1949 CHEVY TRUCK

Is this getting any more rewarding???????????

PROBABLY NOT BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE

CHEVY TRUCK

I wish I had taken pics as I went so you could see the process

I did that with the next painting for all my painter friends.

"(c)HEVY REFLECTIONS"

Here's another 36" X 36" painting that you'll get in parts

I'm framing - trying to get my paintings to dry for march show

so this is how this week will go. 

A slice a day!

I hope it's enough but probably not for most.

Thanks for following and thanks for waiting.

It could be worth it.

"CARNIVAL III"

"PATIENTLY WAITING"

The carnival was a photographers delight. 

There was a lot of waiting going on while kids were enjoying the rides. 

I love this event so much more than circus events. The circus always brings

animals and the animals appear to be so sad - that's just my perspective.

Have a great weekend and really thanks for following!

"CARNIVAL CONTINUED"SOLD

"GRAND PRIZE"SOLD

I needed a few new carnival paintings to go with my large one

these will be displayed at CVA for March.

I'm going to move all my animals to Harwigs for my March show.

Started another 30" X 30" painting today too we'll see if I 

can get it finished for the show - drying it might be harder.

Thanks for following - I really appreciate all the comments on 

"HORSEPOWER"

I'm on some kind of roll.

"FINI"

"HORSEPOWER"

3' X 3'

OIL ON CANVAS

Come and see this painting at Harwigs on March 7th - 5 to 8pm

or stop by Harwigs anytime you need to wet your whistle.

You guys make this happen!

Thanks for following

"HORSEPOWER PART III"

Methodical is an understatement.

Thanks for following

"WINGED VICTORY II" SOLD

"ODE TO MONUMENT MEN"SOLD

We went to see the movie Monument Men on saturday and it really got me thinking.

Why are we awed time and time again by sculpture, painting, architecture etc.

What drives us to take umpteen photos of Winged Victory or The David

we could just buy a postcard and save ourselves a lot of time?

Why?

 It's a mystery - the emotions that come to the surface 

when in a room filled with monuments from another time

the scale(which cannot be conveyed through a photo)

the feel of the brush strokes or surface of the stone - the tenacity.

What would've happened if all those war treasures had been lost forever?

Would we be as rich - not monetarily - but emotionally and spiritually?

There are more questions than answers.

I'm just thankful the movie got me thinking about something that truthfully

had not occurred to me - and all that Art History to boot!!

Thanks and hope you have a wonderful week.

I'll finish up Horsepower this week and we'll go from there.

"HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY"

"BE MY CHERRY SUNDAE"

I'm on fire - can't explain it - I painted this today it's 6" X 8"

It will hang in the entryway of Harwigs for my March show. 

It's a sweetie!!!!

I think everything is finally coming together for me. 

I'm excited about all the new work - ecstatic to say the least

I'd love to do this large - wouldn't that be fun?

Have a great V Day!

I painted this for all 5 of my followers

Thinking of you!

"YOU SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY???"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL ABE'S FRIENDS"

I tried to get a special b-day painting finished for Abe Lincoln's b-day

but it didn't happen.

Red Velvet will have to do - Happy birthday to all!

"HORSEPOWER PART II"

Sorry not a very good photo.

This is the team leader he is a bit older but I'm not sure his exact age.

These horses are so beautiful and powerful I plan to paint some more images of this pair.

Thanks for following

"HORSEPOWER PART 1"

These Belgians are from an event at the Routt County Fair. 

The last day of the fair all the ranchers get together for the 

Chuck Fulton Memorial gathering and barrel race their workhorses.

It's quite a sight to behold. 

TEAMWORK AT IT'S BEST

I can't remember this horses name but she's 4 years old and so sweet.

Thanks a bunch!

"LARGE PAINTING IN PARTS"

"HORSEPOWER"

This week is going to be different. I finished this painting last week

it's 3feet X 3feet( I figure that's about a month of posts)

 this is a photo of my work space and the start.

It's a lot more methodical than I have ever worked before because 

I'm tired of wasting canvas, paint and time.

I have not been able to photograph the finished product 

because of the weather and light so I hope these will do.

Thanks for following.

"SPOON BRIDGE"

"ODE TO CLAES"

Stick a cherry on a spoon and what do you get?

Claes Oldenburg's "Spoonbridge and Cherry"

here's the link to Claes Oldenburg's sculpture

http://www.walkerart.org/collections/artworks/spoonbridge-and-cherry

Claes Oldenburg is best known for his ingenious, oversized renditions of ordinary objects, like the giant “soft” three-way plug and overturned bag of french fries in the Walker’s own collection. He and Coosje van Bruggen, his wife and collaborator, had already created a number of large-scale public sculptures, including the Batcolumn in Chicago, when they were asked to design a fountain-sculpture for the planned Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The spoon had appeared as a motif in a number of Oldenburg’s drawings and plans over the years, inspired by a novelty item (a spoon resting on a glob of fake chocolate) he had acquired in 1962. Eventually the utensil emerged—in humorously gigantic scale—as the theme of the Minneapolis project. Van Bruggen contributed the cherry as a playful reference to the Garden’s formal geometry, which reminded her of Versailles and the exaggerated dining etiquette Louis XIV imposed there. She also conceived the pond’s shape in the form of linden seed. (Linden trees are planted along the allées that stretch before the fountain.) The complex fabrication of the 5,800 pound spoon and 1,200 pound cherry was carried out at two shipbuilding yards in New England. The sculpture has become a beloved icon in the Garden, whether glaceed with snow in the Minnesota winters or gleaming in the warmer months, with water flowing over the surface of the cherry and a fine mist rising from its stem.

