Monkey in the Window

The Arts Council of Snohomish County has put together a great program called "Art in Great Spaces" by collaborating with some building owners in Everett. It's really quite brilliant. I have a north and an east exposure so the light will be good. I am referring to this stint as "monkey in the window".

They will be putting artists into a few of the open storefronts on Colby and Hewitt Avenues for the next twelve weeks in six week shifts. By Wednesday I will be at 2702 Colby from Noon-6:00, Tuesday through Saturday. If you get a minute come on in to visit or play with art. Just bring something to work on. It should be fun.

I have been chosen as one of the six for the first shift which is July 1st-August 15th. I don't know what I will do for those six weeeks but am sure I will find a groove of some sort. My only hope is that in the six weeks I haven't moved my whole studio into the space only to have to move it back home all at once.

So, I will leave you with a couple notes. Enjoy this photo. I just love it. The ears are deer in the lake going for a swim.

Second, I know I am referring to myself as a monkey in the window but I hope none of you will come and expect me to be doing private things in public places.

Art Opening June 6, 6:00-9:00

If anyone can make it down here to the Pike Place Market tomorrow, (Saturday) I'd love to see you.

Karon Leigh and I are showing some work there for the moth of June..

Wine Cozy

Here are some pictures of a Wine cozy I made for the Arts Council Sip and Wine Fundraiser last night. It is mixed media and encaustic and was loads of fun. The idea was to decorate a magnum (HUGE) but since I work with a blow torch in my hand I didn't think it would be good for the wine to be heated up. I also don't think that encaustic works well with glass. After seeing someone's encaustic sculptures leave wax on some tables, I didn't want to have it touch the ground either.

So, those were a few limitations. This piece can be slid right off of the wine magnum and displayed on a stand. I didn't get to live with it more than a few hours because I finished it at the last minute, of course.

Now, for some sunshine.

Art, Art, Art

The sunshines on us here in Washington State. We are having the weather that makes all the winter rains worthwhile.

I get a hint of energy this time of year. I'm working on a special project that I will blog by Thursday. That is the day it will be auctioned off by the Arts Council. The money will be going towards the new art center being built in Everett.

My task, and I did choose to do it, was to decorate a magnum of wine using encaustic. I said yes, but then started thinking about my restrictions. For one, a magnum is HUGE! The label had to show, and since it was glass I couldn't use encaustic on it. I also didn't want to apply my blow torch and it's heat to the side of a nice big bottle of wine. A nice little group of problems. I love problems in art. I really feel my most alive when I am solving puzzles in my art. I think of it as one of my strengths.

Since you can't see that project yet I will leave you with this painting above. The painting is 32" X 36". It's called Soaring. It goes this week to Local Color in Seattle where I will be showing with my arty friend Karon Leigh for the month of June.

I'm back and this time I promise to stay. I think that sometimes I get in the rut of thinking I have nothing to say. I always think other people are much more interesting. I think it's because I have heard everything I have to say over and over in my head.

So, I return with a flagrant self promotional post.

This card, which is too small to read, is an invitation to my show at Wise Designz in Everett Saturday, 16 May from 4:00-7:00. I'd love it if you could come and check it out. There is a lot of color there but my favorite piece is a white on white. I'm still loving that combination. All the work is in encaustic.

I'll see you soon with a post on a new book I have been published in.

A Bunch of Stuff

Have any of you been on Facebook? It is a totally time sucking pastime. That's where I have been. I've been sucked in. It's so much easier to use than blogger but it has a different audience. I am definitely going to have to find that blogging without guilt banner somewhere. It nags at me that I haven't posted and the nagging makes me not want to post. How the heck does that work?

Artfest is coming! It's just a couple weeks away and I'm getting pumped about it. I love being in the classroom, most any classroom, but this is the best. Five days away, three days of new teachers, and someone cooking every delicious meal. I hope we have the same people cooking as last year. I've been dreaming about it.

My classes are all painting classes this time. I feel like I never got to use the classes I took last year and for the money I need a return on investment. There are supplies up the ying yang to be found and purchased.

