NEW TECNIQUES

I tried a couple of new things with these latest paintings. On the "Boo to You" one I painted the whole canvas a chocolate brown and let it dry before adding other colors. It almost looks like chalk on a chalk board, what do you think?












In the second painting, Mommy is having a party and kitty is NOT invited--is that fair?? I used some India ink to emphasize the details on this one.


















I was going through my stuff and found some jewelry supplies I had purchased last year and forgotten about. I spent the afternoon making a few pieces using mini prints of some of my paintings. I will be listing all of these items on Ebay tonight.


















The last photo is one I shot of the little "get away in the tree tops" that my daughters built this week with the help of their little brother who is quite handy with the power tools. Yes, my girls are 19 and 21 but they enjoyed this little project and sit up there to watch birds, read, sketch or whatever. Its kind of fun to see them recall their childish spirits again! And yes, Mom, it is really high up there~

TRIO OF CURIOUS CATS

I think this is the first time I have ever posted twice in one day! Crazy, huh? I know I am going to be busy for the next few days and I wanted to post these new little paintings that I just finished.

I'm not really a "bright color" person, I prefer golds, greens, and deep reds---but I wanted to try something new, so I painted this trio of very curious cats using some very bright colors! I also used Indian ink for accenting. Tell me what you think. These are really not the colors that I'm comfortable with but I think I like the way they turned out. I will try to post them on eBay tonight. The links are at the top of my blog. Have a great weekend everyone!

MY FABULOUS FRAME

Last week when my family and I went to Elephant Rock State Park, we stopped in lots of little antique shops along the way. I found this great frame there and wondered what I could put in it.

Well, yesterday my daughters and I had lunch with my parents and then we ventured next door to visit my sister, Jennifer (Hot Tamale Art Studio). I was snooping through her studio--don't you love to get a chance to snoop in other peoples' studios? Anyway, I stole this print that I thought would be perfect for my old frame! Don't you love it? Actually, I had to "fess up because I wanted her to sign it for me first! Imagine that--asking your baby sister for her autograph! Thanks Jennifer, you can snoop and steal in my studio anytime!

Speaking of snooping in studios, there is an Art Walk in St. Louis this weekend where you can walk into 79 working artist studios and watch them work and ask questions about techniques and such. My daughters, sister Jennifer, and our Dad are going to make a day of it on Saturday! I can't wait! My Dad has a wonderful little studio in his home overlooking the woods where he paints lots of beautiful nature scenes. He just started doing this after he retired! It is amazing what he has accomplished! His mother, (my dear grandma), was a prolific oil painter---she did tons of landscapes and still lifes.

LATE SUMMER PAINTINGS

I have been busy working on a trio of late summer/early fall paintings. They have lots of crackle and brown antiquing giving them a very primitive look! They look so neat in these rustic golden frames, it will be hard to part with them. (Sorry, the frames aren't included--I like to rotate my artwork in these with the seasons)

The first painting is a girl harvesting grapes, despite the blackbirds. The second one is a girl enjoying an apple in a big old tree. Her kitty is more concerned with the butterfly on his butt! The third one illustrates exactly why I don't grow sunflowers anymore--I never get to see the heads mature!

I will be listing these on eBay tonight. Have a good week!

ELEPHANT ROCKS AND DIVA CAT

First I want to show you the little painting I did this week. She is certainly a Diva Cat. Perhaps you have a similar Diva in your life! I will post this on eBay tonight, starting at just $9.99!

On Friday our family made a trip to Elephant Rocks State Park. It is about an hour and a half from our home and we usually go once each summer for a picnic and hike. Let me tell you it is very unique and beautiful, but a "mom's nightmare" if potential fatal injuries make you nervous!




The park consists of a huge natural outcropping of giant pink granite boulders, it is really something to see! But if you have dare devils in your family like my son, Jordan, it can be quite nerve-wracking. (Sorry Mom, you may need a glass of wine now!) The bad part was that he jumped back and forth about 20 times so that his sister could get the perfect action shot.


Every year I swear that I am going to wait in the picnic area while my husband and kids hike up all the boulders so that I don't have to yell "be careful!" so many times. Somehow, I always manage to hike up there with them and subject myself to the torture of seeing them jump over deep crevasses and sit on ledges overlooking lagoons many feet below. But, it was a beautiful day, and rare that we could all plan something together between busy schedules. We stopped in a couple of historic towns along the way with fun little shops and antiques (my favorite part). Now that that's over, I can relax and sketch some more ideas for paintings~Have a nice evening!

NEW PAINTINGS

I just finished a couple of paintings. The first one is of a cute little kitty who has spotted a Lady Bug on the flower pot. A past customer requested that I paint a kitty, a Lady Bug, and a Daisy--and this is what I came up with. I hope she likes it, but anyone can bid on it.

The second painting is much bigger than I usually do. It is on a 16" X 20" stretched canvas. The colors are very soft and I think it would be perfect in a child's room. I especially like the quote that I wrote on the top. "There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where the colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again." I love that quote by Elizabeth Lawrence. Both of these paintings will be on Ebay later this evening. The link is at the top of this page.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIE, LOUIE!

Yesterday morning we shopped at Soulard Market in downtown St. Louis (about 30 minutes from where I live). It is the oldest open air market west of the Mississippi, as you can see from the early photo. There are vendors selling everything from live goats and chickens, to fresh flowers, to grilled alligator on a stick! There are lots of musicians playing for coins in a can, and believe me lots of people watching to be had! I bought loads of produce at awesome prices and we snacked on lots of interesting eats~our favorite was the mini Krispy Kreme type contraption that made fresh donuts the size of quarters served hot in a paper bag drizzled with glaze.

If you are a baseball fan, St. Louis is the place to be now. There is a huge celebration going on in preparation for the All Star Game on Tuesday. My parents are at the stadium today where lots of locals, out of towners, and celebrities are to watch some old baseball legends play a game of soft ball!

DEEP SUMMER

Well we are deep into summer now! I just had to share a photo of my Stargazer Lilies! I just love them and you can smell them throughout the yard. They are very hardy, you should try them.

The abstract painting was created by my daughter, Laura. It is a large commissioned piece she just completed. I like the colors, they will match the client's room perfectly.

The last painting is one that I just finished. Did you you ever try to relax and read a book and your kitty just doesn't want to cooperate! If you have a kitty, I am sure you have experienced this. I will be listing this one Ebay later tonight. The link is at the top of the page. Have a great week everyone!

HIDING FAIRY

Okay, I wasn't going to paint again until after the 4th since I am so busy with a party tonight and a barbecue tomorrow, but I got so distracted!

I was strolling through my yard and I saw the most perfect (albeit poisonous) mushroom! When I bent down to take a closer look, I could swear I saw a tiny fairy run from behind it! I wanted to paint this picture before I forgot what she looked like...

This shy fairy looks frightened as she hides behind a mushroom. I used fern fronds from my yard to stamp the design on the back ground. This 6x6 stretched canvas will be on eBay soon. The link is at the top of the page.

Keep a look out, fairies are active this time of year!

MY STUNNING NEW CENTERPIECE

This is what I got in the mail today!! I won Jenny Carter's raffle to help out the kitties through her Alley Cat Rescue blog. Isn't Miss Glory the most stunning centerpiece for my table! Jenny does such beautiful work with her dolls and I am so honored to own this one! Every detail is so meticulously crafted! Please visit her website to learn what you can do to help with the endless problem of feral cats in her Denver neighborhood.

I will be having my whole family over Saturday for a July 4th barbecue. I will have to keep my eye on Miss Glory so she doesn't disappear with my envious mom or sisters! I'll be watching you Pease Porridge!