A Swan Story

On a very chilly Fall day my friend and I were out on a photoshoot. Our destination was the famous carousel not far from the house. After we shot a million pics at the carousel we went for a walk in the park across the street. On our way down the stairs to the little stretch of beach on Narragansett Bay, I saw this guy preening away, oblivious to us. It looked like he was covered in something yucky, not sure what.

He looked footless in the mucky sand! I got closer to see if perhaps we needed to call wildlife to do a well check on him.

I think this may have been his way to tell me he was fine, just doing swan things.

Along comes this pretty gal to check him out. It may even be his significant other, who knows.

She's just scoping the situation.

He showed no interest. He just continued with his obsessive preening.

Little missy got closer, but still no reaction from sticky feathers.

He finally looked up!

Ah, too late little guy.

And once again he was back to his preening, alone.

I think she'll be back.

Happy Animal Wednesday!

It's around 2 degrees here today. My fingers are blue!

Why did I leave CA?????

More Monday Holiday Glimpses

Like many of you, I had trouble photographing the tree lights.

I have NO idea what setting I had the camera on to get these hearts!♥

And the glow makes the house look like it's on fire. It really doesn't have this effect in the room.

The tree sits on a built-in cabinet in the dining room. I'll figure out what to do around it soon. Maybe when I get the darn thing decorated!

The room to the right is my studio.

I found these little trees buried in an old box.

I painted them forever ago. Too bad the detail doesn't show.

And too bad the driveway isn't white with snow instead of brown dead stuff!

The reindeer is one of my favorite little holiday things.

He's really dwarfed on top of this tall chest of drawers. Still, he looks regal up there.

This little wreath is on a vintage ceiling tin. It used to hang on my french doors in Pacific Grove.

Now it has a place of honor above the bling I showed last week in the upstairs bathroom..

The window in the same bathroom needed a little something.

I saw these sparkly branches at Michael's and I knew they were the right touch for the vintage apothecary jars. A few silver balls were added too.

I have to unscrew that whole window to take it out in order to pull my storm window down. As you can see, the screen is still there!

So much more to do...like get gifts made and cards mailed.

~Happy Monday, and don't stress!~

Illustration Friday: Phenomenon

To me, one of the most unbelievable phenomenons is the march of the Emperor Penguins.

I'm sure most of you have seen the documentary by now. If not, what are you waiting for?

Their strong will to continue their species is like none other.

I don't know how to add a video, so click below to see the trailer of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3k-fkOtTDo

This was a fast little piece for me today, but seeing as "IF" chose my word I thought I'd better show up!

Happy weekend everyone!!

(acrylic and colored pencil on patterned scrapbook paper)

Animal Wednesday : Part two...sketchbook project

I went to an old friend's house today for homemade soup and a play day.

It was so good for me to get out of my own space and just DRAW.

It didn't hurt that she has an adorable, loveable dog named Harry who is enamored with me.

The feeling is mutual.

This drawing is in my sketchbook project moleskine: "It's Raining Cats and Dogs."

Plain old Bic pencil as my tool, image inspired by the latest L.L.Bean catalog.

I made up the mistletoe-hangy-thingy.

Who doesn't love a puppy?

xo♥ 

Animal Wednesday: She Be Stylin'

As promised to Robin, here is The Squirrel Huntress in her new winter coat.

The color is really more of a persimmon, not a HUNTERS Orange!!

I'm not one to dress my dogs, but let me tell you this little ten-pounder is freezing her butt off in these temperatures and it's only going to get worse.

Sorry for the , ahem, personal shot, but Emma wanted you to see her jacket from all angles. She's so vain!

Okay, back to the SQUIRRELS!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I've been a bit spotty here and there. Post and run and comment as I can in this busy season ;)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Holiday Glimpses

My friend Jeannine over at Four Rooms decided to show a bit of her Christmas things each week. I really liked that idea, so here are a few things I did around the house yesterday to nudge me into the spirit of the holidays.

I do love to decorate!

This is our first tree in at least eight years. It's around 4' tall and sits on the dining room built-in nook.  Next week I'll show it decorated and lit up. 

~My little French piggy asked for a red ribbon~

~another view~

When we first moved back to Rhode Island, I bought this rooster for Brian.

Rhode Island's state bird is the Rhode Island red chicken.

I bought a candle centerpiece for under two dollars and wrapped it around her neck. 

Quite pretty, don't you think?

I love these vintage reproduction boxes I found at The Christmas Tree Shop,

both under $12 for the set. I'm a bargain hunter!

This adorable little cardinal was found at one of my favorite gift shops that carries my holiday candles: Frasier Fir by Thymes. Pricey, but wonderful!!

The little cardinal has sass, doesn't he? I love him.

And we mustn't forget to add a little holiday cheer to the bathroom!

This glass compote usually holds shells and driftwood.

But now it holds ornaments the color of the sea.

So that's what I did yesterday.

Stay tuned for more as I add things here and there.

Care to join us in sharing your holiday spirit? 

♥xo♥

Holiday Spirit

Someone at our house got into the catnip yesterday and decided it was time to start decorating.

Now she doesn't know how to get out of the snowglobe!

We're all just so happy that she's back to normal again, abusing drugs and getting into trouble ;)

The picture is blurry because I may have gotten into the catnip a bit myself!

Tis the season ;P 

Illustration Friday: Savour

Good thoughts in,

Bad thoughts out.

Deep breath in,

exhale slowly.

Savour the peace within.

patterned paper, acrylic paint, colored pencil

Illustration Friday: Sneaky

She wasn't being sneaky in the least.

