"Derby Time"

Living in central Kentucky, one quickly comes to realize....Derby madness is alive and well. I live in the heart of horse country, surrounded by some of the most beautiful farms imaginable. Barns nicer than many homes. Horses that earn their owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day from stud fees.

Do I ride horses or know anything about them?

No.

Other people have animals that make them money.

I, on the other hand, have Eddie.

The closest I get to anything horsey would be painting silver shiny things (does that count??) So it seemed fitting in this moment of horse mania that is the Kentucky Derby, to showcase the painting "Truth", which sports the famous mint julep cup. That's as close to a horse painting you are likely to see coming from me...:)

This painting is quite large (24 x 30) compared to my blog paintings. It is loosely painted, but looks "tighter" when shrunken down to photo size--one of the things that happens online and in magazines to larger works. If you would like to see a little larger version, click here.

Happy Derby Day!

Pin It

"A Taste of France...." SOLD

"A Taste of France..."

6 x 6in, oil on museum quality panel

$150

This sweet little place offers up boissons (drinks) for refreshment while thirsty eyes drink in the surroundings! I'm in this painting. Just inside the door with a cool drink in my hand. Is that you I see across the room?? Well, for the love of pete (l'amour de pete) come on over and sit with me....:)) How in the heck have you been??

Pin It

"Just One French Window...." SOLD

"Just One French Window..."

6 x 6in, oil on panel

$150

They say the first step in getting help is admitting you have a problem. Well, I am admitting I have a fixation on windows. Especially French windows. However, I am just gonna go ahead and say it. I don't want your help. I can handle this. I am still in control. Just a window a day. That's all. Well, on a day I am feeling nervous, maybe a window and half. But that's it. Seriously. Okay. If you see me post two window paintings in one day, then call for help.

Pin It

"Eddie, Me and Hemingway"

Wow....you know you've gone too long between posts when your sister calls you to make sure you're okay...:)

So in the interest of not having an all- points bulletin put out on me, thought I would post tonight to say....er actually at 2:45 AM! For pete's sake, when I am writing or painting I lose ALL concept of time!

At any rate, as I was saying before I realized what time it was, I wanted to let you know

A) I am fine.

B) I have been holed up writing like Ernest Hemingway---except he had 25 cats and I have Eddie. Actually, I think that probably makes us even. Eddie has enough attitude for 25 cats. He just doesn't have enough toes (Ernie's cats were known for having an extra toe--a little factoid for you--not sure how you can work that into a conversation today to impress your friends but you're clever, I am sure you will think of something.)

Now what have I been writing you may ask. Or maybe you don't care. But it's my blog so I'm gonna tell you either way. I get paid the same so it doesn't really matter to me. I have this awesome, fantastic, mind-bending, cutting-edge, highly intensive motivational/business one day workshop I am teaching this Saturday, April 10 in Lexington, KY. I am like a woman possessed compiling all the stuff that I intend to cram in the brains of those who are brave enough to show up.

Are you one of the brave, the tough, an ARTIST?

Can you handle the TRUTH?

Can you eat PIZZA?

Well, if you can answer "Yes" to at least one of those questions you qualify for my workshop. And there is time to sign up.

Check out my video here. (Scroll down to the April 10th workshop)

Read further on it here

Or maybe you just go ahead and do it while you have your nerve up....

$95 (I am only keeping $90 of that. Eddie is now charging $5 an hour for modeling fees. You knew it was bound to happen.)



Or just call me and tell me to save you a spot....:) (859) 509 -9694

Miss you guys! I should be back to my regular painting and posting this week.

Hugs! Pin It

"Douceur de Vivre" (Sweetness of Life!) SOLD

"Douceur de Vivre"

oil, 6 x 6in on panel

$150

Okay. I don't speak French. Not like my good friend Mary Neely. However, I loooove the sounds of the language. Take this little phrase ....the sweetness of life...sounds even sweeter on the tongue when spoken in French! And I have concluded the French have a corner on the market when it comes to dressing up windows and awnings....you just can't look at 'em and not get a little happy thrill up your spine.

Unless your name is Ed. When I showed this to Eddie he said he found it all a bit blas'e. Who knew....Ed speaks French. Of course he thinks he's le miaelement du chat (the cat's meow)!

Pin It

"Sunny Day Italian Style" SOLD

"Sunny Day Italian Style"

oil, 6 x 6in canvas on panel

$150

One of the nicest ways to visit Rome. No lines at the airport, no lost bags.

