What I love about home......

Rainbow from home... Taken the spring after we moved into the house in Oxford, MI.


I'm back up in the Traverse City area... helping out my mom... She's recovering from a stroke that she suffered in April... It's a long and seemingly slow process.... though we are so encouraged by her continued progress.

These are just a few of the things that I loved about being at home....

• My own comfy bed (a Temperpedic)...
• Wildlife out my windows...
• Dear friends to walk with...
• My gas stovetop...
• Friends who buy a painting, then invite my husband and I to dinner when we deliver it...
• Wonderful neighbors that stop by to see if I can come out to play... and I do!
• More wonderful neighbors that organize a potluck so that we can all get together...
• Art friends that come in to Lake Orion to have lunch together...
• Watching my dear friend's most talented daughter as the musical director for a production of Beauty and the Beast. (She played the piano through the entire production...wow!)

I'm a true believer in the power of counting your blessings.... What are you thankful for?

home again home again jiggity jig....

"Lyle Lyle Crocodile"
26 x 20
Acrylic on Yupo
$910 (unframed)

This is an older painting... and was the first thing I saw, to welcome me home to my studio! (This is one of my personal favorites) It'll be 2 weeks of packing up and throwing out..Which is better that packing out and throwing up I suppose. LOL Getting ready to move... but we still aren't quite sure where. So it will be an art break for 2 weeks... See you the week of the 27th!

Stop Pulling the Rungs Out From Under Me.....

"Stop Pulling the Rungs Out From Under Me"
11 x 11
Watercolor on Paper
$180

I started this one earlier in the week... and it sat unresolved for a few days while I worked on the "Rocks and Hard Places" paintings... It has a serious theme...but painted in a light-hearted way. Which seems to be the way I cope with "stuff". As sad as my mom's condition is...(leukemia and she suffered a stroke) we manage to belly laugh more often than normal... Granted, the humor tends to be a bit dark.... but it's humor nonetheless... I'm very lucky to be wired that way.

Hope you enjoy your weekend... I'm going to the opening of the Artcenter Traverse City's member show tonight.... Really looking forward to it!

More Rocks and Hard Places...

"Between Rocks and Hard Places 2"
15 x 11 inches
watercolor and pencil on paper
$280 unframed

Getting bigger with this idea.... Really wanted the orientation horizontal... but it reminded me too much of a snake... I really hate snakes.... *shiver

Oh... and Happy Birthday Sue! :)

Between Rocks and Hard Places...

"Between Rocks and Hard Places"
4 x 11 inches
watercolor and pencil on paper
$65 unframed

I am definitely going to keep going with this idea...

serene yet powerful...
quietly doing what needs to be done....
squeezing through tight places....
but getting through.

High Road in Traverse City....

"Distractions and Diversions 2"
12 x 12
Acrylic on canvas (framed)
Sold


"Come Climb With Me"
24 x 24
Acrylic on Canvas (framed)
$950

I was tickled to find out yesterday that both my paintings from the "Taking the High Road" series made it into the Artcenter Traverse City's member show. I have been up here in Honor, MI..helping out my mom since she became ill in April. I'm looking forward to the opening on Friday evening.... hoping to meet some Traverse City artists, and become involved in the art scene here.

It's been a challenge to find painting time... I have my watercolor paints here and I've been struggling with their limitations... BUT... limitations breed creative solutions...right?
So I'm jumping in with both my watercolor feet.... knowing that there is always gesso to cover over botched watercolor paintings. :)

Strength In Numbers....

"Strength In Numbers"
6 x 6
Mixed media on acrylic paper

I have a stack of "almost finished" paintings in the High Road series. I'll be able to get my acrylics next week so I can finish some of them when I come back up to northern Michigan. This one just needed a few colored pencil marks added to complete it. It's a very strange color combination. Complementary colors, but just a touch off. Jarring perhaps? hmmmmmmm.