Pink Hollyhocks
8X10 oil on stretched canvas
$75.00

Lilac Chapel

Lilac Chapel
8 X 10 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
$75

Lina's Hollyhocks
8 X 8 Gallery Wrapped Canvas
$50

La Ventana 11x14  Oil on cradle board.  (SOLD)

"New Mexico Hollyhocks"
5x7 inch oil painting on canvas board.
Sold

This painting was my submission for the Facebook page  "Lets Paint New Mexico" .  Pop over there for a visit - lots of great artists doing there interpretation of each weeks photo challenge.

Taos Snow
8x10 oil on canvas board
SOLD

The Old Rugged Cross
24x36 oil on canvas

I know its been a long time since I have posted a painting and I'd say shame on me but I refuse to shame myself.  In addition to painting I dabble in writing and thought I post a short story I submitted for an annual contest.  Nope - didn't win but what it did do is give birth to a character who I fell in love with and have decided deserves his own book.  So I thought as a "creative" exercise I'd go ahead and post the story. 
Please keep in mind the rules of the contest dictated the format.  A mystery had to be established and solved in no more than 2500 words.  I have never written a short story before so it was really a unique experience for me.  It will end up being a chapter in the book and since it won't have to follow a contest guideline it will probably be longer but still - have a quick read and tell me what you think.  Any resemblence to any living person is purely coincidence.
(I respectfully ask that just like art work my work is mine with copyrights intended or acquired.) Here goes - enjoy.

Manny Garcia - Private Eye

It was midmorning in Santa Rosa when Manny Garcia lumbered up the alley looking like an old pull toy that leaned way to the left and then way to the right as he shuffled his feet. He waddled down a rut stopping only to pet stray dogs or peer into the dumpsters he passed.  Occasionally spotting something he thought he could use; he would retrieve the new found treasure and stuff it into the ratty brown shopping bag he carried.

Rose Padilla and her neighbor Lucie Hernandez stood in their back yards discussing the damage their gardens sustained in last night’s hail storm.  Rose was first to spot Manny making his way toward them, leaning closer to Lucie she whispered. “Oh no, it’s too early for to put up with his foolishness, I’m going inside.”

Lucie wasn’t quick enough to escape.  Manny smiled and waved as he called out her name.  “Good Morning Mrs. Hernandez.  How are you today?”

Lucie sighed deeply.  “I’m doing better than my tomatoes.  The hail ruined them but that’s nothing compared to what it did to my husband’s new truck.”

“That’s terrible, but you got insurance don’t you?” Manny removed his hat and wiped his forehead with his sleeved arm.  “How much did that truck cost you?” And then without waiting for an answer he continued, “How much insurance you got?  Enough?”

Lucie knew that the questions weren’t meant to be rude.  They were Manny’s way of showing concern and, as everyone in town knew, Manny was just Manny. “We’re okay – will get the truck fixed.”

“That’s good.” He said as he placed his hat back on his head and saying farewell be set out once again for town.

He was only a block from the downtown area when he stopped to sift through the dumpster located behind the home of the town’s bank president, Sam Weller.  As a general rule there was almost always something worth pulling out of this dumpster, however lately there had only been kitchen refuse.  Manny used a stick to stir the trash around but his effort only yielded the empty containers of a variety of generic store brand commodities.  With his head tucked under the dumpster lid he didn’t notice Mrs. Weller making her way to the backyard gate.

“Mr. Garcia?”  She whispered.

Startled, Manny bumped his head knocking his hat off and into the dumpster.  He retrieved his hat and rubbed his sore head. “Good Morning Mrs. Weller.”

Mrs. Weller looked up and down the alley.  When she was satisfied that no one was watching her she continued.  “Do you have time to come inside?  I’d like to talk to you about something.”

Manny followed her inside and sat down at the kitchen table.  Eagerly accepting her offer of coffee and a slice of German Chocolate cake, he listened as she sputtered off to a hesitant start.  “Mr. Garcia,” she began, “Are you really a detective?”

“Yes ma’am, I got my license right here.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.  Mrs. Weller couldn’t help but notice that the old worn wallet was completely empty with the exception of the wrinkled paper card declaring that the bearer was an official private detective as recognized by the Security Services Institute of America.  Not that Manny had attended the institute; as a matter of fact he had trouble filling out the form in the back of the magazine. In reality it merely signified that his check for $19.99 had cleared the bank.

