Abby Creek Art

Plug it in!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:54:00 +0000

"Espresso Plug"
6.75" x 8" oil pastel on paper
2004

Happy New Year everyone! It feels good to be back after the holiday break. My new motto for this month as illustrated by the above painting is "Plug it in!" I'm going to embrace 2009 with lots of energy and mucho creative spirit!

Actually, "Espresso Plug" came to mind as a good image for my post today because it's featured on EBSQ's site as the Art of the Day today. In case you're not familiar with EBSQ...it's a great place for Artists to meet, learn and showcase their work. I've been a member since 2003 and have gained some great insight from the experience. Here is some info about the group in case you're interested in joining.

Hope you're all doing well. I plan to catch up on your blogs this week to see what amazing things you're doing already this year.

Back soon...Maisie says hi! xox

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:48:00 +0000

Santa Maisie

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with lots of peace, happiness and doggie love! I will be taking some time off between now and New Year's to enjoy just that!

Maisie and I send lots of warm hugs out to you all. See you in the New Year! xox

A Christmas Tail...

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Christmas Angel

Fa la la la LA...

Outta my way...there's a bunny!

Maisie says...have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Art and an Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:04:00 +0000

"The Five Senses"

20" x 24" acrylic and collage on canvas

Finally finished this abstract painting...it's a larger size than I usually work with so it was a bit challenging to the senses. I think it's always a good push though to work smaller or larger than you usually do.

So after you finish all your holiday shopping...head over to the Denver Dumb Friend's League to bid on a gift for yourself for the New Year! The DDFL is close to my heart because they do such good work AND it's where we adopted Maisie. They have 96 items to bid on and the auction continues through February 2nd. I donated a dog commission so you'll see that there too.

Hope you're all having a good week! It's been snowy and beautiful here...although a bit cold for my taste. The high on Monday was 6 degrees...way too cold for Maisie's paw paws!

And the Winner is?!?!...

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:13:00 +0000

...Manon Doyle of Hoochie Poochie Studios...YOU win the 2009 Dogs of Abby Creek Calendar! Yay! Congrats, Miss Manon...I'll send that out to you on Monday.

Maisie did a very good job picking the winner I think. What you don't see in the photos below though...is her running out the dog door with three pieces of paper in her mouth. James had to go after her to retrieve them. Two fell out and Manon's was the slobbered one left.

Hope you're all having a good weekend. James and I are having a Holiday Open House tonight so I'd best get crackin'! xox!

Holiday Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:02:00 +0000

You could win the new 2009 Dogs of Abby Creek Calendar!

Maisie told me that I should post one of the new Abby Creek 2009 Calendars as a giveaway today...just because it's Tuesday. She thinks that everyone should have dog pictures on their calendars to look at every month anyway! You can look here to see the entire calendar.

Soooo...all you need to do is leave a comment and Maisie will pick a winner this Friday, 12/12. We'll write all the names on paper...put them in a hat...then Maisie will pick one out. She'll let you know who it is Friday afternoon.

Happy Tuesday and good luck!

Oh Maisie!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:25:00 +0000

Maisie in doggie dreamland

I think I'm having one of those days! I finally got around to painting this afternoon...but look who decided she liked the spot right where I needed to be! You can see that her big fluffy dog bed is at the bottom left of the picture but...oh no...she wants to be laying on the towel under my easel! What a crack-up. Guess I'm going to hold off on the painting for awhile. Gee, I wonder who's the boss in THIS studio!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Winter Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:50:00 +0000

Here's the view we woke up to last Friday morning. I took it from our upstairs bedroom. What a beautiful blanket of white!

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. We had a good one...hosted Thanksgiving dinner here in our new house. Since I'm a vegetarian...James was in total charge of cooking the turkey. I made roasted vegetables and everyone else brought a favorite dish. It was fantastic! Maisie was especially pleased as her papa made a very special batch of turkey-vegetable soup from the leftovers just for her. Doggie heaven.

Below is a new painting I just finished today titled, "Winter Night". It was pretty cold here over the weekend so I guess I needed to paint a nice cozy house to nest in. If it were a true "O'Neill" house though...it would have a doggie door! A house is not a home without one.:)

"Winter Night"

8" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas

available in my Esty shop here

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:22:00 +0000

"Daisy"
10" x 11" acrylic on canvas

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving day!

My Secret Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:00:00 +0000

"Secret Garden"

7" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas

Available in my Etsy Shop here

Here's what blossomed out of my head and through my fingers today...my "Secret Garden". It's somewhere I can always go to feel peaceful and content. It's a happy little place.

I'm getting the cookbook below for Maisie this Christmas. Not that SHE will be cooking up a storm for ME in the kitchen...but I will be for her. Maisie loves her treats and I wanted to get a really good book with organic recipes. I found this one while I was browsing through one of my favorite magazines, Doggie Aficionado. They have some great holiday gift ideas in their Fall issue.

