When I planted cosmos and wildflower seeds three or four different times in early spring I was hoping for a burst of color but have been pleasantly surprised by the variety and abundance of blooms we've been enjoying in my backyard.  Cold weather is upon us, I think, so am enjoying this last blast of color, so inspiring for me!

"Underwater Calm" Original Oil Painting on 5"x7" Wood Panel

Painting quite a bit yesterday and the picture to the right just somewhat came out of my thoughts as I sat down in front of the small wood panel.  I named it "Underwater Calm" as I find the colors and feeling of calm I had while painting it came through rather nicely.

Two Drawings/Paintings Done Last Couple of Days

The drawing to the right is oil pastels on Strathmore Art Papers and just a way of getting my creative juices flowing as the concept came from my head.  Sometimes I like to paint from a still set up in my studio, others from photos, and then these from my thoughts.

This small painting I did this morning. It is a watercolor with Sharpie Pen on Canson Watercolor Greeting Cards paper.  Have not thought of the name for this one.  I am happy to return to brighter colors and lightness of strokes and look forward to playing around in all different kinds of mediums in expressing myself the next few months while confined more to my studio and being inside.

Reworked "Red Bouquet" from 2005 on 11x14" Canvas Panel & "Time to Open the Boxes" Acrylic with Pen on 5x7" Wood Board - 7 Oct 2012

Funny that one of my fellow artists tweeted me yesterday to "paint, paint, paint" and that was exactly what I did.  I started out in the afternoon around 3:00 and the last time I looked at the clock early this morning when finished I think it may have read 3:30 (and YES, that's a.m.).

The first painting is an original oil painting I painted in 2005 on 11x14" canvas panel that I happened to see yesterday afternoon and decided I would redo the background.  This one I named "Red Bouquet".

The second is an original acrylic embellished with pen on 5x7" wood panel which I've named "Time to Open the Boxes".  If you look closely you'll notice the box on the left has written on it "Hopes and Dreams" and the one on the right "Gifts and Blessings".  Tho small all of the fine detail was time consuming and yet I feel very good at the final result and thank my friend who suggested yesterday morning that I paint, paint, paint!

"A Hint of New Mexico's Beauty" Original Oil Painting on 5"x7" Wooden Board Painted This Morning

Wow, I got on a roll today and painted most of the day.  Put some finishing touches on a large 30"x40" oil painting I thought I finished a couple days ago, painted this small 5"x7" oil painting and then put all the colors on another birdhouse I'm painting to mail to an out of state friend I promised a birdhouse to. It certainly feels good to have the motivation, positive energy and desire to just paint, paint, paint!

Photos Taken September 27th on Drive to see the Fall Colors

We decided to take a drive yesterday into the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico to see the fall colors.  Higher up almost to the Valle Caldera it did seem to be starting to change colors tho think we're a little early.  Here is a sampling of some of the beauty in these mountains I will post.  We took the road through Los Alamos into Pojaque and over to the Santa Fe Bypass and took some beautiful pics of the fall color of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains above Santa Fe.  We hit a few wonderful showers of rain tho it was brief and light.  The beauty of New Mexico is such an inspiration to me and reminds me of how much natural beauty lies within it's boundaries.  I hope you enjoy this brief visual visit.

Another Birdhouse Painted for a Friend - Front View

Finally got to give my friend the birdhouse I painted for her a few weeks ago yesterday.  Here's a picture of the front of it.  I love doing these for friends and try to make them individual and personal for them.

Finished another birdhouse for a friend and even though I haven't presented it to her yet, think it's okay to post a picture of it since she is not online.  The picture will be to the right.    

Inspiration and Motivation through Friends

Just a quick update to let all my friends, especially those that are also artists and new friends gained through Twitter and networking, how much your encouragement, creating and displaying your own artwork and wonderfully accepting and helpful comments and support help me.  I feel even more supported and encouraged since getting on Twitter. Funny how some folks think I'm trying to get a gazillion followers .... NOT! I love being so connected with other creatives. Someone in the entertainment industry recently asked me what my interest was and honestly it's not their notoriety or being well known as much as just loving to know what inspires, motivates and grows other creatives. I have always enjoyed biographies and autobiographies in discovering the real commonality and genuineness of others.

