Sunday, June 29, 2008

A Day In The Life Of...Lolo!





I've been tagged by my super funny and talented friend Linda from Sketched Out. The premise of this meme is to show what a typical day is in your life. I did my best not to bore you, but hey...this is my life! Linda's meme is hilarious, as are the others that you'll find the links to. Check em' out! And now it's my duty to choose who I think needs to show us a day in their lives....drum roll....I choose a funny lady I haven't tagged before, Connie Martin!

(P.S., I wasn't sure how to list sketches and words so I did this on another program and scanned it. Sorry for the crappy quality!)

Friday, June 27, 2008

IF : Fierce

My entry is in my Moleskine this week!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Animal Wednesday: Prayer in Motion


When I was seeing what I had on hand for this week, I came across this seagull from a large painting I posted last year called "Centering." I remember walking the beach on a blustery, Winter day and seeing this seagull hover right before my eyes just a few inches from me. I knew it had to be in a painting! I painted him larger than life to give him a sense of a powerful presence. Click to enlarge him so you can see the detail. There is much more to seagulls than we see with a quick glance. So, remember to stop and take a deep breath every now and then in your rushing about, and get centered. Happy Animal Wednesday!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

IF : Hoard


One can never have too many lawn flamingoes!



Digital collage for Illustration Friday : Hoard

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Creative Wings

Hello my Animal Wednesday pals! I did something in the ol' Moleskine this week, so please take a look here. HAW!!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Cactus Monday #9

Hello fellow cacuteers! You can find my entry here!

Friday, June 13, 2008

IF : Punchline


Okay folks, I'm stumped this week! While I'm thinking of a new image to create for this week's word, I'll leave you with a collage I did last year or so. I believe that the best pet adoption is when the person and the animal really settle into one another's groove. If an adoption is one-sided, it usually doesn't work out and both sides end up feeling a bit disappointed. Certain pets fit certain lifestyles better than others. Luckily for Lola, her rescues are very social creatures and love a good stogie!


For Illustration Friday : Punchline.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Hey, who's that?



I found another image to use for this week while I was looking at my website. I'm often asked to paint client's pets on their walls in life size. Crazy, huh? So this is a Corgi named Tessa I painted in a little girl's room. She was my biggest critic but nodded her approval once it was complete. Woof!
(Please go to my other entry below.)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Animal Wednesday...in another blog!

Hello Animal Wednesday friends!! Please click here for this week's entry. HAW!!

I was wondering why the others hadn't posted this week and then it dawned on me. It's TUESDAY!!!!! Senior moment :P

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Cactus Monday # 8


I often seem to gravitate towards succulents for Cactus Monday. I just love the smooth, rubberyness of them. The soft blue-greens really speak to me, two of my favorite colors rolled into a plant. I always think it's a gift when I stumble upon them. And they remind me of mandalas, too, concentric and meditative. Even their scars and blemishes are beautiful.

Tonight I'm posting early so I can call this evening Succulent Sunday. I enjoyed working on this at the studio today. See what you've started, Teri?

Happy Cactus Monday to all of you on the team!!

Have a fabulous, gentle week.

Friday, June 06, 2008

IF : Forgotten


I've forgotten how something as simple as an old chair can remind you of a loved one from days gone by.


For Illustration Friday's prompt: Forgotten

acrylic on canvas, 4" x 6"

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Life's A Breeze


Ah, Summer breezes are starting to blow. Ain't life grand?

Happy Animal Wednesday...just in the knick of time!

(I was so busy today, I almost forgot!)

Friday, May 30, 2008

IF : Baby




I think I'll just let the image and music speak for itself this week.


Have a lovely, peaceful weekend!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Animal Wednesday : An Enviable Position


Here's another crazy card collage of mine, this time using an old idiom. Here's the Wikipedia listing to see it's origin. I'm sure other cats are thinking this is quite an enviable position to be in. The pigeon, not so much!

Happy Animal Wednesday chums!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Cactus Monday # 7



Hello my Cactus Monday friends! I almost didn't have time to do one for this week but I managed to pull off a really quick sketch. After I scanned it I decided to change it to a blue-green tone because the pen and ink drawing was too drab. I guess I'll show you both anyway. I had a lot of visitors and friends stop by the studio yesterday which is why I didn't get to paint the cactus idea I originally had. That's okay! I love it when friends stop by to say hello. Like now, for instance :) Happy Cactus Monday!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

A Very Special Award...yay!


