Quite often, the visions in my head are whimsical and include tea cups or tea pots. Last August my granddaughter and I took a trip to the zoo. It was her wish (and this GrandEst was determined to grant it) to see EVERY exhibit. Which we did, even though GrandEst got too hot during the…
But Not So Far
I’m not sure how to begin this story. Do I explain about how I just bought the flowers because they were pretty and on sale? Maybe I should explain the significance of the date? Or should I start with sharing about my husband’s death 21 years ago? All week I’ve been painting gladiolus. I just…
Light and Silence
There’s a moment, a special moment, a few hours after midnight, early on Christmas day. The silence is drenched in peace and pulsing with sacred nuance. Few experience it, but if you have, you never forget the stillness and joy of it. At our house we have a tradition that on Christmas Eve only, the…
Gladness Breathes
How to get the beauty from inside to outside Gladness breathes. When you have gladness, let it breathe out into the world. God knows we can all use some! It is my firm belief that there are things inside us that need to come out. Many times these are things that will make the world…
Whiskers
This is Whiskers. She belongs to my very good friend Sandy, whom I visited back in June during the IAPS convention. She came and sat on my knee, and I couldn’t resist snapping a photo with hopes of painting her. There will be a short slide show video of the process on YouTube soon. No…
Promise of Abundance
Prickly Pear Jelly. AKA Cactus Pear Jelly. A light, transparent pink in color, sweet and delicate in taste. Nice but somewhat bland on toast. A veritable trial by fire to make. I mean that quite literally. Fortunately, our stove in the home where I grew up was powered by natural gas. First, of course, you…
Prayer of the Bee
I know I keep saying this, but it’s true: I learn so much when researching a painting! Usually it’s when I’m surfing the internet looking for inspiration for a title for the piece. Momma has a beautiful white wisteria vine growing at the corner of their house. This spring when it bloomed, the bees were…
Gently Glow the Firewheels
The sun begins to slip down toward late afternoon. The firewheels preserve the glow of their infatuation with Sol’s warmth as long as they can: they are in love. Like a young girl who refuses to wipe away the first kiss for as long as she can, savoring the thrill, the warmth and the sweetness…
A Tale in Blue
More bluebonnets! Yes…I guess by now you know I love them. My favorite underpainting for bluebonnets is yellow, because it gives such a sunny feeling even if the underpainting is covered up. They smell like heaven. This year with such a bumper crop, our whole county smelled like heaven. I loved opening my front door…
Visiting A Gallery
Are you intimidated by the idea of visiting a gallery? Do you wonder if that is only for rich or very well educated people? My art Buddy, Kathleen Meador, and I made a video to encourage you to visit a gallery, and give you some tips about how to act and what to say. If…