March 7, Faye

 This is Faye!  And here's what Heidi wrote about her~

"Faye is our big, soft calico with the personality of a kindergartener.  She’s a ray of sunshine on a dark day.

"Quite the athlete, Fayes loves to run, although jumping is her true passion.

You can practically hear her yell, “I’m FLYING!” when she jumps for her

ball or races down the stairs. Throw the ball behind her, and she jumps up with

her paws in front of her chest, spins around in the air, and becomes a Lipizzaner Stallion. 

"We love Faye more than we can say, and she has become an important part of our family. "

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

March 6, IdaMae!

 It snowed 4 inches last night!  So I had to spend part of the morning shoveling out the drive and the sidewalks and the dog paths in the backyard.  And because it was Duane's birthday yesterday, we stayed up past midnight watching the last two Harry Potter movies... so it's been a slow morning!  And I finally got to IdaMae here!  Isn't she a lovely tortie?

6x6 acrylic on wood

$130 inc tax and shipping!

click here!

March 5, Estrella and Naldo

Wow, did I have fun painting this one-   the light, the angles, and the look on Naldo's face...

Painting on black like I do means that you need to make adjustments constantly on darks and lights. And acrylic paint has a tendency to dry dark, so you also have to take that into consideration. With this painting, I was trying to keep the deck surface looking light enough to suggest wood and warmth, and I had to make it lighter three times!

Of course, the glory of this one is that the photo was such a great one.  Sometimes I worry about painting from a great photo because it is already wonderful... What can I possibly add?  But a painting does do something that a photo just can't do.

Can you tell I am really pleased with this one?

Joe sent the photo with this note~

"Not sure if you know but we had to say goodbye to our precious Naldo in early December. He developed tumors in his lung and liver, and we had to put him to sleep. We miss him dearly, even though we had him for less than 4 years. So, now we just have one kitty, Estrella--whom we've had for almost 11 years.

Attached is a photo of them from last fall. Naldo is in front."

8x10

spoken for

 

March 4, Pixel for Paige!

PIXEL!  I loved this photo and went ahead with it without really checking with Paige, who just landed her dream job at the Weaver's Guild!  Congratulations Paige!!!

And I painted Pixel before, as an 8x8, but I wasn't sure that was the size and went and painted this one as a 6x6 and I really love it-  it's more detail than I usually squish into a 6x6! I especially love that squinty little all-knowing eye there, looking right at you!

Pretty sweet, aye?

6x6 acrylic on wood

maybe be available, maybe not?

 

March 3, Hota Kah?

 Did you know that I love to paint black animals?  And this one is fluffy on top of it!  This is Hotah Kah? whose name includes the question mark, which seems weird when you are writing it all out, because it makes me want to read it as a question with my voice going up at the end, you know?

So here is Carolyn's explanation of the name~

“ Hota Kah? is our loving and attentive Siberian who joined our family as a pal for Fast Eddie (and us) after the passing of Ruby.  He is named after JK Rowling , creator of Harry Potter , using the phonetic spelling of her initials in Spanish.

Since we don’t really speak or understand Spanish , he has to have the question mark at the end... “

And here is the mysteriously named feline!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold!

March 2, Nelly for Julia~

This sweet cat is Nelly, and Julia has this to say about her~

"Nelly came into my life on April 2, 2019 during my freshman year of college. She was a stray and very sick, so I snuck her into my college dorm room and nursed her back to health. I’m an animal lover, but I would never have considered myself a cat person before meeting Nelly. Her sweet snuggles and friendly personality had a lasting effect on everyone who met her. You could always find Nelly lounging on a lap or basking in the sun, and she loved being around her people more than anything. It’s been 3 months without her; I miss her everyday and always look for pieces and memories of her where the sun streams through the windows. Nelly absolutely changed my life… and made me a cat person to boot :) "

6x6 acrylic on wood

sold~

March 1st, Moonshadow for Freya!

 I didn't actually get a story for this one yet, but I loved the face and the look and so Moonshadow is first!  And that word always reminds me of traveling around Europe in 1987 when I was twenty and carrying my Walkman with me and Cat Stevens was one of my tapes, and "Moonshadow" was one of my comfort songs and I'd sing it along to myself when my batteries died...

