Food IS the Destination!

Food IS the Destination!

Sep 22, 2022 | Art, Humor, Reflections, watercolor

Hadley’s Date Shake, it was on our list of destination foods.  Some people travel to destination cities or resorts- but Christine and I were traveling to food. 

In the 9 days I spent with Christine traveling from California, through Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern Texas I ate my way across multiple continents. Meals included: Persian, Korean, Chinese, Punjabi, Puerto Rican, and Mexican.  (I am sure I have missed a couple.) If you have never wrestled with goat on the bone swimming in biryani while balancing your styrofoam plate on the dashboard, then you have never really road-tripped.

This morning as I sipped on my homemade Chai Date Smoothie I fondly recalled that heavenly date shake that kicked off our traveling culinary adventure. Hadley’s appeared on the map shortly after we departed Burbank while my stomach was still full of leftover Chinese dumplings and pastries I scavenged from the refrigerator.  And despite the fact Hadley’s is a “fruit stand”, they were clearly famous for their date shake!  The tiny flecks of nature’s sweet goodness suspended in thick creamy vanilla ice cream.  There is no ice cream in my smoothie.  I have sacrificed the frozen creaminess in consideration of my ever expanding middle-aged waistline and cholesterol count.

It’s mid-September and I feel as though I am just now climbing out of the food-induduced coma only to discover that the world has moved on and my clothes no longer fit.  So, I dusted off the stationary bike and said a quick prayer of thanks for Spandex-infused denim and yoga tights.

In the Studio

I LOVE learning, watching others, trying to replicate their techniques, their strokes, their accomplishments.  So, I have been focusing on some in-depth tutorials.  I spend hours watching and re-watching slowed down videos with my paintbrush in hand.  Then I take those lessons to my personal projects.

Gargoyle on the Moon AKA “Night Watchman” is one of those projects.  The original painting is approximately 7” square.  I actually painted it twice!  I digitally adjusted the second version for greeting cards.   The first version (seen below) contains much more detail and gold mica dust.  I have made a few prints available and the original is for sale.  Contact me if you are interested.

I am leaning into ink as October approaches and I plan to participate in the annual Inktober Challenge.  I hope you will follow along on social media.

Neon Zeppelins and Parchment Sculpture: Connecting the Dots

Neon Zeppelins and Parchment Sculpture: Connecting the Dots

Jul 1, 2022 | Art, Essay, Reflections, watercolor

It begins with a single squeaky note, like a neglected gate hinge, but then it undulates moving up and down on the heavy motionless air, an ancient song declaring the sacredness of summer.  Summer temperatures arrived weeks ago, but it is the recital of this ancient song that marks the summer season for me.  As a solo,  the song feels mournful.  But as a chorus, it is a cacophony of community.

I spotted the first hollow shell days ago, a delicate parchment sculpture clinging to the rail.  I must have been distracted because the significance didn’t occur to me.  But two evenings later when I heard the mournful solo, my ears pricked and my heart leapt- “the song of summer”.  That’s the moment I recalled the parchment husk—-  Where did I see it?  When did I see it?  Those details are lost to me.

Life’s like that.  Small observations barely noticed- but later they rise into our consciousness like neon zeppelins.  Lately I’ve been trying to open myself to the forgotten observations that have brought me to today.  That sounds estoteric, but it’s not.  It’s really just me trying to discern how I became the “me” of today.  Sometimes a little memory lights up and I connect another dot.

The little light that shone this week?  A sudden remembrance of the year my mother purchased picture books for me.  I can’t remember if it was Christmas or my birthday- only that I was no longer a child.  But she knew me well enough to know that pretty illustrations were my shiny objects.

In the glow of this light another observation lit up- Jan Brett.  When my children were young, I LOVED buying them books and reading to them.  The great thing about toddlers is that YOU can choose the books!  And after discovering the totality of a Jan Brett illustration, I purchased many Jan Brett titles (thank you, Kohl’s.).  The stories were afterthoughts.  I fell in love with her style, each illustration flanked with illumination of sort.

