Ahhh, first, let me explain that I cannot for the life of me remember where I last left off!  This first painting was done a couple of years ago and spent the last month in my local gallery's spring art show.  It's a personal favorite that I've titled "Abide".

 Now for the meat:  I spent this winter in and out of the hospital for various surgeries and trying to get a diagnosis for some serious illnesses.  The short and sweet of it all goes something like this: I had three surgeries, went 43 days without eating or drinking anything, and only remember a few hours from an about 12 week period.  Miraculous, yes, absolutely.  Completely physically and emotionally draining, YES!!!  As my body began to heal and I was able to tolerate foods and do more than sleep, I started to get a *bit* down (definitely an understatement:)).  After some thought, I picked up my brushes and broke out the paints; it had been about three years since I had worked on anything of this nature.  I was drawn to a childrens' book called, "Sleep Like A Tiger" with illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski.  This was a daunting piece given its complexities and the fact that it had been so long since I had painted.  I should explain that in the past I have been know to paint with a manic fury:)  I would start and finish a piece in one sitting.  Often that meant the "chair of neglect":) (it's really just the highchair with lots of Ritz crackers:)) for the youngest child, and cereal for dinner and an over-all atmosphere of "fend for yourself!"  If I felt like painting at night, then I wouldn't sleep.   Back to the present.  I didn't have the ENERGY to do much of anything for four months or so.  I started this painting (the tiger one) and left it up in my studio/kitchen and walked by it multiple times each day and got to see it in different lights.  I felt peaceful each time I looked at it and could see potential. I could see where I could make changes and that any part of it could be re-worked and that in the end it would be a completed piece.  (One million metaphors here:))  I WAS really please with the way it turned out and I felt encouraged to work more.  My fabulous cousin's husband graciously let me use his photographs for reference, and pretty much, I've been at it since:)  I've felt inspired and guided to paint certain subjects for certain people and have felt immense satisfaction in creating.  I try to stay busy and will work on one or two pieces each week.

 This was my first ever pet-commission, although from what I understand this is no ordinary horse, but a tornado survivor as well.

And this is the piece I'm currently working on.  It's cheery and peaceful and THAT says a lot for me!

Sick Day

 Don't be too impressed, the bunny idea came from a painting off of Rosenberry Rooms that I liked.  I changed the ground colors and added the ribbons via hot glue, which I feel like I should get a prize for that one seeing as I had not used a hot glue gun since the fourth grade:)  Also, I had plenty of "help" in the form of four persons of small stature but spirited dispositions.  I should have stopped after the first project was finished, but I felt a little desperate for some creative time.  I worked on two more baby room paintings, which I have not shown as they are still in the too early stages.

 This last piece I finished around midnight, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out, but not so much with my lack of photography skills:/  It's bee a LONG time since I've been able to sit down and paint, and it was so lovely to be able to do that yesterday.  Here's hoping for another sick day in the near future.  (Just kidding:))

Almost There...

 The first is an exercise from the book Vibrant Acrylics by Hashim Akib.  Mine didn't turn out very balanced because I was working from someone else's piece.  The second is my try using the same colors and techniques, but working from a photograph that I took today.  It's too dim tonight for me to work any longer with out muddy-ing it, so tomorrow I plan on adding some crisp highlights with some unsullied titanium white and coeruleum blue.  I also want to throw in some more specks of Process Magenta, which is also the color I used for my ground.

Back in the saddle again

As part of my efforts to restore balance to my little universe, I have decided to TRY to do one painting exercise each day(or night).  I recently read that painting on top of ANY color is preferable to painting on a white canvas.  So, I'm experimenting with different ground colors and I have to say that I feel that the ground color adds a whole new dimension to a piece.  Photographs cannot do full justice for the most part; (mine can't at least:)) and I feel that painting over a plain white canvas leaves my finished pieces looking rather clinical.  So....this is a painting that I have now done oh four or five times.  it's from a picture from an old calendar.  It's comforting, when I'm starting up again after a long break from art, to start in a familiar place ie: the painting or drawing that I've repeated over the years.  This time I started with a violet ground, and I am pleased with the outcome.

                           Please forgive the crummy format as I am not computer savvy.  I'm sure I'll improve with practice.  This was my first nightly exercise.  It's a winter scene taken from a friend's photograph.  I was not interested in a finished piece here.  Instead I was focused on light and colors.  I've read that you always should paint in season, but oh well.        
                                      
 This is my style for sure.  This painting is so satisfying to me partly because of the balance of colors.  I have a thing for cadmium red:)  The piece is warm (even though it is also a winter scene) and cool at the same time.  It was taken from a painting by Hashim Akib.

For Julia

My creative juices have been otherwise engaged for the last oh.. nine months or so. I've done a lot of painting, (basement, living room, dining room/kitchen/laundry room, stairs, and bedroom)but no fine art. My husband( who I think is nesting) remarked that the nursery looked too neutral, so I took it upon myself to remedy the situation. These are a few starts and hopefully in a few days I'll have the finished pictures, or a baby:)

Whooooo?

...HENRY!! I'm not sure if I'm done quite yet. I'm thinking about layering some more patterns and textures. The part that I love is that I found the word "henry" in an old dictionary and added it to the piece.

Emilio Estevez

It's almost midnight...again, but I've been up working on some projects. I've been experimenting with distressing magazine pages and then using the "new paper" as a ground for painting. This is a portrait of my little sister who incidentally looks nothing like this:) Humor me; everything gets a bit funnier late into the night.