I'm very pleased and proud to accept a new award from a fellow bloggerette, Connie Martin. Connie just happened to stop by and was drawn in by my music choices. I guess she also appreciated the sick humor of my collage cards. I'm very touched that she took the time to draw this award and email it to me. She made my day! Thanks, Connie!

Friday, May 23, 2008

IF : Worry


We have a large feral cat population where I live. Sadly, there are a lot of transients here, so when they get their orders to ship out for whatever reason, they feel it's okay to just leave the cats behind. A lot of them were military families who lived in Fort Ord, now an abandoned property with many cats in colonies fighting for survival. But this happens everywhere and by people from all walks of life and I worry about all those innocent, displaced cats. This handsome guy was rescued and has a loving home, but he'll always have trust issues. You can tell from the worried look on his face. So, I beg you, if you can't take your cat with you, please take it to your local shelter or try to find a loving home for it before you leave. Animals are not disposable. Thank you!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Chicken anyone?


That Marthe, she sure does love a good barbeque!
Happy Animal Wednesday, friends!


(Another of my silly collage cards.)

Monday, May 19, 2008

Cactus Monday # 6


Okay, my intention was to try and do a really nice rendition of this cactus on canvas. The day was getting away from me, so instead I thought I'd do a nice pen and ink drawing of it seeing as the day was almost gone. Uh, that would be NO. I overworked it and overworked it until it was a damp, grey piece of paper. I didn't give up! I took out my trusty watercolors and colored pencils and went over the whole thing again. It's no masterpiece, but after all that work I'm posting it! Happy Cactus Monday Cacuteers!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

IF : The Water Is Wide



The water is wide I can't cross over

And neither have I got wings to fly

Give me a boat that can carry two

And both shall row my love and I


For Illustration Friday's prompt : wide.
This is "Summer Storm", the first painting I did in my marsh series. The best version I could find of the song "The Water Is Wide" is being sung by Rory Block, but unfortunately it's not the entire song...so enjoy the first verse! Click to enlarge the painting if you wish.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Owee-Zowee!




This is a collage I did last year or so. Now it's sold as one of my most popular cards at the studio and on Etsy. It's a small example of my sick sense of humor! Happy Animal Wednesday!

Friday, May 09, 2008

IF : Leo Electricity


The storm rages all around me.

Its ferocious intensity intrigues me.

As I warily continue my search,

I find myself part of the storm.

The electricity surrounds me,

Captures me,

Is me.



Lance Larsen



collage from Nat'l Geographic clippings and a dot of red paint for his eye!


Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Animal Wednesday: Fluffy's Bad Choice


Fluffy realized too late that wine and doughnuts are a bad combination!

Happy Animal Wednesday my friends!

(notecards available in my Etsy shop.)

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Seed 2...Replenishing Her Spirit


I had to post this detail from a painting I showed here over a year ago called, "Replenishing Her Spirit." I looked at her and thought what a perfect example of "seed" for this week. She now resides with another artist somewhere in Upstate New York, hopefully bringing the new owner a bit of joy.

You can see my first entry here.

Friday, May 02, 2008

IF : From Seed To Harvest


The word this week for Illustration Friday is seed. This is one of three 4' x 4' mural panels I did for an agricultural company in Salinas, CA., depicting their melon fields. Most people don't have this scene in mind when picking out produce from the supermarkets. Sometimes we forget the migrant workers and locals who work so hard planting the seeds so that we may enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Please see my other entry here.
Click to enlarge the harvest! Acrylic on canvas for Colorful Harvest.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Animal Wednesday: Pug-Love


This is a painting I did for a gallery a couple of years ago. The gallery was having a combination booksigning/art show where each artist was to paint something from the novel. The trouble for me was I had no interest in reading a historical romance, so the gallery owner suggested I paint the two pugs the main character of the book owned. I "Googled" pugs and Victorian furniture and this is what I came up with for a composition. I chose these pugs for their expressions. I just love them! Overall I was pretty pleased with the painting. A lady from San Jose bought it because she loved the dogs...and she doesn't even own pugs!

Happy Animal Wednesday friends!

Friday, April 25, 2008

IF : Wrinkles in nature


I'm one of those people who finds beauty in wrinkles. Not the ones caused from too much sun-bathing or from smoking. I love laugh lines. And an old pair of wrinkled hands holding the hand of a newborn just melts me.
We have these wonderful, weathered trees here that take a beating year after year by the gusting saltwater air as they brace themselves on the cliffs that overlook the ocean. The salt and the sun dry them out, the wind twists and bends them. They stand like sentinals, the elders among the seedlings looking so wise in their wrinkled bodies. I think we still hold the song of our youth in our wrinkled bodies. And I feel the dragon still sings from within the withered tree.

acrylic on canvas with collaged text for Illustration Friday's prompt: wrinkles. Click to enlarge.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

The Pico Award


I was given another award by the very sweet and hilarious Forever Young. She makes us all smile with her never-ending humor in her daily "Giggles!" Thanks FY. Lots of warm fuzzies to you!

