Stir Crazy

8x6" oil on canvas, PURCHASE INFORMATION

I was sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office last week. Waiting. And sketching in my ever-present sketchbook. In comes this very small and very ancient old man. And his very small and ancient wife. And their caretaker who proceeds to apologize for the two of them. They have dementia. In the course of my waiting, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of this little demented couple's conversation. Mostly centered around food. The husband said, "Yeah, some people sure know how to make stew." Maybe 30 or 40 times. His wife was OK with that--she sweetly agreed with him every time. I made a note that if you're going to go a little looney it's actually very polite if your spouse goes with you. Not sure how you work the timing thing but, nevertheless, it's a good plan. So this painting was going to be about...stew. But instead I think I captured my feelings about being trapped in the waiting room with the husband and the wife and the stew...stir crazy!

Naked Jaybird

10x8" oil on canvas, PURCHASE INFORMATION

I've been wanting to do another painting with these "lollipop trees" for a while. I really like to play with scale and depth in a picture. I think it's more interesting than if it's "correct" and what you expect to see. Much more engaging . So I guess this whole picture falls into that category. I like this little guy and his long cast shadow on the purple landscape. And what's up with those birds....

Dandy Lion

10x8" oil on canvas, PURCHASE INFORMATION

Every spring I wonder who decided that the dandelion is a pesky weed. I mean, they are really beautiful and grow without any encouragement. You can't say that about most flowers. My favorite part is the seed heads--what a great design! Each seed has it's own tiny parachute. So this painting is dedicated to all the little kids (and the big ones) who will help the Taraxacum Officinale in it's quest to cover the world with brilliant yellow flowers by blowing on it's fuzzy little head. And watching, in awe, as all those little parachutes make their way back to the earth! Go on, blow--you know you want to!

Tell Me No Lies

12x16" oil on canvas, SOLD

I love this guy's little "seashell ear" and the purpley-blue sky. Sometimes a painting will just sing to me while I'm painting and other times it's a struggle. This one went through a few transitions. That's a nice way of saying he was banished to the corner for a few days while I made myself crazy(er) contemplating the perfect sky color. And now I'm happy. Nothing like a good purple-y blue sky (and that's technical artist talk, by the way).

Uninvited Guests

30x24" oil on canvas, available on MY WEBSITE

This is a self-portrait. Yep, that's me with all the little people that keep me up nights, demanding to be painted. They are the Uninvited Guests. Some nights it's just a party in my head!

MomX2

10x8" oil on canvas, SOLD

I've been a mom for 21 years. I don't think I'm any smarter now than I was 21 years ago, although I've read every parenting book I could get my hands on. Less smart, more confused. It's hard work and most days it's worth it. The other days...well, let's just say it's a good thing that my passport has expired. I'm so lucky to have two great kids and two fabulous step-kids. Four kids. Happy Mother's Day to me! And to all of my mom friends...

Snooty Two Shoes

16x20" oil on canvas

This painting, along with seven others, is going to be available at the San Diego Art Institute's famous C-Note Sale. If you've never been to this event, you're missing out on a fun evening and incredible deals on original art. Here's how it works: all member artists are asked to submit up to eight pieces of original art. They are priced at $100, $200 or $300. The gallery is hung salon style with paintings almost floor to ceiling. People start lining up hours ahead of time and when the doors open everyone rushes to grab their favorite pieces right off the wall! It's a wild scene---think Nordies half-yearly sale but on the day after Thanksgiving--it's that good. It opens on May 17 and pieces continue to sell until June 1. But those in the know go on the opening night!

An Article in Art Calendar Magazine!

The editor of Art Calendar Magazine was kind enough to to feature me in the May issue. Wow. Me and my art. Will wonders never cease? I am so proud...click here to read the article!

Bernie Ponders His Supernatural Powers

10x8" oil on canvas, PURCHASE INFORMATION

Bernie is a rather popular fellow. Or so I heard from several people that dropped by to say hi at ArtWalk. They were wondering when I might be doing another Bernie...so here he is in all his glory. You gotta love him. He's just a little full of himself. We all know a few Bernie's lurking around in the shadows just looking for a spotlight.

Sweet And Sour

14x11" oil on canvas, SOLD

Here's the first painting I've finished since ArtWalk. Feels pretty good to be pushin' the paint around again! This one's a little looser and a lot darker. I don't mean in value. It's got a little cloud of creepiness hanging over it. Some days you just gotta confront those demons...

Diamond Boys

20x16" oil on canvas, available on my website

I haven't been posting as often as I should. My bad. I am trying to complete larger pieces in between some of the smaller, daily paintings. And this is one of my newest paintings. I really love these guys with their little stick arms and big noses. I finished it in time to show it at ArtWalk and it received many favorable comments. (Along with "What, exactly, were you thinking......?) So, even though these guys are not your usual daily painting I think some folks like to see my "Big Girl" paintings once in a while. And today's a good day to do that because this is my 200th post on this blog!! Man, that's a lot of words. And a bunch of paintings! Many thanks to everyone who subscribes. I'm ready to start the next 200 paintings!

Small Fry

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

Well, I'm back in the saddle after my big show, ArtWalk, over the weekend. It was so much fun and so much work! But really worth it. I had a blast with a couple of the other Featured Artists, Julia C. R. Gray and Stephanie Clair. We became fast friends as we made our appearances together on TV shows, radio interviews, media parties and standing on street corners at 5:30am painting by moonlight (don't ask). These two are a hoot! Oh, and extremely talented artists and kind and generous women. Check out their fabulous art.

And many thanks to all the wonderful folks that stopped by to tell me they read this blog, check my website, collect my paintings and appreciate my "bizarre" take on the human condition. Can't tell you how many times I answered the question, "So what are you thinking when you paint these people...?" Something I ponder--at least twice a day.

