Of pooches and paintings

It's December 13th and normally I would be consumed by the bustle of holiday-ing and friends, family and shopping. This year has been very different. I started the year helping a dear friend who fell and broke her shoulder and I'm ending the year nursing my beloved 13 year old pooch.

Both experiences have been quite something, a rollercoaster of emotion, heart squeezing and heart breaking, frustrating and immensely rewarding. I'm grateful that my busy gallery season came sandwiched in between, that I have, and have had, time to spend cherishing friends both two and four legged.

Studio time has been intermittent but rich when I am finally at the easel. In some ways I feel like a new mother, never really a big block of time for work. It must be squeezed in between the needs of someone who counts on you for everything.

My dearest pooch deserves it. She is a, now retired, working dog who has given everything to bring great joy and happiness just by being. It's her turn to be on a big fluffy pillow, catered to and pampered. Dear sweet Athena ... long live the queen.

I am still working in the studio... here is a recent commission propped amongst my studio stock before being sent off into the world.

Athena finding a cozy spot amongst all the paintings.

One of my latest, first draft, for a new composition.

A warm and wonderful holiday season to you and yours.

Inspiration

I don't ever have to go far to find something that makes me want to paint. The images are not exceptional but the memory of the walk and the colors in the photographs push me toward the easel with plenty of ideas, cropping, stretching, combining two images, it is all fuel for the fire.

A good weekend in the studio is all I need. Well maybe a few tail wags and a walk too.

Progress and blessings

Second coat of paint on the two new diptychs.

The two vertical panels look to me like they want to be more... 3 4 or 5 panels long, a good panorama ocean scape.

Warmest wishes and much gratitude this holiday. As the darkness lengthens and winter days grow short, there is so much to be thankful for, health, dear friends and family and a boss that gives me the weekend off. Blessings and good cheer.

Good Stuff

Congratulations to dear gal pal Monica Wiesblott, Los Angeles Printmakers newest member! See her submission HERE. Well done.

A new (to me) cooking blog that I adore. 101 Cookbooks by blogger Heidi Swanson. A big thanks for the wonderful recipes. Life is savory and sweet.

I am back to work in the studio. New paintings are bubbling forth and printmaking is making some good background noise. Seems I will be focusing on the seashore once again, in duplicate, possibly triplicate.

Rough sketch in of lines and background on a long diptych... with bit of pooch on the side.

Second diptych with two vertical panels soon to be 3 or 4 and with the first coat of paint.

Sullivan Goss Exhibitions

My fabulous Santa Barbara dealer, Sullivan Goss, has had some server woes and website snaffus this past week. They have three fantastic shows up right now, truly not to be missed. Here are the video links to peruse before heading over to see the real thing. It's a great way to spend the holiday weekend with the family... wandering through the galleries, lunch at the Arts & Letters Cafe and perhaps, maybe, take home a painting!

Video brochures:

100 Grand Exhibit

John Nava - Facing West

Lastly, with only a couple weeks left, Robert Townsend.

Go, see, do.... then report back.

Recession? Let's talk

Joanne Mattera posted this article on her blog recently "What recession?"

It's worth a look and a gasp. Perhaps it's heartening but maybe just out in left field.

I love Joanne's blog. She has a fabulous article every week "Marketing Mondays". Great information for artists at every level.

A few more wee prints to ponder on Etsy

Two framed, two just matted but all ready and willing to find new homes. Find them listed at my shop on Etsy HERE.

Desert Vista drypoint etching 2x2" matted and framed 8x10"

Homestead etching 2x2" matted and framed 8x10"

Central Park 3 color linocut 2x2" matted 8x10"

Central Park aquatint 2x2" matted 8x10"