Swan WIP

I've started a mini swan, actually have it nearly completed, just haven't gotten it photographed again. Had hoped to finish it Fri. but a bout with vertigo made me afraid to try finishing it as well as afraid to go up and down the steps. So I started another piece upstairs instead! This is in caseins which I really love to work with.

Rooster WIP #2

Here's an update on the rooster. I can't get the darks as dark as I'd like on this piece. There must be something I don't know about cp's yet. Will have to do some trial and error stuff. In the photo, things aren't quite true either. The lower shadow is darker and the upper corner is slightly lighter! Don't know how or what the camera sees or why, but ah, well...
This fellow is my evening project. :-)

As promised- WIP and completed Wolf

This is a bed and breakfast I photographed. It is a very interesting piece, but alot of work just even in the drawing.


Here is the finished wolf- a mixed media piece- acrylic and inks.


Following is something I ran across on a weightloss site I have joined. I asked permission to post it here- it is just too funny and too true!

The Real Enemy
In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then, using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Crème Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” And Man said “Yes!” and Woman said, “And as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.


So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said. “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs!

New Year's and resolutions

This has been a difficult fall and early winter. Too many things to do, illness, and just generally the "not enough time" syndrome! I never did get to really delve into my thoughts from that ride on the back of the motorcycle! I've not forgotten though! It will happen, eventually. I am going to try and get back on track with my original intentions for this blog- to let you into my thoughts as well as my life just a bit to learn who I am and what makes me "tick". Perhaps to understand a bit better where my art comes from. I believe art comes from who we are and what we experience. So to know an artist better is to understand their art just a little bit better. (At least I believe this!)
I have begun another painting, finished the wolf, and still need to get back to the rooster. He's my "evening, when I'm not too tired" project! I'll try and post a WIP of the latest- it's a real "bugger" for me. I've never done real architecture before and this one is just full of lines, corners, porches, dormers... I spent the entire afternoon just drawing out the house. The background is in. I'll try and photograph it and the finished wolf over the weekend and get them posted!
I've made several resolutions for the coming year. I've always tried to do that and it never involves anything large- just simple things like doing a better job of doggy toenail trimming! :-P This year I want to play my piano more, exercise more, trim those doggy toenails, continue to paint, and last but not least, I've purchased a gift for myself. A dream I've always had- to play the harp. One is about to be built just for me! It will take a couple of months, and then I resolve to learn to play it! I am so excited. I will post photos once it has arrived to take it's place next to my beautiful piano. They are both gorgeous instruments both to hear and to look at. What a lucky girl I am!
Do you make New Year's resolutions? I've heard many folks say they don't- they can't/don't keep them anyway. I've always made them for years with the exception of last year for some reason. Don't know why. And with the exception of one year, I've always kept them. I have never made multiple ones before. But none are "exceptional" or terribly difficult so hopefully I can follow through on all of them. I believe in doing this resolution thing. It's a commitment to the new year. It's a commitment to doing something useful, to doing something to make yourself a better person, to doing something that might be good for someone (or something) else. Why wouldn't you want to do this? Unless you don't like commitment! :-) So here's to the New Year- may it (and we) all be better, happier, and more productive than we were in 2009!