Now it's my turn to pass it on by following these rules. I have so many favorite blogger pals, but it says to choose only five. Drats!


The Rules:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you feel are deserving of this award based on their creativity, design, interesting material and their contribution to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) For each award giver, include the name and the link to the blogger so they can be visited.

3) Include the names of the recipients and a link to their blogs so they can be visited. ( rules 2 and 3 seem the same to me.)

4) For both giver and receiver, show the link http://arteypico.blogspot.com/

5) Publish these rules.


Here are my five recipients in no particular order...


1) Carla Kurt at Wings 4 You Coaching. Carla has come up with a new blog to help us all find our inner artist by giving us really wonderful, thought-provoking exercises to inspire us. I've printed out all of them so far, but I haven't found the time to do them. But I will!! Thank you Carla. You put so much heart, soul and time into these lessons.


2) Emily Townsend, another inspiring journaling lady has a wonderful site that encourages us to get down and dirty and messy and just create! She does some amazing, amazing journal work as well as being an inspring woman in many ways. Thank you Em! You can find her at Creative Art Journal.


3) and 4) are two of the funniest ladies in blogland! Not only are their posts always funny, but the comments they leave for me almost always make me pee my pants! They're talented artists as well with imaginations way out there. I just love them, and if you haven't met them yet prepare to be dazzled! They are (drum roll) Ms. Froggie and Sketched Out. Go see what I'm talking about!


5) And finally, the sweet Princess Pepper Cloud! She made a trip to my studio to meet me and I was so honored. Since then she's purchased three of my paintings! That's not why I'm voting for her though. She's getting this award for her creative use of ants. No matter what the topic is over at Illustration Friday, she manages to come up with such clever ant-ics! It's always so much fun to see where her mind takes her and what kind of trouble her ants are getting into! She also has two wonderful cats, and I'm a sucker for animal lovers.

Please stop by and see these folks. You'll thank me later!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Cactus Monday # 5


Hey fellow Cactuteers...the day nearly got away from me! Here's my late entry, pulled from the archives back when I did the blue armadillo. This one's called "Even The Horses Did A Raindance."
And hey, shouldn't we be called "Cactus-eers?"

Happy Cactus Monday!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

IF : Primitive


I had to pull from my files for this week, not because I couldn't think of anything but because I'm too busy with work and other commitments right now. But I think this image fits as a primitive portrait. It's a collage I did last year that all came together without a plan. I resonate with nature in a spiritual way. Any time I'm feeling out of balance I go outside to be in touch with something bigger than myself and my problems. I almost always come away feeling reassured and hopeful. I call this collage "My Sacred Self." I hope it resonates with you.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Animal Wednesday : The Eyes Have It


This is a mini painting I did for the gallery and is now the only painting left at my etsy store. I love white kitties with different colored eyes. I'm pretty sure they know how cool they look!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Cactus Monday 4 : Have a seat...ouch!!


I found this wonderful sofa when I was "Googling" cactus images today. I was going to try to get to the studio to paint one but then thought I'd have fun with this instead! I played around with my greeting card program and added the lizard, bird and flowers. (With apologies and thanks to the folks who created the sofa image. This was just for fun!)

Mr. Chameleon looks comfy on this couch but I don't think I'd last a second! Happy Cactus Monday Cactuteers!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

IF : Fail at a new attempt



Today was one of those days that I couldn't stand to be in the room with myself because I was so miserable. Have you ever had one of those days? The day started out okay because it started with animals I had to care for and I love every one of them. After that I was looking forward to some quiet time at the studio to work on my illustration for this week BUT it is the weekend of "Good Old Days" in Pacific Grove which means good luck finding parking anywhere within 10 blocks of the studio and good luck blocking out the NOISE of the bands and the SMELLS of the generators and burnt meat and my studio was right across the street from the NEVER-ENDING-DRUM-SOLOS and honest to God I thought I was going to lose my mind. So I took a deep breath, well, deep enough so as not to be filled up with gasoline and seared pork, and I embarked on a new project. I attempted to paint a mandala because I bought such a beautiful mandala painting this week and I was so inspired to try one. The outside music made my brush go faster than I wanted it to and I felt rushed and disconnected. I tried to get in touch with my "inner music" but couldn't. The more I painted, the more I felt I was messing up. I finally put my hands over my face, took a deep breath ( almost sobbed) and then decided what I painted was finished enough. Then I poured a glass of wine (hey, don't judge, it was beyond five o'clock!) and used my rubber stamps to do another mandala.

