10/31 Caught in the Act!

Ha!  Can't do a Trick without getting caught, can ya?  This looks just like the little guys who are running around our front porch, nibbling on our pumpkins!  Yes, just as I'm coming to shoo them away... that's the look all right!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

click if you want this one!

10/30 Trick or Treat?!

I admit, I was stuck for a title for this one, and then is just became so obvious!
Those little paw-hands on the glass really get me~

And I've also just posted a call for photos of HOME for me to paint for HOME-vember-  you can read more about it here~ I'll start painting those next week, I hope... though I imagine there will have to be a critter in now and again...
And I'll be at the Boutique by the Creek Fine Art Sale next Saturday, Nov 9th from 10-5pm!  More info here for that~

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

to make this yours, click here!

Wow~ I have to thank you all again for making my October incredibly bright-  these squirrels are on their way to helping me purchase a new (used) vehicle for my husband, whose beloved minivan is well into the 200000s and wearing out rapidly (and loudly).  I can't tell you enough how much it means that you want my work and are willing to take it out of my hands so I can make more!
Wahoo!

10/29 Cheeky Eye

Ooo, I just can't get enough of these guys!  And my sis-in-law keeps feeding me more fun photos!!!  Though I may have to paint a deer or two-  can't let those go away!  I love them too much!
So this one holds such a great posture- as many squirrels do- but THIS guy is totally eyeing us, he knows we are here watching him, and he's so actively posed, ready to jump into whatever action he needs!
I am SO enjoying this series!  Of course, it doesn't hurt that I'm getting great feedback from YOU all! I didn't realize so many people actually LIKE squirrels!  I thought most people hate them, like my friend Masa...
So do know that I am still accepting commissions for the holidays, though it may appear that all I'm doing is painting Minnesota Tree Rats....
Wahoo!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

click here for this one!

10/27 Cheeky Nut Grabber

Okay, I'm putting off the titling challenge til after Halloween because there is just a bit too much going on in my personal world at this point. SO this one is just straight up for sale!  It's a 6x9 because I wanted to try a slightly different format, to include that lovely tail.  Do you see the nut there?  It is actually THERE too!  Debbie's been putting them out for him and so he comes right up to the window to snag them.
Seriously love this!
And I'm also wanting to do a HOMEvember project again as well, for November, but it will be an abbreviated one, of perhaps 15 paintings... not sure I can do one a day this year because I've got a bit more going on. But it is always a great exercise for me and I recommend doing a painting-a-day series for you too!
Wahoo!

6x9 acrylic on wood

$110

grab this nutter HERE!

10/26 "Ready or Nut!"

Ha!
Just gettin better and better with these clever titles!
I love this one! he's about to take off, just waiting for the nut hand-off...

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

click here before it's gone!

10/25 "Got Nuts?"

I'm loving the subtle shifts in value and grey on these paintings. Just when I'm talking with my adult Paint Love class about grey too!  So timely!  And those tiny delicate feet and hands... but beyond all that is the gaze. This guy is really looking at us. He wants something from us. Connection? Affection? Entertainment?

I think this is my favorite squirrel so far...

The titles are fun for these! Really, there could be any number of possibilities for a title...  maybe we'll have a little contest, shall we?
Hmmm.
I think on Monday, I'll post a painting and we'll give us three days to come up with a great title- you can submit as many as you want, and then we'll vote on the winning title, and the winner gets the painting! How's that?
I like this idea!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

click to nab this nugget!

10/24 "Lil' Nutter"

I've always loved the British term "nutter" as a reference towards people they see as crazy, or sometimes to one's self when you are feeling particularly goofy...
So yes, squirrels are a bit nuts, especially when there are a few of them and they are chasing around and around a tree, and they don't notice the trio of crazy nutters at the ends of the leashes walking towards them...
Man!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

click here for this one!

10/23 Tough Nut

My sister-in-law shared a story about a visitor they've had to their deck recently, and then she sent me a passel of pictures of the little fella.  Or felline? How do you sex a squirrel?  Hmmm.
Those tiny little features are so intriguing- the little hands and feet, and the light, and the shape of that rodential nose...
Ha!  There is always something new to look at when you look with the eyes of a painter!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$75

click her to snatch this nugget!

10/22/2019 Deer Duo

 I was a little nervous about the Convention Center Walking Tour yesterday, and I'm happy to say it went really well!  There were a lot of people who came to join us, and of the 11 artists, there were 8 of us to talk about our work! It was fun. I do always enjoy hearing what people have to say about their work, and it was also interesting that most of the questions were to the abstract artists.  I wonder if that's because the work isn't as obvious, so hearing about it can make it have more meaning.

And thank you so much everyone who came!

Me and my two deer, with Tanya's White Tulips in between!

10/21 "Curiouser"

I think that's how it would be spelled- curiouser and curiouser...  this one is a bit younger, and is leaning in to check out the viewer as much as we are looking at them. It really is that connection that pulls me in and demands me to paint. And then they show up!
Come join me at the Convention Center this afternoon-  4pm!  Here's the link to sign up!  It is FREE but I think we want to know how many people to expect.

Yay!

9x12 acrylic on wood

$216

click here to purchase~

10/20/19 The BuckEye

I'm not done with deer yet, not by a long shot~ I love the antlers on this one- its a fun game of chasing values to paint them, and get them to read true. That's the trick of painting, I think- figuring out how to get something to look true. Not to fool someone, but to re-remind them of something they already know. Antlers are a magical feature on any animal. They are like thoughts solidified. I remember seeing a caribou at the Seattle Zoo many years ago and being truly astonished by the delicate and strong twists and curlicues ranging about the creature's head.
Love them!

