Aspens in Autumn

What makes autumn so special?

I think that maybe autumn is the season that becomes more loved as we age. I do not remember caring a bit about autumn when I was a kid... yeah, yeah, the leaves changed colors, the fair came to town, football games would be every Friday night...

Oh, but now... How thankful I am that I live in a place where autumn is so beautiful that it makes me slow down and sigh! The air has a crisp feeling. There's a smell of change - smoky, musky freshness. There's a crunching in the background all the time as squirrels and rabbits scamper through leaves - no more sneaking around.

The other night my husband and I sat on our porch rocking back and forth enjoying autumn in our own little mini-forest when something occurred to me... Way back a quarter of a century ago, didn't we dream of sitting on a front porch and leisurely rocking the evenings away? It's a sweet thing to realize when a dream actually comes true.

Original Oil Painting on 24"x 36" Wrapped Canvas
Currently not listed for Sale... I like it on my own wall too much. :)

Diana Butterfly on Thistle

What makes this thistle special?

I don't know if this lovely little butterfly knows how special the place where she's chosen to land is. This thistle grows in a virgin prairie - land that has never been tilled or plowed... never. The plot of land belongs to my sister-in-law's family and is somewhat of a national treasury insuring that it will remain protected. So, this butterfly (a Diana female) and her children for generations should be able to return to this exact spot to land on thistles.

"I Am From Home"

I Am from Home

I am from a red-clay road rolling with dust after each passing car

from a long bed of irises - purple, white, yellow, and maroon

from two cars out front one with 4 doors, one with a bed, two humps, and a tailgate

from a front porch with a dachshund named Noodles lying on the step, a screen door that slams, and a panoramic view of the Ouachita Mountains.

I am from tassel-topped corn stalks, thorny blackberry vines, and staked tomato plants bringing the flavors of summer

from a formica kitchen table surrounded by six chairs and a stool

from little glass Pepsi bottles, black angus beef, and homemade ice cream hand-cranked by strong brothers

from sit-down dinners, lingering while the food settles, and sisters washing dishes by hand.

I am from Curtis Ray - “Handy as a pocket on a shirt”

from Gladys Adelle -“Busy hands are happy hands”

from trotline catfish dangling off Grandpa’s stringer

from quilts and afghans labors of love from Grandma’s worn hands.

I am from Ben Franklin’s, Piggly Wiggly, and a fifteen-cent Tastee Freeze cone with a curlicue on top

from a picture window, an attic fan, an antenna on the roof for a black-and-white television

from football games on Friday nights, cartoons on Saturday mornings, and church twice on Sundays

from pot luck suppers, “Count Your Many Blessings,” pass the offering plate, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

I am from a place that is real

from a time that has past

from bonds that endure

I am from home.

Lemons

What is your favorite use for lemons?

Besides using them for a still life... That doesn't count! I love lemon flavored cake, lemon ice box pie, and frozen lemon aid. I love lemon drops, lemon Jolly Ranchers, and even honey-lemon cough drops. But when it comes to using real lemons... I like them squeezed over fried catfish, squeezed into fruit juice, and even squeezed over cheap frozen fish sticks!

Click the "Lemons" if you'd like to purchase this painting.

How about having the smell of lemon any time! I discovered these candles on Etsy. My mouth waters just to imagine the lovely smell they must have. Click "Lemonade Scented Tea Light Candles" to smell... I mean...see.

Bouguereau

Attempting this reproduction of a painting by the master Bouguereau was quite a challenge for me. My teacher wanted me to learn how to use the style which was used for the original. It was done in many layers. I fussed and whined the whole time. In the first stages, it was in black and white. I hated to admit it, but I loved it just like that. Then I was allowed to use only one color to mix with black and white - alizarin. (Ok, maybe I cheated a little with some umber in her hair a little something in her skin)

Mine is certainly a far cry from the original, but I actually like her very much.

Oil Painting on 9"x 12 Stretched Canvas
[SOLD]

Sunflower Bouquet

A flower is just more beautiful if you put the seed in the ground yourself, watered the sprout, kept the weeds away, and noticed the first bloom.

