"BeThere--Le Jardin" SOLD

"Be There--Le Jardin"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

God calls you to the place

where your deep gladness

 and the world's deep hunger

 meet.

                                                                                                                        

 ~Frederick Buechner

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"High on Italian Sunshine" SOLD

"High on Italian Sunshine"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

  

Strategy 

Today I had no strategy for sunrise

However

the sun came up on its own

Today

sadly lacking in a plan for the breeze I find

Somehow it's blowing!

Alas, totally forgot about the clouds

Shaping movement across blue skies

And yet--

there go those fluffy bits of nothing drifting by in my line of view

Take away??

Perhaps there is more rest, more peace, more joy to be had

Perhaps I am the one who complicates things by absenting myself

from the flow of life

to micromanage minutiae

In Other News: 

• Come paint with me:)!  Click here to see available workshops 
• Absolutely awesome interview this past week with Karin Jurick on  Artists Helping Artists.  You can click here to listen in.

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"Random Joy" SOLD



 "Random Joy"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

Mouth-watering, perfectly ripe blueberries

The first sip of exactly right coffee

An early morning s-t-r-e-t-c-h that goes on and on and on

An abandoned house in Italy, potentially an "Under the Tuscan Sun" fixer upper.

Really good daydreams

Just bits of random joy, spread throughout our days

random joy

What a beautiful thing!

Just a Workshop Note:  Nashville in April of 2012 is now open for registration.  Click here for details.

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"Chianti Days, Italian Nights" SOLD

"Chianti Days, Italian Nights"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

 Ah, Chianti.   The basket-bottle wine, served on a red checked tablecloth.  What shall we have with it??  Heck, we've got alll afternoon to soak up this glorious view--let's have another Chianti while we mull it over and watch night fall on the vineyard.

P.S. Just in case you're now wishing you had a glass...here's some recommendations:))

In Other News: 

Great News from Nashville!!  Despite being harassed by one of the locals, I have been inducted as an honorary member of the Artists on Main (actually, more specifically, to the rowdy Thursday bunch at Artists on Main).  Now that I think of it, maybe the note said ornery member..
 I have the apron to prove it---and it has my name on it!!!  Do you know how many things I have found in my lifetime that have my name on it??? 

            Zero. 

            I'm excited:)!!

• Are you up to a challenge??  This Saturday on the  Daily PaintworksChallenge,  I am the artist in charge :)) I can't give away all the details, but it's gonna be fun......and potentially involve some fur:)))

• Just delivered some paintings to Kathleen O'Neil Stevens at Renaissance Gallery Fine Art and Design in time for her  opening in Carmel, IN at her amazing new gallery.  And we also made plans for a workshop in 2012:))   

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"Never Look a Gift Cat in the Mouth" SOLD

"Never  Look a Gift Cat in the Mouth"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

Never look a gift cat in the mouth.

Especially if his name is Eddie.

Eddie has been wining  and dining Miss Phyllis to beat the band. 

First it was the wine ( the level in my wine vinegar has been going down and down).

Then flowers started popping up everywhere (and happen to be an exact match to those growing in the neighbors yard). 

While Phyllis is totally bowled over by Eddie's attentiveness, I, on the other hand, am not.  

He has been spending an inordinate amount of time reading and taking notes in his new favorite book, "When Good Things Happen to Bad Cats" (and I hear him snickering quietly to himself as he's reading, which I confess, makes me uneasy).   

Higher education is not all it's cracked up to be...I wish I had never enrolled him in that reading program No Cat Left Behind--worst money I have ever spent! 

No, I take that back.  The money I paid the shelter for Ed would have to edge out the reading program.  They said I could "try him out" for two weeks.  Wish someone would have warned me that would be the best two weeks of my life....

Please Note:  This is No. 13 in the Eddie and Phyllis series.  To see more click here.

In Other News:

• 12 workshops for 2012!  My schedule is now up online.  You can see check them out by clicking here.
• Artist Karin Jurick is our guest this week on Artists Helping Artists.  Click here for details and to sign up and get your reminder of upcoming shows
• I will be drawing a winner for my monthly giveaway this week for May--stay tuned:)
• And it's almost time for my newsletter--if you haven't signed up to receive it, you can do so by clicking here.

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"A Royal Workshop Completed in Lexington!"



It was, you might say, a "fascinator"ing group of Artistes!







 16 Paintings in 40 Minutes--These were a fast, loose, bunch of women....





 Yea, I would be afraid too:)) They were a crazy bunch of girls but I always promise that whatever happens at the workshop, stays at the workshop:))

Brenda, Yvonne, Marcia, Faye, Kay, Marilyn, Linda, Joy, Sarah, Judy, Rhojean, Patricia, Tricia, Barbara, Ann, & Sheryl





 They painted..





 And Painted:)!!





 They painted so dang good that word got out and Prince William and Catherine showed up to check out all the great art!!



 And who's gonna pass up this photo op?? Not me--wait 'til I get this framed and on the wall--guaranteed to make Eddie throw a hissy fit that he wasn't there.... 



