2006 - Red Plant

Finished this one in January 2006. I wanted something with a loose, organic feel and glowing colors. The inspiration was a small (2.5 x 3.5 ACEO) watercolor sketch.

20 x 16 inches. Acrylic on canvas.

2009 Note: This design is one that I come back to over and over again. You'll see it crop up in different shapes and sizes. Why? I don't quite know.

2005 - Spring

This one isn't finished yet, but almost. I honestly don't know what it is, but it's been bouncing around in my head for a while and I had to get it out! The colors in the photo aren't quite intense enough. The bright green, the bubble gum pink, the brilliant yellow -- I don't usually use colors like this, but they were demanding to be put on canvas. The blue is thrown in to try to tie things down a little bit. It looks like it's going to bounce right off the canvas. Which is the point.

20 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas. January 2005.

1/15/06 Update: Change of plans -- it's finished. After looking at it for almost 2 weeks now, I've decided that it doesn't need anything else. I've signed it and given it a couple coats of varnish.

2005 - Exclamation in Tomato

OK, this needs a better title! I did a small watercolor (3.5 x 2.5 ACEO) similar to this and liked it, so here it is a little larger (10x8).

The stripes are oil pastel; the rest is acrylic -- about a half dozen layers of glazes in different shades of red. It's simple. Nothing fancy. Makes me smile.

2005 - Orange and Lime

My first still life in a long time. Years, maybe? (Painted before the Onions and Potato.)

It has its flaws, true, but it served its purpose. The underpainting is bubble gum pink, which brings out the highlights on the orange. Bits of the pink peek through in the lime, making the green more lively.

2005 - Onions and Potato

This little still life was a painting exercise. I was trying to use soft brushstrokes, lost edges, reflected light. I used a limited palette of primary colors only -- red, yellow, blue plus white. No brown or green.

9 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas.

2005 - Hearts Afloat

When I started painting again in 2005, I wanted some way to show my friends and family what I was doing: good, bad, or otherwise.

Rather than emailing images around, I started a blog (on another system). That blog is now closing, so I'm copying over the old posts. It's worth saving the history, I think.

This little thing was just an exercise, just for fun, trying to loosen up. Painted in late 2005. 5x7 inches, acrylic on canvas.

Purple Music, 6x4 inches, Original Painting on Paper

This little gem is so free and full of movement, it feels like a dance or a song, don't you think? It reminds me of music somehow.

The painting is 6 x 4 inches done on patterned scrapbooking paper. Some of the pattern shows through in places. The subject itself is done with acrylic paints, colored pencils, and acrylic markers.

H20's Ongoing BNR Treasury

Kat from H20Works has included my Blue Fish Collage ACEO in her treasury on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=60708

This treasury is a "BNR": Buy 'n Replace. Buy something from this treasury and she will replace it with an item from your Etsy shop. If you don't have an Etsy shop, that's ok. You can still buy an item anyway.

The rules are in the first comment under the pictures.

Kat has a wonderful Etsy shop full of fine art prints, ACEOs, greeting cards, graphic design services, and some knit and crocheted pieces. Take a minute and shop by her shop: http://H20Works.etsy.com/ .

Whatever you do, catch the treasury quickly. It expires on Saturday, May 30.

Vote for May Flowers Challenge Winner

Congratulations to SilverMade Studio, winner of the May Flowers team challenge!

Her entry, "The earth laughs in flowers, a sterling silver ring" was the winner.

See the winner and the other entries at:
http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/?p=522

With Love From...

SToNZ™, a local Clevelander, has collected a love-ly bunch of Etsy items for a treasury. She was kind enough to include my little Hearts of Silver ACEO. Wasn't that sweet of her?

Hurry up and take a look at the treasury; it expires on Sunday:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=53976

Please stop by SToNZ shop to see really wonderful organic jewelry made of sterling silver, beach stones, and beach glass.

And, of course, you're welcome to take a closer look at my Hearts of Silver ACEO.

The Visual Poetry of Nature, Photographs by Diane Seskes, Holden Arboretum

Just received this from Diane Seskes:

The Visual Poetry of Nature
Photographs by Diane Seskes

Opening Reception--Friday, May 22, 6-9 pm
Presentation at 6:30 pm

Exhibit runs May 22 - July 8, 2009

Warren H. Corning Visitor Center at Holden Arboretum
Holden Arboretum
9500 Sperry Road
Kirtland, OH 44094
www.holdenarb.org

Free to Holden members
Free to nonmembers with paid gate admission

Vote for May Flowers!

Cleveland Handmade is celebrating May Flowers. Come see how local artists are interpreting spring flowers and vote for your favorite:

http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/?page_id=70

My Miyabi Chiyogami Spring Flower ACEO is one of the entries. I'd be delighted if you would vote for it.

And tell your friends. Thanks! :)