Mrs. Weller read the card which offered her no reassurance.  Manny could sense her lack of confidence in his ability as a professional.  “You know I was the one who helped Father Lohan find his missing rosary and I have solved lots of other cases as well.”

She did know.  She and every other citizen knew that Father Lohan had intentionally left his rosary at the coffee shop and then walked across the street to the plaza.  Waking Manny from his nap on the bench where he slept most afternoons he retained Manny to find his lost possession.  It was assumed that the old priest had done this as an act of kindness but he had done it to end the daily visits from Manny who complained that no one would give him any business.   When Father Lohan praised Manny’s skill the following Sunday at mass it resulted in several new cases, mostly lost pets, lost rings or watches and the occasional stolen lawn ornament.  Much to everyone’s surprise Manny was fairly successful in retuning the lost items to their owners.

Drawing in a long breath Mrs. Weller decided she had nothing to lose.  “About a week ago I was doing some cleaning in the living room when I accidently bumped our Ernest L. Blumenschein painting and it fell off the wall and crashed to the floor. Are you familiar with his work?”

Manny shook his head so she continued.  “He’s a founding member of the Taos art colony.  Sam and I purchased Blumenshein’s Oak Creek Canyon ten years ago to mark our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.”  Then with a little embarrassment she added “at that time we paid around forty thousand dollars.”

Manny choked on his cake. “For a picture?”

“For an original Blumenshein” she corrected. “The painting itself wasn’t damaged but the frame broke.  My husband was out of town so I took the painting back to the gallery in Santa Fe where we purchased it to see if the frame could be repaired.  To my surprise they called me the next day to inform me that the painting I brought in wasn’t the same one they sold us.”  There was a sudden hitch in her voice. “They said…they said it was a forgery.”

“That’s terrible,” Manny said as he helped himself to a second piece of cake. “What did you husband say about it?”

“When he got home yesterday from his business trip I told him what I found out and suggested we contact the police but he was against that.  He said that he didn’t want the police brought into it because he didn’t want anyone to know what kind of money we had in our art and collectibles.” She poured Manny a second cup of coffee.  “I pointed out that we had paid a small fortune for the painting and that a report should be made for insurance purposes but Sam was firm and said that I should forget about it for now and then he left me sitting here while he went off to the bank to work.  He was gone most of the night and before he left this morning he said he didn’t want to talk about the painting anymore.  I just don’t know what to do?”

Manny finished his cake and coffee and then checked the clock on the wall.  “I better get going; it’s almost time for lunch.  But I tell you what; I’ll start working on your case right away.” She watched him go through the back gate and head up the alley toward town.  Sighing heavily, she couldn’t escape the feeling that she had just wasted a good hour of her time and two slices of cake on a hopeless case.

Making his way into the plaza Manny decided to bypass his regular bench located under the shade of a towering cottonwood tree and chose a bench on the south side of the square, the one across the street from the bank.  He sat down and surveyed the bank with is parking lot sandwiched next to the drug store.   The smooth, shiny, burgundy Cadillac parked in the first available space, the one marked Reserved for Bank President, belonged to Sam Weller. The rest of the lot was occupied with employee vehicles.  The bank policy emphasized leaving the parking spaces in front of the bank strictly for customers. 

 Gloria Alderidge, the bank secretary, came bouncing out of the bank and made her way to the parking lot. It crossed Manny’s mind that her skirt seemed short even for a girl in her twenties but he enjoyed looking at her legs anyway.   As she slid into her Mustang Convertible she let out a yelp as her skin touched the hot leather upholstery.  Manny couldn’t help but notice that last night’s hail storm had done quite a bit of damage to her car as well.  As she sped out of the parking lot the big clock on the bank chimed twelve.

Sitting in the sun Manny thought about the case of the forged painting.  He thought so hard that before he knew it his heavy eyes closed and he was fast asleep.  He might have slept there all afternoon had he not been woken by the sound of Gloria’s Mustang screeching to a stop in a parking spot in front of the bank where it would be shaded by a large tree.  As she made her way to entrance she was intercepted by Sam Weller.  Manny watched as the two had a brief conversation before she went through the front door and Mr. Weller continued down the sidewalk to the drug store.

 Manny’s stomach growled.  Looking up at the bank clock he was surprised to see that it was a quarter to two and he had slept through lunch.  The drugstore had a lunch counter so Manny pulled himself up from the bench and headed across the street.  As he pushed the door open he saw Sam Weller standing at the front checkout counter paying for his purchase, an unmistakable black and gold box of Rogaine. 

