Really?

Working on this little finch who was taking some shelter on a cold winter day. I can relate to the look on his face with all the temperature changes we've had lately.  Really? Seriously? It was 50 degrees yesterday and 10 today? How about some more wind and snow too?
Our birds are such brave little friends.  Must keep the feeder full!  They provide us with such color and entertainment, and always a fun painting subject.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very special Christmas full of color and magic!
Thanks to everyone for taking the time this year to view this blog and leave a comment or two. I've loved viewing your blogs as well and hope the New Year is full of good things and special moments for you to capture.

Event Painting

My first event painting was of our high school graduation-a unique ceremony that ends with a jump in the lake. It was really a practice to see if I could do it, but it caught on with a school board member, the superintendent, and the principle who liked the result and now it's hanging in the high school office!  I am thrilled and honored to have a permanent connection with the school district, where all three of my boys attended.

Chance Meeting

I unexpectedly got to meet one of my favorite painters while visiting family in Oregon last week- Dean Crouser!  I discovered him last year online and just love his loose colorful style; his work really inspires me.  I was with my sister-in-law who took me to the Mt. Hood Arts Festival and thought I'd flip through the list of exhibitors before starting out. (I'm not usually that organized!)  Saw his name and about flipped and headed straight for his booth.
He is as nice as he is talented and we had a great visit and chat in between his many customers.  You can check out his website at www.crouserart.com

Seasonal Warm-up

It was a dark, cold, and rainy day; depressing until I picked up the brushes and Brusho watercolors.  Very fun experimenting with Christmas trees; this medium forces you to stay loose. I finally found the paper I like best with this-Fabriano Artistico 300#. It's thick and smooth and takes a lot of punishment, plus you can bleach out areas for white. (just make sure you get fresh air when bleaching!)

Pumpkin Time

I just love pumpkins.  I love their vibrant, roundy huggable shape with the promise of fall fun and the most wonderful holiday of all- Halloween!

Event Painting

This was my first venture at doing a live event painting.  We have a unique tradition at our lakeside high school graduations; after the ceremony all the graduates jump into the lake! I was trying for a collage-y type of painting to get it all in. It had to be really fast because it starting raining 45 minutes into the event.  I finished it at home and happily the school superintendent would like to hang it at the school so it is now getting a nice frame on it which will make this detailed effort look a lot better!