This is a story about love repeating ....

Once Upon a Time ...

a beautiful turquoise bow wanted to see the world ...

(Sold 6x8)

so "First" was born.

Though eager to begin her journey, "First" simply didn't feel complete on her own.....

and decided she needed a tiny baby brother

(available soon 4"x4")

Who was named "Second."

"Second" turned out to be much bolder and more dramatic than his delicate older sister "First," in spite his small size.

It was thought his boldness might have developed as a result of being re-created second from "First!"

Desperate and excited to test this theory again, "First" and "Second" pleaded for another sibling... 

and to everyone's delight, a new even spunkier girl named "Third" joined the family!

(Sold 6x6)

Overcome with joy for their new sister, the siblings celebrated!

Now you might think our happy family would end the story here, but such is not the case.  

"First" and "Second" knew right away that their flirtatious sister "Third" had bigger things in her future.  So the two convinced the new baby girl to strike out on her own and discover just how far she could stretch her boundaries.

(available soon 48"x48")

And the story of "Fourth" begins!

To Be Continued ...

December was a blur, welcome 2012!!

December was pet trauma month.

It began with Henry getting sick on the 15th.

We had to put our beloved cat D-con to sleep on the 19th.

It all coincided with a new chicken jerky treat they both ate.

  

Henry continued to get worse, in and out of the vet, until it was determined emergency surgery was necessary.

We can not be certain that the chicken jerky treats caused both D-con and Henry's sudden illness, but I have since learned that these treats, especially those made in China, have been reported as the cause of numerous illnesses and deaths in pets, so I thought I would pass along a caution to anyone out there who might have furry family members.  

new paintings to follow soon .... 

and finally the good news that "Clay" 

won "Best of Show" this past Friday night, at The Highland Park Art Center's annual competition. The show will be up for the month of January.  I am overjoyed to have received such an honor and a great start to 2012!

Thank you all for such a wonderful 2011, and a belated happy holidays and happy new year!

Biscuits or Rolls?

I haven't even gotten my shopping list together for Thanksgiving yet!!!! 

Am I alone here on this one? (resounding YES!)

I'm assuming most everyone has listed, shopped, and probably MADE half your meal, but just incase you're a biscuit vs roll household, here's my latest recipe for these buttery delights.

I continuously tweak this recipe in search of the perfect combo of flavors, so pass along all your secret ingredients!  

Neha

Neha is next in my portrait series.  She is another close friend of mine, and also an artist here in Chicago.  I am really lucky to have a great network of friends and artists that are willing to participate in this series.  You can check out her art and website HERE.  

This is a how the portrait came together:

Working from a photo that I've cropped to a square, I half my panel vertically and horizontally to find the center, and measure to find the center of the photo, which happens to be just under Neha's nose.  This gives me a starting point for drawing in the shapes.

(this photo was taken at night so it's a little off in color)

I've developed a habit of starting with the eye in light, then work my way out, trying to see each neighboring piece of color.

 Attempting to place these flat blocks of color right next to each other hopefully in the exact area I want them to go, then leave alone - no blending. 

Continuing out and around until finally piecing in her hair, hat and background.  Adding strong red outlining around her shoulders and neck, and the final bits of contrasting color.  

Thanks for reading! 

Hummmm ... now who's next? :)

Pink Cupcake

So ..... Barbie on a cupcake?  

I better not try to explain this one :)

"August"

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My new favorite!!  And greatly inspired by my studio assistant.

Everyday when working in the studio, Henry lets me know when it is time for his walk....

(My studio keeps getting smaller!!  What is up with that???)

Our favorite neighborhood corner to stop and sniff and take in the beauty...

an abundance of zinnias... with their oranges and pinks and touches of yellow make our day.  

This abundance of blooms inspired the flower patterned ribbon I used for August's linocut.

But when it came time to capture the colors of the zinnias, the floral ribbon just wasn't vibrant enough. 

So I returned one of my favorite hand-dyed silk ribbons I used in the 2007 painting "Flame."  

"Flame" is a rare painting for me because the wrapping paper is something other than white. 

While "Flame" was inspired by the extreme heat of a 2007 visit to my mom's in Alabama, 2011's orange needed touches of the exaggerated pinks and purples of the zinnias.

I don't know my neighbor who tends this corner that brightens my day, I wish I did so I could thank them.  Sometimes I question why I paint and wonder if there isn't something more important I could do.  August reminds me something as simple as planting a seed is sometimes enough.    

But that is for another day, for now someone's ready for his walk :)

"August" has sold, but see All Available Paintings on my newly undated website.

this Friday night ...

