Goldfinches

I just finished this painting for my mother-in-law's birthday, which I am ashamed to say was last month. Sorry Mum!

out of my sketchbook today

sketchydoodle for today

Scanner

My old scanner decided to call it quits, which was sad. But I'm pretty excited because I now have a new scanner! It's a monster. See how it dwarfs the little printer beneath.



And here's a sneak peak of what's coming down the pipeline.

New Growth

I found this in my sketchbook and realized I had meant to post it, but never did.

Back in town

Hi folks. This summer has been a difficult one with the death of my father-in-law, and I've been gone a lot, so I haven't been posting. But I'm back in town and should stay planted for awhile. When we got back I took out the things I had been working on and realized this painting was done. I guess it just needed some time to sit. It's called Contingency Plan.

Pollen

I had fun with the last pollen drawing and thought I had better do another.

Crystalline

The Sisters

Tree House

Haven't you always wanted a tree house. Don't you think all the time spent in it would be lovely and carefree. Think again! I'm pining for Mad Men.

Flora

My little painting for today, "Flora." It will be added to my Etsy shop soon.

Ripple

I made this little drawing for Illustration Friday, "Ripple." This week's topic is being done in collaboration with another blog in an effort to raise money to help the animal victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Head on over to the Ripple Sketches Blog to find out how to donate and receive this sketch in the mail.

the temple

And here for you today is a page from my sketchbook.

Today I made this little painting of our cat Vinnie and worked on another of my bird Milo.

Red Rider

Fearless

For Illustration Friday: Fearless!

Some curly quotes for you. I guess it's doodles day.

My dear husband is very busy these days building a house for us. Yes, this is a photo from the future!

Vanity

Today's little painting is called "Vanity."

Shop

Well I'm excited to say I've opened shop on Etsy. I'll be selling small paintings and drawings, stop by! Lots more will be coming soon.

link

cocoon

for illustration friday, "cocoon"

This is my little offering for the day. I'm calling it "night garden."

Grosbeak

Today I saw a rose-breasted grosbeak outside on the bird feeder. It was such a nice surprise. I saw them in Ontario, and I associate them with the woods. This is the first time I've seen one here in New Mexico.

I'm fairly sure flower fairies wear tennis shoes in their off hours.

Currently under the brush

Here's a little close-up of the painting I'm working on right now.

A big piece of paper

I'm so excited. I had ordered and yesterday received this paper from Dick Blick. I'm excited because this is one BIG piece of watercolor paper. It's a bit over 4 feet wide and it's 30 feet long. I'm going to paint some nice big watercolors. Move over oils!

Irises

Aren't these just the prettiest things? They are the first this year, and I was greedy and had to have them inside with me.


a little closer

Salmon Anders

This morning during a spirited discussion with my husband about the relative toothedness of certain animals, I made a very thorough mispronunciation of salamander. It came out as samonander, which David thought was funny. Out of this tongue tie was born Mr. Salmon Anders.


Mr. Salmon Anders is recently retired. He worked all his life as an accountant in an obscure firm. We decided he lives at 107 Creek Lane, and spends his winters in a condominium on Oceanic Avenue.

He is now pursuing woodworking in his golden years.

This is his wife, Salmon Ella. She is a bit past her prime, but can still make a lovely batch of cookies. Just don't eat the raw dough, I would not trust it.

Firebird

My new(ish) studio

My husband and I are building a house, and while we are building we are domiciled in magnificent state at L'hotel d'parents (that is, my parents house). My father in law is helping us build and is staying in the room I usually paint in, so I have moved my little operation out into the foyer, which is turning out to be quite nice. I always wish for the perfect time and place to paint, but it always turns out the perfect time is now, and the perfect place is here.

Remember to never smoke while you sleep.

Double Dip

Well I guess the ol' blog has been pretty dead of late, but I am reviving it right now! My dear husband gave me another sketch assignment, so I'm going to use that as fuel for the blog. And I figure while I'm at it I might as well participate in Illustration Friday too, so here is my post for this week's topic "dip", or shall we say double dip.

A thousand tiny brushstrokes

I've been working on this painting for quite a while now, or shall I say not working on this painting for quite a while now, and it has been giving me many guilt pangs. But I started it up again earlier this week, and this afternoon have been really enjoying myself. This is what I see when I work on it, because to reach across a big sheet of paper like this, I have to twist it upside down or sideways sometimes.

Sometimes it's easy to think that making art is all about the Grand Gesture, or the Next Big Idea. But I find when I start to get hung up on those things, I just get hung up altogether and stop painting. I have to remember that it's not about making one huge masterpiece for all time, but about making a thousand tiny brushstrokes, lovingly and happily repeated over and over.

Well I hope everyone had grand holidays and is ready for a brand new decade. This is actually my golden year, and it is starting out nicely. I just had a lovely, relaxing evening watching Columbo and sketching. Now off to bed.