Last week I became re-acquainted with Fables and the artwork of Mark Buckingham.  Years ago the stories intrigued me, but this time I brought fresh eyes to the newly launched title.  THIS time, I drank in the art FIRST.  Observing myself, I surprised myself.  Why didn’t I see the art 20 years ago?  Perhaps I did.  Memory is a fickle thing.

From the abandoned shell to the newly discovered comic page, I am connecting dots,  I am excited to find the next, and the next.  Do you connect dots?

In the Studio

The snail and thrush are two of my watercolor sketchbook entries I completed this month.  The thrush is flanked with illumination-inspired panels.

Since May I have loaded a ton of new products into my Society6 store, including desk mats, beach towels, acrylic trays, wrapping paper, and so much more!  I am really proud of these designs!  Use the links to take a peek.  While there, follow my shop, drop some hearts on your fave products, and check out their Sale!  Promotions regularly rotate.

As always, you can acccess my entire Society6 shop from the Shopping tab.

Check out the beach towel!
Check out this mini print!
Check out this backpack!
Check out this desk mat!

A Singing House Whistles While I Work

A Singing House Whistles While I Work

Apr 11, 2022 | Art, Digital Art, Essay, Garden, Humor, pattern design, Reflections, Surface Pattern Design, watercolor

April blew in with such ferocity this year!  My doorways have been moaning for weeks on end- a slightly eery sound that I have begun to liken to Moaning Myrtle.  If you have never heard your house “sing” before, I will explain.  The wind comes through the gaps with such strength that it causes the copper flashing to vibrate and intonate.  The first time I heard it, nearly 19 years ago, I was home alone with my babies while my husband was away on a business trip.  It frightened me until I was able to process what was happening.  But I digress.  Resuming….

As I sat down to write today I reviewed my posts from 2022 and I startled myself with how much I wanted to share with you.  I have let more time slip by than I intended.  So, please, pause here to grab a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or perhaps a cookie and a glass of milk.  But get comfortable and let’s catch up!

In January I shared my Intentions for 2022 and it is important to me that I continue that conversation.  Accountability.  I set these five intentions for 2022:

  1. Eat more veggies!
  2. Keep a cleaner garden.
  3. Become more disciplined in my approach to learning.
  4. Learn to create process videos.
  5. Create free downloads for my website subscribers BEFORE March!

Let me start with Number 5-  I’m a little late, but I have done it!  I have created my first free download for you.  It is only the first; you can plan on more.  When visitors sign up to receive email from me they will be taken to a Thank You page where they can download the freebie.  Those who are already on my mailing list will receive a separate email with their link.  This first freebie is a bookmark.  I haven’t decided how long the free bookmark will be available, so download it when you receive the email.   If you have troubles with the download or you don’t receive your email, just let me know.  I will post a follow-up blog entry with suggestions for how to print your bookmark.

Flowering Quince Bookmark

Plant Babies!

New Art!   “Hummingbird with Screen”

Number 4-  Sadly, I haven’t even BEGUN to tackle this one.  Let’s get that garden growing first!

Number 3-  Becoming more disciplined in my approach to learning has been a biggie for me.  Sometimes I feel like I am stalling out-  but when I grant myself a little grace and look at my work with objectivity I see great strides here.  I have spent considerable time painting birds lately under the tutelage of several self-guided classes with differing approaches and strengths.  The instructor in me says I haven’t earned an A- yet.  But, I will get there! 

Number 2-  Oh My!  In order to keep a cleaner garden, I have to clean it first!  The ideal time would have been Winter- but if you know me, you know I hibernate when the weather is anything less than 68 degrees F.  So, that leaves Spring.  And if you are a parent, or remember parenting school-aged children (or adults), then you remember how your calendar can simply explode overnight!

