Lemon Drop

And a request for a painting donation to benefit ArtReach at Lillstreet, which provides art education and programming for communities in need ....  

The live action will be April 30th if you live in the Chicago area.  All proceeds go to ArtReach click HERE for more information, or feel free to email me.

"Help"

I am utterly blown away by synchronicity! I finished this painting two weeks ago and loaded it on my website, but hadn't posted it here. What is amazing to me, is that when I decided on the title two weeks ago, I did not know the overwhelming amount of kindness and HELP that would be directed my way! Thank you so much to Sande Chase from A Gift Wrapped Life who posted my painting "Look At Me." Thank you Sande!

Plus many many thanks you to those who have emailed to let me know my paintings were also appearing on other fabulous blogs too! Thank you to Shelter , Design Darling , Patterson Maker's Tumblr , and Crush Cul de Sac, for somehow stumbling upon my paintings and being kind enough to spread the word! Thank you so much!

When I wrapped this present to paint, I tried to make the arms (ribbon) outstretched as if asking for help. I did not know I would receive it! Now I see that outstretched arms give help too!

Sizing Up

I'm so sorry for the long delay in showing this finished painting, the bottom line is, I just couldn't come up with a title! Crazy I know.

This painting will be included in a book project of Steve Worthington's to help raise money for animal shelters. It was so much fun to include Steve's mouse in a painting, and I will keep everyone updated when the book is available.

This is the only present painting of mine where I have included another object, and the process was fun to share. It also caused me to contemplate exterior appearances in a new way. Does one only need a costume and cape to be a superhero? Or is it an interior state of mind? I know a pretty new cape always makes me feel invincible. :)

This painting is available, please contact if interested.

Cream Soda

Yummy!

Amy

Sold

Two and a half years ago while living in Atlanta - in the south where I had always lived - I thought it impossible to jog in the snow.  As a matter of fact, knowing that we were moving, I purchased a yoga dvd thinking I would be forced into an indoor workout throughout the entire winter.  Would I have believed I could actually LOVE jogging in the snow?  Never!

This morning I headed out for my cold winter jog.  It's now my third winter here and I actually had high hopes that this day might bring my first snow jog of this winter.  Towards the end, as I made my way back home, I started thinking about how lucky I was for this change in my life.  Suddenly, on cue, the snow came falling down in those big fluffy swirling magical flakes.  I was reminded on my snowy lakefront path, that the impossibility of the unknown can actually be an unknown joy, just waiting to be found.  

So, being inspired with positive thoughts of change, I decided this would be the perfect day to show the newest change in my subject matter.  "Amy" is actually the very first of this series, and although I have completed several now, she's the one that seemed perfectly dressed for today's silvery, snowy day.  

Swim

Sold

I am fortunate enough to paint full time, and even though my blog doesn’t show any evidence to back up this claim as of late, I do paint every day… I’m sort of a workaholic. So what have I been painting during this past month since my last post???

Well that is a long story, and it will need to be spread out into several posts. But before I back track, I wanted to post this latest painting. In a way, this painting represents for me where I’ve been and why I’m back. Let’s just say, I’ve been out exploring new ideas and subject matter, testing new water so to speak. One part of me wants to explain why now, why I would think about a departure from painting presents, the other part of me thinks it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I continue to pursue whatever it is that will make me a better person and a better painter. Bottom line, I’ve enjoyed my time out into these uncharted waters and I’ve made some great discoveries....one of which is that I needed to swim back to shore, my shore.

Crush

SOLD

Well I am happy I gave this little present another try. I knew there must be some reason I left it wrapped up sitting on my shelf for a year! Hope you love it too!

"Crush" in progress

This is the second time I've painted this little present. My first attempt, about a year ago, just did not capture the feeling I was after, so here I am trying again. I still have the left side of the bow to finish, but since I have not posted in so long I decided to let everyone see what I've been up to. My painting process is a strange one, and until I discovered Alex Kanevsky's website I thought I might be the only painter that goes about destroying the previous days work with no hesitation. What I mean by that is; I begin a painting then the next day when I return to it I might totally change colors, light, mood, everything. I always paint my "Presents" from life, and I think this daily change has to do with the change of light in my studio, my mood and my music which are apt to change every day as well. This particular painting has changed tremendously. One day there will be lots of purples in the shadows, the next day these shadows will be ochre. I always have a 'feel' I'm after in my painting, and keeping this in mind has helped me get back on track.

The Veronese Mug

My husband brought home this mug for me knowing how much I love this color. Veronese Green is one of the colors Van Gogh used a lot of, Van Gogh being one of my favorite artists, but who doesn't love him??!! Plus, I was really in the mood for a lot of color!