There was an island in Spain somewhere that was covered with feral cats, and this face reminds me of them~

I love those green eyes!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$130 inc tax, shipping and BOOK!

Click here!

Feb 28, The OFFICIAL LIST for 30 Cats in 30 Days, March 2022!

 Hey there! Yes it is TIME!

Here is the OFFICIAL (with the understanding that some things may move around) LIST for this year's 30 Cats Project!  I do still have some room at the end of the month so keep sending me photos!

I'm so pleased to have such a great selection of kitties to paint!  I'll be attempting to paint each one in the morning so I have time to post it for the day, and I DO want a story to post too, so please include a story with your photos!

If you are interested and want more info, you can click here~ and if you thought you were ON the list and you don't see yourself, please send me an email at katjojo@hotmail.com!

AND so 

HERE we GO!

1- Moonshadow for Freya

2- Nelly for Julia- 

3- Hota Kah? for Carolyn and Brad

4- Pixel for Paige 

5- Naldo and Estella for Joe and Charlie

6- IdaMae for Debra G

7- Faye for Heidi 

8- Tonks for Ashley AK

9- Ginny for Marcy

10- Bubby for Kelli 

11- Momma Girl for Cecelia C 

12- Amos for Jody B 

13- Gilbert for Stephanie W 

14- Anya for Cathy S

15- Milo and Stella for Sally N- 

16- Jiji for C&B’s son 

17- Mister M for Bethany A 

18- Pierret forJeffery A

19- Foof for Amy B

20- Jack the cat for Mollie and Sammy-

21-Freddie in a box for Kathy R

22- RBG for Tracy

23- Rinji for Janet 

24-Alo for Stacy

25-Loki for Lissa

26- Donn's cat

27-Kira Wears Her Hat for Patrick

28- Otis for Amy

29- Frank and Sam

30- Maynard James Kitten for Ashley

Feb 27, Asher!

 Yay!  This is Asher, who recently came to live with a friend of a friend in DC and so I painted this little welcome home painting for them! Isn't this the sweetest face EVER?! Those eyes are just so... liquid!

Thanks Melissa, for being such an awesome patron and friend!

6x6 acrylic on wood

sold

Feb 26, Beaner Day!

 It's my sister's birthday today!  And it's a nice round number, and we're having a little party for her this evening, and so this morning at my painting class I decided to use one of her photos to paint from.  She's just recently moved up to Duluth and sends us beautiful photos just about daily of our favorite lake, and this was one from last night, maybe?  I think?

So since we were painting landscapes I used this one, and gridded it on my phone, and screen shot the grid and did a brief pencil sketch and threw some paint at it-  it is so fulfilling to work with color and light and paint... and people! I think sometimes the atmosphere of the room is held in the paint...

9x12 acrylic on wood

$215

click here to nab!

the original~

Feb 24, A Commission

 This was a birthday commission, and it was for 2/22/22 so I think I can post it now!  This is Linus!  Isn't he sweet?

I got to paint him as a puppy too~

And next week I start with the CATS!!!  I could still use a few more, so send them my way!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold!

Feb 23, Luna again!

 The other day I was contacted by a patron who wanted to know if I could help fix a painting of mine that she'd commissioned some time ago that was accidentally damaged on the edges in a fall. And I said I'd sure love to try!  She sent me the photo below showing the split edges, and she was able to bring it over and drop it off, and I took a look at it with my handy husband and we reglued and sanded and GACed and gessoed and I repainted it as close to the original as possible, and I think it turned out great!  Plus I was able to be with a painting I hadn't seen in a while, which is always a pleasure for me, like visiting an old friend.

And when Sarah asked what the charge would be, I said there is no charge!  But you can tip me if you like! 

So I want you to know that if you have a piece of mine, I want to make sure it is looking its best for as long as I can!  Please let me know if you have damage, or if I never varnished yours (I've been varnishing most work lately for added protection!) you can let me know and we'll get that done!  If you are out of town, I'd appreciate you covering shipping but I'll happily fix anything I can!

