20″x16″ pastel on sanded board

I painted today at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. So many people stopped to talk. They had stories about their friends who raise, or just love chickens. They also wanted to talk art, there are many artists out there waiting to fulfill their potential. Maybe I gave them a nudge in that direction today. Mostly I just had people thank me for breaking up their Thursday. My art gave people a break before an oncology appointment or infusion. Turns out I can spread the joy I get from painting!

I just finished a very successful mixed media workshop, photos and report to come. I love opening up the world of “why not try this?” Into paintings. This morning I opened up the a new world of possibility, and scavenged some old clothes, some really ugly upholstery fabric (turned dull side out), and some random bits of fabric from my sewing box.

I am working on a big commission. I decided it needed more light, more clean color, and more texture. So I made…FABRIC BRUSHSTROKES! I can’t wait to incorporate them into the painting.

Coming up…

If you are in the DALLAS area, I will be at Northaven Garden Center selling my art Dec. 1st.

7″x5″ pastel on sanded paper

Downtown Granada, Spain. So beautiful. The sky really was purple!

7″x5″ pastel on sanded paper with alcohol underpainting

I love the way this underpainting made this grey day colors sing.

18″x12″ charcoal on Canson paper

Life drawing. I drew the whole face; what I was really happy with was the nose!

Oil on panel

Value studies are something I do a lot in my art. In art terms, value is essentially how light or dark something is. If you can get the values correct, you can have a blast with the color. Color seduces and confuses us, so a value study keeps you on track.

As I wrap up my month of pink paintings for breast cancer Awareness, I think about how cancer can serve as a value study for our lives. The diagnosis comes and suddenly what is important to you or not important seems much more clear. I think that is one of the blessings of cancer. Sometimes it allows people to not sweat the small stuff and to focus on what really matters to them.

Please enjoy a celebration of pink paintings this month, in honor of breast cancer awareness. I paint for my friends and family who have fought the good fight against cancer, for their families, and for all caregivers who help along with the journey toward a healthy self (body, soul, and spirit). In my strokes of pink, are prayers of strength and healing.

oil on panel

Love these pink flowers! I love the way a bundle of fresh flowers can bring joy to my dining room.

Please enjoy a celebration of pink paintings this month, in honor of breast cancer awareness. I paint for my friends and family who have fought the good fight against cancer, for their families, and for all caregivers who help along with the journey toward a healthy self (body, soul, and spirit). In my strokes of pink, are prayers of strength and healing.

21 – 7″x5″ pastel on sanded papers

Last night was a fantastic cork and canvas! Everyone made 1, many people made 2 original works of art! I am so proud. I love helping people make the journey from “I can’t even draw a stick figure” to making real art. Pastels are vibrant, fast, and forgivable.

7″x5″ pastel on sanded paper

Blossoms often come with thorns, life is like that.

Please enjoy a celebration of pink paintings this month, in honor of breast cancer awareness. I paint for my friends and family who have fought the good fight against cancer, for their families, and for all caregivers who help along with the journey toward a healthy self (body, soul, and spirit). In my strokes of pink, are prayers of strength and healing.

7″x5″ pastel on sanded paper

I don’t like the carpool lane. I like to walk. Why would I sit in my car and wait when I could be out enjoying the fresh air? Some days I have to drive. Today our schedule necessitated the my waiting in the dreaded carpool lane. I made the most of my waiting time.