“What’s new with you Manny?” said the waitress as she sat down his egg salad sandwich.

“I’m working on a case, can’t talk about it but it’s a big one.”

“Working?” She laughed.  “Manny you’ve been asleep over there all day.”

“No really.” He said “I was working on a case and as soon as I finish my lunch I’m gonna go solve it.”

With a smile and a wink the waitress slid his check across the counter.  “Well if anyone can solve it you can, you probably see everything walking through the alleys all day.”

True to his word Manny wiped the last of the egg salad from his face and headed for the bank.  As he passed the parking lot he stopped to look closer at Sam Weller’s pristine Cadillac sitting in its coveted spot.  Clean and waxed without a blemish on it Sam smiled and thought he might like to have just such a car for himself one day if he ever learned to drive.

Sam Weller was busy going through some files when Gloria tapped on his door to say that Mr. Garcia was here to see him.  He was in the process of saying he was much too busy for an unscheduled meeting with anyone when Manny pushed his way through the door,

“I know you’re a busy man, this will only take a minute.  I’ve come about the painting.

Sam slowly closed the file and asked him to come in.  Gloria began to excuse herself when Manny stopped her.  “No Miss Alderidrge, you come in and sit down too” Gloria looked at Mr. Weller who shrugged so she closed the door and sat down.

Manny removed his hat and sat down. “That was a bad storm we had last night, lotta damage all over town, lotta damage.”

“I thought you came to talk about the painting?”  Sam said flatly.

Manny nodded. “You know your wife is a wonderful woman.  I’ve known her all my life and what a good cook.  She makes the best German Chocolate cake I ever tasted.”  He glanced at Gloria and then looked back at Sam.  Anyway, she was telling me about your trouble with the painting.  Quite a mystery don’t you agree?”

Mr. Weller sat silently and waited for Manny to get to the point.  “So many things are a mystery to me like …” his voice trailed off like he was trying to think of an example.  Then suddenly it picked back up.  “Like why a man that everyone thinks would have lots of money is buying Great Value vegetables and milk but, “  Manny gestured to the drugstore sack on the desk. “wastes good money on hair fertilizer.” Suddenly sweat began to appear on Sam’s head and bead up on the peach fuzz covering the bald spot

Manny went on.  “Or why Miss Alderidge takes a longer lunch than the other employees and parks in front of the bank just to have her car in the shade. And about your car,” Manny turned to face Gloria directly, “it such a shame that the hail banged up your pretty new car like that.  You should have parked it in the garage of that new house you just moved into.  You know the one where they delivered the new furniture to last week.  You must get paid pretty good here at the bank.”

Then returning his gaze at Mr. Weller he went on..  “And how nice for you that while you were working last night your car didn’t get any hail damage.  You’re a lucky man because that a very pretty car.  Yep you were lucky, either that or you had your car parked in a garage.  Op, but there isn’t a garage here at the bank so it must be luck.”

Sam’s mouth dropped open.  He looked at Gloria and then back at Manny.  “What do you want?”

“Me? I want to find your nice wife her painting but” Manny rubbed the back of his neck, “ I don’t think it’s around here anymore.  I think someone switched it with a fake and sold the real one for money.”

“For what reason?”  Mr. Weller managed.

Manny shrugged.  “I don’t know, maybe your living expenses have doubled.”

The pink in the banker’s cheeks drained.  “Again, what do you want?”

“I want you to write a nice letter recommending that Miss Alderidge gets the job at the school.”

Gloria’s cheeks, by comparison, were flushed with anger.  “I don’t want to change jobs?”

“Sure you do Miss Alderidge.  You see when Mrs. Weller finds out about the painting she will divorce Mr. Weller and take everything.  The scandal will cause the bank to fire him.  With no job and no money he won’t be able to pay for cars or furniture or even store bought hair. But you’ll still have a job so you can pay.”

Gloria stood up and tugged her skirt hem down.  “I’ll go clear out my desk.”

When she left the office Sam slumped back in his chair.  “Mr. Garcia, are you going to tell my wife?”

“What for Mr. Weller? By the time I see her again you will have already told her all about it yourself and after some time she will forgive you.”

 “You think so?”

Manny smiled “I haven’t been wrong yet?”

