Saturday, December 25, 2010

Go Tell It on the Mountain


Christmas was lovely this year ... but I have missed being in my studio! In fact, I was starting to get a little cranky. Thankfully, it is almost time to turn my focus back to the painting I left unfinished two weeks ago. But first, I need to listen to James Taylor sing "Go Tell it on the Mountain" ... one last time ... before letting go of Christmas for the year!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Bah, humbug!


Tonight is Christmas Eve ... the perfect time to watch one of my favorite movies ...
A Christmas Carol ... 1951 ... black and white ... with Alastair Sim. Traditionally, I will wait until everyone is asleep before settling in to watch Scrooge transformed from a bitter old miser to a kind and loving soul! Same story ... same ending as last year (and the year before and the year before ...) but I enjoy everyone of its 86 minutes! I love this story ... Christmas would not be complete for me without a visit to Ebenezer Scrooge ... thank you Charles Dickens!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Morning Sketch No. 5


This little morning sketch was doodled straight from a Garnet Hill Christmas catalog ... I loved playing with all the Christmas images ... especially the snowman ... something we rarely see in West Texas! It was 80 degrees earlier this week ... so this little exercise really helped me get into the Christmas spirit!

Happy 88th birthday!


One small gingerbread house ... created on a cold and gray birthday afternoon ... for my mother ... by her granddaughter and two great grandchildren! Heavenly!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Morning Sketch No. 4


100 lb. Strathmore Bristol smooth
9"x12"

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Morning Sketch No. 3


Sitting on the floor thumbing through a stack of Christmas catalogs, I could not believe what appeared before my eyes ... dancing across the page were Santa's reindeer gloriously decked out for the holidays in leotards, feather boas, high heels and jingle bells! Christmas ornaments extraordinaire! It was no surprise to discover these divine creatures were the work of Patience Brewster ... an artist who always makes me smile! I could not resist grabbing my microns and sketchpad for a tribute to these joyful creatures ... thanks Patience!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Cafe Lago ... summer 2011

In the quiet moments between Thanksgiving and Christmas I have been doodling and dreaming for an exhibit I will be hanging next summer at Cafe Lago in Lakeway, Texas. Cafe Lago has always been a favorite exhibit spot for me so I want to make next summers exhibit really, really fun for us all! Rambling through a stack of favorite books has always been a great way to fire up my creative engines ... sooooo, here we go!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Morning Sketch No. 2


100 lb. Strathmore Bristol smooth
9"x12"

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Morning Sketch No. 1


70 lb. Strathmore Drawing paper
9x12"

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2010

"Things that make me smile ..."


Ten years ago I doodled this drawing while my dogs napped peacefully on the floor of my studio! I remember that time with a smile ... it was a very happy morning! Today that drawing hangs on my studio wall ... it is a reminder of things that make me smile ... and one very lovely morning long ago!

"Things that make me smile ... my dogs, my family, my friends, reading...reading... reading, amaryllis, morning glories, Christmas, grasshoppers, blue and white stripes, Richard Giglio, basil, bright green lizards, tangerines, agapanthus, wild English gardens, Pierre Bonnard, nasturtiums, koi, white, Louisiana, ice cold watermelon, rainy days, Sam, kindness, zinnias, picnics, Gloria Vanderbilt, Lizzie, surprises, trees, lilacs, music, croquet, doodling, "Z...z", raspberries, fresh air, mint, Matisse, simplicity, firecrackers, laughing out loud, Rosie, blackbirds, Albert Einstein, kites, thunderstorms, courage, batik, teacups, Italian food, Carl Larson, Beatrix Potter, screened porches, starry nights, The Little White Horse and roses ...

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

In the studio today ....


Today was a good day! Here is a peek of the longhorn I worked on while watching the amazing rescue of 33 Chilean miners ... it was an incredible day to be alive! I love this longhorn! In a few days I will begin the final detail work on this painting ... but for today ... both in and out of the studio ... it was a very good day!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Nancy Fyfe Cardozier Gallery


Yesterday I drove over to Odessa to deliver a painting, "Oogy", to be included in a group exhibit, Fem Fantastico at the Nancy Fyfe Cardozier Gallery. "Oogy" is a favorite subject of mine so I am delighted that he will be a part of this exhibit. The gallery itself is fun, vibrant and a great place to showcase art. It is located on the UTPB campus in Odessa. This exhibit will highlight the strength, talent and diversity of art created by Texas women and I am truly honored to be a part of it this year. You can bet I will be back for the opening next Friday night!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Oh, happy day!


This is my favorite day of the year! I am not sure why but I look forward to it as if it were the beginning of a brand new year! So I have been celebrating this afternoon ... actually doodling ... wondering what this new year will bring into my life! Time only knows ... I have finally learned to enjoy the road! Here is a peek over my shoulder on this lovely afternoon!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

BIG Blue Bear


I have just returned from a quick trip to Denver where I visited with an old friend, cooled off a bit and now am back in West Texas ready to take on the last few weeks of our summer heat! Although it has been almost 30 years since I lived in Denver and 16 years since we last saw each other, Mimi and I laughed and lunched for four days as if time had stood still for us! We spent our days driving all around Denver mourning old favorites long gone and discovering new favorites to celebrate our friendship ... it was heaven!

Denver has always been a beautiful city but I think it is even better today. Public art is everywhere. I took 100's of pictures on this trip, many of the amazing statues that fill the public parks and city streets all over Denver. BIG BLUE BEAR was one of my favorites. When we rounded a corner downtown and I got my first glimpse of this big blue fellow peering into a fourth floor window at the Colorado Convention Center I could hardly wait for Mimi to pull over so I could run back up the street for his picture. He is the perfect memory for a very FUN trip that will keep me smiling for a long, long time! Thanks Mimi!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

A New Adventure!


Today I am wading out into cyberspace! Inspired by the many incredible blogs I have enjoyed over the last few years, the realization finally hit that ... I would like to become a part of this inspiring and supportive community too!

So, here goes! This blog will be a place where I can share my art, focus my creative energies and hopefully bump into a few kindred spirits along the way!

It is a great feeling to be setting off on a new adventure ... not really knowing who or what is out there to be discovered! So, I will approach my new adventure with high hopes! If you do happen to discover "me and my blog" ... please say hello ... I would love to hear from you! In the meantime, I will continue on ... trying to make this new adventure of mine worthy of "your discovery"!

Until next time ...