Luna again!

Feb 21, Water Moves

 I've been working on this one for a couple days, dreaming about Lake Superior and Grand Marais~ the water shifts and smooths the rocks, changing color, leaving streams of bubbles and foam. Its so fun to try to paint it, really looking, thinking about color and value. I love it!

And I'm just so pleased with this one!

We also went to the zoo today, and Duane got some awesome photos of otters. So there will definitely be more of those coming!

And don't forget to send me your cats!!

18x14 acrylic on canvas

$495

click here for purchase info~

Feb 18, The Nose Leads

 I need a better title for this-

I'm playing with my horse photos from Camp Mishawaka and I'm realizing I'm hitting the issue of not knowing the anatomy of my subject well enough. I need to draw more horses.

I'm pretty happy with this one, but. thee negative spaces are still bugging me...

Feb 16, Another Commission!

 This is another from my holiday season!  I've been painting bears and bunnies lately, and kicking in a few commissions as well. AND I'm getting my list together for my 30 Cats Project!  DO please send me your photos still!

And I went rock climbing again today! It's crazy how scary it can feel- last week was the first time I'd gone with the Auto Belay system, where you hook in and the rope has an automatic holding system, so if you let go or fall, you are gently let down to the incredibly padded ground. But there's still that instinctual fear of falling... last week I whimpered the first time I let myself fall, letting go a little shriek of fear.  And most of the time, I'd climb back down a bit before I'd let myself ride down.  This time, I went up really fast and further than I'd gone last time at all, but still freaked out when I looked down and saw one of my friends REALLY far below!  EEEEEEK!!

Still, I did make it all the way to the top! And every time I let myself go got just that much easier...

Learning curve, kids!

10x10 sold!~

Feb 15, Searching for Spring

 This just seems an appropriate title for this one...

My husband was just saying how long February feels, and I was saying "No!  It isn't that long!" and now, seeing we're just halfway through, and Groundhog's Day feels like a really long time ago, and this week is taking forever and its only Tuesday, I think he's got a point.

On a happier note, we spent the evening listening to local singer and songwriter Jeremy Messersmith play music from his home on the musical platform Bandcamp for an hour and a half, despite his having a cold.  He'd had to cancel an appearance at the Dakota last Saturday night because of laryngitis so I considered ourselves super lucky to be able to watch him play in his living room! And Duane and I were both singing along- I just love Jeremy!  Do you know his work? Here's a video of one of my favs of his- Tatooine~ it was just a great way to spend a Valentine's Evening!  Duane and Max made a gluten free peach cobbler and we enjoyed that while listening too~

Yay!  Oh, and this is one of the bears at the Minnesota Zoo- I am so happy with it! Look at that back foot... isn't the paw pad just the sweetest thing?

16x12 acrylic on canvas

$385

 inc shipping and tax!

CLICK HERE

Feb 14, Pixie, A Commission

 Here's a kitty for you!  Did you know I'm asking people to send me their photos of their cats? So that I can paint them for my "30 Cats in 30 Days" Project this March!  So send me YOUR cat photos!

This is Pixie!  And I think I need to lighten up some of the grey a little bit yet...

Doesn't she have a priceless expression?

SO catlike!

Click here for more info on this year's 30 Cats in 30 Days!

Sold!

Feb 11, 2022 "Black Ear and the Shadow"

 Dontcha love double numbers? Like eleven, and twenty-two? And despite it being so crazy cold, it was a gorgeous day! The sun came out and beamed through my skylights at school, and it was crispy and clear as I wandered over to the Salvation Army on Nicolet and 38th to drop off my trunkful of stuff. That always feels good to get that little task taken care of. And then I went and got a massage!!!!  First one since COVID.

Wow. Did THAT make a difference!  I highly recommend it- thank you Kathleen!

Here's another bunny painting from my photos at Indian Rock Beach, FL in 2016. I'm lucky I know how to find those photos from way back then, aren't I! I like the shape of the bun's head and that dark ear and the shadow shape...

