Future Artist and a Great Actor

"Doodles in Color"
by Theo Krueger

I think we have a little Artist in the making here. That would be my friend, Theo Krueger, age five. He made my day today by giving me this beautiful painting that he created at school a couple of weeks ago. Thanks so much, Theo...you da best and I love it!

So did ya'll watch the Academy Awards Sunday night? I know I'm a few days behind here...but I had to comment on Mickey Rourke. This guy just breaks my heart with his love for his dogs. When I saw that he was wearing a necklace with Loki's picture (his dog that just passed away at age 17) on the Red Carpet, I was a goner. I know people have their own opinions about Mickey...but anyone who loves their dogs like he does has a heart of gold. It was enough to inspire Mary Duffy to write a great article about it here on ThirdAge.com.

"Mickey and Loki"

Hope you're having a good week out there. Guess I'd best get Maisie out for an afternoon walk now since I just spotted her digging in the garden again. Bad girl!!

Soggy San Francisco!

Hi everyone...James and I had a great trip to the Bay Area although it rained almost the whole time we were there! California has been experiencing a pretty major drought so the weather was a little surprising to say the least. At least we were able to drift off to sleep at night listening to the sound of rain on the rooftop. I love that.

Carla, Linda and Lucy
(Carla loves Maisie...she's holding a picture of her. So cute!)

On the last day of our visit...James and I went to see my Aunties, Carla and Lucille. Lucy will be 93 this year and Carla will be 91. They are sisters and have been my guardian angels for a very long time. Every time we see them these days, Carla likes to give each of us a book...one that she has treasured for years. This time, she wanted me to have "Degas Letters"...a beautiful little book of letters and illustrations by Edgar Degas.

Here are two illustrations from the book, the first one being a study for the painting below it. I think the study is actually a beautiful work of art on it's own. Degas had such a poetic and elegant way with a pencil and paper.

"MM Hertel"
Pencil on Paper by Edgar Degas, 1865

"Woman with Crysanthemums, MME Hertel"
Oil on Canvas, 1865

So now it's back to work...I've got two paintings going so hope to show you those very soon!

"Drawing is not what one sees but what one can make others see." ~ Edgar Degas

Two little Valentines

"Charles Henry"
9" x 12" acrylic on canvas

Here's the first little Valentine...a new painting I just finished of Charles Henry, the Daschund. Isn't he cute? I bet he's a handful too...probably steals socks 'n things!

The second little Valentine (below) is one that Maisie received yesterday from her best girlfriend, Lucy...the Chocolate Lab. I love the way Lucy addressed the envelope! Actually...this beautiful little card was made by Maisie's Auntie Mary (with Lucy's input of course). You make the sweetest Valentines, Mary!

Mary and Lucy's Valentine card

And speaking of Mary...she'll be staying here with Maisie for a few days while James and I head to the Bay Area. We're going to Marin to visit friends and family.

Hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow filled with lots of love. See you next Wednesday! xox!

Water and Rain

"H20"
8" x 8" acrylic, collage and crayon on canvas
available in my Esty shop here

Here's my latest mixed media painting. I must be craving those lovely spring rains because this post seems to be about water in general. I took inspiration for this painting from Manon Doyle (thanks Manon!)...to use those wonderful little Caran d'Ache Neocolor crayons. I used to use them all the time in printmaking but haven't used them in my work lately. They're a blast to play with!

Now below, we have a rain jacket that I think was MADE for Miss Maisie. She could really strut her stuff in this outfit...although getting her "in" it would be a challenge. I'm so tempted to get it...but I think James would give me "a look".

Have a good Wednesday everyone!

you can buy it at Tails by the Lake

Three more mini prints...

Happy Friday to you! Got any big weekend plans? Think James and I will be doing some "spruce up the house" thingies, go hiking with Maisie and take in a movie.

We've been on a mission to see as many movies as we can before the Academy Awards although we've made a pretty wimpy attempt so far! We've only seen "Milk", "The Wrestler" and "Revolutionary Road". They're all fantastic movies though....the "Wrestler" being my favorite. We're thinking of seeing "The Reader" next...any opinions about that one?

I just added these three mini prints below to my Etsy Shop. I've got a new dog painting in the works too...so hopefully will be able to show you that early next week.

"Red Door"

"Glass of Milk"

"Egg"

And one more thing!...the little treasure below is something I bought for myself this week on Etsy. If you haven't seen Vintage By Crystal's Shop...you've got to check it out. She makes the most amazing little cotton spun creatures. I just love them!

Spun Cotton Vintage Style White Rabbit Figure
Vintage By Crystal

New painting and a silly dog

"Last One From the Tree"
7" x 12" acrylic on canvas
available in my Etsy Shop here

Happy dance!...finally finished a new still life. This one took me awhile to complete. I changed the background several times until I was happy with it. I thought I was finished yesterday...but when James looked at it and said, "Hey, your new still life is really coming along."...I decided I'd better put a little more elbow grease into it. He always seems to be right too, dang it!

It was a beautiful, sunny day here. Maisie wanted to put a smile on your face...and let you know that spring is on it's way. Here's the little Diva herself...

Maisie stylin' in her Maui Jim sunglasses

New mini prints!

"Blue Bowl with Strawberries" print

"Oranges on Blue Plate" print

Good Monday mornin' to ya!

I've just launched some new "mini prints" of my original paintings in my Etsy shop. Being that our economy is NOT real spanky right now...I thought making some smaller, more affordable prints for $10.00 would be a nice idea. These are all 5" x 7" Open Editions, printed on archival watercolor paper with archival pigment inks. I'll be adding more this week. If there are any of my other originals you would like to have a small print of...just let me know.

Wine Label by Cyrus Mejia

By the way...if you like wine, you might think about buying your Valentine a good bottle of "Vicktory Dog" red at DogLoversWineClub.com. This California-based winery is honoring each of the 22 Pit Bulls that were rescued from Michael Vick's home. The wine labels were created by Artist, Cyrus Mejia who was one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Society. "A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Best Friends Animal Society for campaigns to help strengthen laws against and penalties for dog fighting, and for campaigns against legislation to ban specific breeds of dogs."

Thanks for all your well wishes on developing the new website! xox