Now I need to begin working on some trades. The theme opf sea monsters this year has kind of put me off . They're supposed to be pretty sea monsters. Huh??

The photo I posted here is one of my recent encaustics. It has nothing to do with the post but I thought you might like a peek at it. I hope you can click on it and see it large. I'm not sure.

3:00 AM In The Morning

It's 3:00AM. Do you know where your mind is? Mine is acting like a fireworks booth in flames. I can't seem to shut it down so I'm waiting for it to burn itself out.

Some things I am wondering about:

What/Who controls the medium I work in? I have quite a few shows coming up and want to do something different, something that isn't encaustic. I wonder if I am expected to show encaustic paintings only. I feel like it is what people want to see. Do I need to take the upper hand and do the art for myself rather than the looker? That is the direction I am leaning but I do worry about how it will be recieved.

Is this economy going to pick up any time soon? In this household we are both self employed. The phone is deadly silent. That means no money is coming in. I am thinking I need to find a grocery store that wants to trade signs for food. How do people deal with these times? What are you all doing about the economy and your shringking wallets?

Facebook is a very easy place to lose time. I love getting to know cousins that I haven't seen in many years, or never, but most of what happens there is fluff and fun. I feel like it has replaced my blogging time. That's not good.

Snow...It just seems to keep on coming. It's a really odd weather year here in the northwest.

Again with the food. I think I need to plant a garden this year and do some canning. I wonder how I would go about keeping the beavers and deer away. It's an awful lot of work and would all have to be done by hand.

I had a wonderful visit with a favorite aunt yesterday. We strolled the streets of Portland and ended up eating in a very nice italian place. I've never had polenta so tall and fluffy. I'll be working on that recipe. I suspect egg whites and ricottta have been folded into the polenta before it is baked. It sure was tasty.

I am excited about my Artfest trip in April. I'm looking forward to the time to put all of my energy into art and friends and living in the moment. It'll also be grand having someone else do the cooking.


Hmmmm. These things don't seem worth laying awake for. What is up? No photos this morning but I swear I will be back with some very soon.

Encaustic Peace

I've missed you all lately but have not missed reading your blogs. What wondeful things are being posted.

This is a recent 2' X 2' encaustic painting of mine. I like the gritty, worn, earthiness of it. I also like the message. I hope we are now moving toward that Peace in our world.

I seem to be fascinated by grafitti lately and would love an in depth class in it. Because of my experience with lettering I can see that there is more to it than meets the eye. It fascinates me.

You can see this painting, and others, at the Edmonds Conference Center until mid march. The picure really doesn't do it justice.

101 Things

This encaustic painting is called "Watching Over What is Precious"



I got this list from the Cycling Artists Blog. Celeste at Stone Soup Art also did one.


This is a fun way to start the year and get thinking about the next one.


Now I'll have to do one that applies to the business of art.

So I have bolded the things I have done, and made comments when I felt like it

1. Started your own blog


2. Slept under the stars


3. Played in a band


4. Visited Hawaii


5. Watched a meteor shower


6. Given more than you can afford to charity


7. Been to Disneyland


8. Climbed a mountain (a small one!)


9. Held a praying mantis


10. Sang a solo (by myself. No one else should be subjected to it)


11. Bungee jumped


12. Visited Paris (I came close. I was in France)


13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (oddly, no – but I saw an electrical storm from the windows of the large theater in Ashland, OR. Something I will never forget. All electricity in town was out and the whole sky kept lighting up.))


14. Taught yourself an art from scratch


15. Adopted a child


16. Had food poisoning


17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty


18. Grown your own vegetables


19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France


20. Slept on an overnight train (I think we slept. I was young)


21. Had a pillow fight


22. Hitch hiked


23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill


24. Built a snow fort


25. Held a lamb


26. Gone skinny dipping


27. Run a Marathon


28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice


29. Seen a total eclipse


30. Watched a sunrise or sunset


31. Hit a home run


32. Been on a cruise


33. Seen Niagara Falls in person


34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors


35. Seen an Amish community


36. Taught yourself a new language (pig latin)


37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (money doesn’t satisfy a person.))


