" MY SWEET PEA "

16  x  20   Acrylic  

                                Available at Fineartamerica.com

My daughter works for a great organization, the YMCA. She is a site supervisor at one of the after school care at an elementary level. They had a fundraiser today and I was invited to paint something.

Well I did this painting.

Painting in front of people with the intention of having something finished by the alloted time is a bit nerve racking especially when you don't even know what you are doing before hand and I just had an idea and a picture on my phone of a field of sweet peas ( small ) , but I kept saying to myself I can do this. Of course it helps when your daughter tells you "if you don't like it mom it's  OK you can make a little sketch of something if you want, just have a good time !" (awww !)

Well I finished in about 2 hours and had another 1/2 hour to spare so I started to sketch this beautiful little girl called Samantha with radiant RED hair. I was really happy to capture that smile. She is posted on my other blog Dancing Strokes .......check it out.

How to use PINTEREST and IMPROVE YOUR BLOG !!!

I'm not very good with list and research but I am good at recognizing when someone else is good at it and I have found 2 blog post that deserve to be linked to and mentioned especially with the advent of the site pinterest so with this in mind.
I urge you to read these and apply as much of what they are writing as possible.
We live in a society that has fewer examples of good teaching and what honoring others is all about.
So enjoy and apply.

http://www.ornamentalist.net/2012/02/top-5-policies-that-will-make-your-blog.html


http://www.fauxology.com/2012/02/pinterest-tips-tricks/

" The hand of Love "

5 pieces done with Love in mind !

Originals available for purchase and prints done through FineArtAmerica

"My HEart"

8  x  10 Acrylic

"Love Multiplied"

11 x 14

"Spirit Filled"

8 x 10 Acrylic

"It is written"

                                                                           8  x  10

                                                                    "Come-Passion"

                                                               11 x  14  Acrylic

OH MY !

5  x  9 Acrylic

This was done on a moleskins belonging to Michelle Burnett posted on a blog called 

" the flying moleskins "

"From my sketch blog "

" MY BUBBLE "

                                                    11 x  14  Pen, Ink and Watercolor

This piece was done for a family member and originally posted on my DANCING STROKES blog.
I had to wait until after Christmas to have it public.
This sweet child is "COCO' short for Colette a much prayed for and desired baby.

There are different people following this blog so I'm posting here too because I like this piece!

" CHEZ MARIE "

                                       8  x  11        Pen & Ink & Watercolor

" Chez Marie " is a small cafe in Paris very close to Montmartre. I thought I would post this drawing I just finished for CHRisTMAS.
First the place is red and second it is called Chez Marie and I thought it could be the new version for the stable where christ was born, " At Mary's place " After all he was put in a trough and that's where you put the food you give to the animals, since he is feeding us still I thought it a perfect correlation.
BLESSINGS and MERRY CHRISTMAS to All

BTW this piece is from my pen & Ink blog Dancing Strokes but I really like the idea so I'm posting here too.

" Down The Lane "

                                                         9  x  9  TomBow  Pen


I've always been attracted to country roads so with some time on my hands here is one done with only one pen, an TomBow Pen, feather side medium gray.
This to me is a time to focus on what going down a lane like this represent.
Reflection, peace, introspection, focus, joy, nature and it's beauty.
I hope if you have the chance to go for a walk by yourself or with others in a country setting such as this that you will enjoy it as much as I do.
To me it makes me appreciate all that I have with greater eagerness.

MY SKELETON !

                                         14 x 22     Pencil

WHAT's in YOUR Closet !!

Well literally I had this skeleton in my closet with some other artwork which as you can see was damaged by a flood and little bugs !!!
But I feel at this point it adds to the feel of the subject .......... LOL
BTW
This exercise was great to help you understand the proportions of the human body and it's bones.

May you have a fun filled weekend with not too much candy !

God Bless America

This picture was taken by my brother outside his house in Basalt Colorado. I wanted to post it earlier but was so busy with a project for a friend.
Even though it is late ( I wanted to have it up for Labor Day  and 9.11.11 ) the message if gives is everlasting. We are a blessed nation and there is a reason for this !