My son is a Senior in high school and just attended prom this past weekend.  Graduation events are beginning to fill the calendar.  Soccer matches have begun to populate the little white squares.  And in between grass fires, weird cold snaps, and the occasional promise of severe storms, I know the garden is calling!  But each day only holds 24 hours and I demand to sleep at least 7 of them, so something gets ignored each day.

In the past I have delayed gardening until the last possible minute holding onto the fear of losing seeds and seedlings in Spring Flash Floods or odd late frosts.  This year won’t be much different.  I have begun to clean out last year’s crops, but I haven’t finished.  We haven’t even turned on our irrigation system yet.  The baby plants are thriving in my studio nursery.  I have sown a few seeds outside, with disappointing results.  If the wind wasn’t bad enough, the squirrels immediately dug up the fresh soil.  The morning after planting seeds I discovered holes dug all over my cleared beds!

Last-  1.  Eat more veggies!      Do convenience salads count?  We haven’t made a heap of progress here-  but, if you recall, the whole point of setting Intentions instead of Resolutions is to emphasize the PROCESS or the journey.  I have eaten a few extra salads, which is easier as it becomes increasingly warmer.

Your turn-  Did you set any Intentions, or resolutions, this year?  Did you share them with anyone?  If not, I invite you to share them with me.  You can include them in a comment or send me an email.  I would love to return the favor of being your accountability partner.

Hops - A Rabbit

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Let’s Plant: A Spring Haul and What’s Hopping!

Let’s Plant: A Spring Haul and What’s Hopping!

Mar 15, 2022 | Digital Art, Garden, Reflections

The postal carrier delivered JOY in an envelope today-  actually over 2 DOZEN little envelopes!! Hooray for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds!

Each winter I pore through the catalog and select seeds for the garden.  I try to be frugal and reuse seeds from year to year, but some years are big spending years because my seed stock has grown old or depleted.  This was one of those years.  

Additionally, I was feeling particularly optimistic/experimental when I placed the order and I decided (again) to try starting flowers indoors.  Though I may have started too late for that.  It’s hard to tell here in OK.  First I chastised myself for not placing my order weeks ago.  Then I soothed myself when yet another weird snow storm blew in following an 81 degree day.  

While waiting for the new seeds to arrive, I sorted through the bucket of seeds I keep in the refrigerator all year and started a small half tray in my indoors grow house.  A select few have germinated- squash and pumpkins, you know the GIANT seeds.  A couple tomato seeds have poked their pale heads up through the peat as well.  Germinating is the no-brainer part.  Now, if I can just get them all to become plants!

 

In the Studio

I have been squeezing art into the nooks and crannies of my days, but I feel ashamed I don’t have more to show for it.  Though I do have a stellar rabbit!

I have been wanting to create another shirt, and I really wanted to try out screen printing which requires a very different type of design from my last shirt.  I thumbnailed a few ideas and then set to work bringing my rabbit to life- at least on the screen.  After the initial drawing I cleaned up the lines in Illustrator and I am off to meet with the screen printer!

I will have shirts to pre-sell at my Pop-Up Artist Shop at The Market March 17-31!  I had hoped I would have the shirts, but weather, global conditions, and other extenuating circumstances have decided that shirts would not be ready to wear until April.  So…  pre-sell it is!  The shirt is heathered brown, super soft, and will have “Hops! The Rabbit” on the front side.

The Market is located at 81st & Harvard and is a wonderful collection of small local shops selling housewares, furniture, accessories, art, & more.  I am thrilled to be a part of their Pop-Up event!

In addition to my two weeks at The Market, you will find me at Hummingbird Fine Craft.  I have “Okie Proud” relaxed muscle tank tops in stock now- just in time for warmer weather.  But supplies are limited.  Greeting cards, art prints, travel cups, stickers, and more are always available.  Hummingbird Fine Craft is open Tues – Sat and is located on Studio Row.

