Green Apples and Gardenias

I've got lots and lots of photos to share from my art opening! Thank you so much for all of your kind wishes! Photos and details coming later this week.

But first, I wanted to share this new painting that I entered in this week's Illustration Friday! I just love how she could march right off the canvas. She's absolutely FEARLESS!

Archival prints available in my ART SHOP!

FEARLESS 8 X 8 Inch Print of Mixed Media Painting
For this piece, I was inspired by the sea. Her dress is cut from beautiful vintage wallpaper featuring giant sailboats and anchors. I added the origami paper as her belt and boots for softness and then used an alchemy of materials for the rest of the piece-acrylics, pastels, ink, and pencil. On top, I applied an antique decoupage.

I am SO excited for my art opening tonight! I've been painting up a storm and maybe even purchased a new skirt with horses running on it to match my patent red sandals.

I so wish you could all be there and that we could all hang out and sip lemonade in my backyard beforehand.

Here's a cheers to all of you! Thank you so much for your inspiration and amazing support. Without you, I would not be getting my art out into the world. And that has changed my life forever.

Thank you.

PS. Chalk drawing is so much fun. I recommend writing messages and drawings for your favorite people in lots of colors. It's a delight each time you walk on them :)

I've been having so much fun sticking these adorable window decals all around our house, that I've decided to add them to my shop so you can enjoy them too! For a limited time, these decal sets will be available in my shop. They're perfect for adding privacy to a window, fun to your office, or color to any room!
 

Each set includes 4 window decals, 1 of each of the 4 designs, printed using archival inks and coated with a water-based sealant to protect the print from the elements. Larger quantities are available. More details and photos of these sweet little art decals in my Etsy Art Shop!

 

 

 

I just took down my paintings from the local library so I can hang them at the EVP East Coffeehouse for a new exhibition. I have to say, the older and newer paintings have never been in the same room together. So I just had to take them all outside for a few family photos. All will be up at the new exhibit along with lots of mounted prints, that I'll also be adding soon to my art shop!

Brian's band Ghost Town Council will be performing at the opening May 7 and we'll have plenty of drinks and food on hand to make it an incredible evening. Check out the gallery night map to see all participating venues. We'd love to see you there!

Opening Reception: May 7, 5-9PM
EVP East Coffeehouse Exhibit: April 18-May 16

I remember looking out my window each night before bed. I'd say the little rhyme Starlight Star Bright and WISH UPON A STAR. This piece is for all of the dreamers out there. May all your wishes comes true.

Archival Prints of WISH UPON A STAR now available in my Art Shop.

WISH UPON A STAR 8 X 8 Inch Print of Mixed Media Painting
This painting was so much fun to create. The cut out stars in the background are from a congratulations card I received and her little legs are cut from some beautiful gift wrap. I added origami paper for her outfit and earrings, pastels, pencil, ink, acrylics, watercolor and glitter. I haven't used glitter in a piece for a while, so when I thought this girl needed glitter at her feet I dismissed it. The stars weren't even in the sky yet, so I had no idea what this painting was about. Finally, I walked away and when I came back, I realized of course! she needs copper glitter in her hair and all around her feet just like a shooting star!

In the springtime I try to create outside as much as possible and the other day I ended up with four various green painted canvases. This piece is the greenest of them all, so I thought it appropriate to name her EARTH MOTHER!

New vintage art jewelry coming very soon! Archival prints of EARTH MOTHER now available in my Art shop!

EARTH MOTHER 8 X 8 Inch Print of Mixed Media Painting
I just love the way she seems to rise up from the earth. To me, she is a protector of all things. For this painting I used an alchemy of materials from my studio-watercolors, pastels, acrylics, pencil, ink, charcoal, and origami paper. On top, I applied an antique decoupage to really add a look of beauty and magic.

I can hardly imagine this painting as anything else. And I am delighted to have shared the before and after shots with you so you can see the results. I am all for changing the things you're not happy with...and now I present to you IN BLOOM.

Archival prints and close up shots available in my Art Shop!

IN BLOOM 8 X 8 Inch Print of Mixed Media Painting
Two things were really bothering me about Phase 1 of this painting: I wasn't happy with the green and I really hated her deer body. It felt like I had taken the easy way out and not pushed my imagination to its fullest. So I went back into the studio, painted a bunch of golden yellow and was so excited when her springtime dress turned out. And from there everything else just fell into place. I knew she had to have the brightest of orange-red hair to match that dress. Here I've played with acrylics, colored pencils, charcoal, ink, pastel, and origami paper to give her life and magic.

I'm putting the finishing touches on a few new spring-inspired paintings that I can't wait to share with you. But first, my new Whimsical Art Magnets are here! I had so much fun creating these little wood magnets. They look absolutely adorable all lined up on my refrigerator!

This is my absolute favorite smoothie recipe. It's super healthy and tastes so delicious! I pretty much have one every morning for breakfast. Sometimes I even add raw cacao powder to cure a chocolate fix.

Serves 1
1 frozen banana (I freeze them whole, without the peel)
1 cup almond milk (or regular or soy milk)
1 tablespoon peanut butter
3 dates (honey is good too)
2-3 ice cubes, if needed

Add all to a blender, serve and enjoy!

PS. The daffodil is from my garden. The first one to bloom this spring!