 

My soul, which is saved, heathy and happy, and my spirit, which is unquenchable, reside in a earthly body that the Dr. says has cancer. So in a few weeks we'll do a little remodeling on this dwelling. Remove the termite infested deck and possibly replace it with some new perky awnings. Life is good.

A small treasure

Santuario de Chimayo 3"x3" oil on canvas panel

3"x3" Vintage cigar tin....are you ready for this?
 
TA DA!

$75.00

Works in Progress

I really need to finish one of these......

Early Morning Smoke

9x12 Oil on hardboard panel
$85.00 + $10.00 shipping (unframed)

This was an experiment of sorts. If you look close you will see that the board was heavily textured before the painting was applied. Its a different approach than I have used before -
Although this painting is dark it is very rich in color. Reminds me of early morning when the sky is waking up.

Ranchos de Taos Church - Darkest Hour

SOLD
8x10 Oil on Canvas panel.
$100.00

St. Rose of Lima Chapel

11x14 Oil on stretched canvas
$200.00 (unframed)

This is a little something new for me...but I think I really like it.
I was sitting in the waiting room at a doctor's office thumbing through a magazine and I saw this tiny photo of a painting. The image was about an inch square; a corner of a barn with minimal landscaping around it. The painting was done in what I call (because I don't know the correct term) color block style.

As small as this image was it immediately caught and held my attention. The barn was bright yellow, the sky was a shocking blue and the ground was flat (I guess you realize I don't remember the color of the ground...but it was flat).

I knew I wanted to give this a try and I knew what my subject matter would be. This little chapel is a landmark in my home town. Sadly, today only portions of the wall exist, the rest has succumbed to time and weather. But its design its very basic and boxy and that "squareness" is echoed in its gate. Perfect!

Commissioned work

Commissioned painting
12x16 oil

Normally I wouldn't do a painting of something I had already done. But I had a special request for this. A dear lady had seen it on my site and pleaded with me to do one for her so I did. I have to say - it was a very interesting experience.

What happened was that I was able to see my growth by doing this painting. My perspective is 100% better - my texture int he stucco and the wooden window frames is much better and I even like my hollyhocks better.

All in all - I'm really glad I did this.

Pumpkin 2011

Pumpkin 2011 - 8x10 oil SOLD


Last year I painted a pumpkin and sold it - thought I'd see if lightening would srtike twice - lucky me - it did.

Pear Study...for breakfast

This is a little gem I did yesterday morning at the breakfast table.

Next painting!

I sketched this out on an 11x14 canvas board today - its the beginnings of a study for a painting.

Blue Door and Chamisa

8x10 Oil Painting on canvas (SOLD)

Small "bluffs" study

(SOLD)
Here's a small 4x6 study I did on canvas board - I liked it so I framed it! By the way - I now have a PayPal "Buy it now" button. I will offer my posted paintings for sale on my Blog for three days before moving it to auction on eBay.

"Bluff Study" - sold framed (small scratch on the bottom of frame as seen in photo)
$25.00 plus $10.00 shipping and handling.

Today was a good day...

Another turning point - a fork stuck in the road......

I have spent so much time feeling sorry for myself because I have to work for a living and saying how stressful my job is and that since my heart attack I am so weak that all I can manage is to go to work - crawl home - eat supper and go to bed. Weekends were for errands , laundry and housework as well as a small part time job. No time to paint or write or do anything that resembles creativity.

BLAH BLAH BLAH - I was not only depressed but also boring.

Well - to quote the Green Day lyrics - "time takes you by the wrist directs you where to go."

Last Friday at 4pm the president of the company I worked for (for over 5 years) met with us to let us know that our program had been de-funded in Washington - one quarter of the staff lost their jobs effective immediately. Guess which group I fell into?

But here's the strange thing. It was totally unexpected but immediately recognizable for the opportunity of a lifetime. While everyone else was wandering around wiping tears from their eyes I was busy packing up my office and thanking my director - no sarcasm here - I appreciate the opportunity I had to work for that company and will miss the job and coworkers but.....

It was all I could do to contain my excitement.

With my severance and unemployment I will for the first time in my life have the chance to see what I'm made of. To paint and write and market myself...and still pay my mortgage - WOW!
How lucky am I?

I spent this first week wrapping up loose ends - taking advantage of insurance before it ran out (which it did June 30th) I painted my bathroom and got new carpet, met with a contractor about a small remodeling job in the kitchen. I have company coming for the 4th of July but when they leave it will be time to launch my new career as a full time painter and writer.

