Ash Wednesday

How 'bout a repentant looking pup for the start of lent?  Well, I don't know that he's all THAT repentant...

...more like scoping for an opportunity...
I kinda like the background as an abstraction of a wood floor, but I think I'll go back into it anyway...
more later!

February 10th, Sunday

I finally had a little time to paint today, what with the snow and the kids running all over!  I've been wanting to get dig into the photos I took at Afton State Park on Friday~  here are a couple...
Snow is a darn tricky thing, but those shadows in the sharp sunlight are gorgeous!

Saturday, Feb 9th!

I meant to get some painting done last night-  I took some gorgeous shadows on the snow photos down at Afton yesterday-  it was Middle School Ski Day and I went for a walk!  I'll post those later-  We had a great class on wednesday night, talked about how to paint from a still image, a photo or an image on a laptop or phone or camera, and one student requested that I NOT post his, so we'll save that til he has a chance to like it better.  The lesson was also meant to be the "One Stroke per Color" lesson I learned from Carol Marine at her workshop a couple years ago.  I love that lesson, as it really makes ME think about where I am putting my strokes and what shape I want them to be.
AND this is Whiskey, my aunt and uncle's dog, who passed some time ago.  I sent the painting to my uncle in AZ with my mom and dad~  apparently it is a hit!

Tuesday, Feb 5th!

Man, this time of year is hard...  especially when there isn't any sunshine.  I was delighted to be let out of school early today so I could get home and be in the sun for a bit, and make the boys walk to the lake, where we found that the warming-house at Lake Hiawatha has lots of free skates to borrow!!!! Isn't that incredible?!  PLUS our neighbors were also there skating, using the free skates, so Max got to totter around on the ice with Bear and Athena~
Yay!
Oh, and I am so sorry!  Here are the pics from Painting Lessons last week!  We had a tough time with those darn clementines!  This week we'll be looking at using photos to paint from as reference~
Yay!
And get your cat in soon!  I am starting to fill up!

Sunday, Jan 27, 2013

I've gotten caught up in re-painting this piece-  sometimes I just need to get the work out of my studio!
Lovely snow~
May be doing some painting of that too...

Wed, Jan 23, 2013!

First Painting Class of 2013!  Great bunch of eager people, and I got to talk about Carol Marine again and again, and talk about painting stuff, and all that great stuff!  Here's what we got done!  The first one is my demo, and the rest are students!

We'll be continuing on for five weeks!  Stay tuned, and I have a bunch of commissions too, and THEN the "30 Cats in 30 Days" March 2013 starts SOON!!!  Send me your CATS!

Sunday Night, postcard proof?

Hmmmm~
Working on a postcard for our Women's Art Institute Scholarship Fund Art Sale, coming up in March-  and this seemed to be one way to get a preview, so forgive me if you weren't expecting this, but PLEASE send me comments if you have any ideas!
AND if you'd like to participate by donating art or coming to BUY some, even BETTER!
Let me know!

Postcards by Vistaprint

Gosh darn.
And please let me know if this doesn't work either!  As like many, I learn as I go along!  Some things faster than others...

January 19, 2013

Are you still typing in "2012" too?  Some years it feels like it takes me til June to get in the swing of it- this year feels like a new year, somehow!  Here is yet another cat, and this reminds me that YES I am doing my 30 Cats in 30 Days project this March, which is coming up faster than a Jack rabbit with a wild cat on its tail!  So if you are interested in participating in this year's project, or if you know of anyone who has a cat that I haven't painted (or even if I have and they want another one!), send this on to them!  Here is a link to my little webpage I made up for it-  and I still haven't gotten another book out on the dogs of July yet...

And here is Puddy Cat...
I swear, even I think I get better with every painting!  What does that tell you about a commitment?  Hmmmmm!
New year's resolution?

Saturday, Jan 12th!

Spent the day creating a cardboard box car and a cardboard box house, and painting the car, and destroying the house~  what a great day!
And I got to paint a bit too!  The cats aren't quite finished yet-  comments are happily accepted!

And if you want a great breakfast tomorrow morning, come join me at Diamond's!  Last day of our Small Art Holiday Sale!
Oh and I have just a couple more spots for my Jan/Feb Painting Lessons!  Let me know if you are interested!

Wednesday, Jan 8th!

Hi kids!
It's been (as usual) a whirl-wind around here!  But now I think things are reaching a semblance of normality, whatever that may be in your realm...  whew!
I'll be at Diamond's Coffee Shoppe again on Sunday for the 2nd Sunday Pancake Breakfast with the HOLIDAY ART SALE so come on by and nab some art because it is all coming down to make way for a new show!  Debra Ripp will be hanging her work that same day!
I also will be teaching Painting Lessons this Jan and Feb, wed nights, 6:30-9, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20!  Let me know ASAP if you are interested!  Classes fill up fast!
AND the "30 Cats in 30 Days" of 2013 will be in March again~  send me your KITTIES!!!
whew!

