I am such a lucky girl to be able to paint everyday and to have an amazing husband and puppies in my life. I am still waiting for the big turkey to finish cooking and thinking about a second glass of red wine.  :) Happy Thanksgiving! ...
We are hanging out with my parents for the long weekend and enjoying the beautiful beachy sunset.  It's still cold and it's been snowing up in the mountains. :)  I am ready to get cozy with a spiced rum and cider and cuddle up with a good book.  I packed a stack books for the weekend and ready to relax and stuff myself with turkey.  My mom got a 32 lb monstrous turkey!   (I will let you know if I read anything good) :) Happy Turkey Day! Be safe! and be Good! I am thankful for so much in my little life....
Turkey day- 2 day count down, I spent the majority of yesterday trying to do all of the grocery store shopping with my mother and every where we went was crazy crowded.  It also snowed here! I think we got maybe 1/4 of an inch and the news is already calling it as the Winter's Blast.  There was a little bit of ice and my dogs were slip sliding around- I really need to invest in doggy shoes. I decided this year I am going to be designing my own Christmas cards.  Yes Christmas already!  I decided that I loved them so much, I am going to put a couple in my etsy shop.  These are the type of cards that the card giver can write their own message inside.  This one is says- "What did Reindeer say to the other?" Here are some examples that the gifter could use..   "I challenge you to a Christmas cookie eating contests."  or "Nice sleigh bells."  or perhaps the ever classic "Merry Christmas" :)...
I have 15 paintings in the Big 100- click here to see all of my paintings for the show. You are invited to attend the 3rd annual installment of THE BIG 100 art show                 Portland’s favorite “little” big art show   December 2, 2010: First Thursday reception, 4pm-2am December 3-4: Artwork on display, 4 pm-2 am Where: Goodfoot Gallery and Lounge, 2845 SE Stark 21 + over. Two floors of art. 100 + artists, 1800 works of art, all art is $50/framed, cash/carry. Credit card OK. Benefit for Oregon Food Bank and Cascade AIDS Project. FREE to get in. 4pm-2am Th, Fri, Sat. OPENS First thursday, 4pm. DJ's (Ryan Organ/friends), Food, Beer/Wine/Spirits. Sponsored by Ninkasi, KBOO, PDX Pipeline ( www.pdxpipeline.com ) and The Goodfoot. Presented by Chris Haberman and Jason Brown....
I hope everyone is having a great weekend :)  It's cold and rainy here and my dogs don't like the rain puddles.  It's sort of funny watching them walk around the puddles.  I was thinking about buying them little rain jackets and maybe boots.  I don't have human children- don't judge me.  lol We worked on self portraits in drawing class- and I think I look like a crazy person.  We folded the paper in quarters and only drew a quarter at a time- which is why my face looks long, but really enjoyed playing with charcoal. Have a great weekend! :) and can you believe it's almost Christmas? Have you been thinking about your Christmas list?...
Homeless with family.   My last piece I wanted to paint something from Paris. :) 8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 2-4th 4pm-2 am at the  Goodfoot ....
I can't believe I have a few more paintings to go.  Homeless person with her little dogs- I always feel a little sorry for the dogs especially if they look under fed.  8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 2-4th 4pm-2 am at the  Goodfoot ....
I can't believe I have almost finished all the little paintings.  This one is a homeless man and he has his whole world in a cart.   8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 2-4th 4pm-2 am at the  Goodfoot ....
I stayed up until 4 am yesterday working on these paintings because everything is due on Friday because they are framing all the work for the show.  I don't think I have stayed up that late since I was last in Vegas like over a year ago. This is the last of the still life- playing around with glass. and I wanted to play with the blues in the glass and the dark back ground..   Every time I do still life.. I start thinking about the Sound of Music - and that song.. "This are a few of my favorite things"... :) 8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 2-4th 4pm-2 am at the  Goodfoot ....
Another typewriter :) part of my typewriter collection.  This one I got for $4 dollars and my husband said after this one I was not allowed to bring home any more.  This one came with a fancy carrying case.  8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 2-4th 4pm-2 am at the  Goodfoot ....
I collect typewriters :) This one I've had the longest, it's my mothers typewriter.   Happy Friday- Have a creative weekend.  :)  8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 3-4th 5-10 pm at the  Goodfoot ....