 It was he who was being deceptive and cruel.

So on this crisp November night she kept a promise to herself as she walked away for good under the illuminating guidance of the full moon.

Her conscience was as clear as her big, green eyes.

She never once looked back.

brown paper bag, micron pen, prismacolor pencils

for Illustration Friday

My 600th post!!!!!!

Six Word Saturday #19

November skies,

November sighs,

Blissful me.

for more SWS, click here :)

Animal Wednesday: Journal Journey

I've been a bit quiet on the blogs lately because I'm trying to instill some self-discipline towards working. Today I painted this journal for Etsy.

I scooped up a couple of these at Michael's Craft Store knowing right away what I would add. I think any one of you could have guessed!

Yes indeed, my raven friend! I painted him with an acrylic paint base and then detailed him with colored pencils.

And then I added this to the back. So true, don't you think?

So here's my Animal Wednesday post for this week, a journaling journey!

xo♥

Illustration Friday: Burning

Keep the home fires burning.

A quick little painting for Illustration Friday's prompt: Burning

acrylic paint on masonite 6"x6"

Cactus Monday: With Joshie and Alex

I had some of my family over yesterday and my Great Niece and Great Nephew were among the guests. This is the first time they saw my house and the studio.

I finally found a little free time to sit and make art with them.

This amazing little painting was done by my Great Nephew, Joshie. He's seven years old!

He didn't look at any references to draw his desert scene. And this was his idea. It dawned on me that I could use it for Cactus Monday and show it off.

So we have a Saguaro, a scorpion and a tarantula on the rock, a jack rabbit, a snake and a lizard. I think this is awesome!

My Great Niece, Josh's sister Alex drew this frog. She drew it from looking at an antique ceramic frog of mine. I love how she put the fly in there for a touch of reality! She's nine years old.

I know it's not a cactus BUT it's green! And I love it.

All that housecleaning and stress was worth every minute of yesterday's visit.

Happy Cactus Monday and Frog Day!  ;)

Animal Wednesday: Gull-ible

Robin started a theme on Animal Wednesday today after seeing Mim's post so of course I felt the need to follow!

Here's a photo I took while living in Monterey. I call it "My Gullfriends."

And here is a very large painting I did called "Centering."

I was inspired on a walk at Asilomar one blustery day and this seagull just hovered in front of me, bracing against the wind. I knew right then that I'd go home and paint him!

I was lucky enough to have Asilomar right in my neighborhood.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Illustration Friday: Afterwards

befoooooore....

Afterwards!

For Illustration Friday's prompt: afterwards.

Done in my Sketchbook Project Moleskine for the theme "It's rainng cats and dogs."

graphite, colored pencil, grey marker

A very quick doodley-do!

Lost Art, Found Hope

This cold November rain has had me in the house for most of the day today.

I can't get out of my own way lately, clutter on every surface of the studio, muse nowhere to be found. I'm floundering and doubting my ability as an artist.

I read Mim's post today about decluttering and finding art done from years past and it inspired me to look through some old drawings in the hopes of finding my muse.

I may be getting close.

The above drawing I have shown here once before. It's a pencil drawing of Nastasia Kinsky from a pose in a magazine. I did this in 1978. Look how much it has yellowed.

This is a portrait in pencil of Pablo Picasso. Although I'm primarily self-taught, I did have a very short stint at college and I became obsessed with this artist. I did this same portrait in every medium. The ones that are missing (or are in boxes still) is the aquatint etching and the lino cut. This is also from 1978.

This was my very first ever attempt at painting anything. And this was my only time using oils. I hated painting back then! Who knew that it would become my passion one day?

This wacky portrait made it into a juried show at the Brockton Art Museum in the late seventies and it took Honorable Mention.

It hangs in my studio now with dust and fond memories. 

And here is another assignment I stumbled upon. I did this scratchboard in 1979 for a graphic design class. Or was it drawing? I don't remember. But I do know I copied it from an old book of fairy tales and I don't remember which one. Grimms, most likely.

I do remember this being quite a challenge to think in "negative."

And you can see my scratched in signature, "Porter 79."

I'm needing to be able to paint when the mood strikes, but what I think is in my way is what am I to do with all these paintings?

I can only bring so many to the gallery that I have joined. And my paintings are too pricey for the other shop that carries my cards.

So I have this sinking feeling that I'm wasting my time when I should be scouring the state for work. This is not the economy for artists, unfortunately.

So, here's the answer to myself.

Paint anyway. Paint your heart out.

Draw.  Sketch. Create!

So now I'll paint just for the sake of painting.

I'll make art to maintain some level of sanity,

And I'll thank my ancestors every day for passing along this gift.

Thanks for the kick in the pants Mim, even though you had no idea!♥

Animal Wednesday: Snow Crow

I've been busy trying to get things painted for holiday sales at the gallery and on Etsy.

Here's the first in my series of Snow Crows.

What better way to say Happy Caw-lidays!!

OH, but today is Animal Wednesday so I guess I should say,

Happy HAW-lidays!

(groan)

;P

Illustration Friday: Spent

~meditation~

~prayer~

~quiet time in nature~

~finding solace amidst chaos~

~painting and writing~

~being kind~

This, to me, is time well spent.

acrylic on canvas, molding paste, gold foil

Cactus Monday: Halloween Hangover

And by "hangover" I mean this image is hung over from last year!

I thought he deserved an encore.

I hope everyone had a fun, safe, spooktacular Halloween!!

Oh, and Happy Cactus Monday :)