Digging into 2022; Reflections on the New Year Revolution

Digging into 2022; Reflections on the New Year Revolution

Jan 19, 2022 | Art, Cooking, Essay, Garden, Humor, Reflections, Watercolor

January 1st signifies new beginnings, a fresh new calendar and the promise of a better self and a better tomorrow.  Well-oiled gears of capitalism quickly speed up, cranking out magic machines and elixirs to give us the bodies we admire in the media.  Gurus across all spiritual and economic planes sell us subscriptions to their wisdom so we too can rake in the six figure incomes while vacationing on our Covid-proof private yachts in the middle of a sparkling Mediterranean.

Each year I am slower and slower to join in the New Year Revolution.  This year is no different.  It’s CERTAINLY not because my svelte twenty-like body doesn’t need some attention.  In fact, after nearly 2 years in the Covid-Free Pub of my own living room, downing beers and “bar food”, my body would appreciate a good detox and a steady regimen of downward dog.

Nor am I late to join the Revolution because of an out-of-control-wildfire art career that I created from nothing but aluminum cans and social media followings.

Nope.  The increased velocity of time itself has opened my eyes to the silliness of the whole shadow play.  We all know we have the ability to change tomorrow every day.  However, I am grateful for the collective will to examine the past in order to forge the future.  Remember those gurus I spoke of earlier?  Well, I am pretty sure they would tell me the first step to change is accountability.  In other words, SHOUT those intentions to the mother-f-ing universe.  So, friends, that is what we have happening here today.

  1. Eat more veggies!
  2. Keep a cleaner garden.
  3. Become more disciplined in my approach to learning.
  4. Learn to create process videos.
  5. Create free downloads for my website subscribers BEFORE March!

Now its your turn.  Hold me to the fire.  If all six of you return a comment, we can break the internet! 🙂  In all seriousness, it makes my day to hear from you.  You can send me your favorite way to eat veggies.  Gardening tips.  Or tell me what my first free download should be-  a printable bookmark? A wallpaper for your phone?  Something else?

And don’t forget to check out Hummingbird Fine Craft in the Pearl District of Tulsa.  Make an afternoon of it.  There is a Cuban cafe next door, a kick-ass vinyl (record) store across the street, and The Church Studio (also across the street) will be opening soon!  So you can shop for locally created crafts and art, grab lunch, and pick out some tunes all in the same outing.

Carter – Happy Tail, Gentle Soul

Carter – Happy Tail, Gentle Soul

Jan 9, 2022 | Essay, Reflections, Watercolor, watercolor

New year- new beginnings.  That has been the theme tumbling inside my mind for weeks.  I have much to say on the matter- but the narrative changed this morning.  This morning the inevitable happened- the moment I have been dreading arrived.  Today my husband, daughter, son, and Django gathered around Carter to bid our farewells.

 

I have been steeling myself for this day for the past year as I have watched Carter slip away-  another hapless victim to old age.  Arthritis, dementia, loss of vision, deafness.  But before the bandits of time robbed him of his senses and abilities, he was the kindest, happiest dog I have ever known.  When he was 6 or 7 he tore his Achilles tendon in two.  I took him to Oklahoma City to have it surgically repaired.  The surgery included external fixatures and hardware.  Twice a day I cleaned the points of entry where the stainless screws attached the rod to the bone.  Twice a week I drove him to OKC for doctor’s visits.  And for 8 weeks he was confined to a crate.  His tail NEVER quit wagging.  The surgeon couldn’t believe how cooperative and joyful Carter remained.  He healed well and quickly resumed running and jumping.  

 

I spent the day leaning on busyness to keep me moving forward.  This will be the way of things for awhile.  Carter was an integral member of our household for 16 years.  I will miss snuggling with him on the sofa while watching television.  Studio time without him curled nearby will feel strangely lonely.

 

So, while the new year is filled with exciting promise, it has begun with the pain of losing a constant companion.  We had his body cremated and now I must decide what we will engrave on his box.  I think it will simply be “Happy Tail, Gentle Soul”.  Rest in peace my friend.  

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