I love converse :) Since I quit my job- it's practically the only shoe I wear.  I haven't put on any of my business clothes .. shoes.. in months, and I don't miss them.  Anytime I see a shoe in a painting- I think about where it's been and where it's going.  I think I might do a few more still life for the show- to mix up the subway NYC paintings.  Any objects that inspire you? 8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 3-4th 5-10 pm at the  Goodfoot ....
I am still stuck with a cold and I keep thinking am I in the worst part yet?   Thank you for all of the home remedies :) I am not a huge fan of popping cold medicine.  I remember I caught a cold when I was in Italy and I was desperate for anything! I went into the pharmacy and the pharmacist didn't speak English.  I did the gesture of a cough like I was sick and he gave me this medicine and I found out later it was cold medicine with codeine.  I totally had the spins the rest of the trip.  :)   One more from the NYC Subway.. Subway at night and lots of electricity! I tried to emphasis the blur.  Don't worry my vision has not been effected by my cold yet.  8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 3-4th 5-10 pm at the  Goodfoot .  --...
  I am supposed to be working on the rest of these paintings but I caught a cold... so lame.. know any secret remedies?  My mother was telling me about this thing that you stick in your nose that washes your nose out with salt water.  I thought she was half crazy... well I know she is partially crazy but I did find it online.. its called the Neti.   I don't know if I could stick what looks like a teapot spout up my nose, maybe I should stick with Vitamin C. Here is my latest for the Big 100 show.. from the New York Subway.. I love how people read and wait for the subway, like they don't have a care in the world while there is all this activity going on around them.. that element of magic of NYC. I wanted to convey the motion versus the stillness of New York. NYC is unlike any other place that I have been because of the way the city moves.  I also never really noticed the American Flags on the subway cars until I started painting the series.  8X8 oil on wood. Inf...
Supplies: 1.  Wire Cutter 2.  Framers Pro Picture Wire- The professional grade with the plastic around the wire is the best.   :)  This is the secret sauce. 3.  Ring Hangers- 4.  Plus screw driver. PS- check your art supply store for the wire/hangers.  They buy the stuff in bulk and is cheaper is then the Hardware store and cheaper then Michaels.   Steps 1.  Attach  rings to either side of the frame.  You will want them 1/3rd to 1/4th from the top of the frame. and put them at a little but of an angle. 2.  Cut your piece of wire with a 2-4 inches extra wire for each side of the frame.  So if you have a 10 inch width you want at least 14-18 inches of wire cut. 3.  Thread the ring hangs.  Leave the wire a little bit of wiggle room- and don't thread it too tight.  When the wire is pulled tight like it's being hung you will want it 2-3 inches from the top of the frame. Viola! I am not going to tell you how many mistakes I made and how long it took me to figure thi...
I love New York City... more from the subway.  I just love  the energy and the eccentric/diverse people.  Since I started painting these little New York City paintings I noticed 2 things- there are many man bags and lots of sneakers.  :) 8X8 oil on wood. Information about the show: The Big 100 is 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 3-4th 5-10 pm at the  Goodfoot ....
More from the New York Subway.  :)  Oil on wood 8x8.  I think I might do 1-2 more in the New York subway.  This one I can hear the WOOOOOSH of the subway....
I am sooo behind on getting these paintings done in time. I decided to a small series with in the 15 of the subway people of New York and playing around with the blur of the subway.  :) Ahhh New York. Information about the show: 100 artists doing 15 paintings each all for the set price of $50.  Cash and Carry Show. December 3-4th 5-10 pm at the Goodfoot ....
I just finished watching the documentary The Artful Codgers , and it's about a British family who basically cons the art world with a series of fakes.  The middle aged son makes the art, the mother makes the certificates of authenticity  and the father was the sales man.  The son never went to art school and never took any art lessons, he credits all of his education to the library.   The son would go to the library and look up art pieces in history that have gone missing and would remake them.  All in all the family made about 10 million dollars and sold 44 forgeries before they got caught. I'm not saying to go forge something, but it's just  interesting all of that talent going to waste and how many people I know whom are talented and are not doing anything about it. Go make something! ...