It's 2am and all I can do is think about all I want to paint.  My "sister" Crystal and I went to Ty Alexander's yesterday.  What ?????  you  don't know about Ty's?????  It is the most amazing Christmas shop I've ever seen.  It's known for lots of awesome accessories year round, but at this time of year the whole place becomes Santa's playground.  It's located in Lawrenceburg about a half hour out of Columbia.  Crystal picked up a tree that is upside down...I know~!  sounds crazy ...  and it is....but in a real unique sort of way that takes your breath.  It's huge at the top and small at the bottom.  I'll post photos when she gets it up in about a month. 
On the way home she saw an old french mirror tossed on the side of the road.  The mirror was broken but it has an awesome frame that I'm gonna' make into a sign for my art studio.  I know...you want to see......  give me a minute to get it painted.  Oh I almost forgot the best part....Fried Green Tomatoes at Mt Pleasant Bar and Grill~!  Yum yum yum....  another "sister" Pat and I ate there a couple of weeks ago on the way home from the same shop.  What would a woman do without her "sisters" and Fried Green Tomatoes?...and I'm not talkin' about the movie...which I also love.
Have to get at least a little sleep since Mona is coming early in the morning.  We're planning to paint a companion for the woman with the umbrella.  We want to see a man with an umbrella holding roses.  If it turns out ok....I'll let you see.

Blue Lady

Santa's GOOD List~!

This was way too much fun~!  I can't believe I got it ready BEFORE the week of Christmas.  I'm going to have prints available so you can write your own children's name on his "Good List".  Rodney (my oldest son) asked me not to let his girls get it before we make the list.  He's sure they won't put him on it.  Not to worry Rodney~~~~ You'll always be on my Good List~! 

Santa just got better...I had his left hand too large...much better.

Hidden Places 8"x10" canvas

Shelton and I found this awesome spot while searching for a detour around a bridge that is still out from the flood we had this spring.  Somehow we ended up on a gravel/dirt road along a creek bed.  All of a sudden he slammed on the brakes so we could get out to see this awesome waterfall right by the road.  My sister Kay and I returned to it yesterday with our paints in tow.  WOW~!  it was even more awesome than I remembered~!  When we got there we had so little time before dark so we started painting as fast as we could.  I picked a spot where the waterfall was below and painted more of a landscape showing the leaves floating down the stream.  We plan to return and the next time I'd love to paint a close up of the waterfall.  A man in an art class told me once that he took a class where they had only an hour and a half to get on canvas what they saw.  It's about making a decision and going with it instead of being so concerned with every little detail.  It teaches you to make a decision and run with it. We did just that and both of us loved our results.  We were like two little girls running back and forth from each others paintings to say either "great" or I think it needs ".........."  whatever it needed.  It most always helps to have a second pair of eyes because it's easy to get caught up in what you think you're seeing and miss the composition of the painting.  Thanks Kay for making a wonderful day~!  I loved every minute.

Red Church

After painting outside with my sister Kay on Saturday....I was bit by "the bug" of plein air painting, soooo my neighbor Susan and I packed our paints as soon as we could on Sunday afternoon and headed to an old church close to where we live.  She painted hers in rust colors and mine are in reds. Just like me to be thinking of Christmas already. This is the perfect time of year to give painting outside a go~!  And then if you love it as much as I have this weekend.. ya might want to get someone else to clean the house~!...what house?????

His Colors

My sister Kay and I painted plein air at Radnor Lake last Saturday.   When I got home Shelton asked if the park was really that colorful.  I was glad I had a photo to prove it.  It was amazing~!  I may have found a new love in painting.....outside~!  It looked like God had taken giant puckets of paint and splashed them perfectly.  Amazing ...His sense of color. This is my attempt to capture the moment of the reflection along the lake.

Me And My Shadow 16"x20" canvas

This spring my brother Carl capured his little grand daughter Hope in an awesome moment as she was amazed by her shadow.  This precious little angel visited me a few short weeks this summer and I fell in love.  Her moment just had to be painted.  I love you Hope,  Aunt Laine
I've decided I should never post a painting until I live with it a couple of weeks.  I finally noticed my little Hope looked like she had two left feet...sorry baby.  I also knew something wasn't right with her jowl line so I took it to an artist friend (Darlene Shadden) who helped me see that even though I had it proportioned liked the photo, for painting you have to realize that sometimes photos lie about the diminisions.  They often leave the person looking flat when painting.  Thanks Darlene, I love this so much more now.  I've left both for you to see the difference.