These really are value studies, aren't they?

6x6 acrylic on wood

$83 includes SHIPPING and taxes!

click here!

Feb 10, Teddy at the Lighthouse

I entered this painting in the Open Air Painters show at 801 Gallery for their Structural show! It was a fun one to do- there were a few more people in there, and some more structural elements, but the light and the water and the lighthouse were all pretty close to this- it's the lighthouse at Grand Marais, in the summer...

And Teddy is such a fluffy butt in this pic, it's fun how the light goes thru her fur!

20x16 acrylic on canvas

$700

click here for purchase info!

Feb 7, Kitty!

 Another commission for you!  This is Kitty, and I was asked to make sure and include those pink ribbons on her ears~

Pretty sweet, ay?

Also, the Art Shanties are done for the year. :( So we have to devise more fun ways to spend our time with our friends!  I guess we can have more backyard fires and maybe even go eat at a restaurant or something!

Oh and woodcut printmaker Emily Gray Koehler just hung a lovely show at Diamond's Coffee in the Thorpe Building this weekend!  Her work will be up through March!

9x12 acrylic on wood

sold

Feb 6, Dark Bun

I'd taken my wedding rings off on Friday because I had an impromptu clay crew come in at the end of the day to quickly make some endangered animals, and I put them into the pocket of the jeans I was wearing. And then I forgot about them, until this evening when I was turning out baskets of laundry for washing and heard that little jingle...

Sometimes there's that little jingle to remind you of something important! 

Like a dark bunny!  

Hmmm.  Not sure that all tied in together as well as I'd hoped...

6x6 acrylic on wood

$83 inc tax and shipping!

Click here!

Feb 4, Another Commission...

 I seem to be a bit obsessed with sewing lately. It's another creative outlet of mine that I greatly enjoy, since it is more of a 3D creative thinking project than a painting. You have to think in the round, you know- and figure out how to make something fit better.

So commissions are great, because I can sew and then paint, and they are two separate things entirely. Is that a dangling participle there?

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Feb 3, Sniffler the Bun

 Here's another bunny painting!  There are still a bunch more!  Hmm, what DO you call a bunch of rabbits? I know they live in a warren, and all from my love of "Watership Down"...

SO I looked it up, and you can call them a Colony, but why would you when you can also call a group of wild rabbits a FLUFFLE?!

Isn't that the best?

This is the Sniffler....

6x6 acrylic on wood

$83 incl tax and shipping!

Click HERE!

Feb 2, Sweet Bun

 Yes, another rabbit, another one of those free-range love-suckers wandering around behind the studio at Indian Island in Florida, in 2016~

I just love round little buttercups like this! And I wanted to post another painting today~ so I'm not so far behind in February already!

And don't worry, there are more bunnies coming... I love them way too much to stop now!  And I don't have good ground hog photos...

6x6 acrylic on wood

$83 including SHIPPING and TAX

Click here!

Feb 2, It's Our ANNIVERSARY!!!

 I love Groundhog's Day! It's our 14th Anniversary today, and Duane surprised me with a gorgeous book he made, "14 Flower, 14 Years" on the cover.  He hand cut every page as a flower with a sweet quote, and the flower and color coincide with the year- I was crying as I was looking through it. He's so good at surprises!  And I didn't get him anything!

Here's a couple photos~

14th Anniversary!

Jan 31, A Commission...

Yes, I am trying to paint everyday, but as I'm sure you all know all too well, sometimes life gets in the way.  I did get some nice sketches done of my teacup, and I did also through a lovely bowl this afternoon during my after school clay class. Impressed my kids AND myself, I did! Now I just have to learn how to finish the bottoms...

And yes, I am SO lucky to have other people's pets to paint because THEY keep me painting!  I  have a pretty strong work ethic, so sometimes it's hard to do something "Fun", but if it is "Work" related, well hey!  Then I have a reason to do it! All the better if it IS actually "Fun"!

This is Lily, and she bears a very similar look to our beloved teen-year dog, Rusti... aren't her eyes amazing?

