Many Thanks

With the Thanksgiving Day festivities behind, I'm compelled to reflect on how very much I have to be thankful for. Twenty-two of the 24 members of the Dahl clan braved the snowy weather to gather and share food and fun and plans for midnight Black Friday shopping sprees. I'm thankful for the gainful employment that will prompt me to arise at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow morning. Needless to say, I won't be going on a midnight shopping spree tonight. My mother wasn't there, having passed away a decade ago, but her love and laughter was there amongst us. She is the reason we gather and enjoy each other's company as we do. I know she's smiling somewhere on the other side. Thanks Mom.

White Stuff

It's coming...again. Earlier and earlier every year it seems. Maybe we will see an ice age again. Did I mention I'm not a big fan of winter? I'm never sure if I've stashed away the right stuff. Dog food---check, cat food and litter----check. Candles, batteries, extra water, sunscreen...no, not sunscreen. Well, I'm off to try to get to my cubicle dwelling. It hasn't even started to snow, but I'm way ahead of the curve in worry.

This image is from a larger watercolor called "Sheep in the Woods".

Holiday in Full Swing

My first show of the holiday season was a great one. The Covenant Woman's show is always like a big reunion for me. Lots of familiar faces and catching up to do. This year I tried several new artful ventures and a couple of them did well. My collage fridge frames and my new line of photo cards were both a hit....wish I'd brought more of them. I also connected with more people interested in coming to an Art-Startz session and picked up a commission. Pretty nice for one day's work.

Going Home

Home. The word has a lot of meanings. Whether it's a real place or simply a vague imagining, I think it's a place we're all trying to get back to. I was going to post this yesterday in remembrance of Veteran's Day, but ran into computer issues. The sentiment is still the same the day after. A big thank you to all the people who have contributed to the freedom we enjoy in this country and around the world.

This piece was one in a series of collages I made using copies of my own artwork.

Cat Naps

Is there anything more refreshing that a 15-minute catnap in the middle of a long afternoon? I've honed it to a fine art. Armed with a small pillow and my oven timer, I can fall asleep almost immediately and bolt wide awake 15 minutes later (with the help of the timer) feeling refreshed, ready to finish the afternoon. Of course, a strong cup of coffee and a Snickers bar is also a viable option.

This drawing, "Dream On", was done in charcoal and pastel on newsprint.

Deep End

In over my head....that about sums it up. I've bitten off too much. Seven projects and they're all coming due by the end of the month.

When I made the artistic commitments, it all seemed so do-able... months to plan and get stuff ready, but it will all work out, I keep repeating to myself. It always does.

This painting is called "Deep End" and was painted with acrylic on board. This painting is sold.

Also, here's how it would look as a rubber stamp.

The Way Things Work

There is a book out there (geared toward children, as I recall) called "The Way Things Work". It shows how mechanical things work. I wish there was some kind of a manual to show how things work.... or don't work in real life.... a manual that would convince you to .... get a college education.... marry well the first time...save your money for a rainy day...eat your veggies....but alas, everybody gets to write their own version.

This painting is titled "The Way Things Work" and was done in gouache on gold gessoed watercolor paper.

Wild Abandon

Throwing caution to the wind, I've begun to chop up my stash of fabric (some of that stuff I've been saving to conquer boredom during a month-long snow storm). A series of mixed-matched little pillows with various sentiments seems like a good way to use up some of the fabric. I have no idea what I'll do with them after that. One thing I do know....art is messy.

Last Minute Again

Once again, I'm feverishly preparing for several upcoming art venues. The Whimsical Rabbit and I will be participating in the Covenant Women's craft show on Saturday Nov. 13 from 9:00 to 4:00 and then Allied Arts will be starting on Nov. 19 through Dec. 24. They always sneak up on me. If you live close by and need directions, let me know. Also, I'm readying FIVE framed original paintings for the St. Joseph Hospital caregiver show in December. More details to come. Have a great weekend.

Bullseye

Please keep the natural disaster-striken people of Haiti in your thoughts. There are a lot of very special children at the Good Shepherd Orphange and elsewhere that could sure use a special measure of grace right now.

Waiting Rooms of LIfe

Sometimes it feels as though life is one big waiting room. I'm not very good at waiting. I moved from Seattle to escape the waiting, only to find my little hometown had grown considerably in the decade I'd been away. We have traffic now. One thing waiting is good for is daydreaming... until you find out the guy behind you in traffic is worse at waiting than you are.

This painting, entitled "Another Waiting Room" was done in gouache and watercolor on hot press watercolor paper.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Toto

The freedom to vote for our leaders is not a privilege to be taken lightly. It was bought with a huge price by those who have gone before us. Whether our favorite candidates win or lose, the democratic process is what makes America great. God bless America...and every other country as well.

Art-Startz 2 Stars

Here they are...the brave souls who trusted me with the right side of their brains for the second in what I hope will be a long series of art adventures. Each participant brought a unique skill set to our time together, but I feel each was successful. Watercolor is like learning to drive a car with a manual transmission, you can read about it all day long, but until you get behind the wheel, you'll never know how much "gas to give it". You have to put a loaded paint brush to paper....over and over again.