300 Plates Show

These 4 (sorry I forgot to photo the upper left one before I delivered it...duh...lost forever) fit together to form a larger painting but they also stand alone as singular works. I thought it would be challenging to make it work both ways. I am not tech savvy enough to figure out how to put them together right, so you will just have to imagine. Or you could take a look at the plate show, they are going to try to hang them together.

Whenever I am pushed to do something different with either color or format or subject matter, it changes my direction a bit. I haven't done paintings with cropped views of the dresses. But I like the finished product of these where the dress isn't necessarily the main focus...so I think I will do more of this. We'll see if anyone buys them. If not, than forget all of that excitement about a new direction.

Baby Shadow

Lately my shadow #3 has been painting in my studio with me (she's 2). I love her creation so much. This is maybe 3 weeks worth and I think she is done. It is really a beautiful watercolor. I think it is going on my painting wall.

Usually she watches 'Wizard of Oz' while I paint but lately she has been going back and forth between painting and watching.

So maybe we should title this "Through the Tornado" or "Dorothy's tumultuous travels".

This little puppy is getting framed! Mommy proud.

Have You Seen This?

Maybe these have been around the world via email, but I saw them not too long ago, and I am still amazed. In case you cannot tell, they are chalk drawings on a sidewalk incorporating some real people. Look close, these are mad skills. If I could do this, I would have some serious street cred with my kids and the neighborhood!

Largest Painting I've Ever Done

24 x 48"

'Accepting Comfort and Strength'

I am not settled on that title, just trying it out. I have to deliver it next week, so I need to decide quick. I would love some ideas if any of you are struck with something you can't shake.

It is going to the well-known Springville Salon to be juried and hopefully accepted. Because it is larger than I usually do, I realize I am questioning my composition. I also added a detail of Naomi's face because I find her captivating. She has a wisdom in her eyes, kind of an old soul thing. I love painting her. This pose was her choice, her idea....she is 7. After I finished the painting she looked confused and then she told me she thought I was going to paint myself into the painting instead of the dress form. Cute.

The title I have at the top comes from my cousin who was giving me an impromptu critique the other night. She told me she dreamt of the painting that night. She was the girl and was hugging her mother and had such a strong feeling of comfort and strength. I was so moved that she dreamt of my painting after looking at it for just a few minutes. I always hope my paintings have the ability to affect someone or evoke nostalgic feelings. They are emotional to me, but I never know if they project any of those strong feelings to the viewer. PS.....this painting has nothing to do with my own Mommy issues that I may or may not have.

April Fools!

I spent the afternoon making fake "fish sticks" (cookies smothered with peanut butter and rolled in corn flake crumbs).....before you judge, the shadows LOVED their sweet star item!

They were accompanied with "fry sauce" (jam), "peas" (taffy laboriously rolled into little balls), and "mashed potatoes with gravy" (ice cream with caramel sauce). It looks like more work than it was. Shadow #2 was in tears assuring us that she has never liked fish sticks and why did she have to try it....in not my best parenting moment, I told her she better try it because I worked all day on them or she would have to go to her room. Needless to say, she finally licked it and realized she was having nothing but sugar for dinner. Tears quickly dried up......

New Blog

So I saw this idea on another artist's blog and I loved it.....

I am starting a new blog for a list of paintings that I am currently showing at my galleries and those that are available to buy. I think it will just be an easier way for my clients and friends to actually see what is out there and what is selling around the country.

So, if you are interested, click ME.

I will keep it updated and try to keep it simple. My actual website is so outdated, I thought this would be a quicker link for my blogger friends. Thanks!

These are two diptychs I did for Terzian Gallery. I am liking the idea of linking some kind of meaning to my quick figures. These are small like 8 x 14". The first is titled "thoughts of home" and the second "disposition". I would like to play with this idea a bit more with diptychs and triptychs. We'll see if they are sellable..... I actually really like them.

Studies

I took a zillion pictures of shadow #2 for some ideas for a big painting I want to start.....I know which one I am leaning toward, but I would love your input. Mr. Fife and my shadows all voted and we all like different ones. I know I will paint the entire dress form, I am just contemplating which pose to work from. I have about 30 others, but the differences are slight, so here are the main decisions. Let me know what you think. I also realized that each pose has different meanings and emotional impacts. I don't think there is any right or wrong, I just haven't decided which way I want to go. I see a series coming.

New Paintings

'Baby Hunger', 'Waiting to Fly', and 'Inside Out'

This not-so-great economy has made selling a little slow, but not too bad. The gallery in Texas says good paintings are still selling. So with that hope, I am trying to produce good, good paintings. And Park City made a big sale this week. So... time to refill.

Shadow #1

B was disappointed that I just kept painting Shadow #2. So here you go #1. I was planning to send these to the gallery, but my sis scolded me and told me I must keep them. Now I don't know what to do. I told my shadows that I would do a real portrait of them when they are 12 to keep. They are not excited to have to sit forever. B loves these. I think I will keep one, sell one. We'll see. She is the funniest poser. She can't not smile. These ones are rare, because all the other photos are restrained smiles. I like the moody poses which is why #2 is ideal. Moody little actor. #1 is all sunshine. We don't know what shadow #3 is yet. Cannot wait to see. These are small. 8 x 9".

Bluer Skies

I am so sick of the hazey Utah smog.....I could scream if I wasn't afraid I would choke from the acid air. I am relegated to the inside of my car and the inside of my gym and the four walls of my house.....I might go crazy.

So Maui, take me away. Not a cloud in the sky for a whole week, this is the view I woke up to every morning. If it hadn't been for the handicapped room with a low toilet, shower and bed, it would have been totally dreamy. Okay no complaining, it was still dreamy. I want to go back!

Just give me a blue sky please!!!!

Love love love

I saw this sensitive little drawing on Cassandra Barney's blog and bought it right up. I love it so much! She sent me all sorts of goodies with the drawing including a painting......a painting as a gift......who is this girl? I am in love with it and I am in love with her. I will upload it later too.

Framed

All framed and sent off to the gallery. I really like this format and think I will do more triptychs and diptychs. I titled it "child's dream triptych". I like to think that children are so carefree that they dream of twirling and dancing on sand. I hope they don't dream of the stress in their life and tragedies. I hate that idea, but I think they are stressed.

This is a commission I did for an artist I just met (Sean Wallis) for a trade. I love the painting I got from him. I will upload it later....

Scary Snowman

Don't judge. He is pretty scary but you try to create a perfect snowman out of dry powdery snow on demand.....