I woke up this morning early, went and got my one hour massage and chiropractic adjustment and am enjoying being alive, able to paint, visit with my friends, consider some new opportunities with my art and generally living to the full.  I have finished painting two birdhouses for friends and started on a very large one to send to an out of state friend. I am so honored with the friendships I have here in New Mexico.  Stand by for updates as I continue this growing process and thank you for taking the time to visit my art blog.

Quick Diversion from Large Oil Painting in Progress

Since our recent RV trip to Northern New Mexico and train ride on the Cumbres Toltec, a friend moving to another state gave me a larger 30"x40" canvas she had begun painting on.  As I began painting an oil on the canvas I realized that the painting underneath can still be seen and that I need to go back to the way I painted in the beginning with oils and paint thin to thick.  So in order to build up the painting to the texture I want and cover the painting beneath I now have painted twice and this process will be a little more time consuming than what I've recently been used to.  I will post when this larger painting is finished.

The photo to the right is of a watercolor and colored Sharpie markers with acrylic background I titled "Pink Peony", an original painting I did last night as a diversion and break away from the larger oil painting.

"Melancholy Floral" Original Oil Painting on 11"x14" Oval Canvas Finished Yesterday

The original floral painting to the right looked very different from this finished version.  It seems that in the midst of painting this I started looking at other floral paintings of friends and in that process of comparing myself and my artwork to others I got caught up in that grey space.  I know better than to do this tho sometimes it just seems to happen, a reminder that I am very much a human being and very much still in the process of evolving as an artist.  I could have scratched it all and started over but decided that no, even though I kept going back and forth with the thoughts of "oh, I really LIKE this to no, I DON'T like it" it is what it is and in the end, yes, I DO like it as it is uniquely me and it's okay that I am who I am and don't need to try to be any other version of myself..  

Funny that on typing these comments and being true to myself and honest about those feelings I have lifted myself out of that space and even tho a bit overcast today in New Mexico am going to fully enjoy this beautiful day that is before me. No painting today even tho I did start on something that had been sitting around for awhile barely started ... will leave that for ANOTHER day (smile).  Beauty awaits!

Beautiful Roses from my Husband -- A Painting in the Works ???

My husband and I were at the local supermarket last Friday when the lady at the flower counter let me know that their roses regularly $13 were on sale for $7 ... so, being the lover of nature that I am, I decided I would buy not one but two of the bouquets.  I did need to do the floral arranging myself tho they provided the roses, the preservative and the yellow/gold material.  I think I did a fairly good job at arranging and took a few pictures of my arrangement ... now comes the decision about a painting.  Stand by for upcoming pictures of another floral.  I'm having alot of fun these days painting and enjoying nature.  What a gift we are given by the creator of all the beauty to behold if we just open our eyes and make the time to SEE.

Original Acrylic "Fire on the Mountain" on 11"x14" Canvas Panel

While on a little mini RV vacation to Heron Lake in Northern New Mexico last week I painted this original acrylic on canvas panel I'm calling "Fire on the Mountain" and then embellished it with gold pen before calling it finished.  We had a wonderful time, there were no fires that I know of around us and while there from Sunday until Thursday we enjoyed a train ride from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado on the Cumbres Toltec Railroad, had an excellent dinner at High Country Saloon and Restaurant in Chama and watched our neighbors set up their easels and start a couple of landscapes while I painted this painting inside our RV.  What a wonderful and relaxing time away.

"Happy Birthday Jessi" Original Acrylic on Wood Board Painted 25 August 2012

Although I only had an hour and a half before going to see friends I decided on Saturday morning that this wood board was calling me to paint something on it ... hence, my original floral "Happy Birthday Jessi" I painted on August 25th.  I still made it to see my friends and later on that day posted this to my Twitter page.  Considering it was painted in an hour and a half I think it turned out exceptionally well and I am very happy with the results.