10x10 acrylic on wood

sold

 

Jan 30, Otterly Relaxed

Titles are tricky- and I do like to get the word "otter" in there somewhere so when I'm looking for the image later I can find it easier... and I'm sure someone out there knows about tagging my images somehow so that when I want to find them I can, but I don't know how to do that. There's a lot I don't know how to do. Sometimes it feels like the amount of stuff I DON'T know how to do vastly outweighs the stuff I do know.... actually, I'm sure that's true. But I suppose it's what I do with what I DO know that matters, right?

More mindfulness stuff today- my debit card was denied at Whole Food yesterday, which was embarrassing but not that terrible for me because I currently am employed and have money and a credit card I was able to pull out to cover my bill. And when I got home, I found there were several strange charges to my account and I immediately marked my card as STOLEN. And then I was able (eventually) to find a 24 hour Fraud number to call (thanks Wings...) and I had a nice chat with Samuel who patiently went through my charges up to the 15th of January, where someone had bought $750 from Coinbase, a Cryptocurrency company. Hmmm. 

I think the most awful part is just the grossness of someone being in your supposedly safe and secure places. I have my card, here in front of me. So no one stole my actual card. They got enough info somewhere somehow to use my info falsely. To about $1300 worth of large charges for cell phone and shoes and flowers...

Ah well.  Here's an otter- I'll cover shipping!

6x12. acrylic on wood

$150

tax and shipping incl!

Click HERE!

Jan 28, A Commission

It's Friday. And it's warm enough for our lower school kids to actually GO OUTSIDE. Having In-Door Recess for almost two weeks has required the kind of patience and humor that are often in short supply for teachers by this time of year...

I've got a lovely small Paint Your Pet class at my studio tomorrow from 9:30 to 12:30, and there is still room if you aren't doing anything~ you can still sign up here!  I do actually really need to paint with other people sometimes too, and I realize how much I love to teach!  It is a fantastic thing to do, honestly, and I learn so much about myself too.

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold!

Jan 27, Stationary Bun

 It's the shapes of animals that I love. I think its the inviting roundness, maybe the suggested vulnerability of the soft body, and the connection I feel to that vulnerability... it's an almost tangible attraction.  I can feel the shape as I stroke my brush. And I don't think of anything else as I'm painting, working to translate that image into something solid.

Yup. I love painting.

6x6 acrylic on wood

$83 includes TAX and SHIPPING!

Click here!

Jan 26, Pink on the Rocks

 Here's a little landscape I painted last week~ I'm missing Grand Marais! Most of the lakes near me are frozen because they are small city lakes, and I'd like to see the moving waves of Lake Superior. I'm trying to figure out what to do during my Spring Break. Should I go to Costa Rica where my youngest sister lives? Or should I go up to Grand Marais and paint the Lake?

Hmmmm. 

Feel free to offer suggestions!

8x8 acrylic on wood

$150

and I'll make sure there's no tax or shipping on that!

Click here to buy!

Jan 24, Briggs, A Commission

 And it's Monday! And it's already the last week of January- wow! Isn't it weird how time moves?And I know if you're my age, it passes even faster. Do you think that's because we are more aware of it? We have more things we're trying to fit into a day now, and my twelve year old son doesn't experience time the same way I do... he's often heard to moan, "I'm BOOOOOOOOOREEEEDDDDD" when he's told to get off his device. And then fifteen minutes later, he's in the middle of painting something or building a lego or playing in the snow. And then time passes again-

Yup.

I'm painting Pop Art Appliances with my fourth graders lately, and we're using Crayola neon colored paint. And every time I demo for them how to use the brush to stroke the paint to the edge of their sharpie line, I end up saying, " I LOVE painting!  Thanks for giving me a reason to paint today!" and they say, " We love it too!" It's one of my favorite ways to spend my time.

I hope you have a favorite way to spend time too!

This is another Christmas commission! Amazingly intent look on Brigg's face!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Jan 23, Malaysian Tapir

 Good morning!

And darn it!  I was seriously trying to post everyday, and you know how that goes. Well, I'll begin again.