I have a sneaky feeling though that James will be fighting Maisie over some of these goodies...hee hee.

New Calendar!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:46:00 +0000

Abby Creek 2009 Desk Calendar

Available now in my Etsy shop here

The second annual "Dogs of 2009" Calendar is finally finished and listed in my Etsy Shop. In my opinion ;) it would be THE perfect gift or stocking stuffer for any dog lover!

Now as for gifts...I treated myself to one last week. I bought my second Michele Maule original, the beautiful painting you see below. I absolutely love Michele's work...you should check out her latest paintings and prints for sale in her Etsy Shop. Besides the fact that she's an amazing Artist...she's also the proud mama of one of the cutest Boston Terriers ever! You can find lots of other adorable pictures of Chloe on Michele's blog. Thanks again Michele...I love it!

"Sit Tight"

painting by Michele Maule

Have a great weekend! xox

Get thyself to EBAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:59:00 +0000

"Pair of Pears"

7" x 12" ~ Acrylic and collage on canvas

Available in my Etsy shop here

Here's a new painting I just finished today titled "Pair of Pears". I never get tired of painting pears, the shapes and colors are always so enticing. Besides the fact that I get to eat them afterwards!

Remember to get on over to Ebay asap and bid on our "Dog's Rule " art book! There are only two and a half days left to bid. Your money will go to such a wonderful cause...and you'll receive an incredible book full of original dog paintings. What a great gift for any dog lover in your life!

Winter through the windows

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:59:00 +0000

"Windows #2"
8" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas

Available in my Etsy shop here

Here is the sister painting to "Windows" (from my previous post). I seem to be having problems uploading anything to Etsy today though...so it will probably be tomorrow before it appears for sale in my shop.

As for the photograph below...I took it the other night outside my studio when it was almost a full moon. It looked like the perfect winter moon so I had to try and capture it.

"Winter Moon"

To end the week on a wordy note...here's a beautiful winter poem to keep you warm. Have a great weekend!

Winter birds
have their ways
of survival.

They fluff out
their feathers,
fend off the freeze,
find food
in secret sources.

The winter bird
in me,
she, too, fluffs feathers,
finds food
in a season grown cold
and barren.

Blessed be
that winter bird
in me.

~Joyce Rupp

Time Flies...

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:30:00 +0000

"Windows"
8" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy Shop here

Just finished the above abstract today...hope you like it!

Haven't posted in several days as my Mom has been in town. We had a great time...she loved the new house and Maisie even more. I think Maisie is two pounds heavier though after Grandma spoiled her with buttered bread!

Now, on to a couple more things...be sure and pop on over to one of my favorite blogs, Dog Art Today and enter your Dog's photo in Moira's "Angels with Fur" contest. I just entered my little lovebug, Maisie.

Also, remember the "Dog's Rule Fatbook" post I did awhile back? Well, the Ebay auction is coming up this Saturday, November 15th (won't appear on Ebay until Saturday) so please head over there and bid on this beautiful art book. We want to raise as much money as we can for Bernie Berlin's A Place to Bark Dog Rescue. All of her beautiful dogs waiting adoption send out a big thank you!

Monday madness!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:35:00 +0000

"Santa Puppy"
Christmas Cards available in my Etsy Shop here

Here's the next Dog Holiday Card in line...created from my original painting of "Emma".

Yes, it's a crazy Monday!...lots of painting to do plus my Mom comes for a visit this Wednesday. She hasn't seen the new house so I'm really looking forward to showing it to her. The house will pale in comparison though to her meeting Maisie. I think that's really why she's coming!:)

And one last flicker of Halloween sweetness is below, with Miss Ruby (candy corn girl Jenna's sister) in all her bubbly butterfly beauty. That little face should start your week off right!

Ruby the Butterfly

Maisie's Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:52:00 +0000

So...I had about 3 minutes to take these pictures before Maisie and Lucy tore their costumes off! We had a little pre-Halloween party last night at Kathleen's house so Maisie wanted to show Lucy her dream bunny costume. Of course...our sweet little Maisie probably should have been the devil dog!

Have a Happy Halloween out there and a great weekend!

Bribes help to keep the costume on

Get this dang puff ball off my butt

A bunny ghost in the kitchen

I'm dreaming of an Airdale Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:41:00 +0000

"Airdale Terrier" Holiday Card
available in my Etsy shop here

Here's the next pooch in line for the holiday cards! At least one more is coming so stay tuned.

By the way...can you feel the change in the air? My toes are tingling as the election is about to take place. Take a listen to LeRoy Bell's "A Change is Coming" and you'll know what I mean. Whatever you do next week...get out there and vote!

Salt and PeppA

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:58:00 +0000

"Salt and Pepper"
7" x 8" acrylic on canvas
available in my Etsy Shop here

This is a new still life that I finally completed last Friday. I had actually started it before we moved...but then it sat on my drawing board for quite some time looking very sad and lonely. I decided last week that it was time to give it some attention so I hunkered down with my paint brushes and finished it. Yay!