I need feed back !

‎1. DOES anyone use "Fine Art America" to sell prints ?
2. Do you like it ?
3. Why or why not ?
4. Have you seen the result of your work through them ? do you like it ?
5. Is there an other company you use and like ?


Thanks for any feed back

I'M HERE !

                                                               8  x  10    Acrylic

This was a field of overgrown grasses but within it had these Iris flowers just above them. It made me think that even though things might be covered or surrounded sometimes beauty has a way of showing through any way.
I want to make a few more paintings of this field maybe a close up of those Irises.

" Sitting Pretty "

        
                                                        12  x  16    OIL

This is the second piece I did at the workshop of Janette Jones. Having done a lot of Faux-finish I am comfortable with making things look old but I still need to work on flowers and light. Oh well that's the beauty of doing this kind of work it is an everlasting discovery of what you can do and how to improve.
I really liked the colors of the old chair and the pot with these hydrangea.

On a side note I just had the pleasure to go see my brother and his wife in Vermont and I found out from her that hydrangea get their colors from the soil they are in and in Vermont where they live they are all white.
I'm so happy they are other kind of soils out there to make these flowers look so fabulous in different colors.

" VIENS ICI "

                                                              11 x 14    Oil

I took this workshop with an amazing artist " Janette Jones " at Milfiori in Douglas Flat Ca. a very inspiring place. I had the company of Sheila Tajima during this time too and met some more great artist there that came for Janette's teaching. It was such a treat for me to be able to paint for 3 days.
This is one of my practices "Viens ici" it means "Come here" I thought it would be a good title for this as to me you need to go there and experience it yourself (Janette's teaching and the beautiful location.)

" La Joie de Vivre "

Pastel  18 x 24

I lost my cord that connects my camera to my computer and I'm still hoping to find it !! combine with a lot of work at the store makes posting and making artwork few and far between.

This is a piece I made in pastels a while back..... I can see quite a few things I would want to change in it but it will have to wait. At least it's something else to look at ! ...lol

I SEE YOU

                                                            
                                                  16  x  22      Graphite

This was one of my exams back in the days ( a long time ago)   but I always enjoyed looking at it because it was the start of seeing the possibilities of what could be done with pencils.
I love owls.
I suggest you go to your Natural Museum or other places and draw the stuffed animals there. Especially the birds they have such wonderful textures and it's so much fun to do and try and create the same effect.

" Yes indeed "

                                                  8  x  8  Pastel

A bit before Valentine I got sick (an infection ) then my computer had issues too and left me for some updating. Now all is back but I had this little sketch to post for the occasion but never did.
When you leave the internet world for a while it's incredible the amount of catching up you have to do... phew !!

I FOUND YOU !

                                                             8  X  10  Acrylic

This is for James' moleskin.
I know he likes animals so I decided to give him the care of a Shepherd for his sheep. For the good shepherd leaves his flock to go find the one that strays. Thus being prevented from being eaten by wolves.
" I myself will search for my sheep and look after them " Eze 34:11

Practice, practice !

                                                
                                                14  x 20 colored pencil

I'm posting a practice I did a very long time ago. When I first looked at this still life I though
 I DO NOT WANT TO DRAW THIS !
But by doing it anyway it gave me the confidence to think I could tackle anything with patience and determination.
So my suggestion to anyone out there wanting to improve.
Make your subject or still life difficult sometimes. It might not be the best piece you do but it will show you what not to do or what area to improve and that can be very valuable.

" FOR EVER "

                                                        8  x  10  Pastel

" For ever " is what I think love is.
So even-though a rose is not for ever. The symbol of love it represents is.
This is my version of it.         " For ever in the light of your love  "
Hope you like it.
(BTW, sorry for the long absence in the blog world I've been housesitting, had sometimes a computer but not the opportunity to post anything or do anything artistic for that matter.
Hopefully I can catch up on my own deadlines..... lol )

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

This is my hope for everyone visiting my blog this New Year.

I thank you all for the love you all give me.

Now it's my turn to give back !

I LOVE U

XOOX

                                                                        
                                                                   Love never fails
                                                                      1 Cor. 13:8