Snorkeling in the Bay

Snorkeling in the Bay

16x16

Oil on Canvas

I never knew that snorkeling the Hanauma Bay was on my life's bucket list until I actually did it.

Yeah. Put it on your bucket list. It is..there are no words....Perfect. Beautiful. Natural. Breathtaking.

I LOVE how the colors worked out in this particular painting. So crisp. I feel like I can feel the waves moving me around while floating. It reminds me of that awesome afternoon.

This painting is also available at Horne Fine Art

Searching for Honu

Searching for Honu

16x16

Oil on Canvas

Ahhhh...O'ahu! Take me away. Thanks sweet Greg and Lisa for taking us away! 

This painting is available at beautiful 

 Horne Fine Art.

Honu is the Hawaiian word for Green Sea Turtle. Just as Greg and Steven are looking for deer everywhere we go, in the ocean they were always looking for Honu. Or possibly a shark or something terrifying. But they were kind enough never to mention the scary stuff.

Fighter

Fighter

11x14

Oil on Stretched Canvas

This was such a fun project for me! I love dogs! I love the modern day hunter enthusiasts in my life! 

We all know we can go to the store and buy some poultry or a steak with ease. Modern day hunting is rooted in a survivalist tradition, but today it is all about the experience. I am the daughter of hunters, married into hunter, and it appears I am raising hunters. For me, the deer hunt or the elk hunt, is all about a weekend in a house and kitchen sporadically aglow with hunter orange. The hunters return with stories and smiles and sometimes, something to eat. Don't tell them I said this, but they don't often kill anything, but they seem so happy and content with their day. Always, my husband tells me how beautiful it is. It seems a great excuse to get out and get into nature and be with family. Maybe this isn't the experience for everyone.  I also know there is a huge spectrum of opinions in terms of hunting this day in age. But for our family it is a happy, pleasant time enjoying nature and each other. 

I am honored to be part of this gifting experience for my patron. Training an animal to hunt with you seems like it could be a degree at Hogwarts. It enters into the realm of magical for me. There is such a  great bond between the dog and his hunter. That moment when the dog freezes and points tense and still. So cool! So much communication happening with virtually no words! 

I am really pleased with this painting. I learned so much. Happy Hunting and Christmas!

A Day at the Beach

A Day at the Beach

12x12

Oil on Hardboard

This was such a fun project for me. Thank you my sweet friend for letting me have this great learning experience! I hope you enjoy it! 

Impressions

I know I am supposed to pick just one picture! But honestly how could I!

Joining The Mama Byrd a little late:)

Crazy Awesome! See how they Blossom!

Impressions

Dear Blog,

It is up to the log.

Joining my friend The MamaByrd in her weekly Impressions Post. Feel free to join.

Impressions

My Mom really has such a great smile!

Thanks for everything, Mom!:)

Remember to hug your Mom's on Sunday! If you can't hug her call her! If you can't call her or hug her, hug a memory! Or....find someone else's Mom and hug her, they usually will hug other people's children.:)

I am joining my friend The MamaByrd in her weekly impressions post. Feel free to join:)

Lazuli Bunting for Mom

Happy Birthday Mom.

This little guy was painted onto my Mom's Birthday card. She is an art lover. I was rewarded with a big gasp and an "I love it!" and "I am going to get a little frame for this". Such a good Mom response:) I love this gal, so I thought it fitting to paint my favorite bird of the feeders this spring, on her card.

Impressions

We are alike in a lot of ways. In this way we are different. She has ALWAYS danced. I think her first steps were a twirl and a leap.

Joining my friend themamabyrd in her weekly Impressions. Feel free to join us:)

I Love Nature

I love all the patterns in nature.

Just sharing pics today!

Love when Nature meets Spring.

I am in Love

One of my favorite subjects in the whole wide world. Ever!

I am in love!

Bird Study/ Purple Finch

This bird was A-MAZING to see at our feeders! I did this little quick study in ink, I REALLY need to paint it in color because it is called a Purple Finch...for a reason.:)

A Rainy Saturday

Spent a rainy Saturday afternoon at the library with friends. She obsessed over puzzles. Our kids played on the computer and looked at books. It was such a nice afternoon.

Impressions

I realized that this was the best picture I took of my children on Easter. This particular picture is worth one million words, it has it all...just not at all what most people try to captured in your traditional Easter photo......
     -No Sunday best but rather pajamas and dress up cowgirl boots on one and a swimsuit on another.
     -Comical amounts of dirt on clothes and faces.
     -I am pretty sure this could be the first Easter photo with an "heirloom" hatchet clutched protectively in a seven-year-old hand (Thank you Grandpa Tom).
     -A look of pure disgust at having been bossed around by his sister a moment earlier.
     -All photo subjects completely distracted by the incredible Nature Planet quality bird show to my right.

I may still stage a more formal Easter best photoshoot, but in truth, it was an AMAZING Easter evening spent with Grandma down in the cattails.

I am joining themamabyrd in her weekly impressions. Feel free to join:)

The Field

The Field

5x7

Oil on canvas

I painted this painting and it made me think of my sweet mother-in-law. She is the daughter of a shepherd. It is hanging in her home today. Love that sweet gal.

Water Weenies

Water Weenies

36x24

Oil on Canvas

I am gearing up to start some large oil paintings. This painting sold a few years ago, but I have never posted it. My lovely nieces are all in college (almost) now. They were so sweet and adorable playing in the pool with me that day. 

Arden

Arden

11x14

Oil on canvas

I did this painting for an old coach/friend of mine. His young daughter swimming. So beautiful. 

Wheat Field with LarkS

They Fly Together

20x24

Oil on Canvas

This is my VanGogh  collaboration. I completed this painting before we moved, but I don't think I ever posted it. 

I LOVE VanGogh's original "Wheat Field With Lark". Yeah, there is just one lark in the original. I LOVE his colors and handling of grass and I really wanted to try it out. All through my studies in art we are repeatedly taught about how much artists learn by copying the work of the great Masters. The Masters themselves spent countless hours in the Louve or other museums,  or in cathedrals, or churches copying Master-works. I believe Van Gogh himself did it.

Well, I am here to add to the testimony. It is truly a learning experience. I was putting so much paint on that canvas and in such pure colors...it scared me a little. Honestly!

I did make one change. I added another lark. I know, blasphemy right!? But I read Irving Stone's book,  Lust for Life. It is the story of VanGogh life. I thought about that book the whole time I was painting. It really brought to mind the importance of have a companion. Someone to fly with. So, I decided to add another lark, and I gave the painting to my husband. Forgive me art-purists..but it just felt right.

The log home

Huntsville Barn

5x7

Oil on canvas

Another barn collaboration with one of my Dad's photos. It is a nice little painting. I know he would want us all to move forward and not be sad. I am very happy, but I still really miss him.

Impressions

Apparently, deer LOVE Weeping Cedars.

The surprise photos

You know that other woman in my house?

Sometimes, without my knowing, she gets a hold of my camera.

I don't know until I am downloading my disc and I come across an interesting series of pictures.

I love when this happens.

 

It is like getting to peek inside her mind...

and getting to see  what she finds beautiful, 

and fun.

I think her pictures are some of my favorites.

I will have to strategically leave my camera around so she will take some more.:)