Thanks for following and have a great weekend!

"CHERRY LINE-UP"

"CHERRY PORTRAIT"

Love the light on this one 

Thanks for following!

"SUBTLE"

"PLAIN JANE'S"

I know what else I forgot - the paintings this week are painted on toned gessobord.

Some backgrounds were painted orange or yellow or pink

A friend asked me about toning the background of their canvases 

but when they paint they lose all the color that's suppose to show through

because they lay down too much paint. 

Well I hadn't done this in a while myself I thought it was time to experiment

It's not easy!!!!!

It's much harder to see the colors as you put them down because of the background color

and keep the paint thin to let the orange or yellow ground come through. 

It's a great exercise but I usually paint on a gray ground

because I can see the colors so much better

No right or wrong just what ever works best for you.

Thanks for following!

"REFLECTIONS ON A CHERRY"

"THREE OF A KIND"

I needed to do some reflection type images 

these cherries were the perfect vehicle 

to get me into reflections again

Thanks for following

"THREE OF A KIND"

"MON CHERRI"

So what started this fascination with cherries - well they're fun to paint

they remind me of slot machines 

&

Valentine's Day!

Wanted something cheery - cherry

These will be available at my First friday sale and show at Harwig's 

March 7th 5:30 till 8

"DOG PADDLE"

LULU 

I told you I was going to the dogs next week it's all about 

CHERRIES

Thanks for following and have a great weekend!

"DEVIL DOG #2"

"HOGAN"

Last to join us is Hogan. Evil dog #2. She is 9  months old now. She spends all her time looking for new and exciting ways to get into trouble. In her spare time, she is unbelievably playful and cute.

She has rescued Callahan from a deep depression after Reilly died. She and Callahan wrestle and play constantly.

"SWEETY"

"CALLAHAN"

Next came Callahan. She was adopted at 14 months after spending her entire life in a crate. She has been the sweetest dog in the world. She lives to play fetch and swim in the river/pool. She is a stunningly beautiful dog, inside and out. She is 7 years old.

"DEVIL DOG #1"

"REILLY"

Next was Reilly, she was our first "devil dog." She was pure mischief until she was 3 years old. She was a wonderful creature, with a heart of gold. She aged like a fine wine and was delicious until her very last day.

"HOLIDAY HANGOVER"

"MURPHY"

As Ron tells it: All our dogs have been female yellow labs with boy names(Irish).

Murphy was the first. She was the best dog ever. She was an amazing companion, she was tough, gentle, wise and funny.

"ALWAYS CARRY A BIG STICK"

"HAPPY DOG"

After riding in the car all day - Lulu finds the biggest stick

She's a lucky girl.

So here's the deal for 2014

I will try to post a painting a day - mon thru fri for your viewing pleasure

Next week we're going to the dogs!

Have a great weekend and pray for snow - lots and lots of snow!

Thanks for following and I love my new internet

Cheers to staying connected - I'll drink to that

"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"

"WAMEGO, KANSAS"

A couple of years ago on our drive from Steamboat Springs to NY via St. Louis and D.C.

We stumbled upon the OZ Museum in Wamego, Kansas.
I shouldn't say stumbled because the billboards appeared for hundreds of miles
before the museum - I saw a tin man billboard and was hooked - I knew this place was for me
I spent hours in the museum - the original books - drawings - games etc.
Just the right amount of funky
We were informed that one set of Ruby Slippers resided at the
Smithsonian National Museum of American History in D.C.
How's that for a perfect coincidence?
Wamego is a great little town if you're in the area give it a go!
I love the Wizard of OZ but it use to scare the crap out of me
I remember hiding behind my mom when things got really bad - you know the parts
Thanks for following the yellow brick road
TTFN
My new internet is dandy - I think we're there

"TRIPLE CROWN"

"UMPTY DUMPTY"

I took the ump photo 2 summers ago while riding my bike

on the shelf road - looking down on the middle school ball field. 

My husband is responsible for the title

Don't blame me!!!!???????

I get my other new internet tomorrow morning keep your fingers crossed

It's great to be back in the saddle

Thanks for following!

"SMOKE AND MIRRORS"

"ZOLTAR SPEAKS"

Yes, you love the twinkle of gold.

You collect many things that wait to be sold.

Your efforts yield more than you can hold

while you wait for your future to unfold.

Your Lucky Numbers: 5, 17, 8, 39, 24,67

Hey everybody thanks for all the emails 

I'm back but if I disappear again it's cause I am getting a new

internet server on wednesday - smoke and mirrors!!!!!

"CALL ME"

REST STOP NEBRASKA

Oh man I can't begin to tell you what has been going on. 

