Friday, March 27, 2009

Snow Day!

We finally got the spring snowburst we've been waiting for yesterday...about 16 inches! I took this photo this morning as the soft, sweet sun was rising. The sky was glowing like a big cottonball. Our flowers beds are now drunk with happy moisture!

My friend, Mary (Maisie's Auntie)...sent me this lovely poem the other day. Seems fitting with spring unfolding...

Poem on a Line by Anne Sexton,
'We are All Writing God's Poem'

by Barbara Crooker

Today, the sky's the soft blue of a work shirt washed
a thousand times. The journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step. On the interstate listening
to NPR, I heard a Hubble scientist
say, "The universe is not only stranger than we
think, it's stranger than we can think." I think
I've driven into spring, as the woods revive
with a loud shout, redbud trees, their gaudy
scarves flung over bark's bare limbs. Barely doing
sixty, I pass a tractor trailer called Glory Bound,
and aren't we just? Just yesterday,
I read Li Po: "There is no end of things
in the heart," but it seems like things
are always ending--vacation or childhood,
relationships, stores going out of business,
like the one that sold jeans that really fit--
And where do we fit in? How can we get up
in the morning, knowing what we do? But we do,
put one foot after the other, open the window,
make coffee, watch the steam curl up
and disappear. At night, the scent of phlox curls
in the open window, while the sky turns red violet,
lavender, thistle, a box of spilled crayons.
The moon spills its milk on the black tabletop
for the thousandth time.

I'll have a very different dog painting for you to see next week. I'm working on a collaboration with several other Artists who are all donating original paintings for a dog rescue auction. All I can say at this point is Maisie is involved in a mardi gras kind of way. Stay tuned!

Have a nice weekend! xox

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Melissy Doodles!

Have you tried a blind doodle yet? I call them Melissy Doodles because Melissa Langer started this on her blog awhile back. It's such a fun thing to do...especially if you're frustrated or having an art block. It frees you up and shows you the fun of drawing again. Give it a try and see what you come up with.

I did this one of Maisie in your honor today, Melissa. She gave me a "look" though...I don't think it was up to her artistic standards. HA!

Blind Doodle "Maisie"

Blind Doodle "Abstract"

Friday, March 20, 2009

A Girl and a Puppy

I have a real treat for you today...these beautiful photos taken by my wonderful friend, Ashley Singleton. This is her daughter, Cameron and their new Aussie/Border Collie mix named Wyatt. I gotta say that these are some of the most amazing photos I've seen of a child and puppy together. The lighting, the sepia tone, the feeling they convey are all what make for top notch imagery. I think Ashley has a real gift here...plus two cutie pie subjects!






I'm leaving you for the weekend with a quote that really hit me the other day. With all that's going on in the world right now and in keeping these touching photos in mind...remember...

"Even in a time of elephantine
vanity and greed, one never has
to look far to see the campfires
of gentle people" ~ Garrison Keillor

Have a heck of a joyful Vernal Equinoxy kind a day!! xox

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Meet Rosie!

"Rosie"
10" x 11" acrylic on canvas

Here's my newest dog commission...Miss Rosie (aka Batgirl). She's the sweetest, goofiest Lab with a tiny obsession for balls.

This quote reminds me of her...and all Labs in general!...

"I put contact lenses in my dog's eyes. They had little pictures of cats on them. Then I took one out and he ran around in circles." ~Stephen Wright

Hope you all had a good St. Patrick's Day! Maisie is enjoying some leftover corned beef. She deserved some...being an O'Neill and all!

Monday, March 16, 2009

IKEA is my friend


I bet most of you out there have a love affair going with IKEA like Melissa and I do, don't you? Well, when James and I were in the Bay Area a few weeks ago...we went to the IKEA store in Emeryville where I found this major cheapo hanging system. It's marketed for curtains...but I knew it would make a really cool industrial looking "print" hanger. I have some of my mini prints on it now in my studio and I love it! Unfortunately, IKEA doesn't sell these on their website...but you can find them here on ebay.



Got my new issue of Fido Friendly magazine in the mail over the weekend with their "100 Best Products" for dogs and their people. I think I may have to get this and some of these.