The perfect transportation?

A paintbrush.

P.S. And you can make it back in time to visit Gallery B on Saturday (I am giving an informal talk about my show and giving away a petite painting....life is good!)

Pin It

"French Blue" SOLD

"French Blue"

oil, 6 x 6in on canvas panel

$150

The color of the sky embraces flower filled windows---whether you are looking within or looking without--- the view is picture perfect in French blue.

Pin It

"Abundance"

"Abundance"

oil, 16 x 12 on canvas panel

$1025/ Framed

Thanks to everyone who commented on my new video I posted yesterday--I am having fun, so who knows what it could lead too...:)

Don't you just love the periwinkle blue in the umbrella above? I bought two shirts to sleep in this past week-end simply because they were that color---it's a happy, feel good color. Like sky and ocean it just conjures up all manner of things that connect me back to the pure joy of life...:)

"Cheap Thrills"

oil, 8 x 8in on canvas panel

I love my job. Seriously. In so many ways it is almost impossible to pin it all down....:)

Today I get to give away something that makes people happy. The winner for February of the painting give-a-way is...(here are your hints)...... She is a watercolorist. She is a really sweet lady. She has a home in the Bahamas (I have had to work at not holding that one against her this winter...:) And she was in one of my workshops last summer.

Ann Greely of Lexington, KY. is the winner. Congratulations Ann! Pin It

"To the Oscars and Beyond...."

"Joy"

30 x 24, oil on canvas panel

Just when you thought it was safe to visit my blog. ...(can you hear the Jaws music playing?)....life as you know it, will never be the same. Because..

I am now the proud owner of a Flip video camera. I have always wanted to be in the movies and now thanks to modern technology and 200 bucks.....your worst nightmare has happened. You now will have a voice in your head to match what you have long suspected....they will let anyone have a blog. Even me.

I profusely apologize in advance for the nasal, twangy, mountain voice. I know you probably expected something different. After all, if you have read much about me, you know I am from Paris. You should have read the whole thing. It's Paris......Kentucky.

Tomorrow I will post the winner of the February painting give-a-way...:) and a new painting.

So here for your viewing pleasure, live from my office in Tuscany....

Information Video about my Upcoming Art Business/Motivational Workshop (I had been calling it Dreamatology--The Art of Thinking Like Dreama----but it seemed to be scaring people off...go figure!)

Pin It

"Under the Tuscan Sun...." SOLD

"Under the Tuscan Sun....."

oil, 6 x6in on canvas panel

$150

What is it about Italy that sets us off? Could it be the homemade mozzarella? The abundance of good wines served at every meal? Incredible art? Statue of David? The staggering oldness of it all?? The graciousness of the lives we see hinted at with every curtain moving in the breeze, every scented splash of color hanging from a balcony?

Maybe it's only the gelato. That would be enough...:)

Another slice of Italy served up for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy~

IN OTHER NEWS......

Enquiring minds want to know. Or then again---maybe you can't handle the truth. My interview with Daily Painters has hit the stands---click here to go to the Daily Painters website and check out the DP cafe link at the top of the page (you'll see a photo of me). I am the second interview on the page. Feel free to leave a comment. Just remember---I will be reading them and I know where you live....and if I don't I soon will. It's the Internet. There are no secrets.

Also, Gallery B has begged me to come in on Saturday, March the 20th, and chat about my inspiration for my show, "Let There Be Love.....". I will be there from around 1-3 to tell my story. I know that everyone of you now reading this will be there. Even if it means you have to fly in for it. And because of your extreme loyalty I felt the least I could do was to have a drawing for a small painting created specifically for this occasion to be given away at 3pm that day. Only those who have purchased a painting from the show at Gallery B and those in attendance (they are hauling in the red ropes for crowd control as we speak) will be eligible. I may have exaggerated when I said that Megan at Gallery B had begged me....but everything else is true....except for the red rope part. Okay, nothing is true except I will be talking at 1:30 and giving away a painting at 3 pm.

I only promise to entertain you here on the ole blog--I never said anything about telling the truth. Even if I had, it would most certainly have been a lie.

Pin It

"Corner Cafe in Roma" SOLD

"Corner Cafe in Roma"

oil, 6 x 6in canvas panel

$150

Some days you're just not in the mood to cook. Especially on a gorgeous Italian summer day. What to do? I guess you just call your friends and decide on a gathering place. How 'bout the cafe on the corner of Via di Santa Maria? Yeah....that'll work. I just hope there are enough seats. After all the friends I realized I had after yesterday's post, it could be a full house...:)


Ciao' Baby!

