Russian Nesting Dolls

I can't think of a single little girl in this world that doesn't or wouldn't love playing with Russian Nesting Dolls. When my sister and I were little I remember playing with a set that my mother had, and then she bought a couple cheaper sets that had animals and such painted on them. I could sit and stare at all of the beautiful colors and scenes painted on each one forever! My favorite ones were always the little bitty tiny dolls. My aunt Jamie has a gorgeous set of royal blue nesting dolls that that start out a foot tall, and go all the way down to half an inch. She kept them in a hutch because they were a gift from her mother-in-law when she lived in the Ukraine. For many years I would sit in her living room, and just stare at them. I can't tell you how hard it was for me to not give into temptation, and take them off with me to play. Thinking of it makes me laugh because I bet my aunt actually has no idea how much fascination I had with them. Even as an adult I still love them! A few years ago I received a small set of black nesting dolls from my other aunt Frankie as a Christmas gift after her trip to Prague. With that bit of background information I think you should understand what inspired me to paint this piece.

Weekend Update

Yesterday my parents, my sister & her husband, and Jon & I went to Dallas to see a Rangers game. We were in the Lexus seats behind 3rd base (those of you who have been to Ranger stadium know that means we were up in the sun!) The heat index was 111* on my Mom's iPhone when we first walked in. I don't know about you, but it's hard to get me excited about anything when it's that hot!

It did put me in the mood for one thing! A super awesome time of the year when grandmothers cuss referees, and people go to painting their bodies. I'm talking about Football Season! I may have to get a countdown started 'til the first game! We all know that I love my Oklahoma Sooners, but I'm glad the Pros have preseason coming up soon. I'm ready to see the Big Boys get down and dirty. Dallas had better get it in gear because I don't want to watch Cowgirls! This year I'm also going to be cheering for a the St. Louis Rams because "my OU love" Sam Bradford is going to be the QB! I'm also rooting for The Vikings (Adrian Peterson) & The Colts (Peyton Manning).

We ate at Pappasitos before the game and had my favorite dessert in the whole world! A cajeta!

Here is some more work in progress in prismacolor. Prismacolor pencil artwork is awesome for very tedious detailed things, but it is a very slow process! The Chanel *5 are really cool, but they are taking a lot of work!

This is a Church I saw Spring 2009 when we were in Sorento, Italy.

This picture is a Tulip that I took a picture of at the Dallas Arboretum this spring, and I did it in Prismacolor... Now I've got to frame it!

Christmas in July

I painted this pail of candy canes for fun last Christmas.

Christmas is my favorite time of year. Every where you go things are bright, shiny, and festive. This year I'm starting to think about it a bit earlier than I usually do for a very special reason. I'm talking about Operation Christmas Child! I have actively participated in operation Christmas child for almost 10 years. A couple of years ago we felt we called to leave the church I grew up in (Beech Street First Baptist- Mike Huckabee used to be the minister there, and he is the one who baptized me when I was almost 9). We are now members of Trinity Presbyterian which is a much smaller church, but last year I was able to help introduce Operation Christmas Child and we were astounded by the response. Everyone I know has gotten involved. Next Sunday our church is going to be having Happy Meal lunches so we can all put the toys into our collection pile to get it all kicked off. Operation Christmas Child is an awesome ministry. If you aren't familiar with it, you pack shoe boxes with toys, toiletries, and school supplies. Each shoe box is delivered to a child living in the poorest parts of the world, and they are given a book in their own language that shares the story of Jesus. For most of these children it is the only gift they've ever received. I've heard stories about children whose entire families get excited about a bar of soap and a tooth brush. Operation Christmas Child has been able to go places that no one else can go. Even North Korea has allowed this ministry to enter their country. If you've never been apart of Operation Christmas Child I encourage you to. It is such a blessing to be able to reach out and make a difference in someone's life with a simple gift!

So Glamorous

I haven't had much time to get online or blog this week. My sister and her husband have been in for the week, and my mom and I threw a big 50th birthday party for our preacher, Russell Wilkins. I haven't been able to paint this week... and it has kind of made me a bit of a crab. I won't lie to you, I'm like Winston Churchill. I have to paint in order to chase the black dog away. I tried painting tonight, but I had some issues with some strange paint that wouldn't stay stuck to the canvas. After much ado, I finally took it out to the trash can and chucked it. I don't know what was up with it, but it was like trying to paint on a pig that had been rubbed down with olive oil. I guess you could say that got me artistically frustrated!
Since I don't have any cool pictures from this week to share with you all, I have decided to share some glamorous pics from when I did my sleep study a month ago. No, I'm not just being a hypochondriac, I do have issues. Jon has the joy and privilege of sleeping with Mrs. Restless Legs herself! I'm about like sleeping with a rodeo and a sack full of monkeys all at once! Just how bad is it? Well I average about 130 involuntary leg spasms per hour, out of those I am awakened approximately 8 or 9 times an hour. It would be interesting to know how many of those times I wake Jon up. Thank heaven we have a king size bed! Anyways, if you ever need to have a sleep study done, you can look hot like this....
Yes I slept with that thing strapped around my chest, and all of those things taped and glued all over. I look more like I'm getting ready to go skydiving not go to bed!


I got to sleep with this thing, and tote it with me when I got up to use the restroom. This is how many leads they had glued all over my body!





Yes they were even on my legs!

Blue Dog Love

What is it about The Blue Dog that I absolutely adore? The first time I laid eyes on the little guy (who I know was modeled after a female dog, but seriously I just can't see it as anything other than a him) it was love. He is like Hello Kitty in a grown-up really cool, and I mean really cool dog form. Does that sound completely crazy?
If I had the big bucks I would go buy an original one! Seriously art is one of the best investments a person can make. The Blue Dog is kind of like the traveling gnome, he goes everywhere, and has his picture painted with all of the coolest people. One of the people who commented on my last post happens to be one of the few who have been painted with Blue Dog, Wendy Rodrigue. I would say she is a top authority on all things Blue Dog since she is actually the wife of George Rodrigue who paints him, and lots of other really cool cajun style fun stuff. She has a really great blog with more pictures and information about George's art http://www.wendyrodrigue.com/ . Incase you've never met my little buddy Blue Dog I would like to introduce you, and I hope it is LOVE at FIRST SIGHT for you, just as it was for me.

She Was an Artist & The World Was Her Canvas

These are some of my Watercolors....

These are some of my oil paintings.....

A colored Pencil piece...Some Acrylics...

This one was inspired by George Rodrigue's Blue Dog, These are My 3 Dogs!

This is called Pineapple Upside Down Cat! I finished him Yesterday

I just finished this one today in Memory of Lee Ann Hughes

I also finished this little thing today. It is just bright and fun!

I have a picture hanging in my bathroom with the quote "She was an artist and the world was her canvas!" on it. Every day when I brush my hair, or my teeth I look up at it and think... Yes it is! The world is my canvas. I know that art is completely subjective, some people will look at my work, and say, "Wow it looks like something out of my greatest dreams!" The next person may walk by and say, "This is crap! A cat on acid could do better work!" Negative responses used to discourage me, but then I realized... most people who make them have never picked up a brush. It takes a lot of guts to approach a canvas, and pour out what's in your heart, soul, and imagination. I don't feel like I have to justify my work. It is fun, I love it, and I plan to do it for the rest of my life.

These are some works in Progress all of them are oil....