"Nature's Gifts" an Original Oil Painting on 5"x7" wood panel

Last night as I walked through my house before going to bed I found myself in my art room painting the mini oil painting to the left on a prepared 5"x7" wood panel.  I love when that happens, kind of like I'm drawn to that room, think for a minute "oh it's late, I probably should go to bed" and next thing I know I'm totally into creating a piece of artwork and you know what? It's okay because hey, I'm retired and I should be able to do my art whenever I want, wherever I want and just enjoy! So I DID.  

"Magnolia New Mexico Style" - Original painting on 9x12" w/c paper

Yesterday a friend came over and as she painted a birdhouse for a friend of hers I finished the painting to the right. It started out with acrylic paint on 9"x12" watercolor paper then the blossom and leaves were done in watercolor and all finished up with various colored gel pins. 

Mini RV Vacation at Jemez Falls Campground, New Mexico Recently

What fun we had this past week RVing at Jemez Falls Campground in the Jemez Mountains only about 45 minutes from our house.  We did some dry camping with all the conveniences of home provided by our fifth wheel, enjoyed some beautiful weather with it thundering, lightning and cooling us off with rain showers in the late afternoon/evening before we left.  Tent campers on each side of us had just pitched their tents before it started raining.  My husband and I got in some games of Yahtzee which is always fun for us.  My creative juices seemed to be flowing.  I started out doing the Prismacolor pencil drawing "Squirrel with Shimmering Tail", then painted the acrylic painting "Jemez Falls New Mexico" and finished as it was storming and light was going away of "God's Light Shines on Us All".

Front of Birdhouse I Painted for a Friend - Keeping Creative

Didn't realize when I took the picture of this birdhouse I painted for a friend that the lighting wasn't as good as I would have liked, it is actually brighter and there are different flowers, sayings and embellishments on each side.  I enjoy thinking of the person I'm painting it for and trying to paint things I think they would enjoy.  I couldn't believe how very excited she got looking at it and jumping around telling me how much she loved it and "oh wow, you know me so well."  Very satisfying for me and painting these also keeps me being creative in a little different way.

I am enjoying a new sense of gratitude and joy in my life and hope to add more things to my page here as my urgency and motivation for painting and creating return.

Fun Revisiting a Few Oil Paintings Last Week & Here are Results

Spent a day last week revisiting three oil paintings I'd done and reworking them. One is shown below this post "He's a Handsome Boy", the first painting on the left here is "Garden Flowers" and the second one "Below the Snowline". I also finished preparing my original oil on canvas panel "Old San Ysidro" as a donation for a drawing for a local non profit event coming up in Albuquerque.

I am enjoying a return of enthusiasm and creativeness. Soon you can visit a new Facebook page devoted solely to my artwork.  Life is SO GOOD. Thank you for visiting my art blog. I hope you return soon (smile).  

"Old San Ysidro" Reworked Original Oil Painting on 11"x14" Canvas Panel

This past Friday seemed magical and wonderful as I painted most of the day. The painting on the right I reworked and like it much better now.  I had actually painted the "framing in gold" for another painting I was anticipating doing for a friend.  She had sent me an old postcard with some folk painting on it tho after researching I found that the artwork was copyrighted back in the early 1900's and didn't want to do copyright infringement.  The original painting of this church had a pretty consistent purple sky and the church and trees somewhat nondescript and color a bit dull.  I love all the bright colors I find in New Mexico and the artwork here.  I am enjoying all the beauty, once again, that I find myself surrounded by and hope to also be painting much more in the coming months.

"He's a Handsome Boy" Original Oil on 9x12" Canvas Panel

I started this oil painting about two months ago before I had to take a break from almost everything recuperating from a traffic accident where another person broadsided my car.  I am grateful today to all my friends and family that have understood I've had to curtail my regular routine and things I enjoy while healing. I hope that my renewed sense of appreciation of life, of the beauty in the world and especially the wonderful state of New Mexico that I live in somehow are inspiring or motivational for anyone else who has crisis sneaking around the corner and dealing with it in a positive and proactive way.  I hope that I can use the rest of this summer to paint, paint, paint and to also find that wonderfully serene and peaceful, purposeful balance of being an artist with all the other aspects of my life.

God has gifted me in so many ways and I only wish to share those gifts in showing my appreciation to God.

