Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, sweet Friends!  The Oregon Coast is one of my favorite places to visit--though we do not have dolphins as you see in this drawing, we often see whales blowing bushy streams of mist into the air, as they frolic in the waves of the sea.

The reference for this piece is my youngest sister Leigh--a lovely woman--as beautiful inside as she is on the outside.

Blessings and peace to everyone--May this New Year be one filled with joy, laughter and beauty.

Just Out of Reach -Paint Party Friday

A friend of mine who struggles to find words asked me to draw them as birds, just out of reach.  She describes the feeling of being on the edge of knowing what to say, but the words allude her.  I was once terribly shy--and in some circumstances, I still am--so I understand this helpless feeling of wordlessness.

This is the first of four drawings.  She gets to keep the one she likes best.

Have a great weekend, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by--your visits and comments are such an encouragement to my heart.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Dolphin Ride -Paint Party Friday

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live in the waters of the great seas? To be friends with dolphins and other sea creatures? There are times I daydream about such a life. To have a set of gills along with lungs would open a whole different world beneath the waves.

In my imagination I could imagine living in such a world, where water and air meet--where one could spend time in either realm.

Here you see a young man and his dolphin friend going for a spin. I wonder where his gills are? Perhaps the back of his neck? The top of his head? Behind his ears? Hmmmm...

Have a lovely week, dear friends.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Your visits are so encouraging.

Ocean Robes -Paint Party Friday

Here is a lovely lady of the sea, draped in marvelous heart bubble ocean robes.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could actually wear the waves?  I imagine the colors of teal and sunshine would be gorgeous.  Though I originally drew the graphite version long ago--I only inked it in a few days ago, in preparation for a coloring book, to be available hopefully soon on Amazon! 

Above you see my photograph of Emily.  She is such a delightful young lady--a blessing to my heart.

Keep me in your thoughts dear Friends.  This weekend I am hosting my very first Lady's Retreat.  It is called Making Friends with the Rain."  I know my Beloved would be proud of what I am doing...

Thank you for dropping by, dear Friends.  ((Hugs))  Have a lovely weekend and Happy Paint Party Friday!

A Day in the Country -Paint Party Friday

Here is an vintage saw I painted with acrylics in early 2001.  It was a Christmas gift for our Papa and Daka.  As you can see--I've always painted faces into my artwork.

Here is a bit more detail.  As you can see there are faces hidden in the sky.

A face in the mountains...

Trees, sky and mountain--with their hidden treasures.

And still more faces to find...

Here is another glimpse into my sketchbook.  I call this graphite drawing, Ocean Robes.

My reference photo is above--this is our lovely Emily in a photo I took last January.

Thank you so much for dropping by!  Have a lovely day, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Tide of Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

I've been on a mermaid kick lately, can you tell?  I thought it would be fun to show the ocean with foam made of hearts--a tide of hearts.  It might be that I miss the ocean.

Have a lovely day, and Happy Guest Heart Thursday!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Under the Sea

Here is a look at a painting I was commissioned to do recently.  Her hair turned out better than I thought it would, and I was totally surprised at how nice the rock work looked!

This little mermaid was fun to do--I used watercolors for most of this painting.  For her skin, though--I did something a little different. I used a bit of coffee and cream--from my coffee cup--and added a tiny dab of crimson.  The skin tone turned out perfectly--though the scanner didn't do justice to the smooth look of the painting in real life.

Have a wonderful weekend friends--Ah, isn't summer marvelous? 

Daughter of the Sea -Paint Party Friday

I am delighted to post this little mermaid as a part of Paint Party Friday. This is one I've been working to finish for a friend of mine, for several months.  This was done in colored pencil.  I also did two others, one in watercolor and another in mixed media.  This one is my favorite!

 
Above you see a picture of Denise--the sweet girl, who's face was my inspiration for the mermaid. 

With last night's tremendous sky show of lightning and thunder boomers which shook the house from 11 p.m.- 4:30 a.m., I felt restless and couldn't sleep--so I did a bit of doodling.

She's a tree dryad, you see...

And here is my lovely model Rena--she is such an inspiration to me!  Have a lovely day and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Captain's Dreams

Here is a colored pencil drawing I drew for a sea captain I know.  I did a graphite version nearly two years ago.  The Captain and his crew fish for crab off the Oregon Coast.  He and his dear lady are very precious to our hearts.  They are getting this piece for Christmas!  Shipping it off today.