I'm working hard on finishing my new dog commission so stay tuned! Hope you're all having a good Monday!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Good Art...BAD Art!

"Green Green Tea"
by Shellie Mitchell

First of all, thank you SO much for your sweet birthday wishes...you made my day! We had a yummy dinner out and the play was great. James was one of only two guys in the audience...but I think he rather enjoyed being surrounded by women.

Now the above art is the good art I'm talking about. It was a birthday gift from my friend, Melissa of Pugnotes.com. Melissa and I like to meet for tea every couple of weeks which is something I always look forward to. This beautiful little painting will always remind me of our wonderful "art and other things" tea talks! Thank you, M!

Now the BAD art I'm talking about is something I came across yesterday as I was doing some research for my new website. My fantastic Web Designer, Keith and I are brainstorming to come up with just the right new logo for Abby Creek Studios. I've been going through old monotypes and drawings from school to give me ideas and THIS illustrious self-portrait popped up. Wow...do I really look like that? I sure don't look very happy. HA! My Professor was probably thinking I'd better work on those drawing skills! At any rate...these older pieces are sure fun to see again.

Self-Portrait, 1993

Have a wonderful weekend out there! Play with your pooches! xox

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Lucky number 51!

Dog Hat Girls

Thought I should put my party hat on (yep that's me on the right)...as I'm celebrating my 51st birthday today! Yikes...did I say 51? Well, lets not focus on THAT little number but instead on that fabulous party hat I'm wearing. I think it looks a little like Maisie, don'tya think? She was laying her little paw on my future even then!

Nothing like celebrating with a new painting too...so below is my latest abstract work. Must be the March/Pisces vibrations channeling through.

Heading to dinner and a play in Denver tonight so I'll let you know how it goes. Have a great Wednesday everyone!

"Swimming Upstream"
8" x 8" x 1.5" acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy shop here


Monday, March 09, 2009

The Culprit!

Maisie, the masked Googler

So...I think I found the inspiration behind the comic in my last post. Lo and behold...I stepped into my studio this morning to find Maisie already at work. Up on the screen were Google images of bunnies....alongside another window with Google maps open! I've got to start keeping a closer eye on this girl.

On to some artsy stuff...one of my older paintings from 2004, "Which Came First" is featured as Art of the Day on the EBSQ site today. I used to participate in many of their themed juried shows...and this was one of them with the theme of "Chickens". I think I would enjoy doing that again one of these days soon. Being given a theme and seeing what you and everyone else comes up with is such an enjoyable experience. Kinda forces you out of your comfort zone.

"Which Came First"
12" x 12" acrylic and collage on canvas

Have a good art day! Keep an eye on your bunny chasing mutts out there!

Thursday, March 05, 2009

More mini's

"Green Pear"
5" x 7" print available here

"Red Pear"
5" x 7" print available here

Here are two more mini prints available now in my Etsy shop. Haven't been able to finish any original art yet this week as I've been busy with other...shall we say organizational things? I've also been working with my web designer on the new site. It won't be ready for awhile...but I can tell you I'm getting VERY excited about it!

And now a quiz...WHO does the dog in the below comic remind you of??? She'll be by to say hello to you tomorrow.:)

from the BARK magazine

Monday, March 02, 2009

Spring has sprung

"First Signs of Spring"
8" x 8" x 1.5" acrylic, collage, ink on canvas
available in my Etsy shop here

I'm feelin' a little spring here in Colorado...it's 74 degrees today! Some green is starting to return to the lawn, the iris bulbs are popping up and James and I started preparing the soil in our vegetable garden yesterday. Now I know winter isn't over here yet...but I think I'll ignore that right now and continue on my merry spring way.

I was over at Wendy Crumbley's 2DogStudio blog the other day and saw a couple of things I wanted to share with you. First, check out this wonderful painting she did titled, "Bath Time". Besides the fact that it's a beautiful painting...her use of texture is just awesome!

"Bath Time" by Wendy Crumbley

Wendy also finds the most wonderful dog quotes...and this one reminds me of how I feel about Maisie...

"My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,
it comes from the love in my dog's eyes." ~unknown

Thanks for your inspiration, Wendy!