6x12 acrylic on wood

$145

click here to purchase~

10/18 Watchful Deer

This one is sneaking out of the shadows... cautiously, carefully, with big wide open eyes. I think he's a little buck, because there's a slight eruption of the fur just in front of his ears. And getting the background to feel right for this one took a bit. The final version is the warmer red one-  I'm including the previous one to show you where I came from-

Whew!
I've been a bit under the weather the last few days. Feeling more reasonable and in my bones today.  Sunshine and clean laundry really helps.
So does anticipation of my Paint Love class tomorrow morning!  What an amazing bunch of people- wish you could join us!  I'm trying to come up with a creative way of making a space for those lovely people who love to paint. Toss ideas my way, hey!
And if you are free at 4 this Monday, come meet us at the Convention Center downtown Minneapolis and we'll take you on a tour of the current art hanging there, including mine!
Wahoo!

6x9 acrylic on wood

$96

click here to purchase~

previous version

10/14 Blue Deer

This is a really quick one-
And I haven't done an auction in a while, so jump on in and you can probably get this one for $25!

It's a lovely day here in Minneapolis!  Sun is shining, people are more happy than during the grey, and the kids are louder!
So a blue deer-

6x6 acrylic on wood

AUCTION!

starting at $25!

Wahoo!

10/12 and 13! Oops...

Dang!  Got a little bit busy yesterday, what with teaching my painting class, Paint Love, at my studio in the morning, and then painting Dungeons and Dragons figures at The Dreamer's Vault with my usual 10 year olds... and I lost track and didn't even open my laptop all day!  What a joy!
SO
Here's the Owlbear I painted yesterday, and my lovely demo for painting class too~ one stroke per color!

2.5 inches by 2.5 inches...

6x6 acrylic on wood

such fun!

10/11 Winner of the WOLF!

Wahoo!
I did the drawing this morning, and the winner of the wolf painting is my friend and fellow paint push, Robin Westacott!
Congratulations Robin!  Wahoo!
As for the rest of you, I'll be doing a few more give-a-ways this fall, and will also be offering some discounts on my paintings prior to December... stay tuned!
And this is another painting I've been working on- not sure if it is finished...  Minnehaha Creek from our WAlk-a-thon of the week past...
Enjoy your Friday!

9x12 acrylic on wood

NFS

10/10 Whale Rocks

This one was a commission, for someone who'd previously purchased one of my landscapes, and we thought it would be interesting to paint a vacation photo!  Thanks Greta!
I believe she said they saw a whale either before or after this photo was taken. I love the color of the water-
And I'm still accepting comments for the drawing for the Wolf painting from Tuesday until Midnight tonight!  I'll announce the winner tomorrow hopefully in the morning~

And if you have a painting from a vacation you'd like painted, gimme a call!

6x12 acrylic on wood

sold~

8/9 Antler Grace

Wowzers, it is a great goal to try to get a painting done every morning, and I'm having to get up earlier to accomplish it!
Here's today's little deer~ just love those eyes, and the wonderful twisting puzzle of painting antlers. This one feels particularly powerful, I'm not sure why...

And if you didn't catch it, yesterday's post is a give-away!  I'm realizing I can't figure out who you are if you comment on this blog, so please comment on my facebook post of the blog instead!  Or send me an e-mail and I'll include you in the drawing!
I'll post the winner's first name on Friday!
Wahoo!

6x6 acrylic on wood

ready to hang!

$73

click here to purchase!

8/8 Wolf Give-Away!

Hey all!  It's about time I do a give-away to my people who follow this blog daily- in order to be entered into a drawing to win this painting, please make a comment on this blog, and if you can' figure out how to do that, make a comment on my facebook post of this painting!  I'll pick a winner by Thursday and mail it to you- though if you are not in the US, I will need some help with postage...

This is a wolf at the Minnesota Zoo~

Like that stance...

6x6 acrylic on wood

give-away!!!

6 and 7/10

I forgot to post yesterday, so I'm counting today as two days!
Ha!
It's my blog and I can post how I want to~
Wahoo!
More 10 minute paintings!

It is fun to do these- they end up more expressionistic than anything!

10/5 Another 10Minute Sketch

Okay, I'm going to bed- but I wanted to post something, and here's another from the Blessing of the animals. I was just rather pleased with the expression on this one~

XO

9x12

sold

Betty and Boop!

This is a commission! Aren't they fun?  I love how a creature's personality is just gleaming out of their face!

This ones's going to Texas!
Still just tickles me~ you can tell Betty is the one who hangs back a little, being polite and waiting to be invited while Boop just barges on in there in a joyfully eager frenzy!

9x12 acrylic on wood

sold!

10/3 Miss Mama

We went on a Walk-a-thon this morning with Max's school, and it was just such a joy to be wandering along Minnehaha creek with a pile of kids, 5th graders and their Kindergarten buddies. I watched all these kids holding hands, and chatting with each other, older to younger, interested, caring, walking together.

I hope they remember this for a long time.
It is really important to feel seen, and to be able to hold someone's hand and know they are happy you are there!
This is Miss Mama...  there will probably be some Minnehaha Creek paintings coming up...

6x6 acrylic on wood

$68

click here to buy!

10/2 Wise Eyes

Another deer for you-  there's something in there, you can tell.  Especially when a wild animal makes eye contact with you-  you can feel the intelligence there, the senses all alert... it's just WOW.

6x6 acrylic on wood

$65

click here to snag this!

10/1 All Ears

I'm gonna do another painting a day project this October, or at least for the first 20 days.  It's bee hard getting back into the routine of a Painting A Day, and I need this!  It's good for my heart and for my brain.
Here's another one of Gina's deer!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$65

click here to purchase!