springtime blooms

Yay, finally success coaxing blooms from the dogwood tree! This is spring four for the dogwood, and the first year to see flowers. I noted my neighbor had blooms the first spring after she put in her own tree, and asked her her secret. She loaned me some of her liquid tree/shrub fertilizer. Yes, it

yay, action shots

I noticed some people out practicing their rodeo competitions, so thought I’d better stop the car and get out and take a few action shots. So glad I did! These are a few examples, now I’ll have to let the images ruminate in my brain until I come up with an exciting way to paint

painting: at the park

I love going to the park and seeing what dogs are available as models. Surprisingly few people ever ask, “Why do you want to take photos?” when I ask if it’s okay if I snap a few of their dog. People are much more open to having their dog’s photo taken than their own 🙂

Happy Easter

painting: gathered horses

I love a good group painting, suggesting friendly interaction. Neutral colors create a peaceful scene perfect to hang anywhere. 18″x24″ oil on stretched canvas. Available in my etsy shop.

mspt: more potholders

I think I’ve blown through my potholder enthusiasm, but at least have finished about 10. Here’s the latest. Isn’t the main fabric pretty? It’s printed in Japan, and if I remember right, by a company named Pretty Poodle. Or else that is the design name, which makes no sense since it’s flowers, but coming from

painting: sorrel horse mane

I think every little girl first falls in love with horses because of all that pretty mane and tail. So flowing, so free, so beautiful. And then that horse wants to be your friend. . . ? What could be more perfect? I’ve captured that pretty mane in a more grown-up way. 12″x12″ oil on

a project comes together

Remember A-Team’s Hannibal saying every episode, “I love it when a plan comes together?” This is like that. Thrifting all those sheets and pillowcases years ago, and then wondering what I was going to do with them. Some sheets got made into the reverse side of quilting projects, or just projects where quality wasn’t important,

painting: a greyhound, and a palomino

I love painting evocative eyes, you know that. These have a particularly nice inner glow. 8″x10″ oil on canvas. Available now in my etsy shop.SOLD, THANK YOU I used a lot of bright spring/summer colors to create a big bright sunshine welcome. 18″x18″ oil on stretched canvas. Available nowSOLD, THANK YOU.

inspiration thursday

I found this photo on a Norwegian blog, unfortunately untranslated so I don’t know whether that person just grabbed it, too. I suspect it will make the rounds of the blogosphere. I wonder if it’s photoshopped? I see kanji at the bottom of the image. Maybe it says who took the photo? Still, inspirational. And