New Painting

I'm almost finished with my paintings...fortunately, since the show is tomorrow night. This is the last one...

I bought Steven Tyler's book, "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?", and he has a quote on one of the first pages that I love. "If you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail. If you're a singer, everything looks like a song." I would like to add to that... "If you're an Artist, everything looks like a painting." I think I am going to enjoy his book, very much. He's a very creative guy. I'll let you know.

Works In Progress

Life has been busy, as usual! I have been painting... Getting ready for the Artists' Reception; which I just learned I have to speak at. UGH! I am not a fan of speaking in public. It is easier talking about something you love...as I love painting. Hopefully, it won't be too painful. I've, also, added new items to my Cafepress store...in the whimsical cats section. I love their new iPhone covers. It's fun adding personality to items you use everyday.

Here are 2 of the 4 paintings that I've been working on. I'm hoping to finish them today, so I had better get busy! I hope you are having a great weekend!

Two of my favorite flowers

I couldn't resist, once again. Our Safeway's floral department is the first thing you see inside the front door...need I say more. Today they had two of my favorites...the little green spider mums and lavender campanula. Even Rudy couldn't resist them!

Visual Inspired Shopping

My Sister-In-Law and I went shopping yesterday and we had a great time. Even though I believe she believes, that I shop a little strangely. I just can't help myself! I've been known to buy music, wine and other treasures that move me...not because I like the music or the wine...I've usually never sampled them, but because of their visual appeal. My husband, her brother, is used to me and stopped wondering why I bought a CD, I've never heard, because the artwork on the cover is amazing. And, really, it doesn't have to be something purchased in a store. To me it's surrounding yourself with beauty and things that make you smile. When you're happy...you will probably pass that feeling on to others, or at least amuse them.

Yesterday I turned the corner and saw the most beautiful wine bottle I've ever seen; found a pretty little container for our coffee and who could resist fresh Basil!

Painting Finished

SOLD

I posted three, 'Work In Progress', paintings a while ago. They are paintings inspired by my imaginary flower doodles. I've finally finished one... I call it, "FIRST DATE". She's all dressed up...waiting for her handsome guy to arrive. This painting is going in my Etsy shop tonight.

I haven't had a lot of new paintings to share lately, because I've been busy painting for an Artists' Reception and show... I think there will be 5 or 6 local Artists. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I will be sure to post pictures.

Have a great evening...

Deb

Happy Easter!!!

I have one Easter decoration on display this year...it's my favorite. A little bunny made of Spun Cotton that I bought on Etsy. I saw the artist, Crystal, on the Martha Stewart show; fell in love with her creations, and had to have this bunny. Martha has the directions on her site to make one of Crystal's bunnies; which I plan to do in the future! Here are both links. Enjoy!

I wish everyone a wonderful Easter full of family and love!

Crystal's Site

Directions for Spun Cotton Bunny by Crystal on Martha Stewart.

Sudoku = Meditation=Art Journal

I've enjoyed Sudoku for a while now. I call it my meditation. So when I feel stressed...I grab my little book, the time flies by, I feel relaxed and I usually don't remember what I was stressed about after several puzzles. Very similar to creating Art, so I guess that is how my Sudoku books gradually became my Art journals. I started, rather unconsciously, using the finished pages of my sudoku books to experiment with ideas for art projects. It's fun and seems to help me with that dreaded artists' block.

Here are a few of my Sudoku pages and three Works in Progress that were inspired from these pages.

Rudy And The Scratching Box

Hi,

I have been very busy, and have a lot to post about, but I've decided to make one post at a time. Rudy and his new scratching box are first! He was so excited about this new box, loaded with catnip! He scratched it, licked it and laid by it; until, I'm guessing, the catnip was gone. He's a very funny guy!

We have a glass table in our kitchen, and I couldn't resist taking pictures of Rudy laying in the sun, under the table. I then played with one of the pictures on my computer, and I really like the way it turned out. I'm going to play around with it at cafepress next...and see what happens.

Well, it's early, on a Saturday night, but I'm thinking bed and my Sudoku puzzles sound pretty good. Tomorrow I think I'll post about my obsession with Sudoku, and how it's turned into one of my all time favorite Art projects and inspirations.

Have a wonderful evening!!!

Deb

EBSQ Team Treasury on Etsy

I am very honored to be a part of this wonderful EBSQ TEAM TREASURY. A very nice surprise indeed!

Thank you, Theodora, for including me! I love your artwork, by the way!

Spring Kitchen!

The sun has been out, and it's been 60 degrees!!! So when I saw the fresh Cilantro, pansies and the pretty little violas...I just had to bring them home!

Have a fantastic Weekend!!!

Batman and Lily Cake

I want to share a commissioned piece that I just finished for SOS RESCUE (Saving Our Strays). It's a fun piece featuring, Batman and Lily Cake, their two mascots.

