Earl Grey and More

This is Earl Grey. I did two versions of him. His mom said she liked the way he looks when his ears flap and when he's ready to eat.

My friend Sheila Tajima has started a new blog called Art for Animals where artists who paint for animal causes can post their projects. Please read about it here.

Thank you Sheila for the naming me as a receipient of your Keepsake. I don't know if I can name just two to give the keepsake to; I appreciate all who take time to check out my blog. So I'll copy James Parker's lovely poem here:

I had some folks come visit, my humble little blog
And leave a thoughtful comment, 'bout the painting I had logged.

I don't know how to tell them, or even where to start,

Of the wondrous gift they gave me, bringing joy to my heart

Some days are dark and lonely...I feel that life's a bore

But those simple words of kindness, have brought sunshine to my door.

Texas Bluebonnets

We're finally getting the rain we need so badly here in North Texas. Yesterday while I was doing just a bit of gardening I noticed that the bluebonnets that grow just outside my front gate is starting to poke out of the ground. The very first bud!!

So here's another palette knife painting of bluebonnets.

"Bluebonnets in a Field"

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board

SOLD

Three Sunflowers

"Three Sunflowers"

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Raymar Board, painted with palette knife

SOLD

I've been playing with the palette knife lately. This past Saturday at Tony Saladino's Art Critique session he asked everyone the benefit of painting with the palette knife. Someone mentioned that it was a whole lot easier to clean up because you didn't need to carry around turps. I AGREE!!

Of course he was going for a different answer - that painting with the palette allows you to paint loosely, which is a style I really like. I like the broad thick impressionistic strokes and the way the colors mix right on the painting. And the texture of the finished painting and the thick paints.

Dogs Leave Their Footprints in Your Heart

This footprint belongs to Mickie, a friendly over-grown black lab who visits our house daily and plays with the Pointer Sisters. Dogs are pack animals and like to hang out with other dogs and people, I think. I really need to do a painting of this fellow because he is so cute and loveable. But last week he was sleeping in our house so peacefully all I see are these big paws! So I got on my belly to take a photo of his monster paws and painted this, just for the fun of it.

Red For Romance

"Red For Romance"

12 x 12 x 3/4 inches, Oil/Palette knife on canvas

SOLD

I had dinner with friends last evening. I was wearing Ralph Lauren's perfume "Romance". I love the stuff! When Lanette gave me a hug good-bye she made a big sniffing sound and said "You smell good" which gave me the idea for the title of this latest painting. I love perfumes that make me feel romantic!

Bluebonnets Are Around the Corner

"Bluebonnets"

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board

SOLD

I can hardly wait for Spring and the bluebonnets! What a fun day this Friday has been.
Nancy Medina and I had a girls' drive out to The Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas where she is currently a featured artist. Just this past week I was exchanging emails with a Dallas Artist, Laurie Justice Pace, excited to have found a new friend and even more exctied that Laurie also exhibits at the The Dutch Art Gallery! I got to see her artwork in person.

All Dogs Go To Heaven

I painted a neighbor's dog named "Peanut". She often visited our house and on occassion would come inside for a treat. She was a shy dog who always had that "is it really OK to be here?" look whenever she'd come to visit and play with my pointer sisters.

We were invited to visit our neighbors on Monday and I was planning on taking my painting as a surprise gift. And then just before we visited, I received a phone call saying that Peanut passed that day. She was hit by a car presumeably but no one ever stopped to say they had. They found her badly hurt, rushed Peanut to the vet but it was too late to save her. Yesterday I received a note from the little boy to whom Peanut belonged thanking me for the painting. I'm sure Peanut is in heaven as I do believe, all dogs go to heaven.

Kindness of Strangers

"You Bring Sunshine"

14 x 14 x 3/4 inches, Oil on Canvas

Palette knife

Everyday we live our lives amongs friends and strangers.

And as we blog we make new virtual friends out of strangers who visit our blogs or whom we visit.

Thank you all for leaving me comments and thank you for sending me personal emails. I am so inspired and motivated by it all. I enjoy the friendship and kindness you've given me.

Hope you have a lovely day!

Red Profusion

I started this somewhat abstract painting in January but hadn't put in the finishing touches till just a few days ago. It's RED....

"Red Profusion"

14 x 14 x 3/4 inches, Oil on Canvas

$200.00 + s/h

Loves Me Not, Loves Me

"Loves Me Not, Loves Me"

14 x 14 x 3/4", Original Oil on Gallery-wrapped canvas

$200.00 + s/h

Yesterday the weather here in the DFW area was warm warm warm - AND I wore sandals in February! I don't like the cold and having to wear layers of clothes! I know I have some readers in Australia who are having incredibly warm weather and some of you in the North are hating me for this beautiful weather - but hey - here in Texas we say, "if you don't like the weather - wait 10 minutes"...So we're supposed to have cooler temps today and this morning, the sun has disappeared and it's cloudy...

Aaah but warm, Spring-like weather lifts my spirits and so do Daisies.

My high school alumni friend and artist, Sheila Tajima of California has listed her artwork on Ebay. It's hard to get noticed when you first start on Ebay because of a lack of "feedbacks" from other buyers. I started selling on Ebay about a year and a half ago with the help of my good friend and artist Filomena Booth who has been selling quite successfully on Ebay. She taught me the ropes. She then put a bid on one of my first listings. That bid encouraged other buyers, who were strangers to me, to bid on my paintings. Having bids really is helpful because it turns people who are just looking into buyers. It's that "Ebay psychology".
So if you're reading this, take a moment and check out Sheila's Ebay listing for her cute Affirmation Angels ACEO art listings - Click Here. (Just don't out-bid me I have my eye on a couple of them! - well OK - if you must outbid me...)