Van Gogh's Postman - Part 3

When I got home from work today I sat on the couch and chatted with Dave and the kiddo. Hazel, our awesome, 85 pounds of pure love dog, stared at me from my little guy's lap. They were both on the recliner about six feet away. Hazel could contain herself no longer and leapt off of the chair and ran over to say, "hi". I pet her, rubbed her ears, scratched her back, gave her hugs, and told my little guy that she'd had her fill and he could call her back to his lap.

Little guy: "Hazel, come here!"

She started to walk over there, turned around, came back to me, jumped on the couch, and lay down all snuggled up beside me. I guess my one minute doggy love session was simply not enough. 

And so one minute turned into five minutes which turned into a trip to the bedroom for a twenty minute snuggly power nap. Love that big girl of mine!

I finished this painting. What fun it was to paint in Van Gogh's style (or at least my version of his amazing style).  I learned so, so much.

"Van Gogh's Postman"

I used white paint to lay out where I wanted
the flowers on the wallpaper to be.
I also lowered his shoulders. Did ya notice?

I started adding color to the flowers.

I finished the flowers, added stems, and
added a bit of brown in the parts between the
flowers. I worked on his eyes a bit between
this picture and the final photo of the finished piece.

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Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

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Van Gogh's Postman - Part 2

I'm absolutely convinced that the electricity usage in Austin, Texas could be cut by at least a quarter if grocery stores didn't keep their thermostats so darn low. I'm also somehow convinced that someday I'll remember that this is always the case and I should, by now, always be prepared. Yet....


Me (after having shopped at Randall's and then at Costco in cut-offs and a tank top...including going in the sub-zero produce room): "Oh, my gosh, I'm so cold. I can't wait to get outside again."

Costco receipt checking lady: "I know. I have to take a light jacket with me wherever I go."

Me: "Yeah, I'm forty-eight and I still haven't learned that."

Costco receipt checking lady: "You're young. You still have plenty of time."

Well, that's good, because I'm clearly not a quick study in this area.

I continued working on this painting. It was so exciting getting to start the layering of patterns!

I painted the background with a mix
of green and turquoise. (Sorry, I think
I didn't use flash with this one.)

I added details to his hat and jacket.

I started the first layers of patterning on his
face. He reminds me of a tiger at this point. :-)

I continued adding layers. I used five different
colors on his face. I added color to his lips and
details to his eyes and eyebrows.

I added more of a reddish color to his face
and started the first couple of pattern
layers on his fabulous beard. 

Click here to view my gallery.

Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

Chicken with a Beard - American Cancer Society Fundraiser

One of our sweet little chickens, Piper, has an eye infection. She's been patient for the most part as I work on cleaning her eye regularly, but every once in a while she lets out a squawk of protest.  And lucky for that chicken, her faithful friend, Hazel, our big dog, is always right at her side to lend a sympathetic whimper. 

I adore their unlikely friendship.


I'm finally getting around to fulfilling a friend's challenge to put a beard on a chicken.  After all, why not?  People have beards.  Billy goats have beards.  Even my dog, Hazel, sports quite a beard when her hair grows long.

So, I give you, chicken with a beard.


Again, I'll donate the sales of these bearded wonders to the American Cancer Society in memory of my wonderful and totally not bearded, yet cool as all get out, Nana.

 Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

 

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

No Shave November 3 - American Cancer Society Fundraiser

Sometimes I think I'm quite the tough old middle-aged broad.  Here's what I can do.


I can be texted a photo of my kid's latest injury...a lovely bloody gash down his shin "I think it goes all the way to my bone"...and never miss a beat whilst eating my potato and chick pea soup.

That, and I can also watch an episode of "The Walking Dead" with no eating hesitation.


Yup, tough.  I have my kids to thank me for that.


Again, I'll donate the sales of these bearded wonders to the American Cancer Society in memory of my wonderful and totally not bearded, yet cool as all get out, Nana.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

 

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

No Shave November 2 - American Cancer Society Fundraiser

When I started thinking about this whole No Shave November thing, to be quite honest, I was thinking of only drawing and painting dudes with beards.  But of course I was immediately challenged to put beards on other things...like flowers...and chickens. 

So not being one to back down from a challenge, I give you a flower with a beard. 


Again, I'll donate the sales of these bearded wonders to the American Cancer Society in memory of my wonderful and totally not bearded, yet cool as all get out, Nana.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

 

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

No Shave November I - American Cancer Society Fundraiser

So obviously I can't quit shaving my face for the month of November, though I could easily blow off eyebrow plucking for thirty days and I will.  I can also give up shaving my legs and pits for the month.  But I can do even better than that.  For the month of November I'll be featuring a series of awesomely bearded dudes and I'll donate the sales of these to the American Cancer Society in memory of my wonderful and totally not bearded, yet cool as all get out, Nana.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

 

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Hairy Cat

I love to wear black.  I usually have some black on pretty much all of the time.  My bikini is black.  My workout clothes are black.  My favorite shoes are black (except for my most recent pair which is leopard print...but those are totally cool, as you'll see later in this post).  My jackets are black.  Most of my shirts are black.  And a large number of my dresses are black as well.

I also love my cats.  A lot.  And they happen to be orange tabbies...which is the problem.

As it's warming up, they're beginning to shed.  A lot.  This means their hair is everywhere, even with a good brushing now and again.  And all that orange hair has become my accent color.  Skip back to my comment about my new leopard print shoes.  Well, those are only improved by the addition of soft orange kitty cat hairs.

So here's what I think needs to happen.  There needs to be a chameleon cat invented.  They're doing wackier stuff with DNA, so why not, right?  A cat who could not only blend in with any color background, but its shed hair would easily blend in with any item of clothing I could challenge it with.

Alright you scientist types...go!

Click here to purchase this painting.

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!