Peninsula Youth Orchestra

I enjoy the Peninsula Youth Orchestra performances (and speed sketching in the dark).  It's fun to see the beginning level players, all ages and heights!  The squeeks and screetches turn into real music in an amazingly short time, but you've gotta give those beginning teachers extra credit!  Hard to believe my niece, Dawn Brown, is a senior now and although not entirely focused on music, is prepping for college scholarship performances.

Spring Fling

Anne Knapp is teaching a workshop to the KPMS students on mask making which will be featured at this year's Spring Fling fundraiser for the Artists in Schools program.  I used Anne's mask to design this call for art entries, I'll post the invitation and poster for the event later.  Artist's in Schools is a great arts outreach program for local students, that makes the world a better place in all kinds of ways!  Please consider supporting it by entering your art work and or donating or attending the event.  Check out www.twowaters.org for more information.

Still Waters

Daily Painting, acrylic 6x8"see DPW for sales info.

Winter is more colorful than you might think.  The low, slanting light of late afternoon is called the "golden hour" by plein air artists for good reason.  The dog and I have been loving this extended dry spell, although I must say he is content outside in just about any kind of weather!  (therefore, go I :) 

It seems I'm drawn to pattern and complicated images lately.  I wasn't sure about pulling this off, especially in the small size format and on canvas.  I like it better than expected, but the original more than the digital rendition, this might be a tad contrasty.  

Mom's Apple Pie

This is a recipe collection honoring Peterson-Hotchkiss family culinary traditions, with a few new ones thrown in. Creativity and experimentation encouraged.

Ready To Go!

6x6 acrylic, see DPW for sales information

This is the other half of the front seat driver team of Harold and Izzy.  As you might imagine, Izzy is pretty much always RTG.  When more than one dog is your co-pilot, anything can happen!

Still Perfect

5x5"acrylic, see DPW for sales information

Even our worm holes don't make us less than perfect :)

Hair Ice

Coolest thing in the woods today! (pun intended)  For the longest time I thought this was a fungus of some sort that froze on cold nights and then was easy to see on dead twigs and branches.  Turns out it's ice!  I wasn't completely off base since scientists believe there is also a fungal element involved, but they call it "hair ice." It occurs when water in the pores of dead wood expands via capillary action, freezing on the surface and growing outward in fine, hair like layers.  It doesn't form in just any wood either, only in specific species like; hazelnut, maple and alder, all prevalent in our forests.  Apparently it is a phenomenon unique to the PNW and select areas of western Europe.  (always knew we lived in a special place :)   Have you seen it?  Get out for a walk, should be lots of hairy branches out there in the next couple of days.

Co-Pilot

6x6 acrylic

Harold, lookin' good.  Out for a spin, crusin' for babes with the top down.  Last nights photo was not so good, uploaded a better rendition of the painting this morning....  cruise on!

Hidden Treasure

5x7"acrylic, see DPW for sales information

Sometimes amazing things are hidden in plain sight.  I've had a hard time getting back into painting mode.... so what do I do?  Choose something crazy like this to paint...late at night, in the dark!  Surprisingly, (I had my doubts several times) I ended up liking it.  Then I figured it would be awful by the time I looked at it in the morning.  (Happens sometimes... it's the damdest thing, somebody must mess with it after I go to bed!)  It survived the morning after test though, so here you go.