I do feel this was a failed attempt for what I was trying to accomplish, but if I find myself afraid to fail, then I'm holding back from trying new things. So here you go. Two mandalas, two approaches.
first mandala: acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil
second mandala: rubber stamps, colored pencil
For Illustration Friday prompt : Fail

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Nesting


This is a painting I did a couple of years ago in my very first studio. It was a musty old place with too many spiders in the back of someone's home. But it was my space and I came to love it. One spring I watched a little sparrow carry pieces of straw and other things to help build his nest. I was doing a lot of trompe l'oeil in those days, so I thought how wonderful it would be to paint a bird making an offering to a painted nest because he thought it was real! This is how it turned out. That's also the brush and paint cloth I used that I added to the picture. One of my husband's co-workers bought it for his wife who collects bird paintings. I kind of miss this one because it was a little personal, but it sure makes me happy to share my art. Happy Animal Wednesday...and yay spring!!

Monday, April 07, 2008

Cactus Monday # 3


Directions to my house : Turn left at the blue armadillo.

This is a drawing I did a hundred years ago for a greeting card query. I thought it would be a good fit for Cactus Monday!

Friday, April 04, 2008

IF : Save


"I've saved these beautiful blue things just for you, and perhaps when the moon is full and rises just above the bower we'll have our magical encounter. I'll be right here, waiting. I'll save this spot for you."


Read about Bowerbirds here. If I were a bird I'd totally be attracted to these guys because blue is my favorite color!
For the Illustration Friday prompt: "save."
acrylic and colored pencil on patterned scrapbooking paper

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Happy Spring!


Nothing like a few tulips popping up after a long winter to put a spring in your step and a lift in your mood! Yay...warm weather ahead!!

Monday, March 31, 2008

Cactus Monday #2


Here's a little 6 x 6 inch canvas I painted this weekend at the studio especially for Cactus Monday. I used a photo I took a few years ago as a reference. I've listed it in my Etsy shop to keep the other paintings company! I call it "Cactus Meditation."
Update...it sold as soon as I listed it. A client of mine saw it and wanted it for her daughter, so I took it off Etsy.

Friday, March 28, 2008

IF : Homage To A Tree


"Each time these blossoms open I recall the friend who gave me the saplings, and the times we used to stop and drink beneath his trees;

But those springs of twenty years ago are like a dream,

And the wine cups of those days are tea-bowls now."

~Kisei Reigen~


If you have sound, please listen to "Dream Tree" as it plays, and then "Magnolia" if you have time to linger.
Acrylic on canvas 36" x 36" for Illustration Friday prompt : Homage
(The cropping cut off the bottom shadowing a bit)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Animal Wednesday : Biff


This is a drawing I did of Biff, one of the cats we drove out to California with. He loved the sun! (But what kitty doesn't?) We had him for nearly 17 years. Not long enough in my opinion. He was a huge bundle of love and gratitude. He surely would have died had I not taken him from his previous owner, the dairy farmer next door. Biff was starving and was suffering from malnutrition and pneumonia, weighing a mere 5 pounds at the age of a year. It's a wonder he lived that long before my intervention/catnapping. Some farmers think you shouldn't feed cats because they'll be better mousers if they're hungry. Sheer ignorance.

Anyway, Biff enjoyed another 16 years with us just soaking up the sun and eating good food. He was a great, great friend.

So far Forever Young, Teri C and Mim are doing "Animal Wednesday."

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Journaling Coast to Coast



Years ago I met a lady through the mail when I joined a postcard group that she started. We really hit it off and are still friends today, many years later. She has a journaling blog and I keep promising her I'm going to start one. I finally had the idea that we should each buy one, do an entry and send them to each other for the next entry. At the end we'll have 2 journals that we've collaborated on and we'll each have a nice keepsake!

Here's the journal I started. The cover was just the stripes and I added the design. And here's my first entry, a two page spread. Now it's winging its way to New Jersey from California for Em's entry which I know will be fantastic! I'll post them all as they are created. Thanks for looking and sharing our journey!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Cactus Monday # 1


Well, I said I'd try to participate in Cactus Monday with Forever Young, Teri and Margaret, so here's my first entry. I used to send out designs to greeting card companies a long time ago. This is one I dug out of my archives. I've sold the original, so this is a scan of a crappy color copy. The original was more vibrant. I call it "Blue Cactus." i know....genius title!

