Sad Clown - Part 1

When I was digging through a bin of old photos while I was off work for my surgery, I came across a bunch of pictures of my big guy when he was a very little guy. One just jumped out at me and insisted that I paint it. My big guy was maybe four years old and it must have been around Halloween because he's wearing a clown outfit. So about sixteen years ago my big guy got all clown outfitted up and something must have happened. Maybe something big, maybe something little, but whatever it was left him feeling sad. And that moment in time was captured on film.

I started working on painting that sweet, sad little clown today.

I started by painting the basic colors of the background.

I used watered down black paint to rough in
his basic shape. He's sitting on the window sill.

I went over it in white so I could begin painting color.

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She was her Own Best Friend - Part 4

This evening has been spent helping my little guy revise school writing assignments. He'd write a bit. I'd nag him to keep going. He'd get hungry. I'd nag him to get back to work when he finished. He'd get tired and need a rest. I'd give him a ten minute break and nag him to get back to it. He'd say, "Oh, look at the kitty." And I would and then I'd say, "Aaaaah, you distracted me from nagging you!"

Anyway, while all this was going on I managed to finish my painting and he got a lot of work done. I feel like quite the multitasker...able to nag, help revise, and paint...all at the same time!


Here's my finished painting. Below it are a few of the final stages.

"She was her Own Best Friend"

I drew her nose and mouth...
a bunch of times. This was
one of the attempts.

I had panted her mouth, but it was
way too small. Then in a rush before
I left for school I made her mouth
a tad bigger. I know, she looks
like a toddler did her make-up for her.

I refined her mouth and I
also decided that she needed
to be holding some flowers.
I forgot to take pictures after this
because I was so involved with
helping with homework tonight.

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

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She was her Own Best Friend - Part 3

Dave and I took Hazel for a walk to the coffee shop tonight. On the way there we passed a delightfully intense dog walking with a big frisbee in its mouth. That dog had a job and was rockin' it. 

Hazel? Well...Dave and I decided that she had a job, too. Her job is being cute. And she was definitely rockin' it!

I continued working on this painting in my very limited time (I was at the coffee shop after all). I just got a wee bit of work done.

I added more white to the background.
And on an impulse I decided to paint
an approximation of her face.
Not sure why this sort of thing
has been necessary for me during
the last few paintings, but
I go with whatever my process
seems to be asking for. I suspect
that I just need to identify with
my paintings in the middle of
the process...but who knows....

I worked on her eyes, the only
part of what I'd done that I really liked.
Then I painted over her nose and
mouth. This also seems to be
a big part of my process. It works for
me. I also decided to widen her arms a bit.

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

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She was her Own Best Friend - Part 2

I had to confess something to my husband the other day. He's preparing to photograph some amazing dolls and he hoped I could help with that.


Dave: "Do you have any dolls?"

Me: "Um, I have this small Pooh Bear from when I was little."


He went into our spare room where I have managed to start keeping a bunch of my art supplies...and one of my troll dolls. He brought it out.


Dave: "I wish that it was bigger."

Me:  "Well..." and I lead him to our room, pulled a bin out from under the bed, extracted a bag from said bin, and revealed my collection of thirty-seven Troll Dolls. Yes, I've been collecting them for many, many years, some since I was a child.

Dave: "This one is perfect!" He beamed as he held up my diver Troll.


Whew! Guess I dodged the "being called a weirdo" bullet!



I continued working on this painting. I love how she's coming along and I think I actually want a dress like hers. I know I for sure want hair like hers.

I sketched my drawing.
I know it's hard to see.

I went over the pencil with
white paint and then started painting
some flesh tomes.

I began painting white over
the background and I started
painting her hair pink. I
also continued painting
layers on her face, neck
and arms.

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.

She was her Own Best Friend - Part 1

After my surgery I took two weeks off from driving...but I'm back in the saddle again. My first mission? Taking the little guy somewhere he needed to go.


Little guy: "I didn't think you could drive any more like a little old lady than you did before."

Me: "I'm being cautious."

Little guy: "Yeah, but before you were an eighty-year-old lady driving. Now you're over a hundred."


Not that he kept complaining, of course. My little guy is smart enough to know that a one-hundred-year-old lady drives faster than his walking speed.



I started working on a new painting. I've had a 36x12 canvas just crying out to be painted. Every time I saw it I visualized a tall female figure on it. Well...here goes!

I started by painting a random
blue/green background.

I released my inner Jackson
Pollock and splatter painted a bit.

I added some flowers
for whimsy's sake.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.
!I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Together - Part 4

I'm celebrating a first today. At least a first as far as my life recollection goes. Today I bought myself my first ever galoshes! And I'm way more excited than the event warrants, but deep down I've always, always wanted some. And even better, there's a chance of rain on Monday! So...goodbye soggy socks and shoes, hello fabulous black and white awesomely printed galoshes!!!

I just know you share my excitement.


And I finished these two commissioned pieces. I absolutely love that I reworked almost every single element of these paintings...some parts several times. That is so much fun for me! Here are the two originals and below are a few of the last stages. I also think I like the title "Together" so I'm sticking with it.

"Together 1"

"Together 2"

I sketched the boy.

I began filling in the details on the boy.
I also totally redid the background.
Did ya notice? :-)

I began adding details to their outfits.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

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Together (working title) - Part 3

My big guy stopped by today after work.


Big guy: "Can I have a bandaid?"

Me: "Sure, where do you need it?"


He held out his hand, palm up, and showed me a big blister.


Me: "You've been doing the monkey bars! I haven't seen a monkey bar blister on you since elementary school!"


He smiled.



I love that! My twenty year old kid has a monkey bar blister. What fun!



And I continued working on these paintings. Working, struggling, and taking care of business. I so love this process!!! Tomorrow will be finishing day, I'm positive.

I added shadows and darkened some areas in the water
and on the sand.

I added clouds and waves.

I sketched out more definition on the kiddos.

I changed the little girl to be looking more toward the
water as her brother is. I also filled in the parts I'd sketched.
I wasn't happy with the boy's left arm so I painted over it.

And...oh, yes, I did...I got rid of the boy altogether.
I just couldn't make him work and decided I needed
a do-over. I cannot tell you how good it feels
to just "get rid" of something that's not working.
But don't worry, he'll be back. :-) And
he'll be even closer to his sister. They are "together" after all.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

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