Saturday Snippet 6 : On Friday :)

I'm posting early because we're doing an impromptu trip here. The weather is gorgeous and my camera is ready! See all of you on Sunday!

Lori, this quote is for you♥  Photo taken at Point Lobos, Carmel California. (Butterfly added later.)
(click to embiggen)

Animal Wednesday: penguins today and a tropical birdie

I always think of penguins as being bigger, like five feet tall. Especially Emperor penguins like the ones in the documentary, "march of the penguins." 

At least this exhibit wasn't bad. The penguins seemed happy and well loved. They all have colored arm bands so the viewers can read about who's who.

This guy looks like he has a friend stuck on his back, hence the commentary!

Hmmm, should I go for a dip?

This is the old timer. He stole my heart.

hey, who's behind me?

They're sure cute little things! 

This beauty was in the tropical enclosure. It was hot and humid in there. All us middle-aged women couldn't take the heat!!!

This bird kept flying directly above me and I just kept clicking away. At least I got this one shot where he isn't just a blur!

Does anyone know what he is? He's really the only thing I spotted in there.

Next week will be elephants and the giraffe :)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Saturday Snippet 5

~Easter and Passover blessings to those of you who celebrate them~

XO ♥

These Buddhist prayer flags are waving in the soft breeze at my friend's house in Carmel Valley.

Animal Wednesday: Spit Happens

We all know how camels, llamas and alpacas can and DO spit at people, but these two were very well behaved. My camera lens wasn't a target, at least that day.

This guy was a riot! So friendly and curious. 

Such a poser!

Their feet fascinate me. They're like discs on the bottom with no indication of those two toes. And they seem so fluid! Just plain weird.

Don't forget to embiggen all these photos :)

You talkin' to me???

This darker guy was a bit more shy.

hahaha! Can you read the words?

Awwwwwww. Camel ♥ love

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Saturday Snippet 4

Hmmm, I think Saturday Snippets will be a regular gig as long as I keep making these mini prints. I just love creating them and finding the perfect quote to match my images.

(Click to embiggen)

Happy weekend!

xo

Lo ♥ 

Photo taken at The Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe, Big Sur, CA

Illustration Friday: Journey

As she set out on her solo journey by lantern light, her friends stayed close by to ensure her safety.

For Illustration Friday: journey

This is my winning entry for a poster contest in 2005 for a festival in Pacific Grove, CA

called "Feast Of Lanterns."

Today is hubby's birthday so I had to pull something from my archives because I'm busy making dinner for friends. I had forgotten all about this piece which I so enjoyed doing!

I hope you enjoy it too! I had to print the PDF and then scan the copy. This is the best I could do.

Happy weekend!

xo

Twilight In The Lavender

The "boss of me" cracked the whip today and made me finish the bunny I started last week. It really went through a transition! When I started it, it looked like an angry something-or-other but NOT a bunny! So today I put away my references and just painted by intuition. He has a soft look, almost as if he's being lulled by the scent of the lavender field. I know I would be!

For now I'll list him on Etsy while I decide which shop should have him.

Cold, pouring rainy poopy day here in Barrington :(

But we need the rain to make the lavender grow!♥

xoxo

Animal Wednesday: Ain't nobody here but us chickens...

...and Crowned Cranes,

And the always elegant Sandhill Cranes.

I especially love this shot from above through the bare branches. It has an Asian art feel to it. Just add softly falling snow....NO, forget the snow!

These are a few shots I took at Roger Williams Park Zoo last week.

Be sure to enlarge the photos.

Next week I'll show a group of...stay tuned!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Blooming Tuesday: Poppy Dish

No, I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth or from blogging!

I'm trying to put in a certain amount of hours per day making art for the various shops I'm in. I have to equate this with showing up for work, and all things considered I like doing it. And I'm the boss of me!!

This is another little paper clay trinket dish I listed on Etsy. When it was dry the shape reminded me of a poppy the way they flatten out. That's how I determine what to paint inside these little guys. I didn't add any gold leaf to this one so it took a little less time.

And if you have never seen this version of the Wizard of Oz, you must get your hands on a copy! Lisbeth Zwerger is one of my favorite illustrators.

Happy Tuesday!

xo

Lo♥

Illustration Friday: Bottled

Bottled Season~ings

This was a bit of a tough one for me. At first (because I didn't pay attention) I thought the word was "bottle." So I went around my day thinking of "out of the box" ideas for the word. But then I saw a friend posted her entry and she used the word "bottled." AAAggghhh! That's different!

This is all my brain could come up with without resorting to the obvious.

I spent the day at the zoo. Maybe I should have just stayed with the monkeys a while longer!

Happy Monday (by the time you see this!)

xo

Lo♥

for Illustration Friday: bottled

watercolor, micron pens

Saturday Snippet 3

Oh, how true!

This photo was taken on a trip to Provincetown when I first met KJ and Debra Kay.

I think this was the most well behaved Italian Greyhound I'd ever met.

Sweet as can be, and so smart!

Don't you just love her shadow friend?

Happy Saturday everyone!

xo

Lo♥

Animal Wednesday: The Eyes Have It!

Some of you have already seen these via email, but I felt compelled to share them with others ;)

Doesn't Emma look like some kind of wild dog with the sun hitting that one eye?? Freaky! (And she IS wild!)

And this was taken the same day after Bliss reclaimed her bed from wild dog!

Doesn't she have the most beautiful, bluest eyes?

I'm so grateful for her recovery. And she's down a little more than five pounds!! Wooo-hoooo! We've worked very diligently and carefully to reduce her weight.

If only I liked cat food, I could be my thin self again!

HAW to all of you!!

xo♥

Illustration Friday" Duet

I feel as though I've been missing in action lately. I'll stop by and post a quickie, but I don't often have the time to see what others have been up to.

So today as I was running around delivering card orders and whatever else, I thought I'd just STOP and get centered.

Aaaah, Illustration Friday was calling to me!

When I heard the word was "duet", I immediately thought of a whale sow and her calf.

I'm deathly afraid of water because I can't swim, yet I feel I'd die if I were ever too far from it.

Hmmm, deep waters for another time!

Please click on this link to hear the most wonderful version of Amazing Grace with the duets of our Humpback Whale friends singing with Cecilia.

The site is my friend Teresa Wagner's, a wonderful animal communicator and kindred spirit I had the great pleasure meeting during my time in California.

This illustration is an acrylic painting on patterned (very thin) paper with colored pencil details which I had hoped would take me half the time it did. Oh well, I just love whales and I was into it!

Happy Weekend dear friends.

xoxo

Lolo♥

Saturday Snippet 2

Photograph taken in the zen gardens of WA in Provincetown, MA.

If you ever get there, be sure to stop in this magical store with Asian decor and items for the home and garden.