SOLD!

"New Happy House"

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

So guess what?...we sold our house! We had it on the market only three days last week before we had an offer. The real estate gods are with us...no worrying about carrying two mortgages now.
Time to start packing boxes!

My studio here has been moved back down to the basement until we leave so I have been feeling a little displaced. My creative space has really taken a back seat the past few months. I'm just goin' with the flow though because I know that soon...I will have a great space with everything in one place. No more running up and down the stairs (although good for the butt muscles) when I need something.

I just finished the above painting yesterday...and am working today to try and finish a dog commission. I can't wait to get settled into my new studio where I can have a solid block of time to do some work again!

In the meantime...my mantra is "bless this mess!". I know this time of transition will bring good things.

Have a great Tuesday everyone. xox

Two Peas in a POD

Go ahead...you can say it, Linda is a blog slacker! I've been trying to keep caught up with things...but I forgot how time consuming it is to move! I've been swept up in a vortex of change and movement this past year, so landing on my feet in our new home will surely feel good.

This past week, our main goal was to unload our basement and some large furniture pieces into the wicked POD (as we call it now!). There was a lot of lifting, carrying, loading and cleaning (oh and a little cussing too)...during the hottest few days we've had here in Boulder! We did it though and made our deadline...the house went on the market yesterday. The POD is now back in POD-land and will re-appear when we move. What a great invention. Bless the POD.

I'm trying to focus on some painting the next few days so I hope to have something to show you very soon. In the meantime...enjoy the work of Timothy Chapman, an Artist from this area I truly admire. His animal paintings are amazing...check more of them out at Visions West Gallery of Denver.

"Equus Elegans"
36" x 48" acrylic on canvas
By Timothy Chapman

Ice Box Tag!

Thanks Manon Doyle for the ice box tag! I've actually been thinking about my refrigerator since I have to clean it out for prospective house buyers! All of my precious pictures have to be taken off too...but they will soon find a home elsewhere.

Here are the ice box tag rules:

1. show a photo of the front of your cold box
2. tell us about at least one thing on it
3. one thing you keep inside of it
4. tag your friends

Maisie...wishing the door were open.

*I have lots of photos of Abby up on the frig...about twelve I think.

*As with Manon...there is a cold bottle of white wine in there (wish we could share a glass, M!).
There is also always a box of chai, soy creamer and milk for my tea lattes!

* I think I will tag my sweet blog friends AJ, Sandy and Susan.

Have a great Thursday everyone! xox

The Red Series

"Red Series #1"
6" x 7" ~ Acrylic and collage on canvas
Available in my Etsy Shop here

Happy Tuesday! I've been busy working on dog commissions...but I needed to switch gears and paint a new abstract. The above painting is the first in a new series I'm calling, "The Red Series". The spiritual meaning of red really speaks to me with all that's going on in my life right now. The color red symbolizes energy, action, confidence, courage and change. It brings passion and strength to relationships, life and work. I would say that red packs a cosmic punch!

And yes, there is definitely change in the air. We're gearing up to make the big move to our new house in August...so there is lots to do to get ready. I'm trying to teach Maisie how to pack and clean...but she seems more interested in patrolling the backyard for bunnies and sleeping under my desk. The nerve!

A simple beauty

Thanks for all of your congrats on the new house...you guys are the best! We won't be moving in until mid-August though...so everything you saw inside the studio is not mine (dang it!). It belongs to Netti Penman, an amazing Colorado Artist. Nettie is moving north of here and is building a new studio for herself. I got the chance to meet her the other day and thanked her for leaving such wonderful energy for me. The first time I stepped in the new studio...I knew there was good juju.

The above photo is of our new backyard. The house sits on an acre so Maisie will have plenty of space to chase bunnies and mice and probably dig to her hearts content. There was a quote in our local newspaper this morning that struck me and made me really appreciate the fact that we will have some beautiful land around us.

Hope you enjoy it too. Have a great weekend! xox

"The best remedy
for those who are
afraid, lonely or
unhappy is to go
outside,
somewhere where
they can be quiet,
alone with the
heavens, nature
and God. Because
only then does one
feel that all is as it
should be and that
God wishes to see
people happy,
amidst the simple
beauty of nature."

~Anne Frank

A New Beginning

So you won't believe this...(although some of you guessed it)...we bought a new house last weekend! The timing is so strange being so close on the heels of Steve's passing...but we all feel that Steve had a hand in guiding us here. It's a little overwhelming right now...but it's something James and I have wanted for a long time.

The above picture is my new studio. It's almost too wonderful to believe! I will post more pictures tomorrow...of the house itself and the property.

Right now, a nice glass of white wine is in order. My head is spinning with all that's to come. It's a good spin though! xox

Little Dog Tuffy

"Tuffy"
10" x 11" acrylic on canvas

Finally finished Tuffy!...and a big thank you goes out to his papa who was so patient and kind during my painting hiatus. This sweet ball of fluff was a pleasure to paint...I could tell he was a little dog with a BIG personality.

Now...I have a big surprise for you all...bigger surprise for me actually! I can't wait to share it with you...so I will be back tomorrow with the scoop. Can you guess what it is?

Best Friends

Maisie and Yoshi or "Mo-Yo"
as nicknamed by Noah (Yoshi's human brother)

This is Maisie and one of her best girlfriends, Yoshi. Yoshi moved in across the street from us a few months ago and the two of them hit if off right from the start. I took this picture the other day after one of their romps.

I tell you, if you ever need cheering up...watch two dogs play in a kiddie pool! The pool (below) belongs to Yoshi...but due to the kindness of Yoshi's mom, Jackie...she is letting us borrow it for a few days. Of course, by the time I started looking for a kiddie pool...the stores were all sold out! Maisie just loves it...she likes to jump over it, paw at the bottom of it and totally hog it. I also think she actually likes drinking the water rather than sitting in it. Silly girl.

Maisie hogging the pool

I'm almost finished with a dog commission that I started a couple of months ago so I will post it soon. Feels good to be painting again!

Swimming Upstream

Hi everyone, sorry for my long absence...the passing of our friend, Steve hit us all very hard. It's time to get back to things now though...and I know he would wants us to. I have to remember what he used to say...even on his hardest days..."It's all good".

Thanks to all of you for your kind and comforting words while we've been going through this. I apologize for not getting back to each of you personally. Please know though that I do cherish you...and feel so lucky to have met so many wonderful people through this blog. What a gift.

Now...let's talk about some art! Nothing like shoving me back to work!...I had to get three paintings up to Loveland, Colorado for a show last weekend. It was a juried canine art exhibit at the American Buckhorn Valley Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show. The paintings below were the ones accepted. It was a small show...but there was some exceptional dog art. The sculptural work blew me away...I wish I had pictures to show you.

Hope you all are doing well...I can't wait to catch up on your blogs this week. In the meantime...help me with one big collective sigh...and let's get that creative juju flowing again!

"Theo"

13" x 16" acrylic on canvas
2005

"Two Greyhounds"
20" x 22" acrylic on canvas
2005

"Guide Dogs"
20" x 24" acrylic on canvas
2006