38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person


39. Gone rock climbing


40. Seen Michelangelo's David


41. Sung karaoke


42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt


43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (does sharing a meal with a stranger count? done that)


44. Visited Africa


45. Walked on a beach by moonlight


46. Been transported in an ambulance


47. Had your portrait painted (twice. once by myself!)


48. Gone deep sea fishing (I did go deep sea whale watching)


49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (THIS I WOULD LOVE!!!!I’m fascinated by churches anyways)


50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris


51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain


53. Played in the mud


54. Gone to a drive-in theater


55. Been in a movie


56. Visited the Great Wall of China


57. Started a business


58. Taken a martial arts class


59. Visited Russia


60. Served at a soup kitchen


61. Sold Girl Scout cookies


63. Got flowers for no reason


64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma


65. Gone sky diving (I did go parasailing. Way cool!)


66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp


67. Bounced a check (regrettably, many)


68. Flown in a helicopter


69. Saved a favorite childhood toy


70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial


71. Eaten Caviar (blech)


72. Pieced a quilt


73. Stood in Times Square


74. Toured the Everglades (this is on my to do list)


75. Been fired from a job


76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London


77. Broken a bone


78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person


80. Published a book (I’ve been published in a book)


81. Visited the Vatican (This I would LOVE also)


82. Bought a brand new car


83. Walked in Jerusalem


84. Had your picture in the newspaper


85. Read the entire Bible


86. Visited the White House


87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating


88. Had chickenpox


89. Saved someone’s life9


90. Sat on a jury!


91. Met someone famous


92. Joined a book club


93. Lost a loved one


94. Had a baby


95. Seen the Alamo in person


96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake


97. Been involved in a lawsuit


98. Owned a cell phone


99. Been stung by a bee


100. Read an entire book in one day


101. Been married 40 years

Feel free to copy and post on your blog.

Sun Shines

It's been so long since I've posted that I'm almost embarassed. I need to shake that off and talk a little art.

On December 7th, Tracy Helgeson, from one of my favortie blogs, gave away a painting for her birthday. Who do you think won it? It was me,me, me. And I found out on my birthday! I can't believe it. I love Tracy's work and she let me go to her page and pick any painting I would like. Do you believe this generosity? I chose this beautiful piece called Crazy Fields.

Isn't it wonderful? Tracy has recently done some beautiful flower paintings but since I resonate so much with her horizon lines I chose this one to hang in my home.

Speaking of home....this is a photo I took yesterday from my deck. (Sorry about where it placed itself) I feel absolutely no need at all to go out when I have this georgeous view. I am truly blessed. We have more snow than I can remember the last couple weeks. A big storm is coming in tonight too. I know it causes an inconvenience but until we lose power I will be a happy camper. The wood is beside the fireplace in case it gets cold. I have a woodburning stove that I love cooking on so we won't starve. (though, I could live off the fat on my body for months)

The snow is swirling. They say we are going to be hit with 70-90 mile an hours winds. I best post this before I can't

For all of you I wish the very best of the holidays. I hope you are able to tuck in with family, help your neighbors in emergencies, and love life to the fullest.

My next post will have my own art on it since I plan on going down into the studio and putting forth some effort.

Time For a Change

It's a new day in America!!!

When I grew up there were still white fountains in some areas.

We have come a long way. I am so thankful to have lived to see it happen. I can't imagine the things I will see in the rest of my life.

The Business of Art

I am popping in to say hello and let you know what has been on my plate.

I've gone back to Edmonds CC and am taking the EDGE Program. It is a professional developement course for artists. How cool is that? It's alot of fun and a tremendous amount of info to absorb. I worry that my mind is not up to the task but the little rational person that sits on my shoulder says "no problem". Thank Goodness!!

I've decided that if I am going to keep making art I might as well do it and mean it. I am excited about what we have learned so far.

