Ski Vail painting

This was an unexpected fun project I did on commission for a friend Andrew Anderson.  He's a real estate agent that flips homes and wanted a piece of art for a mountain condo he was fixing up in Dylan, Colorado. Andrew threw together a unique canvas made from slats of wood from his old fence.  I hoped to maintain a little of the rustic look and allow the wood to still show through the paint. 

Kelly Green and Brass Beauty

Before

 

After:

I have been itching to pull a kelly green piece out of my arsenal and almost backed out.  I saw these little brass pulls on her to triggered a thought to pair it with a green that would really make them stick out.  The green was pretty intense to begin with and she took a few tries to get her just as I wanted, but I am quite pleased with how she ended up!

Just stumbled across this from A Cup of Jo (http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/).
I read East of Eden just a few months ago and couldn't help but fall in love with the storyline Steinbeck penned into life.

In 1958, John Steinbeck received a letter from his teenage son Thom, in which Thom confessed that he had fallen desperately in love with a girl named Susan at his boarding school.

Steinbeck's reply is as follows...ever so endearing

New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

Little Wabby's Painting

I finally got around to finishing my dear little sister and best friend's original painting made especially for her. She is a lover of all things orange and bright. The edges are made of favorite hymnal sheet music and old thesaurus pages or words that so aptly describe her. There are elements of lace from an old dress of hers hidden in the upper part of the wing. Abby is an unashamed lover of the Latin culture, so I added in the spanish translation for "bloom" as it has been a treat to see the way Abby has developed and matured into what I would consider a stunning woman. Her heart is so dear and considerate of how to best care for people. Abby has an uncanny way of charming people and engaging them with her vibrant personality. She is easily the weirdest person I know and can make me laugh quite easily. I just adore her to pieces and am happy to call her mine!

This table has the most stunning claw feet. She's been around for awhile with two little grey chairs to accompany her. I've been waiting for a few more mix-matched chairs to add in but they haven't found their way to me quite yet...Still waiting on their arrival. One of these days.

Before

This little project was so fun! I originally got her and was not all that thrilled as she had 3 little hats of leather that were not in good shape. With the help of a chisel and some muscles, she was bare and in need of some vision. What would I put in her 3 naked pannels? What better than a chalkboard? How exciting to write your to-do list on your desk? And even better to wipe them right off post-completion.

Corrie is 30 Flirty and Thriving

Well, she's now in her actual thirties, which makes for 31! It was such a treat to get to celebrate Miss Corrie. This is a true woman of talent. For one, she is a tride and true friend and aint scared to tell you how it is. But, this girl has talent from taking care of dying children in the PICU to jarring her own jelly and pickles, to making homemade mallows, crocheting, bread baking, need I go on? Most of those she has taken the time to teach me how to do, which I just love. Anyhow, Corrie is a lover of all things in the kitchen. She has a knack for cooking and tasting foods to be just right. Corrie requested a painting for her blue bedroom for her birthday and this was her surprise. I especially loved the background which is recipes I tore from my grandmother's cook book. Most of them I tried to shoot for a cajun dish as she is from the deeps of Louisiana and learned most of her cookin from her grandmama there.
Anyhow, it was a real fun giant painting to do and I was pleased as punch to hand it over to her. Its just easy to love Miss Corrie so.