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.

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

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

Happy Start to 2013

We loves us some snow!

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!

To the Dog Park

work in progress

Summer Border Collie

Our little swimmer Skye

Summer Outdoorsy

Mountain Love ... and some hiking

With dog as my co pilot

Ms. Molly by Teresa Zepeda

Molly ©2012 Teresa Zepeda

{detail Molly} ©2012 Teresa Zepeda

Teresa Zepeda, artist extraordinaire. This is a silkscreen and more than that, a reductive silkscreen. Which means this, it is made from one screen, each color successively blocked out starting from white to black. Teresa uses this medium in a way like no other, using a small paint brush and her eagle eye to make all that delicious texture within the frame.

At the same time, her ability to be one with her subject and capture the expression of a beloved pet or the dizzying effect of a carnival ride. I'm smitten and ever grateful for this amazing depiction of my beloved Ms. {firecracker redhead} Mollykins.

See more HERE

Snow Dogs

Two years later....

and we still miss you. The holidays just aren't the same without our Athena. She was the best at unwrapping her gifts and even better at finding them under the tree. She knew if she stepped on each package one of them was bound to squeak, which meant it was hers to open.

Loved and never forgotten, long live Queen Athena.

 

Wishing ....

you and yours {including the furry four legged family members} a warm wonderful holiday... with plenty of napping. Blessings and tidings of good cheer.

trouble exemplified

A new painting started today of Molly, one that will accompany the portrait of Athena and Skye.

Introducing Ms. Cleo

Our new cousin, the cutiest Cleo. We have yet to get our paws on her but can't wait to smell that puppy breath and feel those little sharp teeth gnawing on my arm or ear. There's nothing better than puppy snuffling and rolling around on the floor with a fur ball. Welcome to the pack Cleo.

Trouble

Waiting

For the sun to come out, for her playmate to get home, for summer fun to start.