Three Silly Goats Gruff III

I know, I know... Haven't I painted these three silly goats before?
Yes, but they just... crack... me... up!
I think this is a painting about attitude as much as it's a painting about goats!

That first one, Gladys, is about out of patience.
The one in the middle, Gabby, just wants to be a part of the fun.
And Percy, on the end, either has a joke to tell or has just played a prank.

I love them!
The first time I painted them, they sold as soon as they were dry.
The second time I painted them, they went to live in the home of the family that actually owns them.
This time maybe I'll get to enjoy them on my own wall for a while.  (I feel like I need to stop and have a conversation with them every time I pass by them.)

Thank you Renee for taking the picture and for letting me put it on canvas... again... 

Original Oil Painting on 11"x 14" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

2017 - Favorite Moments

Goodbye 2017!  

Thanks! You were great!

Here's a peek through some favorite moments of 2017!

A week at Disney in September...
a big deal since I've been in the first month
of school for the last 32... ummm... 47 Septembers. 

My favorite people!
A dream come true to take our kids to Disney.

Retiring!

What an honor... a permanent reminder...
Helen was here... 

Last day of school... ever...
So happy... and so sad... mostly happy.😊

Good bye little red bug... 😔
Welcome little green bug!😀

28th Summer Week at Lake Ouachita.

28th Family Photo at Lake Ouachita.

A weekend with sisters at Welcome Home Retreat.

Painting retreat at Welcome Home Retreat.

Adding chickens to our family!


Hatching two babies!

MMMooooo!! Hooray for Cows!

The white cow is saying, "Hey, y'all!"

The brown one is saying, "We look good, eh?"

(Please insert appropriate Southern and Canadian accents.)

This is the tale of two good friends
But not the kind with tails on their ends.

They're kindred spirits of a nature divine
That all began with a picture bovine.

With a note to Ontario from way down in Arkansas,
A bond started forming, much to their shock and awe.

It was a little green cow face made for a quilt
On a PInterest pin that this friendship was built

So as you watch these gals chew their cud this fine day.
Know that they're thinking, "Those girls could find a way." 

One day they'll meet, whether north, south, or between.
And to think it all started with a little cow of green.

Here's that Pinterest picture that started it all.

Which led to me clicking it and going to the blog behind it...

Which led to me loving the blog and deciding to read it from the beginning...

Which led to me realizing it was time for me to retire...  (Yeah... y'all can tell that there's more to that story, eh?)

So... back to the little green cow face...

Which led to more cow faces and even some poems and limericks as each was named...

Which led to this amazing quilt...

... and a lot of blog comments and e-mails in between...

Which led to... a Little Green Cow quilt block of my VERY OWN!!!

She's gorgeous!
And, she hangs on the wall of my Atelier, my painting space, where she watches every thing that goes on!

So...
Full circle it comes with moos and wows!
Today I say, "Hooray for cows!"

H











Original Oil Painting on 20"x 20" Canvas
[SOLD]

Red Rose Trio

Does is look like I have a guest artist posting today?  

Nope.

I painted this rose... did the whole thing with a palette knife, five colors of paint, and a great instructional YouTube video.

When my husband came home and saw it, he said, "Whoa!  That's really nice... but it doesn't look like you. It's really good though."   I love that he liked it, but I also loved that he recognizes what is and isn't my painting style.

I've been thinking a lot lately about style or art voice.  

• What makes up our style? 
• Do we get to decide what our style is, or does it just happen?
• Does our art style change over time?
• Is my art style different from my artist's voice?

Sure, we recognize Monet's soft impressionism, Van Gogh's abrupt blotchy strokes, Norman Rockwell's detailed story-telling paintings or the work of Mary Cassatt, Jackson Pollock, or Georgia O'Keefe.  But, what about the styles and art voices of regular people?

• I think of my art mentor Cheri's style...soft, lifelike, more beautiful than a photograph... I would know it anywhere (on a popcorn tin in Walmart, on fabric, on home decor at Hobby Lobby, or on the wall of my own house).
• I think of my blog friend Nelvia's voice... brave, powerful, and thought provoking... I think she intentionally changes up her style as she continually challenges herself to try new things.
• I think of the painting challenge site Paint and Draw Together.  Every month or so there is an image that artists are invited to paint.  I love to scroll through and see all the styles... All  are all exactly the same... and all completely different.
• I think of my painting partners, Julie and Tana, and how we've learned to appreciate and encourage each other's personal styles.

This whole contemplation of style started when I told my friend, Sandra of MMMQuilts, that I preferred the style of her quilts to some others I'd recently seen.  That began the conversation... What is my style? 

She sent me the question, "What do you think sets your paintings apart?"

I quickly thought of several answers like... "Nothing" and "I don't know" and "Hmmm..."

But, I couldn't let it go.

This was my answer to her:

Sometimes I think I'm still searching for my style.... smooth or textured?... detailed or smudged?... bright colors or muted?... 

