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

May 3rd Pop Up SHOP

A smorgasbord of visual treats from art to stationery, jewelry and purses, prints, stamps and stickers all housed in the lovely home of Liz Brady on a Saturday! Mark your calendars, one week from this Saturday. Hope to see you there!

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?

Wednesday Winter Worktable

It's beginning to look a lot like ...... snow! Winter! The season of white is here and there are high hopes for plenty of snow and rain this winter here on the dry coast of California. The animals are calling for it, the trees are desperate for it and the lakes are too low for comfort. Not to mention that the winter is such a delicious time of year, playing, cozying up to the fire and a good book, and doing indoor projects... like painting or making stamps.

First big snow in the Los Padres Forest

The dogs are in heaven.

So much fun to be had with plenty of powder.

 
News in the shop? .... The stickers have arrived and are now available in my Etsy shop. I'm smitten and I want to put them on EVERYTHING! Great for envelopes, packages, stationery, ummmm clothing. HA.

The elves are all bustling packing up stamps to get into the hands of holiday makers and gift givers. Two Dog gratitude and happy stamping.

 

Island Dreaming

I'm finally at my desk sorting through the newest collection of images AND getting everything entered into the shop. Today was about critters from the sea. Your local characters right off our Santa Barbara coast, the very playful and abundant Common Dolphin, the adorable harbor seal, the majestic Grey Whale and the dogs of the sea the California Sea Lion.

Our local Channel Islands is the theme of this collection. More soon....

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.

Put up the flag and fire up the BBQ

The holiday approaches and summer vacations are in full swing. Hiking up into the higher elevations under a canopy of pine trees that cool and calm the spirit is a great way to celebrate independence. Have a safe 4th of July!

California and the Los Padress National Forest ©

My favorite place to watch the fireworks

nostalgia at it's finest

old friends

These stamps and more in ye oldee etsy shoppee!

New Stamp Collection in Production

Birds and the channel islands. New stamps are on the near horizon. They are off to the manufacturer and should be winging their way back to me before the summer is over!

Pelican Flight Silhouette ©

California Brown Pelican ©

Island Blue Jay ©

There will be new vintage campers, flora and fauna of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, and more dog breeds. Stay tuned and check the Etsy Shoppee for new comers! Happy Summer Stamping!

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!

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.

Summer Swim

Skye in the drink.

Summer Border Collie

Our little swimmer Skye