Birds and Berries -Paint Party Friday

I have a great love for bluebirds.  When I was a child, my siblings and I were running up from the canyon, when we found a strange woven bag lying on the trail.  I picked it up and three little bluebirds flew out.  It was their nest and somehow had come loose and fallen.

I was so charmed.  I've never lost my love for these little birds.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Hello Little Flower Fae -Paint Party Friday

I was spending the weekend with my sweet Mumsie--she came to keep me company in the new year.

She's the one who taught my brothers and sisters and me about fairies.  We lived on the edge of a vast forest and explored its mysterious places.  We knew there were real fairies!

Here is a picture of one I remember from my mind's eye as a child.


I hope you have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by--it is always a joy to read your comments. 

Mr. Perky Ears -Paint Party Friday

Anyone who has companioned with a Maine Coon knows what wonderful cats they can be.  They are usually clowns and don't stop growing in size until age three.

I know another of these wonderful cats will come into my life again.  I just know it!

Have a great weekend and Happy Paint Party Friday!  Blessings and hope to you!

Bronze Sheepie -Paint Party Friday

I had the lovely experience of molding the little wax pieces to make this tiny sheep.  Yes, that's a lime green pencil sitting next to the tiny fellow.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by--it is always a joy to read your comments.  Blessings and hope to you!

Cat on a Post -Paint Party Friday

Here is a drawing I recently created of my sweet SnowBunny.  Over 25 years ago the kids and I found her within the walls of what we called "the Carriage House."  She was tiny, her eyes barely open.  But she was ours from that moment.  She was a wonderful cat who shared mothering the children with me.  They were hers and I was hers, too.   After a rich and full life, she passed away--I will always miss her and I fully expect to see her when I head off to heaven myself.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by--it is always a joy to read your comments.  Blessings and hope to you!

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.

Merry Christmas! -Paint Party Friday

Hello, sweet Friends.  Thank you for your patience.  I have been dealing with some depression over the loss of my sweetheart--granted it has been five years since he flew away to heaven, but this year I missed him extra lots.

This is my finished Christmas card.  I hope you enjoy it.  If you would like to see my reference photo and graphite sketch you can find it here: Christmas is Coming.  If you would like to see the pen and ink version you can find it here: Mary Did you Know?.

Thank you so much for dropping by, dear Friends.  Happy Paint Party Friday and Merry Christmas!

Mary Did you know? -Paint Party Friday

I have been working on my Christmas Card.  A Friend suggested the title of Mary Did You Know.  There's a song out by that name which I love--it is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.

If you would like to see my reference photo and the graphite draft, you can find it at Christmas is Coming.

Merry Christmas dear Friends.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Blessings and peace be upon you this holiday season, and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Christmas is coming -Paint Party Friday

Here is my first draft of a Christmas Card I'm working for this year.  I apologize for being a little out of touch.  Since the fifth anniversary of my Beloved's home-going in October, I have been struggling with depression and sadness.

Art and the Lord are always my best help when I am feeling so down.  God is so good--and so are the friends He sends alongside.

Above is my reference photo.  It is of a beautiful nativity set I found.  I saw it a few years ago and fell in love with it.   I couldn't believe it when I spied it again--and on sale.

Thank you for dropping by sweet Friends.  God is good and I am grateful for your friendship.  Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Sweet Sixteen -Paint Party Friday

Sweet Alexis turned 16 last week.  We had a little birthday party for her, and this was her gift.  Such a lovely young woman.  Wise beyond her years and gifted with a great sense of humor.  

Here is my reference photo.  She's not only lovely on the outside, but she is beautiful on the inside, too.  It is a great blessing and honor to be her friend and mentor.

Thank you for dropping by.  You dears are always an encouragement to my heart!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Fun Faces on Wood Rounds -Paint Party Friday

I had so much fun drawing these!  A couple of years ago, I bought a bag of pre-cut wood rounds from the craft store.  As an experiment I tried drawing on them with my micron pens.  It was a success as I  came up with these fun faces on wood.

Above is  a closeup of some of the faces I came up with.  I can't tell you how much fun this was.  I'm thinking these would be sweet to put into Christmas cards!

Thank you for dropping by--you dear ones always bring a smile to my face and hope to my heart.  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Kitty Cat Library -Thursday Art Date

This is an ACEO I created for a friend of mine a few years ago.  It is the size of a baseball card, so was rather tricky to get in the lettering.

I taught cartooning to youngsters for years, so here you see my cartooning side coming out!

Have a lovely Halloween, and Happy Thursday Art Date!

Levi's Fantastic Adventure -Paint Party Friday

Two weeks ago my dear friends lost their sweet three-year old boy, Levi, to a rare type of brain cancer.  I was honored when his grandparents asked me to draw a picture of him with some very specific details.

Levi loved giraffes and sports.  He adored trains, too.  They also asked for a garden, ladybugs and those wonderful trees with Mount-Kilimanjaro in the background.  He loved the color blue.

When he saw the picture, Grandpa Nick said, "Only you could have done this."  And when I told him how many people had been praying while I worked on it, he replied, "I see God's hand all over this drawing." That is one of the greatest compliments I've ever been given.  I felt God guiding my pencil as I drew.

Above is my reference picture.  Isn't he the cutest, sweetest little fellow?  Please pray for his family as they grieve.

God bless you dear ones, thank you for dropping by--you are always, always a great encouragement to my heart. Happy Paint Party Friday!

Ready for the Undersea Halloween Masked Ball -Thursday Art Date

This pen and ink is one of the few Halloween drawings I've done over the years.  I thought the seaweed would make wonderful underwater jack o' lanterns.  :D

This mermaid and her buddy are headed to the Halloween masked ball at the great palace under the sea. I have always adored mermaids--this is one of my favorites. 

Have a great day, and be sure to drop by Rain's Garden for Thursday Art Date.

Gnome Glow -Paint Party Friday

Here is another Cloud Painting inspired by what truly seems to be a glowing gnome making his way across the skies. I was walking along the river watching the truly magnificent storm clouds chasing over the water, when I saw this fellow.

He seems good-natured and I imagined him humming a tuneless tune through his front teeth as he moseyed across the horizon.

I am re-posting this older cloud painting, because of the business of the week--thank you SO much for dropping by.  Your sweet comments always make my day!  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday.

Freedom Flight -Paint Party Friday

This drawing is an expression of freedom and hope, as well as a tribute to Fall.  I couldn't find my original reference picture, suffice it to say Faestock has some wonderful stock materials.

Our dear Uncle Lawrence flew away to heaven last week--so perhaps it is also an expression of letting go.  I am speaking on joy this weekend...there is joy in knowing he is in a better place, he can talk, run, laugh...  Yes, but oh, how we shall miss him. 

Have a lovely day, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by.  Your visits and comments always make my day.  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday.

Sisters Three -Paint Party Friday

I have a busy weekend ahead and last week I was just swamped.  So I am re-posting this older pen and ink piece, which was inspired by a vintage lithograph.  This drawing portrays the wonderful relationship between sisters of all ages.

Here are my dear friends Melissa, Casandra and Lyric when they were very young.

Thank you for dropping by, your comments give me much joy.  May blessing and hope be yours, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday.