Thelma & Friend

Lounging around in the sunlight on a lazy Sunday afternoon in winter.  Looks so calm... hmmm, guess what happens next!  I just barely stopped in time on this one, whew.

Queen of the Sofa

This is Madeline, Maddie to her friends.  She is quite an elegant lady, queen of the sofa.  She carries her heart where everyone can see it.

Pair of Buds

I particularly like this title, you can take it several ways... feel free to choose your favorite :)  I'm also pleased to be closer to shape making rather than detail fussing which is much more effective for these small paintings.  Why don't I just do that all the time?  only the muse knows and she's not tellin'.  She does love springtime though, paintings in every direction!

Day Lit Stars

8x10" acrylic painting

Trillium stars light the forest floor.  This spring seems to be particularly exuberant.  Trillium are one of the first flowers to proclaim the end of winter, a symbol of encouragement and joy and new beginnings to me.

Gates of the Arctic NP, AIR 2013

I recently had the honor of assisting in selecting the 2013 resident artist for Gates of the Arctic National Park.  Almost 50 artists applied this year.  Offering art and soul for the opportunity to spend time in one of America's last true wilderness landscapes.  With skills and proposals including;  stunning photography, insightful painting, powerful prose, interactive sculpture, dance choreography, environmental music composition and a melange of mixed mediums…. no easy task to whittle down this field!  

Congratulations David Shaw! , you're lucky (it is partly that) …. and skilled, and creative, your personal scenario fits the circumstances and you have something outstanding to offer.   For the artists who were rejected this time around, just know that it wasn't your turn.  If you want it, come back again, and again as need be.  It's so very worth the effort!

The painting above was inspired by my own trip down the Noatak River as AIR, Gates of the Arctic in 2009.  There's no doubt about the impact this opportunity had on me (Thank you GAAR!) Besides a solo show of paintings, a book and poster, I created sketchbook style documentation of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, see it on the GAAR website.  My cohorts on the trip were Jing Zhou and Tracie & Don Pendergrast.  Click here to preview the book about our trip.  Have a like for the GAAR facebook page for more information and some stunning imagery!  

Blessings

8x6" acrylic

There's something magical about morning light breaking through sky holes in the canopy.  Blessings bestowed... and all before breakfast!  Of course this was yesterday, today you'll need to close your eyes and pretend that mist is really sunlight.  The price we pay for a lush green landscape, blessings of another kind :)

Morning Turn Out

8x6" acrylic

A metaphor for life don't you think?   Out into the bright lights where anything can happen!  Right Gwen?   I predict a glorious day :)