Doorman

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of."
--Ogden Nash

Carol And Lionel: Party Animals

8x10" oil on canvas, available in MY STORE

I have been "power painting" for days now, gearing up for ArtWalk this weekend. I'm feeling just a little delirious tonight...blame it on the turpentine or maybe it's the blinding light at the end of the tunnel. I don't know. But I'm almost there! Come see me at ArtWalk Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 12 to 6 both days. I'll have 40 original paintings, prints and my book, About Face. Hope to see you there!

Charmed, I'm Sure

14x11" oil on canvas, available in MY STORE

This is actually a practice piece for a very large self-portrait. I'm finding that not only have I had to wrangle big, red hair my whole life but now I 'm trying to tame it with paint. Some things never change. They just sprout a little silver.

Princess TPO

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

OK, I admit it. Not a pretty sight. I'm just a little too busy getting ready for the Big Show (ArtWalk). TV interview today and another one next week. Radio interview on Wednesday. All part of the package of being a Featured Artist. It's all great. Really great! I'm just a teeny-weeny bit crabby with the rest of my life. I need a nap. Princess TPO (Totally Pissed Off) has left the premises. Sweet dreams...

Royal Tizzy

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

It's just been one of those days. Or maybe weeks. Wait a minute, it's only Tuesday. I have been getting ready for a big show in three weeks, ArtWalk in San Diego. It's a fabulous venue (outdoor art festival in San Diego--c'mon, doesn't get much better!) And I am one of the "Featured Artists" this year. Quite an honor. So in addition to making lots of paintings and prints, signs and brochures, I am doing things like...radio interviews. And PR type events where I paint and people watch me. While they drink wine. Should be interesting to say the least. I'm not complaining. Just a little overwhelmed with the rest of my life. Wish I could put it in a shoe box on the top shelf of my closet for just a little while. Twenty-two days--max. And after my big show, I'd take it down off the shelf and, one-by-one, I'd gently pull out each little irritation, dust it off and...DEAL WITH IT! Just not now, please, I'm in a tizzy. A Royal Tizzy.

A Spot Of Bother In The Garden

36x24" oil on canvas, SOLD

My early education was mostly dictated by the nuns. Actually, the Sisters of Charity, God love 'em. And, as a result of said education, I had a lot of questions as a kid. Still do. There's some mystery surrounding the whole situation with Adam and Eve and the snakey guy with the apple. It could've all been so different....Like why did Eve get all the blame? Couldn't Adam show a little chutzpah and think it through first? I mean it was an apple...come on! Some of these themes show up in my work all these years later. I'm still working it out. But I like exploring some of the more bizarre concepts that were passed off as fact and truth to the little reverent Catholic kids who were actually just scared out of their bloomers. So thanks to the Sisters (of Charity) for giving me plenty of material to work with. This painting was just accepted into the Southern California juried Show at the San Diego Art Institute. And it won the Media Services award! Hail Mary! The Show will be up for six weeks if you're in the area.

Queen Doozie

10x8" oil on canvas, available in MY STORE

It's still Spring Break here and barely any time to paint, let alone write about it. So here's my painting. Hope you like it!

Princess Willy Nilly, revisited

11x14" oil on canvas, available on MY WEBSITE

This painting was sitting in my studio for several months...buggin' me. Couldn't quite put my finger on it. So I kept it in my line of vision while I worked on other paintings. I futzed with the background a little but completely re-worked the face. And now I'm happy with her. Funny, how you just know when you're finished with a painting. And when you're not.

Broken Wings

8x6" oil on canvas, available in MY STORE

Today my son went back to college. It was the end of his Spring Break after a week at home sleeping and eating. I'm sure lots of kids traveled back to their colleges today. And lots of moms are feeling just a little blue. My Zac is so special. He's my hero. Zac is a cancer survivor and one heck of a determined guy. The cancer and the treatments he endured left him with many physical issues that he has to deal with every single day. And hopping a plane to Tucson to go back to U of A is not easy for him. Walking is not easy for him. And for me, well, it's a leap of faith every time he leaves home. But he loves school and like I said, he's one determined kid. Those broken wings don't slow him down. He's learning to fly. Love you, Zac...all the way to the moon!

Wascally Wabbit

10x8" oil on canvas, available HERE

Here's to a Happy Easter with plenty of chocolate eggs in your basket!

Peacenik

8x6" oil on canvas, available HERE

One of my favorite quotes seems just perfect with this painting:

"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." --Anita Koddick

Wings And Roots

12x16" oil on canvas, SOLD

This is the second painting I did of Max. Turning 16. Spread your wings but remember your roots. Several people have asked me lately if I do commissions and I have written this before but here I go again: The answer is yes, well.... kinda sorta. As long as you don't really expect that it will look like you or your family. What I mean is that the good folks that have hired me to do paintings of their family fully expect my wacky version of their family. And they're OK with that. Really. This painting is a perfect example. Max's dad told me a few interesting details about his boy and sent me lots of photos and even some videos. I then worked on re-arranging the facial structure while maintaining the essence and personality of Max. And I always find a way to interject some humor and whimsy! So yes, I do commissions but, no, it won't look a thing like you! Whew! That's a relief, huh?

Mad About Max

14x11" oil on canvas, SOLD

This is a painting of Max. Oh, and his dad, Ron. Max is turning 16 today.....Happy Birthday, Max! Ron wanted to commemorate this momentous occasion with a painting of the two of them, just being themselves. So Ron sent me lots of pictures of them together and some very funny videos. I noticed right away that they always posed with their arms around each other. Sweet. So that's how I painted them; arms around each other sportin' their crowns. A couple of princes. Hey Max, your dad loves you all the way to the moon!