I can't know how my painting voice is perceived through my art, but I know how I want it to be seen...
I want it to almost be heard...
I hope that my paintings either tell stories or evoke stories...
I hope they prompt either memories or imagination...I hope they are realisitic and believable yet remain painterly.
I want them to be good.

 I'm interested... What are your thoughts on art style or artist's voice?

Original oil painting on 12"x 6" wrapped canvas.
Click "Red Rose Trio" if you'd like op purchase this little painting.

Kayden - Gators

I listed the little decorative name canvases in my Etsy store as a custom order listing just to see what might happen. I didn't have an example for a boy and was kind of worried about what I'd manage to create if someone wanted one for a boy's room. Two days later I got my first request!  And... it was for a boy!  She said his name was Kaydon and he loved the Florida Gators.  She asked if I could do it bigger, in Gator colors, and maybe even add an alligator.

The hard part...?  

Anyone who knows what it's like to live in the South already knows. 
Since I'm a born-and-raised Arkansas Razorback, I wasn't sure I could dip my brushes into the Gator blue and orange. (Ha ha ha!!!)  😉 
I put my team loyalty to the side and think I created something Kayden will be pleased to hang on his wall.

Just for fun.. 

Within seconds of taking the plastic wrapping off the canvas, Pounce decided that right on top of it was the most comfortable place in the room.  

You can tell by her expression that she had no plans to be happy about being removed.

Acrylic Painting on 12"x 24" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Peyton & Anna

These were the instructions I was given:

• "I have an idea that I want you to paint. These will go in their bedrooms.  They need to have their names on them and maybe a flower or a bird as a kind of decoration. The oldest is named Peyton, and she likes purple.  The youngest is named Anna, and she likes pink." 

Well... no one said they had to be plain and boring... so... voila!

What a fun project!  I couldn't wait to get started! I completely set aside what I was working on and got busy creating "something purple and something pink with flowers or birds to make them special."

I hope the one who asked for this is surprised and pleased at the same time.

I hope the little girls who receive them for Christmas are too.

Original Oil Paintings on 6"x 12" Wrapped Canvas.

[SOLD]
Click here to order a custom name painting of your own.

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

He's gorgeous and he knows it. You can just tell by his attitude!
But, I have to wonder... Doesn't he ever get tired of hauling all those tail feathers around!

Last month my sisters and I spent a crafting weekend at Welcome Home Retreat where they have some turkeys who walk around making sure all the guests are enjoying themselves.   

One morning while I was sitting outside, the two male turkeys were doing their best to show me how big and beautiful they were. (I know, kind of ironic for a turkey to be showing off in November of all months!) 

As they walked back and forth in front of me, I kept thinking what a lot of trouble dealing with all those puffed up feathers would be!

Fun fact...  If you laugh, the turkeys will gobble at you! 

While they paraded around, I took lots of photos thinking I'd paint one.. but alas... I decided a painting of a puffed up turkey would look like a brown blob with a head.

Instead of a brown blob painting called "Gobble, Gobble," I went with a fancy rooster painting called "Cock-A-Doodle-Do."

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16 Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Teddy

Meet Teddy.

He's Dexter's brother. He looks like a serious little old man. 

Cutie!

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Dexter

Meet Dexter. 
He's a cutie.  

Does anyone else have a pet who gets needy when you're working.  Sometimes my little pup, Olivia, whines and begs to sit in my lap while I paint.  Once she settles, she's pretty still, so I don't mind.  







Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas.
[SOLD}

My Love & Ksses

Looks like I've flipped ahead on my calendar by a couple of months!  
Is it ever too early for love & kisses though?

I have a reason for painting ahead of the season, and it goes along with some exciting news.

You know those times one event ties in to a completely unrelated event relates to another unrelated event then ties into yet another and so on and so on until the story becomes a saga... but then... then... it all ties together and comes full circle in the best way? 
Well...
I had one of those a couple of weeks ago.
My exciting news is the end result of that full circle story.

My doctor asked me to hang my art on his exam room walls.  I know it's not a gallery in a museum, but oh my goodness, I am so excited!  

There's that lag time after the nurse takes your blood pressure and gets your list of complaints that you're left alone in the room to sit and wait.... and now... to look to your left and see some paintings! 
He gets a pretty wall.
I sell a painting every now and then.
Yeah! Win-win!

I had to gather up all the paintings I had around the house to see if I could find some that would go nicely together.  I had enough for a farm or country room and a winter or Christmas room.  (I also put the big hollyhock painting in the hall between them, but I forgot to take a photo of that one.)

So, now do you see why I'm painting a valentine?  In a month I'll need to trade out the Christmas-y ones.  (Although a more positive outlook would be that the Christmas paintings would have sold out and need to be replaced!)

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Indoor Kite Creations

I want you to see some of my daughter's beautiful needlework.  She has always had some sort of craft to work on, and now she's opened an Etsy shop. Click Indoor Kites Creations and have a look. 