Friday, March 21, 2008

IF : Pet Peeves


I didn't know how to go about illustrating my list of pet peeves, so I decided to come up with a cartoon idea for one of them that the local newspaper is running a contest for and kill two birds with one stone.

My husband has become completely addicted to the TIVO like capabilities of our new TV. He records everything just so he can fast forward through all of the commercials. If there's a particular moment he likes, he'll rewind it and replay it a hundred times. If the remote control seemed glued to his hand in the past, the newer version has officially been grafted to his right palm. It would take a skilled surgeon and the threat of divorce to separate the two.


I actually have several pet peeves. Here are just a few more not represented in pictures.


I can't stand it when people don't use their turn signals. My crystal ball is dirty, so I have no clue where you're going when you stop in the middle of the road. Also, if you see me waiting on the corner to see what you're going to do, please let me know instead of making me linger there another half hour.


Gum snapping! Please stop it right now. Nobody wants to hear you chew gum like a cow. Do it in the privacy of your own trailer. (My apologies to trailer dwellers with manners.)


People who carry their pets and never let their feet touch the ground. Where's the logic in that? Oh, I think I'll carry Foo-Foo everywhere so she won't have to use her legs and then her muscles can atrophy and her bones can weaken and she can get early arthritis. Yay!


And a few more without going on and on...snobs, people who judge, people who care about your "pedigree', pah-leeeze! People who don't let their pets in the house, and people who won't let you off the phone until you snap at them after politely telling them 10 times you have to get going.


Other than those few things, I just let stuff roll right off my back!
(For Illustration Friday's prompt : Pet Peeves)




Thursday, March 20, 2008

Six Word Memoir




I was invited by my super friend Forever Young to come up with a six word memoir. That's a tall order! Here are the rules...




1) Write a six word memoir and post it on your blog. Feel free to add an image.




2) Link your post to the person who tagged you.




3) Tag 5 more blogs and link to them.




4) Comment on the tagged blogs and invite them to participate...no pressure :)




This was a hard one for me. How can you come up with a memoir in six words?


Here's the best I could do!




Born Poor,


became wealthy in friendships.




I'm tagging the following friends...





















Play only if the spirit moves you!

Friday, March 14, 2008

IF : Heavy Thoughts


Sometimes the smallest things can weigh heavy on our minds. If we were to take baby steps in solving our problems, we would get where we need to go without being overwhelmed by the task at hand. Keep an open mind and be open to new possibilities. Release the idea that you "can't" do something and then chip away at it bit by bit by bit. The heaviness of the situation will just fall away and become a distant memory.
Please see my moleskine entry here.



collage from magazines and digital embellishments. For Illustration Friday: Heavy

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I Love Getting Mail !



Look at what I got in the mail from 2 wonderful ladies I met through Illustration Friday! I'll bet everyone who comes here knows them. The first ATC is from the incredible Kim Coles from "I'm With Sully" fame. I feel like she's become my little sister :) And look...it's Sully! My dog has a HUGE crush on him. How adorable is he?! Thanks Kim, I love him!


The other wonderful ATC is from one of the sweetest ladies on the blogsphere, Tammy from "The Heartful Blogger." I don't think she had any idea how much I love love love black & white tuxedo kitties. What a wonderful surprise! I love the spreading toes as he snoozes the day away. What a great card! Thanks Tammy, you made my day :) And here she is, newly pregnant and surprising me with a gift out of the blue. I'll be sending something for the baby as soon as I know what she's having ;)


It's the little things in life that make a huge difference. Thanks, ladies, for making my experience here a joy!

Friday, March 07, 2008

IF : Garden Patterns


One of my addictions is patterns. I love painting them, buying them on linens and paper supplies and decorating with them. I mix and match the most unlikely ones together. As long as there's some color harmony going on, it works for me. I find patterns to be cheery. I've recovered my dining room chairs in vibrant garden motifs with linen napkins from import stores. This is a painting I did of one of my favorite tablecloths that I bought at a flea market, only in real life it's in reds and oranges. I wanted the contrast of the blues with these vibrant nectarines, which by the way, were delicious and juicy! Many artists are often inspired by gardens. Botanical illustration has been around forever, and just look at how many nature journals are out there.

Gardens are magical, healing places whether it's a small one on your kitchen windowsill, a plot of grass on your rooftop, or vast acreage filled with wildflowers and fruit trees. It's all good! So do yourself a favor and spend more time in the garden.



acrylic on canvas 24" x 30" Illustration Friday prompt: Garden