Beautiful Day in New Mexico Yesterday

It was a beautiful clear and exceptionally hot day in New Mexico yesterday.  I took this picture near Sandia Resort and Albuquerque. It has been over 100 degrees every day for the past week or more. Everyone hear is awaiting our seasonal monsoons that bring with them gorgeous sunsets, much needed rain and cools everything off.

Gourd Painting Late into the Night June 23rd, Early Early Morning June 24th

It seems my creative juices are flowing once again. I was up late into the night, early next morning painting  this gourd. It was one among many we bought in Casa Grande, Arizona at a gourd farm while visiting cousins nearby.  Happy to have a return of motivation and inspiration to create and soon back to daily painting!

Just for Fun - Painting in Little Increments

The little "mini" original painting to the left is acrylic and oil on a 3"x5" wooden board. I thought I would start out small and am calling this one "Sacred Place".  I find that if I work smaller it eases me back into doing my artwork on a more consistent basis.  I  have always been drawn to nature, animals and beautifully sacred/spiritual things.





The next painting I did strictly for FUN!!! It is an original acrylic on an 8"x10" board titled "Is He Smiling?"  I enjoy color and humor and the mixture of abstract with a more free flowing style with this makes me SMILE!!!

Moving through Grief and Diversity to New Beginnings

Recently lost my friend and sister-in-law, Rosa, from brain cancer right after a car accident (not my fault at all) and the loss of my car. Still not sure whether my car will be fixed or totaled in the end and my car is symbolic for me of a very sad and chaotic time in my life (purchased with cash from a lawsuit involving the death of my mother-in-law from a car accident) so many of those memories also recently resurrected.

For me today I don't deal with my feelings alone or without thorough expression which makes me very grateful for all the friends and family in my life who know this is just who I am and how I need to express myself.  I used to be one of those women that wouldn't show emotion or cry but through my life experiences have learned that I am not my complete self if I can't show and tell those I'm close to my true feelings and failings in life.

The good news is that though I am still grieving, I am still preparing for the worst tho hoping for the best with my car, my need for expression through my artwork has returned and the other night I finished a floral that I'd started just as this accident happened (honestly it is not my favorite as it seems dark and forboding (sp?) to me which is why I choose to not display it here on my blog). Another I won't display is an acrylic I painted of a woman, very abstract and not very flattering which on later looking at it I discovered seems to resemble the woman who broadsided me.

What I WILL display here because it is just the beginning and not yet finished is what I'm calling "Magnolia Blossom New Mexico Style" which is acrylic painting and gel pen & ink on watercolor paper.  This is the second of paintings I've started but not finished.  I hope to soon be back to my daily painting tho I begin physical therapy soon which may curtail some of that only temporarily.  The healing has begun ....

Enjoying the Beauty of New Mexico while Recuperating

I just love seeing hollyhocks dotting the landscapes of New Mexico and find it interesting that last year the ones we have in our backyard and around our fountain had flowers that were very pale pink. I thought the ones that came up around the older plants this year were probably the same color, as you can see not the case. The same thing applied to the ones in my bricked in garden area, they were pale pink last year but this year are deep deep burgundy almost black colored.

Though yesterday the winds were probably 60 mph blowing smoke in from the fire in Southern New Mexico, today is breezy yet clear with pleasant temperatures and beautiful blue skies.

Momentary Delay

Had a momentary lapse in postings and painting due to a traffic accident last Friday and felt I needed to post something to my blog to let you know.  Grateful today for life as I was broadsided and had the other person hit my car just a little further back or at my driver's side door I might not be here today at all.  Funny that the thing that upset me most after seeing my car and thinking about all the circumstances surrounding my purchasing that car was the fact that I've felt recently so compelled to paint most all the time and just did not feel like even going into my art room, much less picking up a brush or pastels.  My usual happy, optimistic personality seemed overshadowed by aches and pains, irritability with the simplest of things and overwhelming feelings of anxiety and dullness in my thinking.

The title of this post is MOMENTARY DELAY ... that's what this is going to be as I am feeling the return of my usual happy, optimistic self.  Soon I hope to be back to my daily painting and artistic endeavors.  It's amazing to me how much love and support I have gained just by entering the "Twitter World" (smile) and connecting with so many other artists.  I hope that this is just the beginning for me.  I will end my typing with the wonderful words of Julia Cameron in her book "The Artist's Way" "Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source.  As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity." and Louis Armstrong when he said, in the same book "What we play is life."