Have a lovely week!

Vermillion Skies

This is another of my tiny paintings, only the size of a baseball card.  I was inspired by pictures I have taken of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.  Pictures and paintings don't do justice to the breathtaking sunsets one can see here.

Here you see whales cavorting in the night sea.  This actually started out as something else--and those whales are remedying a mistake!  Sometimes mistakes turn out pretty good!

Have a lovely rest of the week.

Quiet, Please - Guest Heart Thursday

While we were at the Coast last week, a winter storm roared in our ears for two days.  It was difficult to find a way home because of downed trees, snow in the mountains and flooding!  I would have loved to have been stranded at the beach--but alas, we finally made it home.

This is the mermaid who made her appearance during those stormy days.  Clearly she wants the wind to quiet down!  Yes, there are hearts everywhere in this painting--how many can you find?

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Quiet, Please - Guest heart Thursday

Here's another of my doodles I just finished in honor of Guest Heart Thursday!  This little mermaid bids us to be quiet for a moment--to enjoy the sea with all its sounds, scents and sights.

Of course I have hidden hearts in this drawing--how many can you find?

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Costume Party - Guest Heart Thursday

I love mermaids--being a part of the Mermaid Artist group has been great fun for me.  Here's my latest.  As you can see these two are preparing for a Costume Party!  Both are quite demure.

I have hidden 17 or more hearts in this drawing--can you find them all?  I thought this would be perfect for today's Guest Heart Thursday!  Have fun--and be sure to let me know how many you found.

For more wonderful heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

The Mermaid and the Fisherman

This pen and ink drawing is a result of a few days spent at the ocean a few years ago. I was fascinated by the bubbles in the surf and the rivulets of ocean water as the waves pounded the shoreline. I sought to capture the motion and grace of the sea.

I've always loved the idea of mermaids. The latest tale (no pun intended) I read was interesting. Mermaids were able to remove the skin of their tails, which they would then hide among the rocks. They did this so they could walk along the beaches unhindered.

According to legend, a man could steal a mermaid's tail skin, hide it and woo the mermaid as his own. However he had to keep the tail hidden, because if she found it, the pulse of the sea would be irresistible and she would disappear into the waves once more.

Do I believe in mermaids? Well, they haven't found Bigfoot yet, have they? Hmmmm....

Ocean Beauty

I love the beach. Our Oregon Beach is particularly beautiful any time of the year. Strangely some of the best weather to be had is in January or mid-May. Last May I was walking along the beach, when I clicked this picture of a nymph sleeping in the waves.

Above you see her as I first saw this Ocean Beauty napping.

Hitchin' A Ride

I first drew this young man of the sea, seated on a dolphin. But he didn't look tough enough! So here he is--with his friend and faithful companion--the fierce and marvelous sword fish shark.

Lioness

This lovely Lioness has taken charge of two small kittens. She seems to love them as her own. I am sure there is a story in here somewhere--perhaps she lost her own and rescued these little ones to raise as her own. To see her best, click for the larger view.

Above is the lioness as I first saw her. More detail can be seen in the larger view.

Ocean Dancer

Pacific City along the Oregon Coast is famous for its good food, surfing and dramatic Dory Boat landings. Most summer days you can watch surfers skipping over the threshing waves, as the Dory Boats slice through the waters--sliding ship's belly up onto the sands.

Here you see a beautiful sky mermaid perusing the beaches. She seems fascinated by all the activity. Below you can see this lovely ocean dancer as I first saw her.

Daddy Update: Dad is a miracle kid! The surgeons gave the wound on his head (which exposed quite a bit of bone) a one percent chance of healing without surgery. At present, the bone is completely covered and the skin around the wound only has about one and a half inches to go--if that! Dad is a walking miracle! Early next month, Dad will be going in for a neck check up--we are praying for the same miraculous healing in his broken neck bones.

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My siblings and I cleared and cleaned our parents home and property enough that they were able to return home last Sunday morning! They seem so happy. Next weekend we are tearing down a rotten section of their home--down to the floorboards, so I would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers for safety for everyone who will be coming over to help.

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THANK YOU for your thoughts and prayers--they have meant more to me and my family than you will ever know.