AUGUST 2025

 Die-cuts and digital art (Procreate)

I've been reminiscing a lot lately. So much of my hometown has changed since I was a kid. I'm feeling very nostalgic. Shouldn't I be able to buy a ticket, somehow, to go back in time for a day? To see places no longer standing. People no longer here. It's so close. I can see it when I close my eyes. Just out of reach.

On that note, I'll talk about myself as a child artist. Haha! Not a prodigy. Just a kid who had a knack for it.

I come by it honestly, with several older family members who were artistically talented. I admired what they could do and I wanted to do it too.

I took art classes every year of high school. Then, went to college where I started with a major in graphic design, spent some time pursuing art education, and ended up with a degree in fine art just to be able to graduate and get the heck outta Dodge.

After graduating (with that lucrative fine art degree) I got a job waiting tables, met my husband, and life took off. With the exception of a gig illustrating for Gooseberry Patch that lasted for a few years, my career as an artist hasn't been much of a career. I've exhibited in local shows and worked on several commissions, but it's been more like a habit that I can't break. If I'm not painting, or drawing or doing something, I'm not happy. You've heard the saying "happy wife, happy life", or "if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." (That's the one I hear around my house all the time). I have to have my creative time. It's how I "fill the well," and then have more of myself to give to others.

I've reached a point in my life where the pressure of even considering an art career is in the rearview mirror. But, that does absolutely NOT mean I'm done. I just feel free to do whatever the heck I want. It feels wonderful, and I think I'm doing more now than ever. And I'm so happy to have this space to share what I do with YOU.

Sicking with the nostalgic theme, here are some of the pieces I did in high school. Again, no prodigy. But, not bad if I do say so myself.

My first painting - in acrylics. I would have been 15. This hangs proudly in my current studio.

My Daniel Boone guy. I think I was 15 or 16. 

This may have started as a grid drawing from a magazine image.

And here area few random pieces from high school. A scratchboard crystal glass, a pen and ink of a seahorse (I've always loved seahorses!), a drawing of a cute guy that I drew with no reference image. -This guy existed only in my head. I had it hanging in my dorm room my freshman year and a boyfriend at the time was jealous, thinking it was someone I had waiting for me back home. Haha! Lastly, roses. These may have also come from my head because I remember drawing a lot of roses.

I don't think I've shared my college work here. Check back in a couple weeks and maybe I'll have some of those to share.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mini oil paintings

I just wanted to share these completed pieces from my last post.

Both  are approximately 2" x 3".

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

 

JULY Calendar Piece

die-cuts 

 

The year is half way over! It's been a busy year so far, but goodness, it's going fast! I took a girls' trip to NYC in May, 

went to my niece's wedding in Jamaica in June, and now my focus will be on the wedding of my own baby girl in October! I just saw the gorgeous venue this morning. I'll be spending a lot of my time over the next few months getting wedding decorations done!

However, I still have to make time for my own creative interests. Right now I have several things started. Here's a little peek at a few ideas I'm working on. 

This is a 12" x 24" piece I started.

It's inspired by this cute little flower shop in NYC.

(See it down there in the corner?)

This is a fun challenge because, though I have the reference photo,

I'm having to figure out a lot for myself - color, perspective, etc.

Also, I got a great deal, in February, on a nice little Christmas tree for my studio.

I'm planning to hang my own miniature paintings on it.

Here's a couple 2" x 3" pieces I started.

One of my favorite cocktails - an Aperol Spritz.

Ellen - our very missed, furry kid.

I have two more paintings in the works - inspired by the Jamaican trip,

and a few more miniature ideas for the tree. So, I'm busy, and putting my studio to good use.

Here's one more thing I recently did, the wedding card for my niece and new nephew.

Thanks for stopping by!

So much to celebrate!

 Champagne glasses - 8" x 10" oils

I've done a calendar for the last 5 years. It gives me focus and a goal of at least 12 new pieces. But, this year there's two big weddings in the family, plus more things to celebrate, so most of my creative energies will be focused on those things. Originally this piece was going to be January 2026, and who knows, maybe it will still end up being January 2027.

Here are the steps:

This is the first layer in acrylics, just getting it laid out.

Second layer done in oils. I love the frosty look!

Third step

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

The results of the seventh and eighth steps are at the top - 

fine tuning the material, and adding the bubbles to the glass on the right.

Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by!

June Calendar Piece

 Die cuts, drink photos, and fun paper.

Wishing everyone a great summer ahead!

Thanks for stopping by!

Olive - Colored Pencil Portrait

"Olive" colored pencil on toned paper

Some of the steps:

Steps one and two were on the same day.

I was excited after one session so I came back to it a couple hours later.

This was the second day. Same thing - 

I was excited so I went ahead and did the finishing touches (top image).

 Tip:

I drew the image freehand. When it looked like this, I dropped it into Procreate in a layer over the top of the photo. Then, I reduced the opacity until I could see both images at once. I was able to see where I had gotten it wrong. The one you see above is actually after I corrected it. I had drawn the eye on the right side way too low. There were also little adjustments here and there, but I was pretty happy with myself for getting so close. As it's colored pencil, if I get something wrong from the beginning, there's not much I can do about it later. 

Thanks for stopping by!