Did you know that no one looks down on an artist without a degree? I heard alot of "phews" in the classroom when that tidbit was offered.

Did you know that the days of just hanging out, wearing black, and looking tortured are over for artists? Well, it seems that to make it in art now you have to have business savvy and a nice professional portfolio. That means that you shouldn't be tossing out those little articles done on you like they aren't important.

You should be photographing and cataloging all of your work so you can access it at a moments notice. Yikes!!

You need to know when and where your shows were. I need to do some unearthing of all of this info.

You need to keep your books up. Noooooo!!! I hate bookwork. It is my necessary treat to have a bookkeeper. I don't own a credit card but I hate dealing with money. There was a time when I was good at it but that time is long gone. I think it left when I sold my first painting.

Now the BIGGIE. You need a professional portfolio.

When I hear that I want to roll up like a pill bug and disappear under the desk. Slowly but surely I will meet this requirement.

If you can't get into the EDGE Program for some reason, I think there are templates on Windows for resumes, bio and stuff. It is well worth the research to find out what qualifies as a well written Artist Statement. Every word counts. I thought I had a pretty good one but it is changing.

In the meantime, for the last couple weeks, I have been sporting a splint on my left hand. The other day, while trying to turn my office into a serious work environment and not a playhouse, I somehow managed to get my right hand between a dropping tabletop and something else. I don't know what. ... Pretty sure that my hand was broken I quickly showered , put on clean underwear and went to the doctor. (Hey, I know the rules!) The doc stitched me up, x-rayed and bandaged me. Thankfully, there was no break. The bleeding was bad because I nicked an artery. The stitches come out next week.

Time on the computer is crazy tough when your fingers don't work and they are so fat they hit a few keys at a time. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to do a painting with my teeth or toes. If I do, I'll post it but don't hold your breath. I was afraid it would seem like I was making fun of someone.

For now, I sign off wishing you the most beautiful of Autumn. I can see the wind blowing the golden yellow leaves off the maple tree right outside my office. It is a sight to behold!

Do you ever?

This bit of the show is being taken down in the morning from Local Color in Seattle. Now, on to business.

Okay. We are almost all artists here. I have a very serious question for you all to answer. I find myself as fickle about paintings as I was about boys when I was young and thin.

Do you ever get so sick of your own work that you want to erase it? Are you no longer willing to show a piece because you've seen it so much? Do you see every flaw that only an artist can see?

In the beginning do you love it, dance with it, stare at it and think sweet nothings about it? Later on, do find yourself thinking "I cannot stand this piece any longer. I simply do not care for it". "It bores me"? Does the bloom go off the rose?

It doesn't matter why ,but it can be as simple as you don't like the colors anymore or you feel like you have grown in your art and the old stuff seems young, childish.

If this happens to you and your relationship with your art, what do you do? How do you process it? Do you toss it, repaint it, or go back on and alter it? Or, , do you just suck it up and put it out there for the world to see and hopefully purchase?

Some hints as to how to deal with this would be appreciated. Is it odd? Is this just me and my short attention span at work? How can I change my thoughts as they relate to the art I make?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. My DL thinks I am nuts.

Show Success

The show went well Saturday night. It's a real treat to get out and see friends in a social setting right smack dab in the middle of the city of Seattle.

I included this 18" X 24" black and white encaustic piece in the show. The photo is dark. I don't know why. I took it outside. Could it be that even when the sun is out we don't get enough of the northwest light to shoot a photo.

I have seen that on Seth's Altered Page Blog alot of people would like to try encaustic and don't know where to start. I am toying with the idea of doing some short "how to's" here so people can dip thier toes into it. I just got a new camera so it's a possibility. Give me some time to figure out how.

Thanks to all of you who took time from your busy weekend to spend time with us at the show. It was much appreciated.

Last minute heads up.

This black and white encaustic is one of the pieces I am showing at

Local Color in The Pike Place Market for the month of September. I did all black and white pieces for this show. I needed to get the black and white out of my systen so I can get back to color. I am feeling a little aprehensive about showing all black and white paintings but the deed is done.

