Peonies- my first floral/still life

I love peonies and I have a few plants that I got from my grandmother along with several others I have purchased. I can never wait for them to bloom each spring and they are gone all too soon. So a year ago I decided to take some photos, and recently decided to try painting them. Here is my first attempt. I think I will be cutting more this spring for more photos. :)
The background looks nearly black in real life. I can't seem to get it the correct true color here.

The size is 2 5/8's" x 2" - inks on board

A "miniature" wall and some new work

I ran across some small plate holders at a huge discount and thought they would work well for my miniatures when they are home between shows and for my tiny new miniature art collection. It will grow. :-) We had the eagle all alone above the couch and he's HUGE, but that wall still needed more. He always looked forlorn and lonely. I am much happier now. I think I will go and see if they still have any long ones left and put up 2 more. :-)


I've also been working on a couple of other new pieces. This eagle has been sold to a collector but he's still with me waiting to finish curing so he can be varnished and go to his new home.

Another eagle...

A miniature raccoon done in casein and scratch on white clayboard (WIP)

Coyote WIP

I've been working on a large scratchboard that I had started a long while back. He's been sitting there "howling" at me to finish him. I'm finally getting there! I have a few WIP's for you to look at to see some of the progression. I don't have any early ones I'm afraid. You have to look closely to see some of the changes perhaps. I paint thinly, then scratch back.

I hope to have him finished in the next day or 2 if possible. But, I generally think I'm nearly done and always find more to do!!!

The Latest Minis

I've been working on a couple of very dark background pieces, hoping to bring out the light on these white birds. I find working this way intriguing.

I've also been working on a couple of scratch art miniatures.

This one has been completed and will soon be going off to a show.
Now for the hard part- titles!

I also finished the garden scene a few days ago. Again, color isn't quite correct. The rocks are a bit darker in the shadow areas, and appear "brighter" along the sunlit tops. It is actually prettier than this, but this will have to do...

New puppies and art

I have a very difficult time getting photos of this miniature in focus. I did the best I could for now. I will have to try again and will repost/redo these if I get better ones. For now though, at least you can see the results of alot of hours. The feet always give me fits. They are about the size of a small flat pea to give you some idea of size. I plan to send him off to a show, just not sure yet which one. :-) He is sculpted in tupelo, painted in acrylics. Unfortunately the colors are washed out as well. I have a new computer and just have no idea how to "fix" things at all.
(I've reposted, they are somewhat better photos.) :-)



We've also had some excitement the past 2 weeks. Snuggles had puppies and they are so much fun to watch growing. She had FIVE!!! What a shock that was! Mama and babies are all doing well so far and I am having fun watching them grow.

New Puppies!!!

2 weeks old- well fed and comfy. :-D

I HAVE been working!!!

I have been busy so between that and my issues with getting onto blogger and also not knowing how to crop a photo with the new computer I have alot of problems posting lately!!! But I thought I'd at least drop in (while I can) and post some of what I've been up to. Hopefully I'll soon have some finished pieces to show you and also be able to find some time to learn how to do what I need to with the photos for posting properly.

I'm doing this fox in oils which is new for me. I haven't decided if I love them or hate them!!! Time will tell. He has alot of work yet to be done, but he's drying for now...


Next is the pelican carving I've been working on sporadically- I have the "posts" carved and burned now. Nothing like making round pegs from square blocks! I've also done a bit more painting on the pelican.

You can see how he will look to some extent now once he is completed.

This last piece is done in casein. It may look "finished" to you, although you might wonder at the very WHITE flowers! LOL...

I am letting it cure before I finish it up. That way I can wash the flowers, etc. that I still want to work on without having to worry about picking up the paint.

I finished the great blue a few days ago, just haven't gotten him posted. Busy with the Christmas rush, wrapping, last minute shopping, etc. Now to get him framed. This fellow really posed for me when we were out in the boat in La.

Carving, Painting, and Christmas Fun

Today was finally spent in the studio again after and absence of over a week due to holiday travel and decorating. The pelican has been sealed and now gessoed. I've begun to work on his legs.


I also spent quite awhile painting on the great blue as well. He is shaping up. Still more to do, but he should be complete with another day or so in the studio if I have enough time, altho with working on the pelican at the same time it slows me down.


It's holiday time again and lest you think I've been slacking off, here is what I've been up to, along with a Thanksgiving trip to visit my aunt in Iowa. I rarely get to spend a holiday with her so we had a lovely time.

I love the tree, but my favorite is my Krinkle Klaus's and my Christmas village, which takes me 2 days to put up. I could leave it up all year if only I didn't have to dust it! It makes me feel soooo nostalgic for the old time Christmas magic.

This is my entire village. I'll post close-ups of parts of it and some of my "special" personal pieces. I don't have one of those expensive sets, I have bought pieces from a number of sets from inexpensive places like K-Mart and JoAnn Fabric over the years. I buy what I like or what is special to my family.

I used to teach yearly at a woodcarving seminar in War Eagel, Arkansas and it was run by a family named "Sutton". So when I found an arts/crafts gallery and the "Sutton" name I had to have it!


Ofcourse I have to have a pet store- gotta buy more chihuahuas!



I used to live in the town of Jordan (note the name on the drugstore), my family owned a Hardware Hank store there (I made it from a candle shop- renamed it and added the Hank face).



My husband is a retired firefighter- gotta have a station and a firetruck!

And my favorite- a woodworkers/woodcarvers shop!

I even found a carver and a fellow sharpening his tools!

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as I do. It goes so quickly, only to be followed by - brrrrr..... cold weather. :-(

While I seal the pelican carving I started a new painting. Here's a WIP photo from last night and today. I'm hoping to get this finished before next Tues. with the holiday coming up. I know that's going to cut into painting time. This is as usual, a miniature, done in acrylic. The reference was taken on our recent trip to Louisiana when we were out boating with friends. This fellow was one of the few who stayed put as we passed. We decided he was a "ham" and was posing for the camera. ;-)

Great Blue Heron miniature

3.5"x5.5" Acrylic on board

Just finished this this afternoon. It's actually more "3-D" than it appears on the computer. It loses something here- the greens pop out from a transparent darkness which just looks a bit more flat here and the heron seems to be closer, more "out there" than it shows here. I really had fun painting this one.

Updated Works In Progress

Last week was a total wash as far as getting anything done with having my mom here to take care of and this week has been almost as bad. I tried to work some on the turtles last week- the first photo of it was where it was previous to last weeks work.


I had a hard time trying to get the color corrected as you can see. I think the true color is "somewhere in between" these, although I believe it is closer to the bottom one. I have the sun coming in the window- directly in my eyes. Evening seems to be the only time I really have to do this sort of thing and it's always such a bad time to try and see the color.


I was able to do some painting today. When I go down to the studio I have hopes of getting further than I ever do. Today was no exception. I spent alot more time down there than it looks!!! These miniatures take alot of time to get them "right".
I've been "fighting" with that goose all afternoon, and now the duck has joined the fray! Persistence hopefully will pay off and I'll get them the way I want them!