"Happy"

"Happy"

18 x 18 in, oil on canvas

"...act happy, feel happy, be happy, without a reason in the world.  Then you can love and do what you will.....I am not telling you how to be happy you see, I am just telling you to be happy."

                                                 excerpt from The Way of the Peaceful Warrior

This painting has some pretty neat words tucked into it....can you see them?

Well, I am guessing at least one person will be happy that reads this today...:)) I had so many nice comments on my blog, even if they did come by way of a bribe...:)  Thanks so very much to each one of you that took the time to write---it made for a great reading day!  I used random.org to decide the winner--I wanted to let Eddie pick but then I could tell he was going to try to stuff the ballot box with those who had offered tuna in exchange for the book.

But first, the news in brief...:))

• Mark your calendars for the Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts, Saturday, June 26 in (where else) Harrodsburg, Ky.  I have been honored with being one of the main stage artists to talk about my book and painting....please feel free to come out and heckle me from the audience..who knows when you will get another chance! (I will have paintings and both of my books on hand.)
• People are already signing up for my upcoming 3 Day Oil Painting/ 1 Day Art Business/Motivational workshop in Pasadena, CA , Sept. 23-26.  Leslie Saeta and I have partnered up to offer an incredible workshop on everything we know (I know, amazing we can cover it in 4 days..:))!  Read here for details and to sign up.
• This weeks blog radio show Artists Helping Artists that I co-host with Leslie Saeta is on framing--I would love to have you on the line when we are live to join in!  Details are on the side bar of my blog--it's this Thursday at 12 noon, save the date!
• The winner for the drawing of my monthly painting give away for May is....Theresa Paden of CA.  Click here to see the painting Theresa won!
• And one more thing....okay, just teasin' ya....without further ado, drum roll please, envelope please---Eddie and I are happy to announce, the winner of  my new book for those artists who are wanting to take the plunge to build their art business but don't know where to start--"The Artist's Toolbox"--the winner is....SUSAN RODEN!!  Congratulations Susan! 

Note:  I actually know Susan and her work--a great artist!  And she is hardly a beginner in the marketing of her work, so I am going to offer you Susan your pick of my books--Let There Be Love or The Artist's Toolbox.  Let There Be Love includes my writings and 26 paintings.  The Artist's Toolbox has 12 large and numerous small photos of my paintings, along with basic beginner marketing strategies and motivational things.  You decide...:))  Let me know and I will drop it in the mail. 

Thanks to each of you for chiming in.  And this completes my 200th post.  Is that perfect timing or what?? A painting and a book giveaway.  I am HAPPY!!

P.S.  Remember, to be eligible each and every month for my painting giveaway, sign up to receive my blog and newsletter and increase your odds by becoming a blog follower and/or leaving lots of comments!

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"Blanchisserie Fraiche...French Style" SOLD

"Blanchisserie Fraiche....French Style"

6" x 6" oil  on museum quality panel

$200

How is it that even the most mundane thing--- like laundry--- can fold  itself into a thing of beauty when surrounded by flowers and stirred with the fresh breezes of Provence.  Truly some of the most simple things in life hold within them such incredible gifts.  The smell of blanchisserie fraiche (fresh laundry) brings a sense of wholeness and  hope--a reminder of the goodness of life. 

So today, as you remove the clothes pins from your laundry on your French balcony--take time to bury your nose in the scent of a beautiful life...who said doing laundry couldn't be fun..:)))




 

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"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!

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"Ballatio with Flowers" SOLD

"Ballatio with Flowers"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

Scenes like this ballatio (small balcony) with flowers in Italy never fail to bring a smile to my face. It's hard not to try and imagine what's going on just inside the doorway.....laughter or love, hopes or dreams, playing out like stories already told---in centuries old buildings that have housed many other stories before the ones now blossoming there.

What would my life be like if I lived there?

What would your life be like? How would you spend your days?

This particular little balcony has an ocean view.....I will leave the rest of the story up to you.

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"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??

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"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.

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"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)!

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"Provence" SOLD

"Provence"

oil, 6 x 6in on canvas panel

$150

Sun-dappled streets, story-book dwellings, pink flowers blooming....all on a morning's stroll. Provence...

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"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.

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"Something Borrowed, Something Blue" SOLD

"Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

oil, 6 x 6in canvas panel

$150

This window is in France. I "borrowed" it just long enough to paint it.

Pure and simple. Blue shutters, old stucco, bountiful geraniums in pinks and salmons. And warm sunlight to make it glow. Ahhh, such are the pleasures of life. Pure and simple.

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"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!)

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"Paris Backyard Retreat" SOLD

"Paris Backyard Retreat"

oil, 6 x 6in on canvas panel

$150

Do you remember reading the book "The Secret Garden"?

I first carried the thick pale green book home from my school library when I was eleven.

I was so mesmerized by it. Visions of walled gardens, tangles of roses, hidden ---just waiting for me. To this day, it is one of my favorite reads ever.

This little secret garden is right here in Paris. It's also the home of Ozzie, a cat I painted back in the fall of 2009. Ted and Gretchen have created a naturalized area just outside their door that is teeming with birds, butterflies and 3 cats. The day I was there I could have been a million miles from home. So quiet, the hum of bees, sunshine playing hide and seek amongst all the plantings---a very special place. Sometimes we don't have to travel far to feel like we have run away! Thank you Ted and Gretchen for creating such a special place on the earth....and for having open hearts to share it.

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"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.....:)

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"Summer Dreamin'..." SOLD

Summer Dreamin'

oil painting, 6 x 6in on canvas panel

$150

It doesn't help that my daughter sent me a photo of the perfect 75 degree Malibu beach she was doing her writing at today. I know, I promised my Canadian artist friends I would not whine.

So I lied like a dog.

Even Eddie is acting depressed. He has built himself a "man cave" under the covers and is pretty much refusing to come out. I am thinking about joining him.

In other news, painting is easy. I just stand in front of the easel staring at a white canvas until drops of blood form on my forehead.

(I know, I stole that line from the quote about writing....but it fits as well for painting these days....)

Feel free to borrow it. In fact, feel free to do or borrow anything that helps get you through winter.

And for those of you living in warmer climates like my daughter (I am not mentioning any names but you know who you are...Irit, Jill, Leslie, Mia, and others) I am trying my best to remain friends and like you, but with every snowstorm that moves in, I am finding it increasingly difficult.

Now, at the end of all this ---a bit of irony for you. I have been awarded the "Sunshine Blog Award". Usually awarded to those with optimistic, uplifting posts. I may be the first to have to hand it back over....:)

P.S. My mood did improve after I did this painting. I know you are relieved. I promise to do my best to not turn up as a local news blurb with captions like "artist snaps, shots fired....film at eleven...."

P.S.S. Not to worry you further, but I was also doing the whole dance thing with the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" ....red pajamas and a paint brush. It wasn't a pretty sight. No wonder Eddie is hiding in the man cave.

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