Pier - and Paintings at the Harbor Gallery in Norfolk

Pier, 10x10

Commission

This is the final piece of the six-part commission I painted for my youngest collector. I know I've said it a bunch of times already, but I loved creating this project. 

Sure, I do projects on my own - and I have a great one coming up this year - trailers! - but I really enjoy bringing other people's ideas to life, too. 

Lots of artists hate commissions - I love them. Listening to people's ideas, helping them reach the heart of those ideas, and talk about color and design, pattern and rhythm,  truly understanding what they're seeing in their heart and mind, and what they love about what they're seeing - this is a process I enjoy. 

It's great, of course, when people simply buy my paintings - when they see, in my paintings, ideas and feelings that echo their own, or images that intrigue and invite them, or colors that make them happy, or make them feel something - that's great, too, and I love it.

But there's a different, and very special, joy that comes from sharing the process. It doesn't have to be my idea! I'm happy to paint your idea. 

So my collector arrayed the six beach pieces up the wall of her stairway. Another beach painting by me greets you at the top of the stairs. She also has a large cow painting, and a portrait of her dog. I'm all over her house! How great is that? 

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Dog of the Day

Here's me and Patsy, at the Harbor Gallery in Norfolk. I brought a bunch of new paintings there before I left for my current trip. It's a very cool gallery, at 1508 Colley Ave. Amy, who owns it, has excellent art, and lots of fun stuff, including glass items, wall hangings, jewelry, clothes and more. And two fun cats roam the store, which makes me very happy. 

Sailboats - and Fort Defiance Scenes

Sailboats, 10x10

Commission

This is the fifth in a six-piece commission I made for my youngest collector. She came up with the ideas, and set me loose on them. It was great fun to find the images, concoct a color palette for the whole thing, and make paintings that work alone and together. I loved every minute of it, and am honored by it, as well. When I post the final painting, I'll also post a photo she sent me of the pieces all together. 

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WINTER HAS FINALLY caught up with me! I've been in Arizona, painting for the Origins Painting Trip, and I've had an interesting time, and made paintings I really like. 

But as I write this, I'm in a hotel in Tucumcari, NM. This is my second day here, and it might be the second of three, depending what happens with the weather. After I arrived, Saturday night, it began to sleet. That continued all night, then mixed with freezing rain and snow. The temperature dropped on Sunday, and the snow continued. It's snowing hard now, and the wind is blowing, and I am staying put until the weather blows out of here. And I might as well. The storm seems to be traveling the same road I intend to travel - I-40 to Memphis. 

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Scenes from the Road

Can you imagine living on Bucket of Blood Street? At least a few people 

in Holbrook, AZ, do! So would you like to live there?  Below, a dino sculpture

on the main street in Holbrook. It must be an interesting town. 

I saw this "Water Is Life" graffiti on a shed on the road

 between Gallup, NM, and Fort Defiance, Arizona. 

Above and below, some of the amazing red rocks around 

Fort Defiance, AZ. I was born there, and the Origins Painting Trip

 took me back there to paint. 

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Dog of the Day

It's Jillie, with my friend and sponsor, Rose. Jillie, a great, fun dog,

 is a real snuggler - and a great walker, but she's not so happy

 with the frigid temperatures and mounds of snow in upstate New York this winter! 

Beachscape - and Nice Weather for a Show

Beachscape

Oil on canvas, 10x10

Commission

I love the clouds in this beachscape, and also the foam on the crashing waves. This is one of the six paintings I made for a young collector, who had a great idea for a project for the stairway in her home. I had a great time making the six pieces! I felt honored to be asked to make paintings for such a rich project. 

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I'M OUT IN Tubac, Arizona, visiting my dad and Paula, and participating in the Tubac Arts Festival, which started on Wednesday, and, after the show painting on the Origins Painting Trip. 

Last year, the weather during the show was cold and raw - this year, the first day dawned sunny and warm - even hot! - and there were lots and lots of people. I had a sale the first day, which certainly made me happy. 

Here's my booth: 

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Dog of the Day

In this photo by my husband, Peter Jacobson, Jojo (front) and Smokey get Abby on the ground in a brawling playfight last week. They all love this!