The volunteers at SOS RESCUE are an amazing group of people; doing an amazing job caring for the strays in their community. Click the link above if you would like to go to their website.

Daffodils and Art

The daffodils are here! Everywhere we go there are daffodils, and it's gorgeous!

I would like to share a couple of links...my first time attempting links, so hopefully they will work. I have enjoyed Diane Salter's Blog and artwork since I started blogging. Today she had a link to another artist, who is having a giveaway, Tina Kirk , and Tina's artwork is amazing, too! She is generously giving away 6 of her wonderful postcards!

There is another link I want to share... an interesting class that is coming up. Sherry is creating a blog solely for the purpose of studying Art History together. She said the first lesson will be up tonight, so if you're interested...it sounds like fun!

Ok, so hopefully my learned lesson for today...will work...and the links will work, too!

Have a lovely Sunday!

Was It The Pineapple?

For about a month or so I was having a lot of lower back pain. It was almost impossible to sit or put my socks on. So when my sister asked me to go to lunch; I was happy to see her, but knew that sitting for any amount of time was going to be miserable. At first it was miserable, but we ended up sitting and talking for about 3 hours, and when we got up to leave...my back was feeling so much better. The next morning I cut a fresh pineapple for breakfast and then went about cleaning and working at the computer. At some point I realized that my back wasn't hurting...and concluded that the only thing I had done differently was eat fresh pineapple at lunch the day before and that morning. So online I went and sure enough there's a lot of information about pineapple being used as an anti-inflammatory. The main enzyme in pineapple, Bromelain, is used for pain and inflammation. So, I don't know for sure, but I feel that eating fresh pineapple really did the trick for me! It's worth a try, if you can eat pineapple. My sister-in-law would end up in the ER...she's allergic. Anyway, I thought that I should share my story...just in case this yummy fruit could be the answer for someone else.

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I am, as are many other people in the US, part Irish. I've decided to celebrate by bringing out the few green dishes that I own and fixing an Irish dinner for my hubby tonight. Maybe even with the traditional Green beer. We'll see... I think Irish coffee sounds better.

My Great Grandmother gave me the tea cup with the Lily of the Valley on my 21st birthday. I love it and plan to sip her favorite green tea and think of her today, too.

I believe the biscuit jar is English, but it's green and reminds me of Spring. I saw it in an antique store just after we were married...and had to have it. I wish I knew the artist that hand painted it...they did an amazing job.

I hope everyone has a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

Deb

New Cat Painting Jellybean

Spring has been roaring in like a lion! High winds, power loss and torrential rains that even Oregonians are not used to! It's always a time of unpredictable weather, though, and we are blessed with our emerald green countrysides; dotted with glorious color and little white puffs of lamb cuteness.

I love this time of year. After the long gray days it's almost like walking into the land of Oz. And it's inspired my new little painting, "Jellybean". I used a little different palette, after going a bit crazy ordering new paint, and I found I really like these new colors...that is a relief...and I can't wait to experiment further!

COLOR

When you love color; it may seem odd to some, but your heart can melt at the sight of a beautiful, pure pigment. You can find yourself standing in front of painting, entranced. Color affects us, and I find myself excited to begin a real color exploration.

One of my favorite paint colors, for many years now, is Quinacridone Burnt Orange. I love using it to shade areas of red and burnt sienna, mostly. And now that I have had time to experiment with other colors; I have found that using Quinacridone Magenta and Quinacridone red are just as exciting. My new abstract cat painting, Flor, was created using all three of these Quinacridone colors. It's hard to photograph red...since it tends to distort color...but here she is...one colorful Flower.

We Have Snow!!!

We don't get snow very often where we live...so it's exciting to watch a wonderland appear before our eyes! I just have to share a few pictures of our morning; which is melting as I type.

Bailey and Riley loved the early morning surprise, too.

New Cat Painting and Snow!

The other day I was in the mood to paint a wild cat, but when I actually started painting...the cat ended up not being so wild. It's always a surprise, to me, how a painting ends up. The end result is rarely what I start out with.

We have snow!!!

Chouette

My little black cat, Chouette, is finished. Hopefully my French is correct...and her name translated is Posh. I used a canvas that measures 18 " X 6" X 1 1/2" and only acrylic paint, this time. I was so tempted to go wild with her, but decided to stop and let Chouette be more refined. Now I need to go paint a wild cat! After I clean my floors...

Rudy's... In The Bag

Fortunate for Rudy, when I returned home from the health food store, I left the paper bag on the floor. It didn't take him long to take up residence. He's such a silly boy.

I am almost finished with my, kind of shabby-chic, folk art-ish, black cat painting and will post it tonight or tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I received Roses from my Valentine this morning, but it seems that Rudy and Oppea believe the gift was for them. I guess I'll share; since they love roses too.

I'm off to the store now...making twice baked potatoes tonight. Roger's favorite.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day!!!