Sorry--this piece has sold--but Italy is a favorite place of mine, so there's more to follow..:)

Pin It

"Momma Mia--It's My House!" SOLD

"Mia Casa Italiano"

oil, 6 x 6in panel

$150

I have long wanted a home in Italy. A big yellow house with a walled garden. A place I could share with all the talented people I know and love. Giving them room to expand and do their creative work while I did mine. Over a fine wine with the aroma of fresh bread baking we would talk way into the night about art and life and love. Eddie would sit on the sill of the open window and our laughter would spill out into the night. And the next day we would get up and do it all again...paint, write, laugh, share, and love.

Pin It

"Paint Out at the U of K Art Museum, Art in Bloom Style!" SOLD & SOLD

"Museum Tulips"

oil, 6 x 6 on canvas panel

SOLD

"Art in Bloom at the Museum"
oil, 8 x 8in on canvas panel

SOLD

I had the best time yesterday. Pretty much was in hog heaven. I got to a) be in the art museum surrounded by beautiful paintings b) Hang out with other artists c)work from incredible floral arrangements d) Paint not one but two paintings e) have both paintings purchased by two beautiful ladies. Talk about a picture perfect day...all puns intended!
Now if the UK Art Museum could just arrange to have fresh flower set ups for me everyday and cater in some food.....hmmm....I think I could live there!

Seriously, the camaraderie of fellow painters mixed with art, artfully arranged flowers, and appreciative passersby--I am thankful to have spent the day so well. Here are some pics from the day....

Artist Mary Neely and Ann Pass with their paintings. One heckler, Ted Mudge, at my set up....in spite of which I still managed to paint....:)

And one more note.....My blog is officially one year old. 178 posts later.....:) That's about one every other day. I think this calls for a cake. A large one. With lots of icing. Remember what Eddie says.....if no one sees you eating it, the calories don't count......

Pin It

"Paris Garden Cottage" SOLD

"Paris Garden Cottage"

oil painting, 6 x 6in on canvas panel

$150

Sheds and garden houses are often a thing of beauty within themselves. Parked on the edges of lawns, tucked away in back yards, they give way to more color, more whimsy, more personality than the demure homes they hide behind. They always seem like people to me. The inside beauty that lies behind that initial covering we see....:) Being a lover of flowers and all things home grown, the quiet beauty that little garden houses offer up are a never-ending source of delight!

This fairytale place could be anywhere---it just happens to be at home here in Paris. I have admired it and photographed it more than a few times as it backs up to a public garden in town. This last gallery hop afforded me the chance to meet the owner---a beautiful soul and obviously, a lover of beautiful flowers!

Pin It

"A Day at the Beach" SOLD

"A Day at the Beach"

oil painting, 6 x 6" on canvas panel

$150

Now at first glance this looks like a carnation in a simple glass. However, if you squint, you can see the ocean, sunshine, and a big umbrella with yourself spread out underneath it.

See---I told you it was there!!

Now, squirm you toes a bit in the sand. Ahhhh......

Don't forget your sunscreen.....:)

Pin It

"Sunshine Blog Award"

The idea of the Sunshine Blog award is to recognize those bloggers who write creative and positive posts. I have obviously dodged a bullet. They missed the last two of my posts.....:) Actually, thanks to Tammy Hext of Canada for nominating me! Tammy's a wonderful artist that I had the pleasure of meeting via a conference call hosted by Leslie Saeta this past week (which was excellent by the way, go to her blog and check out details for the next scheduled call!)


Now it's my turn to spread the sunshine by selecting 12 blogs that I feel contribute to the global warming effect on the planet with their sunny outlooks! Their links are clickable, so you can check them out and hopefully discover some new artists! There are some really fine artists and this covers a few--one from "down under", one from England, and one from Spanish Village in San Diego, where I still maintain my membership..:) --all of them are fine artists, so make sure to visit..:) you are only a click away from some great art....:)

1. Diane Hoeptner

2. Edward Burton

3. Roxanne Steed

4. Joaquin Sorolla ...yeah, I know, he's dead, never had a blog, just makin' sure you're reading this
5. Monique Straub

6. Dan McGrath

7. Vic Errington

8. Qiang-Huang

9. Carol Marine

10. Jennifer Lawson

11. Shirley Peters

12. Jennifer McChristian Pin It