Crow Maiden painting for Nibblefest

I've been really sick, spent 6 days in the hospital last month, but I am feeling better. I still don't really know for sure what is wrong, but I'm working on it. I finally felt like painting something for nibblefest, and I have been working on this crow maiden for a couple of days.

Victoria

This is a picture Dave took in Victoria, BC on Saturday, it was raining, but we had a wonderful time. I've been in Victoria since August 1st. I have a bunch of pictures, but I have not gone through them yet. I thought this one perfectly captured the day.

Kelsi's painting

Remember this painting? She finally finished it! I love it, love it. Print is available on etsy, the original is hanging in her new kitchen.

She did another that I have not taken pics of yet, it's about butterflies, just lovely, I will post it soon.

My First Illustration Friday Entry

My son-in-law, Bryce has been encouraging me to try IF, so here goes. The theme is "Enough", and I thought these flowers were full of enough life and abundance to carry it. The painting is available on ebay. Click on the last photo to be taken to it.

A Whole Passel of New Paintings!

All of these paintings are on my handmade boxframes. I am very, very pleased with all of them. They are all listed on ebay, click on the picture to be taken to the auction.

More Big Doings In The Carport

This is a sofa that Dave made for Kelsi in the carport this weekend She is going to use this (color Taupe) cushion from Urban Outfitters. It will be painted white and beige (stripes we think) and I'm making some big cushions for the back and two bolster ones for the side. They are getting a new apartment in the next few weeks and since all their furniture is still in GA, they needed something to sit on. Dave made it so they can store stuff in it. Isn't it cool?

I have a few new paintings done, and I will post them soon, but waiting for good pics.

New Paper Dolls!

I was watching "A Room With A View" (the Helena Bonham-Carter one, not the horrible Masterpeice Theatre one where he dies in the end) last night and was inspired by the beautful girls and clothes to make some more dolls. Gillian, I'm saving it to watch with you again, anytime you can.

My new readers may not know that I am a paper doll maker, besides being a painter. I've been meaning to do some more, and finally finished a few today. Whew! They are a lot of work. They are made out of 300lb (really heavy, almost like cardboard) watercolor paper, and usually they have moving parts, although this one (Darby) does not. I like the schoolgirly look of her. She's for sale on ebay, click on her to see her...

And Lucy Honeychurch, the one in the pink dress, is for sale on Etsy. Clicky, Clicky.

Oh, poor little neglected blog!

Sorry Folks, things have been quite busy around the old Art Life, but I wanted to share my new Nibblefest listing. It's starting at 99 cents. The theme was "Mist". I also relisted 3 other favorite paintings for a lower start price. Click on the pic to be taken to the auction and select view sellers other items to see the other paintings.

Where are the new paintings? And Big Pink Rhododendron

IF anyone is wondering why I don't have any new paintings this week, this is why, I spent all weekend making the box frames I love painting on. They are 9x12xx1.5" and a very smooth surface to paint on. I love them, but they are so much work! Usually, Dave makes them for me and I just have to paint and sand, but this time I was pretty much on my own. I made 34. That should hold me for awhile. I've also included a photo of our giant rhody in the front yard, it is probably as old as the house, 103 years old.

Nibblefest Entry and Orange and Lemon Tree

Here are my new paintings for this week, a bathing beauty, a nude with antlers (my nibblefest entry, starts at 99 cents) and a lemon and orange tree.

Trip to Carbonado and Wilkeson

Saturday Dave and I drove up to the Carbon Glacier side of Mt Rainier. Pics by Dave. The first picture is the Wilkeson Elementary school. It is built of locally produced sandstone. There is a sandstone quarry and cutting operation at the end of the road this school is on, and we saw 30 old abandoned coke ovens. (I guess they used to cook coal to make coke which burned cleaner for heat) There used to be over 160 ovens there. We also saw a strange edifice that looked like part of a castle, abandoned in the woods, but I cannot find anything about it online.

We also went through Carbonado, a very little town that looks like it is hard to make a living there at the base of Mt Rainier. Then we went as far as we could in the park and thats where Dave was able to take these long sought after pictures of skunk cabbage. I really don't know what we will talk about on trips in the spring anymore since he has finally captured some. :)

Update for listings on ebay

I just listed 6 new paintings on ebay, these plus a couple more, an owl and a crow. We went on a trip to Carbonado and Wilkeson on Saturday, and Dave took some pictures of skunk cabbage that he is quite proud of. He has been on a skunk cabbage quest for several years. :) I'll post the photos later.

New paintings!

I finished 4 paintings today! As usual, you can click on the picture to be taken to the auction.

Ava Bella!

My good friend Melissa's sister Katie and husband just adopted a darling little girl from Guatamala. I painted a new hollyhock painting in her honor. Here is a link to her blog: http://www.guatebaby.blogspot.com/ I can't wait to see her in person!

Click on the pic to go to the auction.

Goldilock's Sisters

I have a new print in my Etsy store! I'm trying something new, which is selling prints instead of the original. My new painting is "Goldilock's Sisters" I LOVE this painting! It has kind of a creepy quality that I like and I think tells a story. Now, why those bears are holding those girls in a bluebell/ birchwood with their long black claws, I will leave up to you. But doesn't that bear on the far right look embarrassed?

Kelsi inspires me/a work in progress

My girls have more talent in thier little fingers than I have in my whole being. Alas! I am the one with the time and the means to paint and they have to work out in the real world.

When Kelsi moved back here from GA, she brought two paintings that are not finished that I just adore. The one above is unfinished, but I love it even unfinished and it inspired me to do a version, although mine is stiffer and not nearly as good. I did paint my own nest though, and will paint some birds, hers are collaged. Mine is not nearly finished but thought I would share the beginning. Hers is the white background, mine the gold. Anyway, wanted to share what goes on here, we feed on each other. nibble nibble.

Row Of Girls

While I was sick this past week I worked on a commission and 2 other paintings that are a row of 7 girls. There is a ton of work in these but I find them incredibly fun to do. This is the one that is listed on ebay right now, BIN $99. This is just a partial scan, the batteries are dead in my camera, so I have horrible pics of it on ebay.

New Hollyhock Garden

9x12 on fine quality canvas paper, will need to be framed. I've been sick with a cold, and done a lot of TV watching and these small pieces on paper with watercolor faces. I love when I can just work for the joy of working with no worries about time constraints. Since anything I can get done when sick is a bonus, I am happy about all I did. I have several pieces up right now that I like very much. I hope you like them too. You can go to the auction by clicking on the above pic. To see the others, just click on my store list.

Amy's Beehive

This is another painting I listed last night. I really like it. It has an orange underpainting with turqouise overlaid. I like her sweet face.

Girl In Bottle Garden

One of the paintings I listed today, it's a collaboration between me and my daughter, Kelsi. She drew it, and I painted it.

It's 12x6 on canvas paper. Click on the picture to go to the auction.

Min and Two Birds 9x12 Box Frame

This is a small version of a painting I have hanging in my living room. It has all my current favorite colors, turqouise, orange, magenta. If I can motivate my lazy self, I should take a picture of the original, which is 24x36". Sometimes I enjoy repeating a painting in a different size, especially if I am stressed and feeling uninspired. All of which are true of me right now.