Did you hear what I said? Forgive me while I say it again for my own enjoyment....I'm self employed as a painter and writer...... full time....ah, I love the sound of that.

"So make the best of this test and don't ask why...it's something unpredictable but in the end is right....I hope to have the time of my life."

A real painting ..for reals

Red Hollyhocks 4x6 inches oil on canvas

Loosening up my brushes (finally) This was a quick little painting of my all-time favorite - red hollyhocks and yellow stucco. I have been studying Stapleton Kearns blog - tons of wonderful information. Like taking a workshop. I enjoyed using some of the things I learned while doing this piece.

A new confession...

The reason I haven't been painting much is because I've been writing.

For some reason its easier for me to paint a picture, good or bad, and post it on the blog for the world (yeah, right) to see than to admit that I am also a hopeful, maybe a capricious,  writer. 

I have no illusions about my artistic ability - I have moments when my mind seems to be able to clearly communicate to my hand what it wants out of the paint and brush and for that I am very grateful. I also have many moments when my brain and my hand don't appear to be on speaking terms. That's just the way it goes for me.


But the truth is I think I'm a better writer than painter.  I'm an unpolished stone in that I lack a lot of formal training in grammar and punctuation but I think I have a talent for conveying whats in my mind and heart onto paper with far more accuracy than canvas.  Now lest you think that last statement reeks of ego let me tell you something, I have far more insecurity about putting my written work "out there".

Seriously, I have had my first book written for a long time and can't seem to manage to finish the editing in order to have it read by those who's opinions I trust.  And that's a shame because its a good and fun little story.  I'm also about half way through the second book which is a little gem but again - can't seem to get on with it.  The format for the third book is already laid out.

I don't know what my problem is, I'm open to suggestions.

I don't know if its lack of focus, lack of discipline, exhaustion stemming from poor health and working both a full time and part time job.....

When my first marriage was breaking up my then husband asked me to go to marriage counseling.  I agreed and he picked out a therapist and off we went.  After a couple of visits my former husband realized that the doctor wasn't going to take his side and make me behave so he quit going but I kept on.  I had always laughed at folks who went to therapy but I have to say, it was one of the best things I ever did for myself.

The reason I'm telling you this is because it was this doctor who first alerted me to the possibility that I lacked the backbone to put myself "out there" and that was the real reason why I never seemed to finish up my book (s) or the half painted canvases that are laying around my studio or the half crocheted tablecloths in the closets.

And here's the hard part.  I know better.  I have sold my paintings.  Won ribbons in shows for both my painting and my crochet work (are you surprised?)  Recently I sold enough of my handmade jewelry to help finance my trip home for Christmas.  I receive a steady stream of confirmations from a variety of people in a variety of fields encouraging me to write for a living.

So what's my problem?

In the meantime while I'm writing, editing and trying to sort it all out and find my backbone I'll entertain you with some more photo's that I've taken and kind of like...a lot.  Feel free to critique my issues - apparently I need to get used to it and overcome my insecurities.....

I'm still here

I'm not ill I just haven't been well lately.

Dana took me home to New Mexico for Christmas in hopes of giving me a spiritual shot in the arm.  Although winter, I took lots of pictures and this is one of them.  Look for upcoming painting (I promise) coming along soon.

I know, these aren't paintings....

...but they're nice to look at anyway. We've had a couple of beautiful weekends and these are some of the photo's I've taken to capture the mood.

Desert Blossoms

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas - Damar Varnish for a high gloss finish.
5 inches by 5 inches square - painted wrapped sides - 1 1/4 inches wide.
http://team.etsy.com/images/downloads/buttons/as_seen_on.jpg



I don't paint flowers - love them, but no good at them. Then several weeks ago we got a new channel on our cable line up. A great channel called "Create". There's a program called Passports and Pallets and two Saturday's ago they ran a marathon of that series. One of the artist was from Santa Fe and she painted flowers in her garden. I watched and studied and said - I think I might be able to do that.

I was surprised at the results - very surprised and very satisfied. (Nice combination) I decided to but a coat of Damar on this little jewel. I used to put it on all my paintings but stopped because of the drying time. As soon as I opened the bottle the smell enveloped me .... I had forgotten how much I like that smell. It brought back the memories of studying at the Southwest School of Art. That studio always smelled like Damar.

