Dec 30, Another Commission!

I don't think I posted this one yet...
And it is SUCH a cute kitty!

Though now that I look at this, I don't think this is the final image... because I went back in and fixed the eyes,,..

8x8 acrylic on wood, sold!

Dec 29, Little Eddie!

So I taught two classes at Wet Paint yesterday, a kids' Pet Painting class from 10 to 1, and an adult version from 2 to 5-ish, and this is one of the photos left behind from the kids' group that wasn't used, and I thought maybe it was one of my adult's photos and I just couldn't stand it when no one claimed it so I used it for my demo because seriously, WHO can resist that face?!?!

9x12 acrylic on canvas pad, 

end of the year special!

just $165!

Usually valued at $218!

YAY!

click here to buy now!

Happy Holidays!

Hi!  Wow!  Dang, I really meant to post a lot more this December, but sheesh!  THAT didn't happen!  I would like to try to post once a day for an actual year, and so there's my New Year's resolution for ya!
I also thought I'd let you all have a look at our Holiday Letter!  Some of you should be getting an actual Hard Copy in a letter from us, but if you aren't on my actual snail-mail list, here's a version for you!  you can print it out and wrinkle it up and pretend I managed to get it to you~  that's what I spent all day yesterday doing- getting the letter together, figuring out how to print mailing labels AGAIN (I just don't do it often enough and I always end up wasting about 10 sheets before I figure out how to line the addresses up properly on the darn page- Avery!), and then sticking the labels onto envelopes and writing little notes to everyone...
Whew!
I love people!

Dec 15, Another Kitty~

And this one is doing that thing, you know, that thing that makes so much cat hair get stuck in the drain...

8x8 acrylic on panel, spoken for!

Dec 13, A lovely Cat

Another sweet commission- I redid her face a bit, her nose wasn't quite right-  it's funny, because every animal is so different, yet their anatomy is similar, cat to cat or dog to dog, but it's those tiny little bits, that ear just a bit bigger or smaller, the face slightly dished, that makes that cat MY cat. Not this one, in this case, but you get my point.

I remember a long time ago, with my cat Toby, my companion of my twenties living in Uptown in Minneapolis, near the MIA, and thinking once that even in a crowd of cats that looked almost exactly like him, I was sure I'd still be able to pick him out.

Of course, there's love involved there too~

9x12 acrylic on wood, spoken for~

Dec 12, Another Commission~

This is Miss Tess, I am told.  I like posting and am getting my commissions done in time to send them off for Christmas, so I thought I'd post a few~  I don't think I'm blowing any surprises, I hope! Though if I do, that would mean I have a bigger following than I thought...
I've been a bit stressed lately with the political environment so I took an "Abba" break this morning, and listened to their greatest hits CD on my way in to school this morning instead of listening to MPR. It made a difference so far in my attitude, and the back of my skull isn't aching the way it has for weeks. Let's see if it helps the world any~
I'll post a few more critters this week~  we're happy in my house to have some snow~ the boys spent yesterday evening piling up their home-made "sliding hill" against the alley fence. It's about four feet tall- terrifying. I'll go down it when I get home this afternoon!
Hope you are having a lovely day~
XO

8x8 acrylic on wood, sold~

Dec 7, A Commission~

Yes, this is Boo, and it was meant to be a Christmas present, I believe, but when I sent the image to Dan he had to show it to Carol for whom it was intended, and so the cat was outa the bag. Or dog in this case~ and it was good that he did show Carol because she suggested that Boo had a bit more white on him than I had seen in the initial photo.  SO this is why sometimes its a really good idea to send me more than one photo for a commission, because while I will use one for the main pose and lighting and structure, other photos can further inform color and smaller details.

8x8 acrylic on wood, SOLD

December 4, Whew!

Just signing this one! 

Wow- so I'm still painting one more house, kind of as a part of the project because it would be fun to hang it, but I haven't been able to get to it yet.  Usually, I can carve out a smidge of time somewhere in my day to at least paint a little bear or a moose or an otter, but this has been nuts!  I have to admit I had a bit of a crisis last Thursday evening when I realized I just couldn't accomplish what I had intended to for that day (which was to drop my artwork off at Artistry for the Gifts in the Gallery Holiday Show, which opens tomorrow evening people!  Come see me!) combined with the current political mess and feeling the solid ground shifting under my feet, and I just kinda melted down, gently, and my husband applied a poultice of pinot noir with a sprinkling of "An Idiot Abroad" (both of which helped in this situation).
SO it was a splendid and full weekend, non-the-less, and thank you everyone who came by the studio for the Winter Frolic this weekend!  I'll be at Artistry at the Bloomington Art Center on Wednesday from 6 to 8, and I'll also be in Zumbrota at Crossings at Carnegie this Sunday the 10th to teach a Paint Your House class, from 11 to 4! Sign up HERE!
And here's a shot or two of the HOMEvember show, which I did manage to hang last Wed, though I still have two pieces to get over there- they needed a little touching up~

Do plan on coming by for the Wed, Dec 20th HOUSE PARTY at Diamond's, 

from 6 to 8pm!

We'll have refreshments and I'll bring a variety of stuff for sale, paintings and cards and books, just in case you haven't finished your holiday shopping by then!

It'll be great to see you, as always!