Leslie Moore and her beautiful animal drawings? Well Leslie has a new blog now...so please go visit her and welcome her to blogland! Below is another one of Leslie's drawings that reminds me of Maisie. Really lovely work, Leslie!

"Reese" by Leslie Moore

More O'Neill art to come soon! Have a good art day!

Open the Door...

"The Red Door"
acrylic on canvas
available for sale in my Etsy Shop

This is my latest painting...a little bit of a departure from what I've been doing recently. Good to stretch those painting bones though! This was done from a photograph of our front door as the light was shining on it late one afternoon last week. Our door is sort of a deep earthy red but the light made it look "spectacular red". It really caught my eye so I ran and got the camera. I love it when when a painting comes from a passing moment like that.

And what would a Friday be without a new picture of Maisie Mayhem O'Neill?! This was taken by James the other day when he was trying out our new ultra cool travel camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5. There is actually a "pet setting" that takes shots with a very light flash. I love this shot of our little big-eared baby!

Enjoy your weekend! xox

A Dog and A Digital

"Fluffernutter"
12" x 13" acrylic and collage on canvas

Here he is...Mr. Fluffernutter. Don'tcha just love that name?...and what a cutie pie dog to match! Fluffer was a challenge but a real joy to paint. I think I changed the background five times on this one before I was happy.

And since I posted that painting by Inez Storer recently...I thought I would post this older digital piece of mine. Seems to have some eerie similarities. Any thoughts? Oooh...and we both painted these in 2002. (thanks for pointing that out Sandy!)

"Guise"
5.25" x 6" Digital Painting - 2002

And last but not least...two of my favorite Artists are having special discounts on some of their work until the end of this month. You should check them out here...

Sarah Regan Snavely's Etsy store for her beautiful Greyhound Tiles.

Jamie Johnson's "Really Big Sale" for originals, tiles and reproductions of her fabulous house paintings. (check the side bar for additional works)

Yay, New Art!

"Inner Circle "5"
6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas
available for sale in my Etsy shop here

This is my latest painting in the Inner Circle Series. Not sure why...but this one was a struggle and took quite a long time. It does make it more satisfying in the end though when I finally achieve what I'm after.

I'm almost finished with my latest dog painting, hopefully by tomorrow so stay tuned. In the meantime...here are some wonderful words from Miss Georgia which explain so simply and beautifully why I love to paint abstracts.

I found I could say things with color
and shapes that I couldn't say any
other way...things I had no words for.

~Georgia O'Keeffe

Maisie in the News!

Who's that little beauty (bottom left picture) on the front page of the Boulder Daily Camera today? Yep...it's Maisie Rose! The Camera did a story on the Wisdom Panel DNA Test and wanted photos of a few unusual looking dogs (Maisie prefers the term "stunning") that had gone through the process. They contacted our Vet and our Vet immediately thought of Miss Maisie. You can read the rest of the article here.

I guess I need to start thinking about adding an "in the press" page for her on my website. I don't want it to go to her head though...she's already acting a little diva'ish this morning after seeing her name in print! Yee gads...a star is born...

"And then there's the personal question so many of Lassie's fans want to ask: Is he allowed on the furniture? Of course he is — but, then, he's the one who paid for it."

~Julia Glass

Slow as Molasses in January!

"Amelia" by Inez Storer, 2002
oil on board, 36 x 24 inches

That would be me...slow as molasses O'Neill! Sorry for the lack of art lately. There has been so much going on in life...that the artwork has been slow-go. I really like the above painting by one of my very favorite Artist's, Inez Storer...because it's what I feel like these days. My wings are on and I'm ready to go...but I'm teetering and need to be held up by some unknown forces to stay balanced. I have to remember during these periods (as my friend Melissa says) that "Art is Life and Life is Art". Sometimes ya just gotta soak in the life...wait...and hope that it spills out some really good art. Sooner than later would be good!

Best friends, Maisie Rose and Ruby Marie

One of the really great things going on lately has been the birth of baby Jenna...the new daughter of our very dear friends, Shennon and Greg. We were over visiting last weekend and big sister Ruby and Maisie had some very special time together. Ruby tugged on those big ears, fed her some tasty grass and petted her very gently. Maisie's heart was wide open to all of it...it was pretty precious.

I'm almost finished with a dog commission and a new abstract...so hope to show you those very soon. I'm hoping that molasses warms up and fuels my inspiration!

Chocolate Milk Anyone?

"Chocolate Milk"
8" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas
available for purchase in my Etsy Shop here

This is a painting I just finished today in my "Milk" series? Not sure I will really continue with this series (a big series of two now)...but I will probably do a few more variations. Call me strange, but I find painting a glass of milk very soothing and somewhat nourishing. You can find my first milk painting if you look on the Other Art page of my website, second row...fifth painting.

Then there is this little beauty above, Miss Maisie Rose. What could she be standing in? If you guessed snow...you be right! It's been snowing here in Boulder today. They say if you don't like the weather in Boulder...you should just wait a minute because it takes about that long for it to change. That's good...because that's about how much patience I usually have for things. HA!

A Slice of Heaven!

My oh my...how time flies. James and I got such a kick out of this. The Bakery made a little mistake with a "Happy 30th" instead of a "Happy 8th". The owner wanted to change it but I told her no...that it was a good omen for what was to come!

We had a wonderful dinner at our favorite restaurant and then came home to indulge in this Italian Cream Cake (Maisie had a nice piece too). I had to take a couple of pictures for Miss Amy...who always entices me with pictures of cake, pie and everything else on her blog. This is for YOU, Amy! By the way...Amy is an incredible Artist so check out her website as well.

James and I want to thank you all for your wonderful Anniversary wishes. They were so warm and funny and sweet and they made our day. You guys are the best! xox

Have a good Tuesday!

Two Little Lovebirds sitting in a tree...

James and Linda ~ Homecoming
November 2, 1972

Today is a special day...our 8th wedding anniversary! Eight years ago today...James and I were married here in Boulder, Colorado. Hard to believe the above picture was taken 36 years ago at our Homecoming Dance. Quite an interesting dress I was wearing...and well, what can James say about his hair (hee hee...sorry hun)!

James and I have known each other a long time. We met in High School and were best friends, fell in love in our early 20's...then fate separated us for many years. We were each married to other people but those marriages eventually fell apart. About thirteen years ago, we found our way back to each other and fell in love all over again. We moved to Colorado and were married two years later. I feel so lucky to have him in my life and that we are together forever now. The sun was shining on us 36 years ago...and James still makes it shine for me every day.

Happy Anniversary JJ! Let's have some cake! :)

An Abstract and Artsy Fartsy Stuff

"Inner Circle #4"
6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas
available at my Etsy Store here

This is the latest in the Inner Circle Series. I incorporated my Grandmother's old sheet music and bits and pieces of monotypes that I did in college.

Below is a painting done by Shari Beaubien. She and I did a trade recently and I was fortunate enough to receive this amazing piece from her. The photo doesn't really do it justice...there are so many layers and colors upon colors to look at. It is an absolutely beautiful painting!

And speaking of Miss Shari...she and I have been having a discussion lately about signing one's work. Up to this point...I have always signed my canvas paintings on the back. I'm not sure why I do this...although my signature seems to be a distraction to me on the front. Shari feels you should sign on the front. She sent me an interesting article from the March issue of ArtsyFartsy News (scroll down, the article is on the right side) that addresses the subject. What's your opinion?...we would love to hear it!

"Vision" by Shari Beaubien
8" x 10" mixed media on canvas