6 Quiet Years

Miss Athena has been gone 6 years this week. STILL we miss her, still we remember her. Long live the queen.

Reflection 24x24" oil on panel ©2015

You can visit this painting at the upcoming show 50/50 at Sullivan Goss opening January 7th, 2016. 11 East Anapamu, Santa Barbara.

Dog Folly

Worktable Wednesday part Deux: 

On the easel today, more pet worship, is that so wrong....

Molly Swims 12x12"©

Summer Swim 12x12"©

la joie de chien 12x12"©

Molly & Skye redux

Meadow Romp 12x12" oil on panel ©N Strasburg

Thank you Atkinson Gallery and Tif Sigfrids, Molly and Skye will make yet another local appearance in their favorite meadow. Skye takes center stage for this event in a larger painting in oil. Both girls are ecstatic about the exposure but have been booked at another gig, so will sadly miss the reception in October. They will be sending a representative to make sure they keep in good standing with all their fans.

Small Images 

Atkinson Gallery

Santa Barbara City College

Opening Reception Friday, October 3, 5-7pm

Show runs October 3 thru 3, 2014

Juror Tif Sigfrids will give a brief lecture 

from 4-5 on the day of the reception.

Tonight 4-6pm WESTMONT

The Westmont Museum invitational 5x5 show opens this evening!

Tuesday, September 2 from 4-6pm

"Meadow Light" drypoint with Gouache 

Bidding started August 28th and will end sharply at 5pm September 11.

Come get your bid on.

Visit the auction page HERE

Afternoon Easel

Athena

I've been working on this portrait of our beloved departed Border Collie Athena, on and off, for a couple years. For some reason I just haven't finished it. So today while feeling more quiet than usual I work on the small details that need work... namely, that darn Mexican blanket she is sleeping on. I'm reaching for the place where there is detail enough to define pattern but not so much that it is photo realism, not that I think I would have the stamina for that any more, it truly doesn't suit me.

Athena herself is looking pretty good, more work to be done in her black fur and small nuances with her freckles. It's that darn rug! It may very well be another 2 years before I call it finished. It is a nice diversion from the landscape images which makes me wonder... is a figure far behind?

Lapse and play

There has been too much on the plate and loads of fun in the California fair, winter weather. Doggies have been busy playing and living it up, wishing for snow but accepting the sun.

Rain arrived this month, thank goodness, and we are all back in the studio for some long overdue work. We'll post more as things take off. Until then, woof and happy spring... which is nipping at our heels.

New Year - new stock

A merry start to the new year: 2014. Wishing everyone a health-filled joyous year from me and the doggies. The year started with a long walk on the beach, painting and printing. It's not a terrible way to begin; exercise, laughing, loving up fur balls with a bit of work on the side.

"all in the family" holiday 2014

New in the SHOP are greeting cards pulled off the pages of my sketchbooks. Yes, yes, I know... more images of the furry muses. What can I say?! perhaps I was a wolf in a former life or just a pup that never got to grow up.

5x7" original etching greeting card

4.5x6" original etching greeting card

Did I mention that there are cool stickers in the shop too?! Stamps and cards and stickers wahoo!

Best to all for a raucous 2014. xo

New to you!

Just in time for the bustle of the holiday, nothing that will make your life easier, your planning more efficient or your commitments less demanding but may make you smile or happier wrapping gifts.

New stickers is what I'm talkin' about! I've taken the best sellers from my rubber stamp collections and jazzed them up with retro colors and squeezed them on to 2" round stickers. They will be in the shop by the end of the month.

Here is a preview:

Border Collies and cats, there will also be vintage campers, camping and birds. More to come.

Someone is having a birthday tomorrow!

Beach Day, Molly ©2013

Molly turns 7 tomorrow! A good run on the beach to celebrate another year. We have now had Molly as long as her former owners. We hope that she is happy with her life with us as much as we adore her furry spirit in our atmosphere. Happy day you came to live with us Red. xo

New Show with pooches on the side

Willow Path, Molly  12x12" ©2013 N Strasburg

New Terrain

Opening First Thursday September 5th

Show runs September 5th through November 30th, 2013

Sullivan Goss

Santa Barbara

Guess who's having a birthday?!

Sweet Skye baby turns 8 today! 

I think a frisbee is in her near future.

We love that sweet pooch.

Inspiration on a Tuesday

Two dog blog

It's April. How did it happen? Three months behind us and the horizon in front. There is a whole slew of projects burbling in the studio. New stamps are slowly eeking their way into existence on the sidelines of painting for a new show that opens in September ... which seems far away, but not considering the speed that 2013 is deserting us. I think it will be here before I realize that summer has come and gone.

Spring Meadow 12x12" oil on panel ©2013

Wishing everyone

unleashed joy this holiday. May the new year be bright and merry, filled with health, happiness and loads of furry love.

Tis the season to be busy

Coming next week to ye olde shoppee

Skye Crouch ©2012

Mountain Swim ©2012

New prints and notecards too!

Something to bark about!

I've been working on putting together a catalog of all the stamps that I have produced over the last two years. There are nearly 100 images {98 to be exact} that have been manufactured and who knows how many more protypes, finished, sold and in production. Here is the "about the artist" page which will also be included on the website being developed, a sneak peek of more to come. Woof.

To the Dog Park

work in progress

Summer Swim

Skye in the drink.

Water Dogs

Snack?!