Simon

This is my furr baby, Simon, who was scheduled to be put down, because he is deaf. One of the most exquisite cats I have ever seen, he is part Siamese, and has a very regal presence about him. His eyes are pools of the clearest blue ocean waters and his cry is very different, like Siamese...for a male, very high -pitched and LOUD. He is a very special one and I often wonder what he thinks...he hears with his eyes...and I am trying to develop hand and other gestures to communicate with him...I will have to get a picture of him awake so everyone can see his gorgeous beauty, this boy has a beautiful soul. And he is alive and well, with me.

Halloween, 2011

These are my pics from Halloween 2011! I was a Forest Fairy and made my outfit in one day right before the party that night! I had to have a wand, so I sculpted a head out of paper clay and painted it and embellished it ...it was glued to a thick stick right from my yard. I made my headpiece, just hot glued all sorts of fall things to an old head band...It was so much fun to make the costume and dance with (strangers) and my gal pals at the party.

Sea Siren Sue

This is my entry for a Gustav Klimt Challenge...Finally fini!!! It is painted on an 8x8" canvas board, and is a mixed media piece. I used my face from several snapshots I took and painted with acrylics, nail polish and glued on confetti papers.

Thanks to Gritty Jane DesRosier at http://grittyjane2011.blogspot.com/ for thinking of this whole fun challenge, I would have never tried this...it has opened my eyes and mind...

More of My Klimt Challenge Painting

I was able to get more work completed on my painting...I thought I would have it done and my next painting rolling along...but sometimes life takes the side roads and ...SuRpRiSe!!! You have to deal with it and let other things take the back seat for a while. I added some modeling paste to the hair for a hair-like feel...and some confetti that I glued down in pieces for the background and I still have a lot of painting and tweeking in that area, but I think I am happy with the results, so far....

Decided to try a challenge on FB

I saw a challenge from one of my Favorite artist's Jane DesRosier.... who wanted everyone to have a fun time and do their version or interpretation of a Gustav Klimt painting...she posts them everyday on Face Book and they are amazing... so I decided to join in on the fun...I am painting myself as a sea siren, you can see the real one and my interpretation...I hope to finish it tomorrow...I just started it today, so be kind...! What a fun lady Jane is...Just look her up on FB and you will see all the lovely works.

This is the completed painting I titled "How Much Fun Can I Have Before I Go To Hell?" I am taking an advanced painting class to bring me back to life after a horrible 2 years of watching and caring for my Mother, my best friend, die, and I was her complete care-taker...I will never be the same person, but I hope I can be a person who can make people feel happy and comfort them at the worst times in their lives. Even though I still spend some days in bed all day...she passed at home in June, I am really trying to get back to living...something a care-provider needs to learn to do. This is my start...going back to the school I was in (WVU-Parkersburg)when I had to leave my life to help her on her last and most courageous journey...it was the most difficult, but beautiful time we spent together...she will always be my Hero.

Anyway, back to my painting series for this semester...I decided to express myself in different circumstances...showing what I was going through in the last 2 years, not only with my Mom, but life changes I decided to make for many years and finally had the courage to do so... I felt I was living for everyone but me...And that was okay...if it was for my Mom, but not for others, who only caused me grief and toxic people I needed to break from...to grow.

So, now I want to live a life for me and these paintings are intense, some will be more than this one, which is full of life and humor...but to show my emotions and express them and release them to the outside world...Then I can move on...

This is a mixed -media piece...I used masonite board and covered it with old recycled Bible pages to paint my portrait on...then I used them on the frame...which I added the title to...just look at it with humor, I am definitely not trying to offend anyone...I'm Roman Catholic...I use Bible pgs. all the time along with any other things I can find...my top straps are from the Sunday comics if you look closely , you can see them showing through! I did use old make-up, foundation, creamy blush...acrylics and sealed with a clear glaze, both the frame and portrait for more depth in the color. This picture was taken by one of my fav gal pals when I was a featured artist for the Artist's Walk in Marietta, OH, for work I was commissioned for by the Marietta Convention and Visitor's Bureau...which they are still using the art work for banners throughout town this year! This pic was 2 summers ago, so my hair was shorter...Hope you like it and it makes you laugh or smile...

Started a New Painting for Class

This is the start of a new painting in my art class, Titled: "How Much Fun Can I Have Before I Go To Hell?" It is pure fun, I hope it doesn't offend anyone, but I have had one hell of a year and have decided to do all my paintings for therapeutic reasons...what I have been going thru and feeling...but with my Whimsy touch. It will be a semester of me or interpretations of me in different situations. This is just 3 painting hrs into this one, I see where my face needs to be fuller and my chin is too long and sharp...

I am using mixed media for this piece and the frame. Also, I am trying different painting styles...this is one I want to experiment on...using shapes and strokes of color, but I just wanted to get the piece all worked in with color, and now I can go to town. I provided the photo I am basing my look from...needs a lot of work, but having fun!

I will keep posting as I move thru it. Stay tuned...

Almost Finished...

Almost finished...a few tweeks and I think I am fini! I am showing the inspiration..."the Scream" by Edvard Munch. You can see the smaller canvas, which needs to be attached and I have to sign it. Now, on to my next painting ....

My version of "the Scream" Titled: "Screaming MeMe

This is my work after 3+ hours in class...I am adding or gluing the smaller canvas to the larger one...a version of me, I took pics of myself and using them for my reference. My body of work this semester is a take on what I have been going through over the past year and a half...dealing with taking full time care of my Mother to help her pass...the hardest thing I have ever done, but would do all over again. Also many other losses and changes and now trying to find me again...stay tuned in...! They are all whimsical paintings...

One of my Painted Refurbished Clocks

I can't remember where I found this clock, but I immediately knew I could transform it. It still works and is in perfect condition. I used mixed media for this piece. I cut out bird shapes from musical-note paper, since birds sing in the mornings to greet us! The rest of the clock was painted with acrylic paints and I used a gloss finish to seal it.