The Invitation Said Light Appetizers.

The Invitation Said Light Appetizers...that is the name of this first painting. It is a large deep sided 12"x12"x1.25" stretched canvas. The painting continues down the sides and it has a crackle finish with antiquing. Lot's of texture make this almost look like crocodile skin!

The other two paintings are of girls with pets. Hamster Love and Junior Girl Scout feature little girls who are crazy about animals!

Both of these paintings will be listed tonight on Ebay! Have a wonderful evening!

A stroll after the rain...

We had an afternoon thunderstorm today. I love to take a stroll outside afterwards. Everything seems so extra green and peaceful then. I hope you are all having a peaceful Saturday.

Tasting the Absinthe!

My mom, sisters and I had a wonderful "girls" weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks where my sister Kerry has a beautiful condo! We sat around and talked, laughed, snacked, and drank all weekend. We did make trips to the pool and a few short shopping trips too...but we mostly just love cracking up with each other and being silly! If you have been following my blog you know that I have been interested in why so many great artists and writers were addicted to absinthe (the green fairy). Well, we found a small bottle and all tried it. WOW! I think you can feel the burn all the way down your throat and through your intestines! It is 138 proof. We got such a laugh at each other's faces as we swallowed it! The second photo is me taking a very tentative first swig! The group photo is (l to r) sister Susan, me, Mom (a very youthful and fun 73 year old), Kerry, and Jennifer (tamale cat art). My mom happened to be wearing a long, green ethereal dress when we tried the absinthe--so of course she was pegged the "Green Fairy" all night! ha ha It was such a fun annual event for us to reconnect without the distractions of kids and husbands! I hope you all have a great week!

Van Gogh and the Green Fairy

I just finished reading a book about the last couple of months in Vincent Van Gogh's life. Many of the European artists and writers of those days drank or were addicted to absinthe. Absinthe is a spirit made by distilling many different herbs including wormwood. In the 1800's it was very strong and was said to be a psychotropic. Absinthe was also called "The Green Fairy". Hemingway said he was under the influence of absinthe when he wrote "For Who the Bell Tolls".

I think Van Gogh suffered from anxiety and depression and tended to self medicate. The doctor (Dr. Gachet) who was caring for him when he commit suicide was treating Van Gogh with various herbal "tinctures" that he brewed from his gardens. None of these seemed to help and may have actually increased his anxiety!

This painting is my impression of Vincent Van Gogh being seduced by "The Green Fairy". I used very heavy acrylics to give the look of oil paint. There is lots of texture and color on this painting and it looks wonderful in this old frame! I'm not sure if I want to part with it, but I will list it on Ebay tonight.

I am really curious about absinthe now! I know that it was banned in the US for many years, but has recently returned. I'm sure that it can't be as potent as it was years ago. Has anyone out there tried it? I am tempted to find a bottle just so I can taste it!

Mer-Cats!

I have been dabbling in mermaids and mer-cats again. Do you think I should have put a top on the white mer-kitty? Is it too risque? hee hee I will list these on Ebay tonight!

Quail Love

It was a gloomy, cool day today, so I spent a lot of time painting. I'm sort of really into gray days~This painting, "Quail Love", is ready to list tonight. It has lots of texture in the grasses. I think quails and Bobwhites are about the same thing. I was just thinking how I hardly ever hear them outside anymore. I still hear Whippoorwills during the summer. They can really make it hard to sleep when one chooses to sing all night right outside your bedroom window!

I have a couple more paintings that I am waiting for the crackle to dry on so I can antique them. They feature "Mer-Kitties"!

Summer Lunch Addiction

There is nothing like a summer lunch out on the patio! I have been sort of addicted to an unusual dish...sauteed radishes on garlic bread. You wouldn't believe how sauteing radishes in olive oil with a squeeze of lemon changes and mellows the flavor! Surprise your next guests with this unusual canape paired with a glass of wine. Radishes are so cheap, just slice thin, saute in a bit of olive oil until soft. Meanwhile, slice some french bread, brush with a little olive oil (I cheat with a spray can of olive oil). Toast the bread on a cookie sheet in the oven. When you get the bread out of the oven, rub the surfaces with a clove of garlic. Toss the sauteed radishes with a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh ground pepper before piling them on the toast slices. Yummy!

Forever Tethered

This painting has been floating around in my head for a few weeks now. It was inspired by my real life. My oldest daughter, Tara, awoke about 3 in the morning overcome with stress. She is a full time graduate student, with a full time job and and she is trying to maintain a long distance relationship with her boyfriend of 4 years. Sometimes she just gets a little overwhelmed. She tiptoed downstairs to get a drink, trying not to disturb anyone. I did not hear her at all, but found myself awake at the same time...when I discovered she was awake and a bundle of nerves I did what any mother would do...I comforted her and reassured her that life would get easier soon. I sat on her bed until her slow and steady breathing told me she was sound asleep...then I went back to bed and lay awake the rest of the night...

Being a mother never stops, does it? Even when they are all grown up, you still worry...you still feel their pains and joys. It is like your hearts are tethered together forever!

I will be listing this special painting on Ebay tonight. Is there someone who you feel tethered forever to?