Each workshop is unique with its own flavor because each group of artists is so unique and bring their own goodness to bear on the workshop itself. At the end of each one, I am abundantly happy for all the great talent that has brushed up against my life:)) (and thankful for three Ed Free days.)

Thanks to each of the "graduating" class of the June, 2011 workshop! You were a fantastic group of painters!!

Please Note:  I would love to meet you and paint with you---so just so you know---my workshop schedule for 2012 is up!! You can see it by clicking here. Pin It

"Friends of Mine"

"Friends of Mine"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

I would introduce you, but I have a feeling you've already met. 

Sunshine and Roses. 

Two friends a girl should never be without:))

Lexington, KY Workshop---Day Two

Talk about a bumper crop of daisies!!  Amazing what artists can do when given the space and time to create:))  It was pure joy to go from easel to easel and discover the perspective and juicy colors that each of the artists were bringing to life on canvas.

See for yourself:))))!

Told you it was a bumper crop:))))!!!

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"Dreama's Daisies" SOLD

 "Dreama's Daisies"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel
$550

Repeat offenders.

Fab Four of Iowa.

An Attendee of the Royal Wedding.

Good Music.

Gorgeous Paintings.

Smiling Faces.

Happy Hearts.

And NO EDDIE.

Just a few of the MANY reasons I love to teach:))

Day One of My Lexington, KY Workshop.

Photos to follow soon:))

Above painting, my effort for the day.

Tomorrow---you will see....

Marilyn's Daisies, Yvonne's Daisies, Faye's Daisies, Patricia's Daisies, Linda's Daisies, Judy's Daisies, Sheryl's Daisies, Rhojean's Daisies, Patricia's Daisies, Barbara's Daisies, Brenda's Daisies, Sarah's Daisies, Marcia's Daisies, Joy's Daisies, Anna's Daisies, and Kay's Daisies:)))

Wish you were here painting with us!

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"Surf, Sun and Shrimp Coladas" SOLD

"Surf, Sun and Shrimp Coladas"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

Ed likes to make the point that there are always two sides to every story.  His and everyone else's. 

Apparently Eddie did what he always does at the beach. 

Played his rappin' cat tunes loudly, mocked everyone who passed by about their "muffin tops" and told anyone within earshot that  they had hair growing in all the wrong places (like he's got room to talk).

I think the final blow came  though  when he insisted he didn't need to go to the port-a-potty because the entire place was one giant litter box. 

Security was called and one attitudinal Eddie and one sunburned Phyllis were dropped  unceremoniously in my driveway.  Suffice it so say everyone's holiday was cut short.

Now I have to listen to all of his philosophzing about the great mysteries of life since he has been to the beach, like..."would the ocean be deeper if it didn't have sponges in it?" 

Thank goodness I have a workshop to teach this week.  Three whole "Ed free" days!

Please Note: This is No. 12 in the "Eddie and Phyllis Series". To view others in this collection, you may click here. Pin It

"For the Love of Color" SOLD

 

"For the Love of Color"
8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

I have long suspected that, if it were measured, my heart skips a beat when it encounters color.

I probably exhibit tell tell signs of a run away pulse as well.

And potentially don't breathe as deeply as I should--holding my breath

In breathless anticipation

All for the love of color.

Like a lovesick teenager, I would surely pine to my grave were the world to suddenly go black and white.

For today

Why not let yourself fall in love again?

The exact amazing beauty of the flushed cheeks on a child's face.

The one of kind color that blankets the sky at the magical moment of sunrise.

Every bloom, each bird, a thousand leaves on a tree--just waiting for your eyes to light upon them

for their beauty rests in your eyes,

the Beholder.

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"Catalicious Cat Tail and Roses" SOLD

"Catalicious Cat Tail and Roses"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

It is guaranteed, if I start doing anything, hoping that Eddie will not involve himself,  he will appear lightening fast. 

I have a workshop, specifically still life workshop, coming up this week. 

Playing with some ideas, seriously hoping no one ,(Ed), would show up while I'm working and eat my roses. 

Doesn't seem like a lot to ask.

May as well hoped he (Ed) had purchased a winning lotto ticket with intentions of sharing it with me. 

Of course he showed up.  And stayed.  Knocked  things over, chewed on a few flowers, then sprawled out to soak up (and block) the sun.

It's Ed.

That's how Ed rolls.

On a more personal note:  This is one time Eddie "showing his tail" worked to my advantage....

Please Note:  This is No. 6 in the "Catalicious Series" and has earned the prestigious EBSA award (Eddie Bill Seal of Approval). 

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"Sun Dance...in France!" SOLD

"Sun Dance....in France!"
6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200



"I  drift,  wait, and  obey"


~Harold Arlen, Composer


The above response came from Harold,  when asked how he wrote such great music.
Harold wrote over 500 songs, one of which is considered to be the No. 1 song for the 20th century.
You may have heard of it.

A little ditty called...

 Somewhere Over the Rainbow.


Note to Self:  Obviously, there must be something to that "going with the flow" thing....:))

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