Two more dogs who are hanging at Rye-

Wednesday Jan 3, 2013

I can't believe I haven't posted this guy yet!  Here's another white dog, and a couple more pieces I will be hanging at Rye tomorrow!  Join me on Friday between 4 and 7pm for a Happy Hour Opening!

Monday, Dec 31, 2012~

The last day of 2012-  sun on snow, brilliant glare on the highway for a last breakfast with Beaner before she flies back to England, two small boys making a fort behind the living room chair with all available toys, Gus appears recovered from his expensive teeth removal of last week, and we are smoothly moving into the next year~  I sincerely hope all is well with you and yours!

This is a larger painting, so much fun to paint!  One of the trees at Lake Hiawatha, before the snow... hmm, I guess maybe this doesn't quite fit in the "White on White"  idea, but I'm hanging it anyway!
Come see it and it's partner this Friday!

Saturday, December 29th, 2012!

Yay!  Had some time to do some painting today, as Duane took Max to the studio to run around and make giant wooden Semi trucks...  then to the Riverview Cafe, since they have a wonderful kids' play area~  I can almost get work done there while Max plays if there's another kid to play with!
So I am trying to get a few more dogs done, thank you SO much everyone who has sent me images!   I will be posting a couple every day til Friday, Jan 4th!  We'll be at Rye that evening, 4-7pm for Happy Hour and a White on White Opening!  I have been working on playing with the representation of white through the use of color~  and I love using my favorite models, dogs, as my subject though I couldn't resist a few landscapes!  All paintings are for sale, and if you see one you like here, send me an e-mail and I will hold it for you!  My brother said he was awed by how large they are!  He was in town for Christmas from Seattle and hadn't seen any of these in person, so come see them at Rye on Friday! 1930 Hennepin Ave , Minneapolis, MN

Wed December 26, 2012!

Yay!  What a great Christmas!  Lots of great people and great food and great gifts and recipients!  And now Max is sharing his popcorn with me while I post a few more dogs~

And I also have a quick request of all of you~  I am doing a series of "Winter White Dogs" that I will be hanging at Rye next week and I invite you all to join me next Friday, Jan 4 at Rye for a Happy Hour Opening Celebration of the new paintings!  AND I have time to paint a few more!  SO if you have any photos of white dogs, PLEASE send them to me NOW!!!!

Friday December 21!

wahoo!   most days I'm pretty darn glad just to make it back home!  But NOW I've made it to.... WINTER BREAK!!!!!!!!!

Man.
Seriously.

Some dogs~because I'm not done yet...
xo!

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012

I love communication.  Thanks everyone for your responses to my last post...
NOW I just have a few more commissions for your enjoyment.
And I would appreciate your helpful comments as well-  does that look like reflections of trees in the water back there?

And can you see an angel on this kitty's head?

Saturday, Dec 15, 2012

There are so many things I want to say about death.
Our friend Jim Koplin died today.  I'd only just heard he was in the hospital with pneumonia, and was trying to figure out how to get Duane and Max over to inject some youthful energy in him this week when he'd be feeling stronger....  man.  It's just that that's the end.  Like the final end; like when I think I want to publish my memoirs, I'm not really thinking that for the reader, the end of the story is with MY end...
Ack.
And the suckiest thought.  
The HORRIBLE ickiest thing....
Your kids die before you do.

Sorry.
This has been a sucky, holding Max close and forgiving stupid things I'd usually jump on him about...

Anyway, some things that people love...

Thursday, Dec 13

We had a great painting class last night, and I totally forgot to take PICTURES of what the students accomplished!!! Dang it, Kelly and Sarah, I still want to see those again, darn it!!! And I forgot to take pics of my stuff too...
And yes, I am kicking out the commissions!

Here's another one...

Wednesday, December 5th!

Got some great art done tonight!  First, a commission~  and I don't think I'm blowing anyone's cover because this was for a birthday last week...
If I AM painting your pet, and you DON'T want it on here, do please let me know!

And we worked darn hard tonight at class!  These works are painted on a wash of complimentary color to the dominant color of the composition~
Whew!

Sunday December 2, 2012

WOW!!! Thank you so much everyone who came over for the Seward Winter FROLIC!!!  We had a gas at the Bottle Rocket Building, and Duane wants to throw MORE art crawls!  Max got filthy crawling around all the studios and I had to wash his blanket as soon as we got home last night, which caused a lovely ruckus....  but he's asleep, I'm working on commissions and watching "The Big Bang" first series with Duane, both of us laughing out loud and shushing each other because we don't want to wake Max...

 This is Giggs~