Ready To Play 16"x20" Canvas

I painted this for a class in the middle of November.  I have collected snow men for years and can never seem to get enough~!  He ALMOST makes me ready for snow...I said "almost".    His red and green hat and scarf are much brighter than my photo shows.

Hidden Spring 11"x14" on canvas $125.

I wish I could say I've been here....and I have....but only in my mind.

Mad Hen 11"x14" on canvas $75.

This one is for my grand daughters Tina and Tori~!  Just think how mad your chickens get when the dogs dare to even look their way.

Welcome Back 16"x20" on canvas $300 framed.

Last week while riding in my car,  the song "You Are My Oxygen" by Avalon came on.  I found myself singing like I haven't in a very long time.  I heard a voice whisper "Welcome back".  I painted this angel this weekend representing the welcoming of God for me.

Another Time 16"x20" canvas

Recently Shelton and I were driving through the countryside in search of the perfect tomatoes.  We happened upon rows of neatly stacked corn stalks.  I was taken by the neatness and beauty created from such  tedious labor.  It showed me that we can create a thing of beauty no matter how mundane the task.  And still I cut the giant stalks of cannas that threaten to take over my yard and "toss" them toward the compost pile.  Maybe each of us enjoys our own method of creativity.

Mountain Top 8"x10" canvas $150.

This past weekend Shelton and I went to my sister friend Crystals' condo overlooking the mountains.  I painted this of the view from the dining room window. I think life isn't about finding yourself.....it's about creating what's already been placed in us.... allowing that creativity to surface.  For me there are few things that are as inspiring to be creative than to be all alone with my man and my God in the mountains with a paint brush in my hand.

Flowers can't read

I played around with painting a mum and a tulip on some pages torn out of an old dictionary.  I know....not suppossed to tear pages out of a book ...but come on....really now....when was the last time you looked up a word on anything other than your computer?   That's what I thought.  I used to dry flowers in the pages of an old book.  When I looked at this photo it reminded me of how wonderfull it was to find a surprise I'd forgotten from the previous summer.

Lost in the music

I'm preparing to teach classes at an art shop near my home.  The owner asked if I would do a musical instrument....so here goes.  It was so much fun~!

Angel in Green Dress

Painted in acrylic on canvas. 8"x10".  $50. unframed

Painting with friends

Last night a friend from Florida and a neighbor painted with me.  Sooooo much fun.  It was neat to see how all three of us paint so differently.  Thanks ladies for a fun night~!

Don't let go of me 24" x 48"

One night my husband was doing his usual thumb exercises. You girls know what I'm talkin' about. It has to do with the remote control. I went upstairs and picked up my brushes and began to paint. My precious nephew had died in a car wreck a couple of years earlier. It sent me into a tailspin of questions for God like I’d never known. Shelton knew instantly that this painting expressed the longings and my reaching for the God I have loved  all my life. We laughed as I later told him that I painted the body I also remembered. It's 24" x 48".

My Grand daughter Tina 16x20 painted on canvas with a plein air frame

This was the second painting I worked on when I returned to this medium.  It was to this day the hardest I have done.  Tomorrow I'm taking it to my son and daughter-in-law to enjoy in their new home.  I may have to paint another for myself.  I'll miss it terribly in my own home.  Tina was fishing with her Dad and her Uncle Rick who just happened to catch this shot of her.  This little girlie girl loves to fish and hang out with her Dad and Uncle.  She also loves to ride her horse Willow so having her boots beside her made the picture complete.

Loblolly's Shop in Columbia on Walker Street

Imagine my surprise when I pulled up with a car load of my sibblings and sisters who are married to my brothers..(.it is Tennessee ya know~! ....just kidding) to my favorite shop which you probably already know about since I've talked about it for four years....what do ya think was on her front porch in a display but one of my paintings~!  Thanks Ellen...this was so fun for me ...especially with my family along.  She has it listed for $225. framed on canvas.