Painting Late Last Night - 13 May 2012

"Ochre Hills" 9x12" Oil 

Last night late as I was in my art room talking to a friend and waiting for a call back I was looking at the painting on the right I started a couple of days ago. I remember that a few years ago (May of 2000) when we were visiting my dear friend here in New Mexico we stopped at Bien Mur Gift Shop.  Next to it the Sandia Pueblo keeps buffalo and inside while browsing around I met a wonderful man, a Mr. Tom Boothe.  Mr. Boothe was so encouraging and we talked for quite awhile. He was interested that I was a fairly new artist and talk turned to the possibility of our moving here to New Mexico.  That one little conversation was a catalyst and motivating factor in our decision to move to New Mexico in 2006.  I thought it only fitting that somehow I work buffalo into this painting ... so here it is, finished now.  From time to time I wonder how Mr. Booth is and say a little prayer to wish him well.

Initial Beginnings of New Painting

My parents are from Oklahoma and I've always so enjoyed others paintings of chickens and roosters as they remind me of my grandma chasing around the chickens in her yard and yes, "wringing their necks" to prepare them for dinner.  We used to get such a kick out of grandma running around the yard shrieking and laughing at them so last night I decided to start an oil painting of my own version of a rooster.  I think this rooster is very regal and proud so I hope to incorporate all those elements into my painting. Somehow my thoughts of late have been with all those people in my life who have gifted me with so many positive and memories of a simpler life.  I feel so blessed that I have those memories and want to honor all of them by keeping things simple, even with my paintings.

Happy Mother's Day

Received these flowers from my brother yesterday with a coupon for my choice of a facial, haircut, pedicure or manicure.  Last weekend he had a minor heart attack and a stent put in which reminded me how fragile life really is.  I've had my own scrapes with mortality and many struggling with life, itself, right now.  I so appreciate my brother in my life.  He is my only sibling and the only other person in the world who knows and understands the world I grew up in.  On this Mother's Day I celebrate my own mother who is 84 years old, struggling to remain independent surviving her other siblings all but one and was the very best mom she knew how to be when I was growing up.  Bless my mom for all she has been through with and for me and for her example of solid, hardworking ethics.

Day Before Mother's Day - In the Painting Mode

"Ochre Hills" Original Oil

Original Oil "Wispy Floral"

Yesterday I woke up in painting mode after about a week of just not feeling the urge.  Had some things happening in the past week that reminded me of the necessity of taking good care of oneself.  I'm not sure if the "Ochre Hills" painting is yet finished, seems to need or lack something to me.  So for now I'm posting it and will see if something else strikes me this next week.

Springtime in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Nature so inspires me and I couldn't believe this Swallowtail let me get so close in order to take pictures.  Beautiful and sunny this morning and now we're having thunder, lightning and I can smell rain. I love the monsoons here in New Mexico.

News last week of a family member having a light heart attack had me in the midst of family crisis again. I'm so grateful that I have all the people I do in my life and love my family and friends.  Hopefully the beauty of nature and subsiding of crisis' will help inspire me in being creative again.  I'm still re-reading my "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain".

Original Gouache, Acrylic, Pen & Ink "60's Floral" on 5x5" Tile

"60's Floral"

Have been reminded lately of the 60's and late last night found myself in my art room and because this little tile was already primed decided I'd just "let it flow".  Was a fun little project and got me back into doing creative things.  Earlier in the day I made my husband one of his favorites, a tuna casserole and caught up on phone calls.  

"Samantha's Rose" Original Acrylic Painted 29 Apr 2012

"Samantha's Rose" Original Acrylic

For her 14th birthday I asked my friend, Samantha, what she'd like and to my surprise she said a painting of a rose.  She asked me Saturday afternoon and this is the finished acrylic painting I did for her on Sunday and took to her for an early birthday present.  Her birthday is actually today May 1st.  She is a budding artist, herself, and I'm very flattered that she loves my artwork.