Finished a painting tonight...

Click on it to go to Etsy where it is listed. If you would rather buy it through eBay or directly from me just let me know. Mention you saw it on my blog and I'll give you free shipping!

I just got featured on this COOL blog:
http://angeldamico.blogspot.com/

Thank you Angel!!

Thank you to Floralia on Etsy for featuring me in her Treasury - Check out her shop!

Here's the treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=10774


And thank you paintedmemorisbyrose for featuring me - Check out her shop!

Here's the treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=11322


Etsy is really cool - there are tons of hand crafted items. My favorites are the fashion designers who work out of their living rooms and all the jewelry designers. Here are a few good ones...

Sandmaiden

fussjewelry

JLeeOhioDesigns

I'm slowly adding things to Etsy. I'm posting my prints cheaper on there, because it costs less for me to post there, and then passing the savings on to you! Come check it out! Just click on the links below.

Artist's dinner: french fries

Did I mention they are healthy 'french fries?' Just coat some green beans in olive oil, sprinkle with Kosher salt, and roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Mmmmmmmmm. They were a big hit as appetizers for a recent dinner party : )

Here is a painting I'm working on of Vernazza, a little village in Cinque Terre, Italy. My friend Karin took some gorgeous pics while she was there. Click here to see her pics. It must be hard living in Switzerland and it only being a few days of driving to get to such magical places! The poor thing, she just got back from Croatia too.

I'm working on two paintings that will become Christmas cards for the Siamese Rescue. They'll have exclusive rights to these, so if you want my Christmas cards this year, click here to go to them!

This is another painting that will be used as currency to pay my friend Karin back for our hotels in Italy. This is her kitty Latifah, minus the eyes (it's not done yet!)

If you're not an artist, this site will make you feel like one, just click on the blank page and paint away. You're a genius!!

http://www.jacksonpollock.org/

I took a break from painting to walk on the nearby walking trails. I love the solitude of a quiet forest, and was trying to capture that with these pictures... Mmmmmmm, barkiness


Here are a bunch of paintings I'm working on...

This is from a picture I took in Florence, Italy

My friend Karin's cat Kennedy always seems to have the perfect pose to convey bliss. Click here to see more of her gorgeous pictures!

This is my first wash, can you tell? At this stage I often wonder if I'll be able to pull this one off. Looks scary!

Almost done, letting this one rest a bit. Sometimes I know a painting needs something, but I'm not sure what, so I just put it away. Then I can look at it with fresh eyes in a few days.

One more commission done!!

Here's one my mom just finished; isn't she good? Click to bid!

I LOVE doing abstracts; what started as an attempt to get rid of excess paint on a blank canvas turned into this - once I started I couldn't stop! I get mesmerized by colors and how they play off each other

This is a work in progress and will be for Karin, my travel partner. She paid for hotel rooms in Italy in exchange for paintings of her cats.

Another work in progress, a commission

I'm so sorry I've been MIA lately - I've had tons of commissions to get done, and never enough time! Here are a few things I've been working on...

"Big Boy" - a commission

"Tabby" - another commission

"Joe" - commission; almost done

"Hunt Horse Hounds"

After months of work, I'm finally done! This one is big, and you can see more details by clicking on the picture to see it on eBay.

"Pekingnese II" - Click to go to eBay

"Sadie Silhouette"
8" x 10"

Detail

I just don't get ugly, sad, pain-radiating art. I never could put my finger on exactly why, other than the obvious repulsion. Maybe it is someone's truth, so I don't want to knock it, and I want to be clear that I don't disapprove.

Mmmmmm, comforting

I just don't get it. Lately I've gotten a little more clarity about what DOES appeal to me about art, and it always has something to do with beauty. I've been studying different spiritual philosophies, including Buddhism and "The Secret". These have had a powerful effect on how I view life and art. In Buddhism, it is said that one should live completely in the moment by being aware.

Even baby Buddhas are aware, apparently! (And talented)

I think travel and art are two things that forces people into this state. You take in every detail with not just awareness, but awe. The senses are heightened and amazement is imparted by what would otherwise be mundane - crickets chirping, the locals, the trees, the architecture. Art forces us to be aware too.

Steve Mills shows how it is done - the every day reveals the sublime. www.stevemillsoriginals.com

Why is a painting of every day objects so appealing, for example? It forces us to really look at that which we usually do not. And not only that, but we are forced to see the beauty, aka God's genius, right there in front of us. It invites us to gasp at the every day. Also, when I look at something of beauty, it reminds me of the Creator's perfection. I truly believe that there is a great spiritual depth to beauty - it is God's symbol that the sublime truly exists, and the beauty is proof if you don't believe.

I'm good in bed - I can sleep for days!

In the past, I've been defensive about painting what I love: the simple things (cats, cute dogs, etc etc). But I hope they make you gasp and remember that there are miracles to be observed every day, and they are sitting right in front of you if you just look.

Just finished this one...

Cool video

Happy 4rth of July!!!

Click to view on eBay

This will start tonight at 7 pm tonight, and if you buy it now, you get free shipping!