We drove to MN in December for a weekend 

our car crapped out in the Honda dealers parking lot in St. Paul - lucky for us.

We had to tell the mechanic what was wrong with the car - does anybody do their job anymore?????

Got home a week later - got the flu - the bad kind

Then

I had ordered painting frames before I left for MN

 I got the package when we got back

and the frames were all the wrong size

Then

Our internet crapped out - ouch

We have been dealing with more people who don't know how to do their jobs

How can it be so hard to get internet - well apparently we're special

I know there's more but you get the idea. 

I'm kind of online now - paying for 3mbps and getting about .8

Hope all is well with everyone and I anticipate getting back to some blogging

IF YOU'RE STILL THERE!

"MERRY - HAPPY - HOLIDAYS"

"LEGEND SPIRIT"

"YETI"

6" x 6"

This dog I met many years ago - she would follow her master any where and do anything. 

He'd ski off a 20 foot snow covered cliff she'd follow right behind.

She just had that presence that you can't explain

I was given 4 photos of Yedi to do one painting(which I tried and hated)

 she wasn't just one painting she was a lifetime of paintings!

There is a mountain not far from my house and it will always be Yedi's Ridge

 here's the first in a series of three

Thanks for following

"LOOK OUT ROCK"

"YETI"

6" x 6"

"YETI"

 8" X 8"

Sorry 

I forgot to take a pic of all three together before I put them away to dry you get the idea.

Thanks for following I appreciate all the great comments!

"LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"

"REX LOVES GERALDINE"

8" X 8"

150.00

 (DONATE 150.00 to your favorite organization - send me the receipt and this painting is yours)

REX'S STORY It's just too precious - he's 11 and he met his true love but there's more to the story.

I will include a copy of the story with the painting 

would be a great story time bedroom painting

Thanks for following!

"THE KID"

 "BARNEY"

The youngest in the bunch

Here's all 3 together - makes for a nice collection

"SWEET - STRONG - DEVOTED"

"HENRI"

Henri is the oldest in the pack of Bracco Italianos. I fell in love with this pose the first time I laid eyes on it and knew it had to be painted. It is such a classical style pose for this noble dog. I can rest assured?????!!!!!!!!!! my friend liked the Hanna portrait. Let's drink to that. Have a great weekend.

Thanks for following - and commenting - you guys made my day - really!

"BRACCO ITALIANO"

"HANNA"

8" x 8" will be framed individually

Here's the other part of the Portofino story - so I was really hired to paint 3 Bracco Italiano dog portraits not Portofino. I was truly stumped by these dogs in my friends photos they all looked alike to me, I had a difficult time processing the visuals in the emails. I have never seen an Italian Bracco - didn't know anything about the breed so that's why I painted the stucco buildings and boats instead - that was something I could relate to - I've been there seen it done it etc. 

It was time for some research to get to know this Italian breed of bird dog. The main words used to describe this breed is sweet - sweet - sweet! In every e mail to me my friend used - those exact words  to describe these wonderful dogs of hers. Now I was ready - at least I thought so but there's more. 

Throw another wrench into my psyche written by my friend:

One of the things I like about your paintings is the color and there isn't much opportunity for color in the dogs themselves, so I was thinking some sort of colorful border or background would be fun.

YIKES! Holy cow - The first dog I painted was Hanna and she's lavender - pink and blue with a brilliant green background. So I got the background right but Was I suppose to make her brown and white?  

So you see what keeps me up at night!!!!!!!!! I out guess myself - I doubt myself - it just never ends. 

Another thing - I was suppose to put all three dogs on one canvas too - well that didn't work for me visually/ no how no way - so again I throw myself under the bus and go with my gut. The dogs are all painted on separate gessobords and they will be framed separate and that's that - end of story. 

Commissions might be my undoing - Cause I pretty much do what I damn well please. Bad girl!

If you got through all of this you're a saint. Thanks for following and reading the banter.

"PORTOFINO, ITALY"

12" x 12" 

oil on 3/4" gessoboard 

mounted in floater frame

There's a story here - a friend wanted me to paint her dogs but her dogs were pretty difficult. Then she suggested maybe a vacation photo - so that's where I started with this photo of Portofino - which I cropped the hell out of to get what I wanted to paint, maybe not what she wanted. The rebel that I am I didn't even ask if this was what she wanted - I just needed something to paint and I needed to try my new color Naples Yellow by Holbein - now I know how to use the color it was a great assignment. I'm no business man I can tell you that.  She doesn't even know about this painting - so that's the story.
I did paint her dogs after all and I love the way they turned out more on that another time.

"MY LITTLE LAMB CHOP II"

12" X 12" OIL ON CANVAS

FLOATER FRAME

I bought this little lamb chop doll last year at the Minnesota State Fair - It was meant to be a baby shower present but she never made it there. Love her too much!

Thanks for following!

"SEEING EYE TO EYE II"

12" X 12"  ON CANVAS 

FRAMED

I know you've seen this before but this is a redo. I love this image can't explain why but here is #2

I'm not going to fight it - just paint it again and again

Hope you survived all that food!

Thanks for following