So check out this one !

You all seem to like these trucks as much as I do!

If I remember correctly we got this photo
in a small village near Penasco, New Mexico.

I imagine the little old guy who loved this truck.
He probably took it out rabbit hunting.
Or maybe he used it to haul hay
for the horses.
Or maybe,
he took his sweetie pie out for a ride
where they had a sweet kiss or two????

Pickup trucks with character abound here in New Mexico.

Recently I was at a local gallery dropping off some of my work
and there was a fabulous painting, quite large, lots
of wonderful color. It was a painting of a
pickup truck. And it was SOLD.
I'm always fascinated when I see paintings like this,
made by someone who really sees
their world.

Spring is getting closer every minute and the world
is out there banging away on your door to
creativity.

Will you see pickup trucks and turn to your canvas today?

I'm thinking it could be fun !!!

Go out and see some fun stuff today. Be inspired.

Elements of Love
16 x 20 x 1 gallery wrap canvas
mixed media
$250

Passion, pain, tenderness.
Whether it is friend, family or lover,
the elements of love run true and deep.
Layer upon layer of passion, pain and yes,
mostly tenderness.

ROSA OFFERS HER HEART

Rosa Offers Her Heart
16 x 20 x 1 gallery wrap
mixed media on canvas
$250

Springtime and Rosa feels love in the air.

What is that song?? How does it go????
"Love Is In The Air"
I think it was from the old TV series "Love Boat"?
I never watched that show but for some
reason I'm remembering the theme song.

So anyway, back to Rosa. She is an angel, see her halo?
She keeps sheep and they graze about her house.
They don't need a corral since they love Rosa and they
never leave her yard.

Tulips ~ ~ ~ Rosa is a lot like me.
This girl loves her tulips !

I wonder if a shepherd looking for work will ever
wander by and offer to care for Rosa's sheep, and
yes,
well,
er,
her heart as well.
I bet she'd offer it up.

Feautred Artist !!!!

Kim at Kim-Creating Space really got me going this morning. She has included in her current post a project that I can hardly wait to run home and try out. I just love the effect she got with technique and can think of all kinds of ways to make this fun and different and my own. How about you? Ready for a little distraction? Try this out !!!!!

NEW CAMERA

Wow! A new camera makes all the difference in the world ! A few weeks ago I took a photo of this cat and it was nice but this new camera makes it fantastic ! Want to look like a professional? Get a decent camera. I certainly didn't spend a lot of money but just a bit more sure does help.

ART THAT MAKES A MARK

Making a Mark on your life. Thinking about life and all those I come in touch with and the implications of making a mark. I like to think I am making a positive mark on the lives of those around me, my friends, family, co-workers, and especially my spouse and grandbaby.

Making a Mark is also about what my art says. The message I convey, I hope, makes a positive mark on those who view it.

Life is short, make a positive mark.

SPRING FEVER

I have serious Spring fever.
It is beautiful here today but I know there are plenty of cold days ahead.
I'm so glad to have this photo of my flowers from last summer.......*sigh*.
Where do you live? When does Spring arrive for you????

"ROCKY"

"Rocky"
acrylic and paper on gallery wrap canvas
17 x 20
$250

I once had a great old cat named Rocky. He was a stray found by some friends and he came home with me. He was a great hunter. Pretty independent. Rocky was a good guy.

ALL OF LIFE IS ART

Thinking about art, like I do.........

All of life is art. There is the art of romance, the art of negotiation, the art of fine dining, the art of simply living.

This coming week I will manage a fairly large project (for me it is large). The company I work for is having new carpet installed in the office. Big project you say? Well it means moving 25+ employees out of their cubicles, taking down those cubicles, laying the carpet and then putting it all back but in a new configuration. Oh my gosh, electricians, data drop and phone technicians, movers, carpet layers, the guys who take care of the cubicle build. And then thee are the employees. Everyone has so much stuff and it all has to go in boxes. Just the computers, copiers, printers, phones, keyboards and incidental equipment is mind numbing. We are a 24/7 type business so our customers need product and service at all times................yes, life is an art.

So for the next week, or so, I'll be practicing a different kind of art from that which I post about here. I'm going to focus on this as art, I'm going to look at this in a different way than one might expect and see what bubbles up.

