Untitled - Part 2

I'm always trying to talk with my kid. It likely drives him nuts.


Me: "You hardly ever respond when I'm trying to have a conversation with you."

Little guy: "There's just not much of a response that's needed."

Me: "Yes, there is, I'm usually asking a question."

Little guy: "And that only requires one of four answers."

Me: "Gee, so much for positivity."

Little guy: "Well, half of the answers are positive...yes, no, OK, or maybe...yes and OK are completely positive."


So my new thing is learning how to see the positives. One sweet little word at the time. I adore my kiddo!



I continued working on this painting. I'm really enjoying using thicker layers of paint and creating a lot of texture.

I painted a layer of white. The paint blended
beautifully with the charcoal to create gray.

I sketched with charcoal again and added
another layer of white.

I painted the background around the figure
to make sure I had clean lines.

I mixed a lovely yellow and painted over the
green background letting just a bit peek through.
I painted in a crosshatch pattern.

Here's a close-up. I'm loving the texture!

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Untitled - Part 1

I picked my little guy up from school early today for an orthodontist appointment. I walked into the huge high school, approached the big main staircase, and suddenly had a thought...what if the bell rings and a rush of students appears and I get sucked into their flow and end up stuck in a class?!?! I picked up my pace, hurrying up the last few steps to the safety of the office. Whew!

And thankfully I had my kid to get me outa that scary place. :-)


I started a new painting. I'm not sure what the title will be, so for now it will stay "Untitled".

I started with a three-tone messy background.

I used charcoal to begin sketching out the figure.

I'm doing my best to learn from the recent
face drawing tips I've been given.

I'm excited to keep working on her!

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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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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. 

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Van Gogh's Postman - Part 1

Our sweet little cat, Tommy, has a variety of favorite places in our house. Whatever his mood, there's a perfect spot for him to be. Dave's desk chair, in the cloth napkin bin on the table, on or under any of our beds, under any of our beds, in the carport by the door, out back with the chickens, and my personal favorite, right under my easel. He's a fabulous painting buddy...and if a bit of paint or water falls on him he reacts with a blissful twitch and goes right back to sleep.

Tommy was "helping" me paint this morning and there's a pic of him below doing his best to support my artistic efforts.


I've started a new painting. I'm still working with Van Gogh as my inspiration.

I sketched with charcoal.

Tommy, my sweet little painting buddy.
This is one of his favorite places to hang out.

I painted with white acrylic which
blended with the charcoal to create gray.

I began laying down a layer of color.

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Feeling a Tiny Tad Frida

I've got an egg dilemma. Today I discovered that Phyllis had laid an egg way, WAY, up under our deck. I can see it. But I can't get it. We've had a bit of an egg shortage lately and I'm wondering if there are other eggs under there. And I must admit that I'm a bit terrified about the smell these potential eggs might create after a bunch of 90+ degree Texas days. I need fall weather and a long stick STAT!


As part of my art class we did a super quick study on creating faces. Here's mine. Below it are a couple of stages.

"Feeling a Tiny Tad Frida"

I sketched the face with a pencil.

I used white acrylic to go over my sketch.
The graphite blended with the paint. On my
finished painting I used a bit of black acrylic
as well to get the darks.

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Watercolor and Graphite, Van Gogh Style

Dave just came home and told me about the best conversation ever!


Pug (our old orange tabby) : "Meow."

Dave: "Meow."

Pug: "Meow."

Dave: "Meow."

Pug: "Meow."

Dave: "Meow."

Pug: "Meow."

Dave: "Meow."

Pug: "Meow."

I love them both so much!

I did another small practice piece for this class I'm taking. This one is using watercolor and graphite, hopefully in the style of Van Gogh. So much fun!

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

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