The Graduate

Here's our little graduate, Miss Maisie Rose O'Neill! She graduated from her first six week obedience training last Saturday...and the bunny she's got between her paw paws is from her Instructor. Of course, James and I think she was the star of the class. We're getting a bumper sticker that says, "My dog was an honor student at Gigi Moss Dog Training School!".

I'm SO going to miss this face while we're gone. Maisie will have lots of fun with Mary though and her best girl dog pals, Lucy and Yoshi.

And speaking of being gone...I'd best get to packing those last minute things. We're heading to the airport this afternoon and I'm NOT quite there yet with the organization thing. Oh what else is new!

Back on June 1st! Sending lots of Tahitian sunshine your way...xox!

Gushing about Gauguin!

"Arearea" (Joyousness)
by Paul Gauguin, 1892

"Pastorales Tahitiennes"
By Paul Gauguin, 1892

Oh yeah, she has the pre-travel jitters! I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much of a stress mess the days leading up to a long vacation. I'm not one who loves plane travel that's for sure...but more than that, it's leaving the comfort and loves of home and (DOG)...to venture out to places unknown. I always love it once we arrive at our destination...it's just the "before" and the "getting there" that kinda sucks!

One of the many reasons I'm excited to be going to Tahiti is because of Paul Gauguin...another one of my favorite Artists. Gauguin lived and painted in Tahiti during the last years of his life and produced some of his most beautiful works. I love the way he used bold color and primitive design to depict life on the Islands. He was truly a master and ahead of his time and I hope to see lots of his influence there.

Hope to be back here once more before we leave Wednesday afternoon.

Have a good Monday everyone!

It's Fabulous Friday!

"Inner Circle #8"
6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas
available here in my Etsy shop

And a happy fabulous Friday to you! Here's the latest in my Inner Circle Series. I've been working on dog paintings all week...but yesterday I needed to shift gears and work on something a little different. It always seems to help my brain re-focus...and then I can head back to work on the dogs with a fresh perspective.

Besides working hard this week...a miracle happened. I found a bathing suit for Tahiti! We all know how much fun it is for a woman to shop for a new suit. The flourescent lights always help too. Geeez, you might as well put us in front of one of those distorted circus mirrors, Mr. Nordstrom's! I find myself having to channel Stuart Smalley (the character Al Franken played on Saturday Night Live) afterwards and say this affirmation to myself..."I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and gosh darnit it...people like me!". I think I'm over the trauma now.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Going Tropical...

"Tropical"
8" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas
2006

This is one of my earlier paintings...I thought it would set the mood for the day. James and I are leaving for vacation next week and we're going to Tahiti! He and I haven't been away on a nice, long vacation...just the two of us...in what seems like forever so we're putting that credit card to use and we're gonna skeddadle! A friend of a friend owns a house on the island of Moorea...so we are staying there for seven nights and then will go to Bora Bora for two nights. I'm excited to go somewhere I've never been before and am looking forward to being inspired by the color and beauty of the tropics.

I'm definitely feeling the pre-trip freak out this week! So much work left to do before we leave next Wednesday and of course, I'm stressing about leaving Maisie. At least she'll be in excellent hands with Mary again so I won't worry. I'll miss the heck out of her though and will probably have to look at her picture 20 times a day to get through. Talk about separation anxiety!...I'll probably start chewing on the sofa any moment now.

So please forgive me if I'm not more responsive to posting or commenting right now. I'm working hard to finish two dog commissions before we leave so am trying to stay disciplined and focused. Yeah right...I'm really dreaming of luscious flowers, the ocean and lots of naps on the beach!

Back soon...xox!

My Mother's Garden...

"In search of my mother's garden, I found my own." ~ Alice Walker

Hope you're all having a beautiful Mother's Day!

What's in an Abstract?

"Inner Circle #7"

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

Finally making an appearance today..."Inner Circle #7"! When people see one of my abstracts they will sometimes ask..."well what is it?" I have to laugh because I don't know quite what the heck it is either so it's a hard question to answer!

I came across a couple of great quotes that really seem to express (at least to me) what an abstract is all about ...

"You like it, that's all, whether it's a landscape or abstract. You like it. It hits you. You don't have to read it. The work of art - sculpture or painting - forces your eye." ~Clement Greenberg, Art Critic

"I'm not an abstractionist. I'm not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I'm interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom and so on."
~Mark Rothko, Artist

"Vision at End of Day"
by Mark Rothko, 1946
oil on canvas, 40" x 50"

If YOU have a favorite Abstract Artist...do tell! I would love to know.

The Figure

"Seated Woman"
by Linda O'Neill ~ 1992
16" x 20" oil on canvas

So look what I found down in the tuff shed in Petaluma! My mom has been storing lots of my old paintings from art school for me and this is one of them from 16 years ago. It was my very meager attempt at doing figurative work in the style of Richard Deibenkorn, one of my favorite American Painters. As you probably have surmised from my website and blog, I am not a figurative painter. I always wanted to be...but my destiny seems to be more related to figures with tails. That suits me just fine though!

"Woman in Profile"
by Richard Diebenkorn ~ 1958
68" x 58" oil on canvas

Below is an amazing portrait painting we saw when we recently visited the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. I just fell in love with it and I think you can probably guess why. James and I have re-named it though...and now call it "Shennon and Maisie"...after our beautiful red-headed friend, Shennon and our beautiful brindle headed dog! Whatcha think, Shens? :)

"A Celtic Huntress"
by George de Forest Brush ~1890
20" x 17" oil on canvas

Back tomorrow with a new abstract!

Parade of Animals!

Hi everyone...I'm back from the Bay Area! Thanks so much for all your sweet bon voyages...I read your comments while I was there and they made me feel all warm and toasty.

It was a fast and furious visit and I'm feeling a little brain dead today...but I wanted to share a few photos with you. One of the highlights of our trip was to meet the menagerie of animals at a farm just above my mother's farm in Petaluma. My mom's friend, Lisa runs this place...where she takes in animals that have nowhere else to go. There were goats, pigs, chickens, roosters, rabbits, geese, ducks, horses, donkeys and tortoises to name a few. I was in heaven! Thought I would post pictures of some of them because they were so dang cute. The cow, Miss Lulu, belongs to my mom. She's kind of a stand-off'ish cow most of the time...but this trip she let me scratch behind her ears. I love you, Lulu!

Be back soon with a new painting!

Tallulah and Me
(this is for YOU, Katherine and Amy!)

Cleo
(elderly but still full of pig power)

Lulu
(my mom's pet cow)

Marshall
(a little shy but sweet)

"I can't remember his name" Goat
(liked to chew your pants)