My World Has Gone to the Dogs

So much I want to create and so little time! I have so many ideas for my art and I am somewhat frustrated due to lack of time. Yet, in these frustrating times, one somehow finds a way.




It is a usual dilemma that artists run into sometimes to have so many ideas and not sure where to start. My inspiration a lot of times comes from my dogs.

Late last year I had an old canvas lying around that my daughter had drawn the outline on a few years ago, of our beloved Chihuahua Aiden who suddenly passed away a couple of years ago. The canvas sitting there for a couple of years with just the initial outline, not sure what I was going to do with it, figured I would just gesso over it and go from there. I decided one day that I did not have the heart to cover “Aiden” so figured I would try to make something of it.

What started with acrylic paint in the background, soon led to collage papers I had in my stash, some handmade, some store bought. I also have always had a love for urban art and collage, so decided this was how I was going to go about this piece.

I of course, reached for my two favorite colors, oranges and blues and decided to stick with that.

                                           "Aiden" Collage Mixed Media on Paper 16 x 20

As the artwork emerged it became clear to me what I needed to, was to do more!
I became hooked on these as my love for dogs is so great (we currently have four Chihuahuas and a Corgi). So this is how my Urban Collage Dog Series started!

Each one is done on watercolor paper that has been under painted and pastel primed for texture. From there just collage, stencils, some mixed media materials, with some paint along the way!
I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have. I am currently working on more, so more on the way!

All Things Rusty and Weathered

There is something about the color combination of teal and rust or copper that draws me closer every time I see it. Old weathered buildings, rusted metal, decaying walls, and patina. It just makes me stop dead in my tracks and I have to get a closer look.

Why do certain things attract someone where there are no concrete answers as to why? Maybe it was my upbringing living close to the cities in California. Or maybe now living in Minnesota and seeing all the rusted tractors and farm equipment on my way to work? Or could it be something deep inside that is begging to get out?  I do know one thing, I tend to pick up these colors a lot when I paint.

I took this photo of a copper flower with gears in the middle at an arboretum not far from my home. I like the "steampunk" feel to it. Again, I am drawn to objects like this and these colors.

This particular painting came to me one evening as I was settling down from my busy day. I don't particularly remember what I was thinking of at the time, or even what music I was listening to, but that evening I felt I needed to paint with abandon, to let go, and not think about the outcome.

Sometimes I feel my best work comes when I do not give it much thought, I just do it.

Loose flowing brush strokes were the key to this painting, while adding and subtracting paint was the start of this piece. Warming up with bigger deliberate moves with my arm helped to get the feel of this type of painting. Drips gave a "grungy" feel to the painting. I added the rust tones to give it a nice warmth to the cool tones in the painting. The circle to the left gives a nice balance and dramatic effect of warm color.

                                                          Acrylic on Canvas 18 x 18

Although my art is always evolving, (what artist is not?) I feel I am being drawn into a direction that actually makes sense to me. Only time will tell where I go.

Time to Reflect on What's Most Important

I spend my days all the time reflecting what is most is most important to me. My family first and foremost. What I struggle with is being able to spend enough time with them. That is why I am pretty excited though now as in the early summer months I have plans to be with my son Hayden and my grandson Avery in St. Paul, and then my daughter Angie and two grand kids Anna and Will in Moose Lake.

Life really does get in the way with time constraints so I really cherish these times.

Spending time on my art is another challenge as it seems there just is not enough hours in the day to do what I want to do. I do somehow find time when I can.

This painting series is actually quick to do compared to the cold wax painting, which takes much more time.

                                                          Acrylic on Canvas 12 x 12

With the busy summer months coming, it will be nice to fit a few more of these paintings. Small in size, but intensely dynamic.

Spring is Finally Here

After the many cold months living in Minnesota, Spring has finally arrived.

One of my favorite things I enjoy at this time of year is watching all the birds come right outside of my kitchen window to my honey crisp apple tree and the several feeders we put out for them. The chirps and discussions these birds have is music to my ears. I will never tire of listening to birds.

Sparrows, Robins and Finches are what we usually see, with the occasional woodpecker.

This year however we have been seeing morning doves on our property. Listening to their coos before I even get out of bed is such a beautiful way to be woken up. I love them as they seem so docile and calm, yet they know where they are going in life, with their partners by their side.



This year I have been having an urge to apply more birds somehow in my paintings. I did not intentionally do this on my painting "Early Flight" but that the bird somehow had to be there, to pull the painting together.











Oil and Cold Wax on panel 10 x 10

Am I a Dark Artist?

Today as I look at what I have learned these past few years on my journey of art is that I am still discovering something new each and every day. When I see something that inspires me, a building, trees, peeling paint, found objects on the ground when I take my walks, it stirs something inside of me that I cannot explain. Color, texture and mood comes to mind. Yet when I create what inspires me, my own emotions take over, and my anticipated work is usually different than what I expected.

In the past I have produced darker paintings, that depict a darker side of the human connection to life. I have even been dubbed a "dark artist" by some, but I don't really think of myself as "dark".

In fact, I feel the opposite. But maybe, just maybe there is some dark to me that I did not realize. I struggle day by day to find time to do my art with lifes' obstacles getting in the way, and maybe I am just frustrated deep down inside.

Or maybe I am still searching for that inner voice that keeps telling me there is more I need to do, and I am just not there yet. Yes, frustrating.

I will say I like things that are worn, disheveled, rusty and old. Maybe that is why I tend to paint in deeper darker tones. Yes, maybe that is it.

I keep on discovering and I do see some changes in my emotional response to my art, I am just not sure where it is going as of yet. I will say that in the near future here I may have a few surprises that may surprise myself!

My Journey

Well here I sit, wondering where to start. I put this on the back burner way to long. Now I'm not only a wife but a mother of 3, and grandmother of 3. Well technically I have 7 kids if you are including my pet chihuahuas who are of course, my kids.

Where did all the years go? I started off good showing my artwork off at the tender young age of 4. Maybe even sooner, I just find it hard to remember that far back.

This grew to drawing pictures for my grade school friends, to painting murals on high school walls (this was also cool as I got out of a lot of class time).

In my early twenties I was doing commission work, making gifts of art for the holidays, to sign painting for baseball fields.

Years later I did some custom tattoo work and became a published illustrator, and it felt great to still keep up with the art.

But then, hey life happens. You work hard at growing up, getting married and starting a family, well not actually in that order, but you get the drift. Then you find you need to pay for all that life has to offer, your house, kids, clothing, food, bills, so working got in the way of what I wanted to pursue.

Now at the tender age of 50-something I find that deep inner drive that started so long ago, the drive to do art.

Getting back into this was a challenge yet it felt good doing something I know I need to do. What started off as one style has turned into so much more. I have tried many mediums in the past few years but I can tell where my favorites are. I am still taking the time to develop my own style and I realize this will not come very quickly. Doing art is fun, doing great art is not easy, especially when you are still not sure where you are going with it. But day by day, I plug away and continue, as I know this is what I need to do to grow.

My regret, wishing I would have started back sooner.