I am so excited to be participating in a group show in Charleston, SC at Lambert Gray Gallery and Studios opening this Friday, Oct. 7th ...  

and honored to have my painting selected for the poster!

If you are in the area, please drop by for the opening reception from 6 to 8 pm.  Click HERE for more information.  Thank you Hilarie Lambert and Lambert Gray Gallery!

"Clay" selected for INPA

I am thrilled to share the exciting news that "Clay" has been selected for the International Painting Annual vol. 2.  I am very honored to have a painting selected for this publication, over 1300 paintings from 452 artists were submitted and 118 paintings were selected. I am overjoyed!

INPA is a publication of Mainfest, a gallery and non profit art organization in Cincinnati Ohio.  Click HERE for a list of selected artists and more information.  Thank you Manifest!

"August" .... just a little behind schedule

I am so happy to introduce the latest addition to my linoleum block series .. "August"

"May" and her rainy days, "June" with her curling buds waiting to bloom,  "July" in full blossom, and "August" in abundance.  A summer quartet :)

For purchase information click HERE.  

"August" the painting, will be very tardy.  

Lots of paintings on the easels!  Much more to come soon, stay tuned :)

"Bags"

10x20 oil on canvas

Have you ever started a painting and wondered why in the world haven't I tried this sooner!!??

detail

Painting for me is like a treasure hunt of finding all the unexpected colors...

detail

that actually make up what we perceive as one color.  

How fun this was to explore just how far I could push color and brushwork in this painting!  I'm seriously in love with brown .... I mean magenta, and cad orange, and pink, and gray, and blue, and violet paper bags now.  

I think I'll so another :)

July - painting

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It took two tries to get this painting the way I thought July should feel.  

My first attempt was a sad striped bow.

 Terribly dreary little thing that I carefully painted, and re-painted, and re-painted all the stripes until the painting itself just flopped off the deep-end.   

So a new canvas, a deep breath, and a fresh start turned up this deliciously bold turquoise bow :) I wish the photo were better, the background has touches of pale yellow and the variety of blues, grays, and purples is much greater than in the photo.  Sigh.

Click HERE for purchase info.

"July" - linoleum print

Available

I am soooooo happy with this latest print, the third of my monthly series!

When I first decided to start this series, I didn't think about how difficult it was going to be to come up with 12 unique compositions all in the same size (5x7) using the same subject (a present.)  Now I realize what a design challenge this will be. 

I want each print similar in format because I plan on grouping all together when the year long project is complete.  Seeing the first three hung helps me think about the overall dark and light patterns I'll want for the entire series... 

Hopefully making each one a strong visual statement on its own, but somehow being different from it's neighbor.  I certainly have my work cut out for me these upcoming months, but I am really excited how this project is pushing me to think about bold design!

Click HERE for purchasing information.

Kate

Number two of my volunteer/victims.

Kate is one of my good friends here in Chicago, who happens to be a fabulous artist - plus has this awesome winter hat I have coveted for two winters now.  You can check out her blog and work HERE.

This portrait was much harder than my husband's.  Probably because I know all the planes of his face so well.  This is where I fall short working from photos and get frustrated.  I need more information!!

I might keep working on Kate's portrait, but I'm pausing here for now.... July is closing fast and a GORGEOUS blue striped silk ribbon is calling my name.  

Clay

In between my monthly series of 5x7 presents I've been busy convincing family and friends to allow me to take their photograph, so I could paint their portrait.  

My first volunteer/victim is this handsome devil who happens to be my husband. 

I use to paint commissioned portraits years ago, and have had an incredible urge to paint people again.
 
This return has been inspired by Euan Uglow, Alice Neel, a Cezanne portrait I saw in the National Gallery in DC, and Andy Pankhurst (a student of Uglow's whose paintings I saw during Art Chicago.) I have linked all the names to google images of their work ... check it out.

June

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Before June turns to July, and the peonies disappear until next year, here is "June."  A tiny 5x7 reminder of the flower that inspires me to keep blooming :)

June

I am very excited with this second linoleum block print "June." I'm thrilled with the stylized, almost art deco feel this new print has.

I am so fortunate to have these peonies in my yard, planted by the previous owner of our house long ago.  I didn't even know that this variety existed until they slowly opened to reveal one thousand curling petals!  I couldn't believe my eyes....  gigantic pink bows!

"June" has a limited printing of eleven and the second of my monthly series of block prints. She comes framed in a UV protected glass, black frame with an overall size of 16x20 and print size of 6x8.  For more info click HERE.

And the painted version of this pink "petaled" present I'll post next :)