Coming soon -

I will be posting a new painting this weekend - something special..at least to me.

Believe it or not!

Pine Tree Branches in Winter 9X12 Oil on Canvas/ Palette Knife

TOTAL SIZE: 12X14

This is a odd canvas. Today you see many "wrapped" canvases that allow you to hang a painting without a frame. This is along the same lines only instead of a 90 degree angled wrap this canvas curves back. For the record - I didn't like working on this canvas - it was difficult because the edges are still too much of a part of the painting. The color is a little off in the photograph. This painting is much warmer than it appears. I tried to fix it but couldn't.

This painting had been sitting on my easle for months. Started in the dead of winter I forced myself to finish it up this afternoon. Hard to get in the mood to do a winter scene when its sweltering outside. But I have other things I want to paint and wanted to finish this up before moving on.

Its been a very long time since I have painted. I got way too busy with my job and some other things and lost my way for a while. Last Thursday I had a total melt down at work. I was asked to take on yet another task and I lost it. The task itself was small and insignificant but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I left my office and went to Sonic to have a little break. I called my Dana on the phone and cried so hard that the poor car hop stood as far as she could away to hand me my order - she was really freaked out but that's okay - so was I.

One of the things that came out of that good cry (which my sister Vicki would call a "soul cleansing" - great name for it) was that I refocused on the fact that I need to paint even if its just a stroke a day - I NEED to paint.

Believe it or not....

....I'm finally back at the easle after a long absence. I have been incredibly busy at work for months. Many nights (most night and weekends too) I brought home a card board box full of paper work to work on here at home. But we (my agency) completed our daunting task and now I have time to breath. Hang in there, I should have something posted by the weekend.

A work in progress

Patience has never been a virtue I was familiar with. This morning I found the time, energy and drive to do some painting. I have to say I really excited about the painting so far.
I stopped myself even through what I really wanted to do was put the snow in and the dry grasses. For a change I was able to control the impulse knowing that the white would never stay white when the rest of the work was wet. I'm just as proud of my unusual discipline to stop working as I am the work that I did do.
(There is a glare on the left hand side of the painting due to a hasty photo)
I'm going to be away for a few days so I won't be able to finish up this painting until next weekend when I lay the snow in and cut the sky and branches back in. Still, I wanted to let you have a peek at what I got accomplished.

Neat photo and inspiration for future painting

This morning I decided to venture out into the snow and head over to the park to get some winter reference photos. I happen to see this group of trees and shot the photo from inside my car - through the passenger side window. Just a quick shot to get started, nothing special...

When I got home and downloaded it to my computer I decided to play with it a little.
My computer has a neat photo program with special effects and this is what I ended up with. I love this - love love love this - I saw no potential at all in the original photo - nothing inspiring - but now....

I realized that I'm too immature as an artist to see the potential in a scene - I think I'll be using this photo program to help me isolate shapes and colors instead of choking myself with details.
Look for this picture to end up in oil very soon.

Simply Moonlight (finished)

Simply Moonlight (SOLD)
11X14 inch original oil on stretched canvas

Ta Da! Here it is - finished and I really like it. As I mentioned before I intend to do more night skies. I'm a little obsessed with other artist who do them so well. I thought I'd try my luck at a few.

For my first completed work of 2010 I feel like I'm getting a pretty good start.

This year I also intend to change the way I market my work. I will post my paintings on my blog along with a purchase price and if anyone is interested they can contact me directly. After a week or so I will move them to eBay. This give those who follow my blog first chance to buy and avoid the whole bidding process.

I also intend to take a class on website building so I can establish a website for my artwork. I had some great advice from Donna Clair. She recommended I start doing some larger pieces and develop a website.

I also intend to "try" to be more focused and disciplined....quit laughing....seriously - I need to be more structured.
So now you know some of my goals for 2010 - wish me luck!

P.S. Just a note to let you know this paint sold shortly after being posted - my sincere gratitude to the buyer - Thanks so much and enjoy.

Something different...sort of....

Framed Miniature - $25.00 - free shipping

I was straightening up my studio and I ran across some watercolors in the bottom of a box. I never had the knack for working with water colors but I decided that I could keep them in the kitchen and when I'm sitting around the table I can play with them a little. This was what I came up with - obviously a repeat of my most recent oil but I really liked the feel of it.

Its a tiny little jewel. The watercolor itself is about 2 inches by 2 inches and framed its about 4 inches by 4 inches.