Suzanne and Laddie, 11x14, Oil on Canvas, Original Painting

Not For Sale

My daughter Suzanne lost her beloved horse, Laddie, this year. I know this painting will make her smile and cry at the same time. Laddie is deeply missed.

Carmen

Everglades Bird, Giclee Print, Various Sizes

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I've seen these birds just casually stand there while an alligator cruises by. I guess they know they can take off quickly if necessary.

This painting is available as a giclee print on stretched canvas, in various sizes and prices.

Carmen

Ibis, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel, Wildlife Art, Daily Painting

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I've been painting a lot of flowers lately, so here's a little change of pace. These birds were at our wonderful Brevard Zoo in Melbourne. To quote the zoo website, here is how it all started:

It began as a small group of people...
A small group of people with a big dream; building a zoo. A world-class zoo that would serve as a conservation hub where people could gather to learn about animals. A place to escape from the urban world and get closer to nature, to be reminded of the diversity of the life with which we share this planet.

Now we have a state-of-the-art zoo with rhinos, giraffes, meerkats--it's an amazing testament to what community effort can do.

Carmen

Johnny, 12x16 Portrait of Cat, Oil on Canvas Pet Portrait

I was commissioned to paint this cat, and it reminds me of those corporate portraits; he is posing so seriously and looking like a CEO (Cat Executive Officer). I can just picture him at board meetings with his PowerPoint briefing on outsmarting the family dog...

Carmen

Rooster Collage, 8x10 Collage on Wood Panel

$55, Purchase Here

The Pieces of 8 painting group was challenged by Donna Vines to do collage, and she showed up with a massive amount of beautiful papers for us to use. This was really a fun project, and I love the way the black paper, which had many fibers in it, created fuzzy edges when torn. It gives the bird a feathery look. I guess you'd call this "Barnyard Chic."

Carmen

Pretty in Pink, 6x6 Oil on Canvas Panel Wildlife Painting

SOLD

This was a commission to do flamingos, and I always enjoy using my favorite color. Lately I feel surrounded by pink; as I drove up to my house the other day it struck me just how much pink is going on in my front yard. I have a very large frangipani tree and clumps of pink lilies blooming; it looks like the wedding scene in "Steel Magnolias." 

Tanglefish, 5x7 Pen and Ink

$38, Click to Purchase

Sometimes I have a plan for these Zentanglish drawings, and sometimes I don't. I started this one as freeform curves and went from there. It made itself into a drawing that looked very undersea to me to I went with that.

I've been cleaning closets, purging mercilessly, and stopping occasionally to do Zentangles. I also tried an absolutely different technique which I will post next. I will be knuckling down to doing some serious oil paintings soon, and in February Qiang Huang will be here to teach, so I should be pumped up for months after that!

Ibis Wading, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

I am definitely losing it. As I was finishing this up, I had a feeling of familiarity. I then realized I have painted this very picture before. Then I meant to post it before leaving for the Everglades, but I didn't. I definitely needed the getaway.

Mating Dance of the Alligator

 My Pieces of 8 friends Cindy, Kathy and I (referred to by Cindy as Thelma, Louise 1 and Louise 2) went camping in a tent in the Everglades. No electricity. And yes, it is cold at night down there, believe it or not. Perfect in the daytime, though, and it is a non-mosquito season. I never saw so many alligators, and it is mating season so the booming and posturing were very impressive, rather like a reptilian singles bar.

Home Sweet Home

Cindy Photographing Kathy Photographing Tree Snail

It's a jungle out there. I will now be doing an Everglades series.

He Feedeth Among the Lilies, 8x8 Oil on Canvas

This was done from a photo shot by Uncle Emmett, who is not my uncle, but the uncle of a friend. That makes him my Fruncle.

The artist Robert Genn has many made-up words like that in his blog, The Painter's Keys, today. They are all about art and they are very funny. I was inspired to make up a few of my own:

Liarkinding: Complimenting an artist on a painting you hate because you don't want to hurt their feelings.

Clownvisagia: Going out in public unaware you have paint on your face.

Saddergaller: Depression because you didn't sell well at your show.

And my favorites of Robert's: 

Snooler: A person who gushes over your work but who you suspect privately thinks he can do better but actually can't. 

Superalphabetted: A person whose name is followed by a lot of letters. 

PURCHASE

Fuzzy Bear, 8x8 Oil on Canvas

Aren't bears both cute and terrifying? Since there was a fence between the bear and me, "cute" applied. If no fence, "terrifying." I did meet a bear across a stream in the Smokies once. I was trying to take a picture of some rhododendrons, and he ambled out of the bushes on the opposite side of the stream. I did not stick around to get the bear picture, as we were in a convertible and a quick getaway was in our best interest. He didn't look at me in any threatening manner; in fact, he appeared rather bored with my appearance and just strolled into the stream as I was skedaddling away. "Skedaddle" is such as useful word for that sort of situation, isn't it?

PURCHASE

Spoonbill Ballet, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

This is another Spoonbill by request. I love doing these things, but they do make my brain tired. First, I draw it; then I scout the magazines for the colors, shapes and values I need; then I have to picture whether each piece will create the proper illusion. Then I make a huge mess and get glue all over my hands. I have dispensed with the waste of time and effort caused by trying to use a brush. Fingers work quite well and are much more easily cleaned.

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Kids Will Be Kids, 7x5 Original Oil on Canvas Daily Painting

I entered this in the DailyPaintworks Daily Challenge, "The Up Close Animal Challenge."

I had been wanting to paint these little goats for a while and the Daily Challenge just spurred me on. I love their intent looks, as though they may be thinking, "That camera looks very tasty."

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Cindy's Cardinal, 4x4 Collage on Stretched Canvas

This is my last little bird collage. It's way too much work for such a tiny piece of art. It was fun, but takes more patience than I actually have. To be a woman of a certain age, I am remarkably impatient. When does that mellowing stuff set in?

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Green Parakeet, 4x4 Collage

This little birdie is actually named "Birdie," and loves the guitar. These tiny collages are just as hard to do as big ones, so I think I will stick to bigger ones soon. However, there is a tiny cardinal coming up...

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Teeny Birdie, 4x4 Collage

I thought I'd see how small a collage I could make. This is only 4x4 inches. It's on stretched canvas and needs no frame.

 SOLD