Here is a tapir for you! She lives at the Minnesota Zoo with her baby, and I have been charmed by their shapes ever since I first encountered this creature in 1977 when the Zoo first opened. They are round and unusual looking, soft edged with a short sensual trunk... and those sweet splayed toes~ just too much fun to paint!

This one is an 8x10 on wood, and the usual price would be $194 including tax, but it is SUCH a glorious Minnesota Sunday, with the sun shining on the snow, and I haven't been at any sales lately so I haven't sold much and it would be nice to do that, so this one is $160 (plus shipping) with tax included!

So there!  Happy Sunday!

8x10 acrylic on wood

$160

click here to nab this one!

Jan 20, Another Commission

 Yay!  My sweet bunny of yesterday sold!  That is such a lovely feeling- there will be more Florida Free Range bunnies coming, my friends- I need to paint them.  Tonight, I needed to sew an olive green sweater... and I think it may be a little big.  If I can get it to look decent I may post a photo.  Sewing is helpful to me in a meditative and relaxing way, and then I end up with something to wear!  Or give away!

And this is Finn. I am so pleased with how it turned out!  Especially that intent look at the tennis ball- we all know that look.

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Jan 19th, Florida Free Range

 This is a photo from Florida in 2016 when mom and I went to take an oil painting class from Dreama Tolle-Perry in February... Dad had just died that past November and we were both in shock. The bunnies were playing around the back of the studio space and they felt familiar and safe and sweet and available. They weren't a part of the class, or the pain we were feeling, and they weren't asking anything from me. They just were. 

And it feels really good to paint one again.  Like starting over. 

My friend Robin has also been studying mindfulness and meditation, and she posted a blog post this week for the first time in a really long time, and she also talked about Beginning Again. And that's what she said, " As I was getting back to place to start painting again, the idea of "begin again" just carried from my meditation practice and made it easier to open the door to that again.  Every time you are meditating and lose track of your breath because your brain is off on some wild tangent, you are supposed to just begin again and become aware of your breath again.  It's not a big deal and the idea of that made it easier to pick up a paint brush."

 I love that permission to just begin again. No strings attached. Like a free range rabbit in a Florida backyard...

Speaking of Begin Again, I do have some space left in my One Day Painting Class on Jan 29th, as well as in the Six-Week Class staring on Feb 6! More info for both Here! and Here!

6x6 acrylic on wood

$83 inc tax and shipping!

click HERE!

Jan 18, And another kitty...

 I saw the moon rising (or setting?) on 38th Ave as I drove to work this morning, and noticed a figure stumping along with a cane on the far left side of the road, but headed in my direction. My thought at first was "I hope he doesn't have far to go" and " the sidewalks must be seriously crappy for him to chose to walk in the street" and then I thought "why don't I offer him a ride?" and as I thought that, the car ahead of me slowed down with a blinker to the right and pulled to the side of 38th street, and I was surprised and paying attention so I carefully passed and thought "She's gonna give him a ride!" and in my rear view mirror, I could see the person with the cane making their way to the pulled over car. I don't know if she knew him, or was just doing what my thought was telling me, but I just about sobbed with that human recognition of spontaneous good.

We still have it, people.

Be good to one another.  And here's another view of yesterday's kitty!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Jan 17, Another Kitty...

 

 I have such appreciation for our good representatives in our political system, and I do believe that if you aren't working for the good of other humans, then you are not a good person. It isn't easy being good. I work with kids every day, and it is hard to always be my best self with them. Some days are much easier than others- and I have such respect for Martin Luther King Jr, and all the amazing people like him, who are working hard to continue the work of such community minded generous loving souls...

And so I try to paint~

XO

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Jan 13 Another Christmas Commission!

 Wahoo people! 

Dang- I do know I am lucky to work with kids everyday- and to work with art stuff every day- and I'm lucky to have my personality and all that, and I just thought I'd share a few more of my pieces I was working my tail off on in December!  I have a few more that I'm kicking in now-  and I also have been adjusting my Pet Portrait Price List, and at this point, with how nuts the world is, I'm just going to consider Tax As Included In The Price, which means any commission already has about a 10 percent discount...