The detail of this storybook one is amazing. 
Wouldn't that be a gorgeous quilt top or wall hanging!

I love the Old McDonald's scene.
A whole farm made of tiny stitches!

Cute, sweet, gorgeous!Love the toy box one.
I wonder how many tiny x stitches make the picture.

She does crochet work too.
Beautiful bright granny square!

Sweet little bunnies!
Funny, I decorated her nursery with bunnies almost 30 years ago!

I love the details of each animal square.
So cute!

Click any of the links and have a look!  

Lunch Date

Her name might be Millie or Macy or Maggie or Madi.
She might call him Grandpa or Papa or Granddad or Pop.

Maybe it's the school's grandparent day or her birthday or just a random Tuesday.
He may have had to rearrange his schedule or cancelled a meeting or put on a suit just for her.

Perhaps she'll share the lunch from her box or show him how to get a cafeteria tray.

She might say, "This is my friend. She sits at my table."
He might ask, "What have you been learning about today?"

She feels special.
He's glad he came.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas.
[GIFT]

Ruby Throated Hummingbird IV

What a pleasure when someone asks, "I love this one. Can you paint another one for me?"  I love it especially if I get to paint with my favorite color combination, purple and green.
I hope that the person who receives this as a Christmas present loves it.

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas.
[SOLD]

Hollyhocks

When I think of my grandma's house, I can almost smell marigolds; she always had them growing beside the front porch.  If I imagine myself sitting on that porch, I can look across the yard and see a row of hollyhocks beside the fence.  

I've been reading a blog called Ramblings from a Desert Garden lately.  No, I don't live in the desert, and no I'm not very good at growing beautiful plants.  But I enjoy her writing, pictures, and blog style.  When I came to this post about hollyhocks, it triggered a happy memory.

My mother once showed me how she and her sisters used to use the hollyhocks in their yard to make dolls.  She turned a big flower upside down to become the doll's dress.  The green part that holds the flower together (which I'm certain the AZ Plant Lady from the blog would know the name of) became the doll's body or shirt.  Then she picked a bud to become the doll's head and used a straight pin to hold it on.   My favorite combination... simple elegance.   

I kept thinking about that memory and Googled hollyhock dolls to see if anyone else had ever done such a creative thing.  Sure enough I found this precious little photo on a blog called Botanical Interests. It's much fancier than my mom's was with the little blossom for a hat and even a toothpick for arms. But I love thinking about how my mother and aunts would have played with these lovely ladies in pink, red, and white dresses.

(It's for sale in my Etsy shop, but my husband said, "I really do like this one.  I hope no one buys it." 😉We'll just enjoy it on our own wall until someone gives it a forever home.)

Original Oil Painting on 24"x. 12" Wrapped Canvas.
[SOLD]

Flamingo on Blue

This is the second in my "Make Friends with Blue" series. 😁😁

I met this particular guy (or gal) in the flamingo exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo a couple of years ago.  I loved the exhibit, and I thoroughly enjoyed painting him (or her) with bright, bold colors.

You know how sometimes a certain sense will bring up a memory? 
... like... the smell of marigolds = my grandma's front porch...
... or... the taste of Cheese Whiz = my first classroom as a teacher...
... maybe... the sound of pop corn kernels falling into a pot = Sunday evenings when I was a kid.
... or... the sight of a flamingo = summer school  in college and having Christopher Cross on the stereo.

If you're anywhere near my age, you might be able to relate to this one!

"Think of Laura, but laugh don't cry

I know she'd want it that way."

Or...

"It's all right. I think we're gonna make it,

I think it might just work out this time."

Good painting happens when his songs pop up on my Pandora.

You know that each one of those memories is just a snip of a whole story! So share!  What smell, taste, sound, or sight brings up a specific memory for you?

Original Oil Painting on 16"x 16" Wrapped Canvas

Click "Flamingo on Blue" if you'd like to purchase this painting.

Nutcracker King

Want to know why I painted this little guy?
Yes, I love nutcrackers... 
Sure, the Christmas season is near... 
Yeah, I was in one of those between-paintings moods...

But THIS is the real reason!  This my "blue drawer."  Yes... all of these blue paint tubes, yet I rarely use blue.  Go back through my paintings, besides a sky here and there, there's hardly any blue! 
While blue isn't one of my favorites, I don't have anything against it; I just forget about it.  
So, I've decided to go on a blue kick for a while.

I guess that's not a very inspiring reason.  
I do love this little nutcracker so much.  He's one of the favorites in my collection, so I'm glad I got to put him on canvas.

Since I just let you peek into my blue paints drawer to you.  I'll show you the rest of my painting spot.  It's just right for me.


I love seeing people's art spaces.

And, there's Pounce who watches from her throne.






Original Oil Painting on 12"x 6" Wrapped Canvas. 
[SOLD]