Labor Day is just around the corner - the signal for summer's end..... sigh.....

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Summer Trees

What makes this painting special?

Hmmm... Well, it's not very good... The shadows aren't really right... The colors are a little garish... The shapes aren't realistic... The background is pretty contrived... Hmmm...

So... Have you guessed? This is the very first painting I ever did. It was on February 22, 2007. I spent three hours being nervous, frustrated, stressed, tense, worried... then proud! I had a finished painting! And... I thought it was lovely!

Mother's Hands

How many stitches have these hands sewn? How many ears of corn have they shucked, pods of peas have they shelled, or green beans have they snapped? How many babies' bottoms have they patted or storybook pages have they turned?

Aren’t they lovely hands?

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Canvas Board

[GIFT]

Comfort

How many books is enough? Hmmm....

A friend who was a librarian sent me a card well over a decade ago. I have long forgotten whether it was a thank you note, a get well card, or a birthday card. Many years ago I tore off the back part of the card and taped the front on the wall behind my desk at school. It just had such a cozy, comfortable feeling. Glancing up to see that little picture could give a moment of calm in a stressful day. I'd love to give credit to whoever first designed this image and thank them for the little moments of peace it has given me through out the years.

This painting was recently featured in an Etsy treasury (collection of art and vintage items) celebrating "Story Time." Click to enjoy the treasury.

Peaches and Brass Candlestick

Sometimes painting just amazes me. I remember when I went to my first painting lesson about 3 1/2 years ago; my teacher said, "You're going to train your eyes to see things in a different way." I wondered how in the world I could do that and really didn't understand what she could possibly mean.

But, I do see things in a different way now. As I was working on this, I just couldn't get the brass right. I looked again... and I saw it; there was green in the brass! Hmm... Who knew! Suddenly a blotchy, yellowish, lumpy stick became a brass candlestick! Voila!

I painted this as a challenge piece for Rookie Painter. I love the concept of this site - an image is presented then artists are invited to create and share art inspired by that image. It's so interesting to see the diversity in style.

Iweus Rose

Have you gotten roses lately? They're lovely, of course. But, how come they barely have a smell anymore? Did the smell get engineered out as their traveling stamina got engineered in?

Luckily, some people still grow beautiful, natural roses that also smell heavenly. This one was grown by my brother-in-law.

If you'd like to purchase blank note cards with this image on

the front, follow this link to my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/27957684/rose-note-cards-from-original-oil

A single rose adds a feminine touch to anything. Have a look at this fabulous necklace I found on Etsy. I love it!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50674914/deirdre-necklace-free-shipping-yellow

Lemonade

I painted this as a challenge piece for Artistic Sentiments.  I love the concept of this site - an image is presented then artists are invited to create and share art inspired by that image. It's so interesting to see the diversity in style. The image used for inspiration for this challenge was a painting by Van Gogh called "Still Life with Pitcher and Lemons."

I know that mine is a lot more realistic (less loose and artsy) than his, but it's more me. The goblet and saucer are from my cupboard, and the paisley silk scarf in the background is one I often wear as a wrap.


Visit Sweet Summer Lemonade, an Etsy treasury (collection of art pieces and vintage items) celebrating all things yellow.  Or click on It's Gonna Be a Hot One to sample a look at all things hot and how to avoid the heat!

[SOLD]

Hello, Buttterfly

How long do you think this little one had to be still to get a monarch to flutter so close?

Original Oil Painting on 16"x 12" Wrapped Canvas.
[SOLD]
Contact me if you'd like a giclee or print in another size.

Light Yellow Sunflower

Why do I love this particular sunflower so much?

Because it's balanced - symmetrical, but not really - just right? Because it was the biggest, tallest, strongest one in the garden? Because it's bright and fiery even though it's a soft yellow? Maybe because of the memory of how hard I laughed (and how mad I got) at the squirrel who climbed up the stalk for a feast on its seeds - while spitting seed shells all over the tomato plant below. Somehow it's just the right symbol to represent me.

