DOG ART

I couldn't resist. The energy of dogs is just too wonderful not to share. I had to add this design to my lineup at lunar-designs and wanted to show it here too.

Hope it makes you smile today.

FLOWERS TO INSPIRE

If I can't live in Hawaii, then at least I can have these beautfiul hibiscus flowers growing by our front door. These are so gorgeous and big and the color is the exact color I want to paint our kitchen/breakfast nook when I get some time.

I have been really slammed with orders.. a huge blessing and I am swimming in gratitude.

But when I get this busy with orders, my side art takes a hit. The weekend was

busy too. Quick day visit to see mom, and then morning yard work and house cleaning which gobbled up the entire day. We had a wonderful rain Saturday night which was the perfect

time to get out to tackle some long over due weeding. So this morning, I am ready to launch into the week's work. And hopefully, some time to squeeze in some art too.

Sometimes, ART can be just admiring nature's miracle. Like the hibiscus flowers. Perhaps next winter when I am gloomin' about snow, cold and no green, I can pull out these pictures of these flowers and be inspired to paint them.

The laundry art has gone into the recycle bin. Yep, I chucked it. The background turned into

a nightmare. Too ambitious on my part on Yupo paper, which I will still experiment with.

Maybe paint some hibiscus flowers!

So the commission piece will take a new direction.

happy monday, ta

HANGING OUT THE LAUNDRY

I have a commissioned art piece that has been on my to-do board for well over a year. When they say: "no hurry" it can be the kiss of death. Or at least procrastination at it's worst.

So I finally heard from this lovely woman sweetly asking how the painting is coming along, and of course I cringed at my embrassing tardiness. I always struggle with commissions. It's the ultimate approval factor that always stresses me out. So jumping into the work this morning, I decided to work on Yupo paper using my watercolors. Yupo is very slick and the watercolor is very fluid on this paper. Drying it with a heat gun is nearly impossible because the heat can easily warp the paper so you must be very patient. Not one of my biggies. But I love the fluidity and the surprises that can come with Yupo.

She wanted a piece of art for her new laundry room. I originally thought of a whimsical clothes line in a garden. But now have decided it's in the trees and the lines are between the birdhouses..

the one line you can see, the other one is above and it stretches between the two roofs. I lightly sketched it in with pencil. So I will work on this later. Too many orders starring at me presently. To work I go... ta

TRASH CAN ART

TRASH DAY!

I was invited to paint a trash can for the Tuesday's local's farmers downtown market continuing with the theme "Recycling The Summer of Love"... and who could pass up an opportunity to get groovy with a trash can?

so I started with a brand new spanking can....

and ended up with this flower child.

So it will go to market this afternoon.. I decided if it doesn't sell, I will put it on our deck for a recycle can/bottle receptacle for our deck parties!

okay work is calling me.. tons of orders! no time to play!

ta

note: trash can sold 5 minutes after I brought it into the park!!!

happy trash day for me!!! yippiee!

TELL THE CHILDREN

This is my anti-war art piece. I am always so saddened by the horrible effects that war has on children and innocent people. Their suffering seems so incredibly unnecessary. I don't understand the need for violence. Ever. I think growing up in the 50's and 60's had a profound effect on me. Watching the Vietnam news reels, so vivid and uncut, deeply rooted in me the

need for a peaceful planet. And if you notice, the war scenes coming out of the middle east are much different now. No body bag counts like in the Vietnam war. Too much protesting came out of that. So the powers that be now keep our exposure more controlled, which really is even more grotesque. After having grandchildren, knowing the love I have for them, I was compelled to create my NO WAR art piece. And being anti-war does not make me a unpatriotic American.

It just means FREEDOM to have an opinion. It doesn't mean I am anti military. I admire the men and women who serve. I know they are fighting for freedom. I just wish we as a human race could solve our differences non violently. That we could live in harmony and allow each other different beliefs and thoughts. To embrace diversity. To finally reach the Civilized

state of no need for a military.

HOPE. ALWAYS.

ta

ps.. this is available for sale on etsy. Just listed. Peacefully I might add.

SHE COULD NO LONGER KEEP HER WORDS HIDDEN

This is a painting/collage that I have done over the course of a year. I know. It has been evolving. Maybe the meaning of SPEAK has been slow to evolve for me in my real life!?
The details of this piece cannot be given justice in this photo. But I have come to really love this piece. She seems a bit timid to me. But she is holding fast to her heart. The words in the title
above are stamped above the flowers that are floating around her.
For me, it has been a life long journey to speak out loud. I have always walked a path of
empathy for my fellow journey mates. But also feel the importance of not keeping quiet. I was raised to sit down, shut up and not rock the boat. Probably the same way my parents were raised. Children should be seen and not heard. I think, thankfully, that ideology is becoming
less prevalent in today's world... somewhat.. surely not enough.
So I own my thoughts and my words. And speak out when I see the need. But also I hold dear to me the times when I choose not to speak, silence is golden, thus the golden heart she is holding.
With age comes wisdom. ta

She is now available for sale at my etsy shop. Does she speak to you?

A GIFT

note: turn off the music on the roll below to the right.. and then turn your volume up high.. and open your heart.

I am often amazed by what comes my way at the most needed moment. When the wind blows through your life, upsetting things, and you grasp hard at what gives you strength, and afterwards you sit still and try to put things right again. The exhaustion of the storm leaves you tired and raw.

And out of the blue, along comes a gift to touch your inner part and help you heal.. gratefully blessed, thank you. Staying in the light.

And, I wanted to share this with you.