Just saying!

Isn't this an amazing face?

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Jan 3, Commissions!

I've been so lucky this winter to have so many holiday commissions!  It was nearly another "30 Dogs in 30 Days" kinda month!  Holy cow!

So thank you to all of you who asked me to be part of your holiday gift giving- it really means a lot to me that people find my paintings to be a comfort and a joy, and that they appreciate my representations of their beloved companions. I am so lucky!

Thank you!

9x12 acrylic on wood

framed, sold

 

Jan 2, 2022 Happy New Year!

 Wow! What a year~ thanks for being a part of it~ we've had fun and angst, joy and awful awfulness, and we've been there for each other.  I'm attaching my family Holiday Letter for you, because if you're reading this, you are a part of our family!

I'm getting some classes ready for this new year and we'll just play it by ear and see how we can do them together, aside from all of us making sure we're vaccinated and masked when together- I do want to make sure we have time to paint and a space to do that too, so let's do it together!

I've been so lucky to have dedicated painters like you all who want to keep painting and working together, and I know painting helps me keep a level heart and my mind fairly centered. That's why I call the classes Paint Love, though maybe it's time to change that...  let me know what you think.

And I'll be posting some more of my commissions done recently! Thanks for following!

Dec 27 I OTTER paint more...

We've been a bit nuts around here- and now it isn't any different. You know how you think things will slow down at some point and you can catch up with stuff, clean those drawers out, sort that closet, go through those old photos...? 

Yeah. That's gonna happen~

Technically I'm on winter break, but it isn't feeling a lot like a break.

One kinda okay thing is that my big Otter Show at the Convergence Gallery in Bloomington had been postponed to January 2022. Whew!  I'd meant to spend my break painting otters, bigger ones and more of them, for this event. And I've not had as much time as I'd expected.

SO here is a smaller 6x12 painting- I'm pretty happy with it!  And you can buy it now, if you like!

6x12 acrylic on wood

$165

click here!

 

Dec 15, Yup! Another Pup!

 So I'm a little tired today, because there was a storm happening last night, with a tornado watch until 11, so we sat up playing games and reading and finally went to bed just after 11. Wednesday is device-free day in our house, though that doesn't always stick all the way through. We did all play a game of Chinese checkers, which really needs to be renamed, and is also a pretty darn fun game of strategy and planning and has no killing or shooting or blood involved! Just marbles migrating across a board.

I've got a few commissions left that I am finishing up through the next few days, and I've also got a couple classes that I just scheduled, one for next Wed, 10-12:30, though maybe I'm too late announcing this one because no one has signed up yet- which is fine!  I can let it go!

We are also have a Studio Sale this weekend at the Ivy, in Studio #210! You'll want to come around the side of the building to the door next to the garage door facing the Greenway and the RR tracks on 27th Street! We're open from noon to 5!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 9, Another Commission!

 How lucky am I to be painting these amazing creatures for the people who love them?! Thank you everyone who has asked me to be a part of your gifts this season!

8x8 acrylic on wood

sold

Dec 6, A Commission!

Hmmm, it is tricky to post commissions right now-  I'm thinking I'm not blowing a surprise here!  I'm not sure my blog is that widely followed... or my Facebook page either!  I do love the eyes and eyebrows on Manni here!

Oh, and I also have to sadly announce that we are cancelling our Dec 11th Corrigan Eclectic Art Market due to a family health issue~

Pass that word around!  And I can possibly squeeze in one or two more commissions!  Or you can gift a gift certificate and I can get it done AFTER Christmas!  Wahoooo!

8x8 acrylic on wood

Manni!

 

Dec 3, Otter Dinner

 I couldn't think of a clever title for this one-  let me know if you come up with a better one!  We had a great time at the Minnesota Zoo the day before Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving eve?) with our little tribe of 12 year olds, and I love the otters, sea and river versions!  It's the water reflections I love the most...

This one will be with me tomorrow at Art At Ramsey!  Come see it and me!!! 1700 Summit Ave from 10-5!

16x8 acrylic on wood

$256

click here to buy!