Here's a last shot of some beautiful Fall leaves blanketing our backyard. The next day we had a pretty big wind storm so most of the leaves are gone now. I miss them already and the beauty they graced us with the past few weeks. Maisie will miss them too; romping through them and having me throw big handfuls over her. She loved that...it made her do a happy dance.

Back tomorrow with another new Christmas card!

A Canine Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Puchase these cards in my Etsy Shop here

A very happy Thursday to ya! So how can you not love a "Puggie" Christmas card I ask? I just created this one today and am actually going to be releasing a few other new Doggie Christmas Cards during the next several days. They come ten cards per package with envelopes...and you can purchase them here.

Now...on to the little Halloween vixen below. That's my friend Shennon's daughter, Jenna (for those of you who follow my blog...that would be Ruby's little sister). Other than Ruby (and Maisie of course)...she's just about the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on. I'm thinking this would be a great costume for Maisie too...if only I could push her big ears up inside that hat. Maybe NOT?!

Miss Jenna, the candy corn girl

Love springs eternal

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:17:00 +0000

"Eternal"
7" x 8" acrylic and collage on canvas
available in my Etsy Shop here

Here's the next in my series on transition called, "Eternal". When I was painting it, I was thinking about how some things remain steadfast through changes in our lives...like love and our own inner guidance.

And speaking of inner guidance...while I was unpacking some things in my studio awhile back...I came across an Artist's statement that I wrote for a show. It was about my older abstract work in printmaking...and I liked what it said. It still rings true with the work I do in different mediums today.

"The art of Printmaking is an illuminating process.
I am always surprised at what unfolds.
It is spontaneous and somewhat mysterious.
It gives me a voice."

Listen to your voice today and make some beautiful art!

Autumn is Awesome!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Our maple tree in full glory

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly above the earth
seeking the successive autumns." ~ George Eliot

Have a beautiful autumn weekend!

Taking Chances

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:35:00 +0000

"Happy Chances"
6" x 7" acrylic and collage on canvas
available at my Etsy Shop here

Transitions involve taking chances...and you never quite know how things will turn out or how you'll react. I'm finding though...that even though they're hard...the emotional growth you gain is always good. You just gotta hang in there to find out what that is.

Moving to a new home and neighborhood was not easy and the stress pretty much kicked me in the behind. However, it's pushing me to new beginnings and I'm grateful for that.

I'm also grateful to have a crazy dog that makes me laugh each and every day no matter what the heck is going on in my world!

The Goofball

Loving a dog...

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:04:00 +0000

...is one of the best things in the world. Here are a few shots of my studio partner...doing some of her favorite daily things that always make me smile.

Protecting the yard from vicious bunnies

Enjoying a Fall day while surveying her domain

Trying to get my attention by looking cute

On fly catching duty in the studio

"If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat ~Author Unknown

Moving Forward

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:34:00 +0000

"Spirit"
6" x 7" mixed media on canvas
Available in my Etsy Shop here

Hi everyone...I've missed you! Seems that my comment, "back in a couple of days..." from my last post in September...turned into three plus weeks. I guess I just needed more time away than I thought after the move and other events that have transpired this past year.

The new studio is finally set to go now...so I've taken this past week as a "sequester" week to get back on the creative track. Finally picked up a paintbrush after many weeks and the above painting is what I came up with. During this time of transition...I have needed to call upon and rely on an inner strength of spirit and a peaceful mind. That's what I wanted to convey in this new work.

Hope you're all doing well. Have a beautiful Fall weekend out there! xox

"This we can all bear witness to, living as we do plagued by unremitting anxiety. It becomes more and more imperative that the life of the spirit be avowed as the only firm basis upon which to establish happiness and peace." ~ Dalai Lama

My new studio mascot!

noreply@blogger.com (Abby Creek Art) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:17:00 +0000

I have a new Gargoyle to introduce you to...I've named him Leroy...and he was given to me by my friend, Melissa of Pugnotes to help watch over my new studio. Thanks Melissa! He sits atop the beautiful (Studio) architectural element that hangs outside...made by the former Owner and Artist of the studio, Nettie Penman. You can see in the photo of Nettie (bottom left) that she is working on another creation, a water fountain...which she so graciously left in our shade garden. She is an amazing Artist.

"Leroy", bringer of good studio juju

The stunning painting below was given to me by another wonderful friend, Shari Beaubien. Shari and I did a trade...I gave her "New Happy House" in exchange for this piece called, "Perfection". I saw this painting when she blogged about a new series she was working on and I had to have it. The text, "I suppose we all have delusions about perfection." really hit a chord with me. Now I just have to find the "perfect" place for it. Thank you, Shari for your inspiring work!

"Perfection"
by Shari Beaubien
5" x 5" acrylic and collage on canvas

Back in a couple of days with a blog about The BARK!