The opening reception is tonight. If you have a few minutes, come join us and enjoy some wine and snacks. I am showing with my friend Karon Leigh in this cool little coffee shop/art gallery. This gallery is right smack in the middle of the market on the brick road.

Award time

Yay!! My first award. Shayla has gifted me the "I heart you blog award". How cool is that? She found my blog through Seth at The Altered Page. Thanks Shayla.

My task now is to pass this award on to others.

I think what I will do is to pass along blogs that I adore by people that I know personally and enjoy spending time with.

I never miss Courtney at her Quiet Girl Gallery blog. I love her heart, soul, and artwork. I also love her Healing Nest blog.

I took a class from Mary Beth Shaw at Artfest last year. It was a great class. For those of you going this year I highly reccomend it if you are into abstracts at all.

Meredith is a superb artist and mentor to many.

Gwen is another healer whose blog I enjoy. She is in the group I meet up with about monthly to talk artfest and work on whatever we are doing at the moment. I am always listening to people instead of working.

Celeste is new to the area. I met her right after she moved to Washington. She is also a new mama.

My good friend Karon and I work together when we can. She teaches printing at her studio but is moving to Arizona soon. We will be showing together at Local Color for the month of September. It's a very cool coffeeshop and gallery in the heart of the Pike Place Market of Seattle. I am right now procrastinating rather than finishing up paintings for that show.

Nudes., Love 'em or leave 'em?

My posts have been all over the place lately so I thought I'd share a painting with you. After all, this is an art blog. This is a small , 11X14" encaustic piece. I hope it does not turn any of you off to see a nude. I love doing them and have nowhere really to show them other than the odd figure show.

It suprises me how many venues do not allow nudes because they don't want to scare off customers. I can't imagine anything prettier than a well done, tasteful figure painting. The problem is where we draw the line on "tasteful". I've seen many pieces that in my estimation go beyond the tasteful. Each and every one of us has a different line.

What do you think? Should I leave them off the blog? I really want to know.

Finger on The Pulse

Seth over at The Altered Page has done a great job of compiling answers to art questions from about 80 artists. Go over and check it out. It's fun to get into the minds of the aritsts you watch and some you don't know.
It's also nice to see that others have the same thoughts racing through thier heads.

Fathers and Daughters

A friend lost her father yesterday. Before I got up to write this I lay in bed for two hours thinking about her and the devastating blow she has been dealt.

To girls, our fathers are invincible. We think they will be with us forever. Fathers teach us to swim the water and the world. They determine what sort of partner we will choose when we grow up. It’s their strong shoulders we ride on as a child, looking out over the top of the crowd to see the world as it will be later. Fathers are our protectors, our guardians. We can fly free because Daddy is there to catch us when we fall.

At some point we notice the super powers fading in our father. We might see the chinks in his armor but we don't look too closely at those chinks. We don’t want to see the weaknesses. We want to hang on to the strengths with white knuckles.

When Dad’s last chapter is complete, we need to find our own way in the world without a life jacket but with many years of memories and experiences that can't be taken away. No matter how old we are, our father's death leaves a huge vacancy in our heart and chest. That emptiness is palpable. It aches. No words or deeds can soften the blow for us.

This is my Dad. My friend's pain reminds me that I miss him terribly.

C, If you read this, know that my heart is with you.

Loving Summer

Well. we're midway through summer now and I am loving it.

I am shocked, however, that it has been so long since my last entry. The only saving grace is that other bloggers are out enjoying themselves also. I can tell because the entries are sparce.

This is the late afternoon view from my studio window. So perfect today. So serene. Even without creating art I love it here. But...I do have to get busy creating. I am showing with my friend Karon Leigh, http://karonleigh-stilldancing.blogspot.com at Local Color in the Pike Place Market next month and want to put out new, original stuff for it.

I guess I still need to get with her and figure out this links business too.

For now....toodle-ooh