ART MIND

Yet another day with my friend, ART, no-no-no, that's "art mind", not some hunk of burning love guy. Though I did know a guy named Art once. I digress......................

So many ideas swimming around in my head and not enough time to get them all out. Funny how sometimes it seems like a game of creative feast or famine. My "art mind" is so afire with ideas that I have a hard time sleeping. That is the trouble with this day job....I'm sure I'm not the only one who suffers this disease.

A NEW LOOK

I am fickle. I like change. Boy that old blog page template was getting on my nerves. Not that anyone would probably notice. I like this. Well, for now.

Hope all is well with you.

A CREATIVE STREAK !!!!!!!!!!!

18 X 20 X 2 gallery wrap canvas
mixed media
$250 + shipping

I've been on quite a creative streak here lately. I love these colors. I love the layered paper for a background. I love layering the paint, wiping it off, tweaking the details. This bird makes me feel happy.

I hope your day is happy as well.

PURPLE CAT

18 x 20 mixed media gallery wrap canvas
$250

For some bizarre reason it is nearly mid-night and I'm wide awake. This is so unlike me.

So how do you like the purple cat? I had such fun creating this piece. The silver heart in the middle of her tummy sports beautiful beads.

I like the halo. I'm always looking at those beautiful New Mexican retablos and they all have halos so I thought, this sweet cat should sport one too.

The process for this creation was particularly enjoyable. I love layering on the first pieces of paper, toning them down with color, painting the focal point and then the icing of beads on the heart just makes me smile.

I hope you like it too.

Mixed Media 14 x 16 gallery wrap canvas
$250

Some of my earliest memories as a child are of flowers. I must have been 6 or 7 years old and wandering about my grandmother's backyard I found one single red tulip. I remember being mesmerized by the dark black interior and how it so beautifully contrasted with the deep red of the petals.

SUNDAY ISN'T FOR THE BIRDS

Sunday afternoon. Everyone home and tucked in, dreaming of Sunday dinner.

This past summer we had the fun of watching barn swallows build and fill their nests and tend to their sweet little babies until one day they were all finally gone, no longer returning at night for a tasty meal provided by mom and dad.

The area we live in is quite arid and there aren't many trees. Except for the little oasis where our home is located. This said, the birds really love it and we get endless entertainment watching them. I'm starting to yearn for Spring and Summer, green and growing and the chaotic bird activity.

In the meantime, I entertain myself making art depicting my buddies, the birds.

SPIRITS OF LOVE

Birds are the spirits of love sitting at our window sill. Watching over us morning through night. Ever watchful that we are safe, warm, happy and loved. They are there even when we close our eyes pretending we don't see, we don't know or maybe even we don't care. No matter, the spirits of love are there hovering about patting our hearts, stroking our souls, drying our tears as a mother fusses over her baby.

Have you seen any birds at your window sills today? Have they landed in your hair, not noticed? Hmmmmm? Do you have your eyes closed ? Maybe so, but even still you must feel that soft, and tender warmth in your heart. You DO feel it, don't you?

EXTRA LEGS

This is a page from a book I made for friends who vacationed in Italy.

Sometimes I wish I had some extra legs. So many things to do, so many adventures. Wouldn't it be great ?

I love these paper doll legs.

This post is dedicated to "Linda" over at Frenchless in France who takes a day out to walk the streets of Paris and take such wonderful photos.

THE SMILE OF AN ANGEL

Little Miss Iris ~ Isn't she just an angel?

The other day on the phone she finally got "Grandma" really really clear. She's at that stage where she babbles and then in the middle of it all, I hear something I can recognize. I'm sure the kids understand her most of the time since they talk to her 24/7 (or thereabouts).

Hearing her say "Grandma" was one of those moments. Kind of like the first time my son hugged me in the night and said "I love you".

JUST IMAGINE

I look at this beautiful work of art and try to imagine the technical expertise required to complete and my mind reels.

To create the paint, mixing the pigments. Getting the perspective right. The lights and shadows. Oh and those beautiful expressive facial features.

How many weeks, months did this take? How many hours a day? Until I picked up a paintbrush and seriously tried to create eyes, I had no appreciation for this kind of beauty. Oh my, I am in awe.