My Morning Walk

I try and take this walk every morning. Sometimes I bring my pug, sometimes I don't. I have those days where I need to walk fast. Lucy, my Pug, likes to smell every strand of grass, investigate each twig and sign the guestbook at every tree.

Gilroy is so green because of all the recent rain, I am loving it as I know it will be gone soon and then we get yellow ochre hills.

This painting was purchased by one of my very favorite collectors. I won't say who because it's a gift and she may want to keep it a surprise. She knows who she is and she is a wonderful supporter of the arts.

Practical Public Art

I had so much fun painting this very LARGE safety pin on a tiny, mini canvas that's 2.5" x 3.5". This public art is outside the de Young museum in San Francsico, CA. I think how I always see safety pins everywhere, but when I need one...they are no where to be found. I need one of these super large ones, then I would always know where it is ; )

Morning Routine

I actually like to wash my dishes in the morning. I love the way the hot water feels on my hands. I love how everything goes from chaotic and messy to clean and shiny.

I also love the how each morning I am treated to a new and random composition of crazy shapes and fun colors in the dish rack. Oh, and yes, I love to be done so I can get into my art room!

Prepared

I caught this little boy in downtown Santa Cruz, Calif. He was the cutest guy on the sidewalk, all prepared for some heavy rain.

It's good to be prepared, I just ordered more canvas for my upcoming shows. Larger sizes for my booth shows. I have been going back and forth painting very tiny and up to large (large for me is 16 " x 20") I need these next few months to paint away and have my inventory for this Spring and Summer. I love my job : )

Happy Spring!!

Spring wasn't ever really my favorite season, my favorite is Fall. Since I have become a daily painter though, I look at everyday differently. I see what each season has to offer and it's all so great. Spring has a soft, beautiful palette, the colors I am seeing are little chick yellows, party dress pinks, robin egg blues, day-glo greens, cotton ball whites, and everything feels new. Not such a bad season, not bad at all : )

Seeing Different

One of the greatest joys of being an artist to me is, I see a painting pretty much everywhere I look. Putting groceries away, ten little still life scenes pop up. Washing dishes, I see the lively, bright colors of the cups and plates and the fun composition they create in the dish rack. As I drive my daughter to school I see an old barn and house, the soft greens, yellow ochres and misty clouds make it look so serene. It also makes me grateful it's still there. At 7am we are seeing some pretty amazing sunrises too, the clouds, the colors, the drama! If you stop and really see what is surrounding us, it's all pretty amazing.

My New Path

I was approached recently by the Gilroy Patch, which is an online newspaper that covers my city, Gilroy, Ca. to be their Art Blogger. I had to take a few days to think about if I wanted to add this to my plate which is already pretty full. I thought about it and decided that it was too good an opportunity to let go by. I want to write about how it is to be my own art representative. I am in charge of everything about my art business. Keeping up with the financials, scheduling the shows for the year, applying to them, writing newsletters getting the word out, keeping up on my inventory of supplies and most of all painting the art that I sell. I also am a part of the dailypaintworks online gallery and I am a daily painter, posting each day. On top of this I have a family. Sometimes when I am grumbling about doing tasks that are not art but are important to my business, I have to remind myself that the bottom line reason I do all of this is so I can paint daily. I have to admit I am addicted to the pleasure of painting, it's my drug of choice. This is another path for me to take and I think it will be a great way for me to keep focused on why I do what I do. I would also like to shine a light on the many talented people who are doing their art in my town, hopefully it will be an inspiration.