Yes, it's for sale on my Etsy site, but I put a price too high on it and hardly ever renew it all in the hopes that no one will ever buy it. Is that silly? Wouldn't it be better to just take it off? Hmmmm... Maybe I should. Maybe I will.

If the day comes that someone else loves it enough to buy it, I'll probably cry as I package it up to ship.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Canvas Board
[SOLD]

Mama's Kiss

I love this little bright-eyed baby. I think it's pretty clear that his Mama does too. I hope she takes every opportunity to give him kisses. In no time at all, he'll think he's too big.

Guess what... I remember when it was this Mama that was being cuddled and kissed on the cheek!

Click below if you'd like to purchase "Mama's Kiss." It is available in several forms.

giclee

print

note cards

Hummingbird

What do you get someone who has everything he needs?

My sister and I each got my dad a hummingbird feeder for Father's Day this year. They were very simple and inexpensive... and the best few dollars we could have spent.

I'm sure there is a correct way to feed these little guys, but we mixed their food a little extra strong the first time - just to let them know where the new restaurant in the neighborhood was located. Within hours they were hovering around and sipping that syrupy nectar. Yes, they are elusive. No, they don't have names. But, they have become pets all the same.

This particular little bird grabbed my attention at the bus stop outside the airport in San Diego. He and his many brothers and sisters were the exact color and shape of the leaves growing on the wall. At first, they were completely camouflaged to me. But as soon as I spotted the first one, I realized they were everywhere! These little Dr. Suess-looking puff balls seemed to be their dinner tables.

Have a look at these artsy hummingbirds that I found on Etsy - very different, but I love both of them!

For a lovely little stained glass hummingbird to put in your window, click this link.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53002091/stained-glass-3-d-greenbrown-hummingbird

For a way cool (kind of funky) mosaic mirror with a hummingbird inspiration, click this link. http://www.etsy.com/listing/39284921/humminggbird-in-light-green-mosaic

:) Shangri-La

A peaceful view....

Shangri-La Resort, Lake Ouachita, Arkansas

Grandpa's Smokehouse

This was the little building behind my grandpa's house that the cousins were never allowed to go in; however, I know that when my mom and her brothers and sisters were young, it was an important part of their farm life - the smokehouse.

Just as important as the smokehouse was the garden beside it. I do have many memories of the garden. When I was very small, I got to ride on Prince, the big brown mule, while Grandpa plowed the long rows. (I know that tillers were usually used by that time, but Grandpa and Prince worked the rows just as they had done for years.) My strongest memories from the garden involve dealing with its produce. Strawberries to slice and cover with sugar to freeze... Peas to shell... Beans to snap... Cabbage to shred and salt for kraut... Tomatoes to blanch for canning... Egg plant to, hmmm, I don't remember what we did with the egg plant...

"Grandpa's Smokehouse" was recently featured in an Etsy treasury (collection of art pieces and vintage items) celebrating Pawpaw's Place.

If you would like to purchase a giclee or print of "Grandpa's Smokehouse," contact me.

Jansen Park

I saw this little bridge in the park every week as I was growing up. It was a sort of boundary, "Don't go past the bridge!" I never noticed how lovely it was until going back years later.

I thought that would be the end of the story for this painting. But after it was finished, my niece saw it and said, "That's Duck!" One year her husband brought her a little duckling for Easter. Duck became fast friends with their poodle, but after a while Duck needed a better home. They got permission to move him to the park. (He's the white one in the painting.)

Original Oil Painting on 16"x 20" on Canvas Board, Framed.

[SOLD]

Bright Yellow Sunflower

Nothing says summer like a sunflower!

I grew a great crop of sunflowers in my garden a couple of summers ago. They bloomed just in time for my nephew's wedding party that was held in my backyard. Luckily I snapped a few photos that day because I caught a squirrel climbing up a stalk and helping herself to the seeds the very next day!

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Canvas Board
[SOLD]