I'm dreaming...

"Drift Away"
30" x 40" acrylic and collage on canvas

Prints available at Imagekind.com and Etsy

I'm dreaming...of drifting away in the coolness of water and the feeling that it gives you...of slowing down for a moment and being suspended in relief. Hope this new painting gives YOU that feeling!

I also want to share with you the work of an Artist from Priest Lake that I just learned about. Her name is Marita McDonough. I saw some of her ceramic work while we were there and it was
beautiful. She works in several mediums but her ceramic and sculpture pieces really caught my eye.

Hope you all have a nice weekend! Supposed to be smokin' hot here but then a cool down is coming next week. Fall is on it's way!

Back from da lake

"Priest Lake"

Hey there!...I'm home from Priest Lake and back in the studio now. We had a great time visiting my dad...hiking, canoeing and zooming around in his boat. I took this photo when James and I went canoeing the first morning we were there. It was so peaceful and the water was smooth as glass. We even managed not to capsize...miracle!

I also wanted to show you the photo below...of Bo, a handsome Parti Poodle we met there when we had dinner with some family friends next door. He's nine years old...and a total sweetheart. I had never seen a Parti Poodle before...beautiful dogs!

"Bo"

I'm back to painting today, working on finishing a new abstract. It's supposed to be 95 this afternoon so Maisie and I are hiding in here with the AC already on. I can feel Fall right around the corner though!

The Potato State

"Upon Delicate Earth"
16" x 20" acrylic and collage on canvas

Prints available at Imagekind.com and my Etsy shop

This new painting is next in line...I particularly like the colors of this one. I've been enjoying experimenting with new color combinations that really seem to pop when next to each other.

Today, I've been cleaning up the studio a bit. This Wednesday, James and I are heading up to my Dad's house at Priest Lake, Idaho for a few days. I'm really ready to take some nice hikes, swim, canoe and have plenty of slug time too. Can't wait!

I'll be back here one more time before we leave though...with a link to a very cool new Art Showcase Blog.

The Beach I'm dreaming of at Priest Lake

First Dog of Spring!

"Boomer"
10" x 11" acrylic and collage on canvas

This is Mr. Boomer...the ONE dog painting I was able to work on and finish while "The Maisenator", our new name of endearment for Maisie, was recovering from her broken toe. Boomer belonged to some wonderful friends of ours who live in Priest Lake part of the year, right next door to my Dad. Boomer is no longer with us...but I can imagine what an amazing dog he was. He was an Airedale Terrier...a very smart one who had personality plus and a heart as big as Idaho. Thanks, Bobbie and Jim...for having me paint your special boy.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Before I go...here's a beautiful little taste of spring...

Spring flowers
preach the gospel:
we who have died
are alive today.

We who risked winter
now raise our heads high
to the glorious sun.

Delicate petals,
daughters of resilience,
they call to me,
encouraging the heart
of true believing.

~ Joyce Rupp

Priest Lake Pics

James and I lounging on the deck (our favorite activity!)

My Dad's canoe...as you're looking north (you can see the mountains of Canada.)

"Kathleen and James coming in from a morning canoe ride."

Here are a few photos of the trip. James and I had such a great time with Steve, Kathleen, my Brother and Dad. They're all such fun people to be with. We're all wishing we were still there! The water was a liiiiiiitle cold for swimming but we all managed to toughen up enough to go in at least once. They probably heard my screams all the way to Washington when I first hit that icy blast of lake water!

Thanks for all your kind comments about our losing the house. Let me just say that trying to deal with a bank on a forclosed house is like sticking a pin in your eye! They would not budge an inch on their asking price and we could not afford to go any higher. I guess they would rather have that beautiful house sit vacant until they get what they want. It's a bit hard for us to move on right now because we loved the house so much...but we know something really good or better is bound to come along. I'm not ready to stop pouting just yet though. :)

Back with more art very soon! Have a good Monday!

Sneakie Peekie and the Lake

Here's a sneak peek at my latest commission...Bianca, the white Boxer puppy. I'm almost finished but am not quite happy with the background just yet. I don't want to rush it so I will finish this sweet little girl when I get back from Idaho.

The photo below is where James and I and our good friends, Steve and Kathleen are heading for 6 days. We're going to visit my dad who owns a home here on Priest Lake which is way up the Idaho panhandle by the Canadian border. It's a beautiful, peaceful place to be. My brother is flying in from California as well so it will be great to have him there too. We'll hike, canoe, swim, boat and also do a lot of nothing! I'm kinda likin' the sounds of the nothing part!

I hope you all have a very nice Labor Day weekend. I'll be back to blogging a week from today. Many hugs and xoxo!