These are my two latest paintings. The top painting is titled "Talleigh" and is 18x24 available through Cavalier Galleries. My favorite detail of this painting is the button on the side of her dress. It is an old button I have laying around my studio and I had a great time painting it. The bottom painting "Zoey" is already sold. I love the shirt on Zoey because once again it reminds me of something I would have worn as a little girl. I filed my taxes today....phew! It is the one day of year when I lay papers all over my studio and reckon with the stacks of receipts and papers I have kept all year. Yahoo, it is done and I even get a refund! I am working on some things I am just loving right now but once again I am painting for a solo show in November at Bonner David Gallery and don't want to reveal the images just yet. I will try and post a few bits and peices though. Thank you for those of you who actually follow and check my blog, sorry I am not more diligent at posting. It is all part of being pulled in too many directions as a mother and artist.

I just recently finished this painting. It is 8 x 12 and will be available through Bonner David Gallery. I had a great time painting this one. I am currently in love with the colors and clothes from the 70's. I am sentimental to the core and painting these things that remind me of my childhood helps me feel connected to some long lost part of me. I like my work more than ever and am surprised that I continue to refine my style and skills with every new painting.

This painting was a Christmas surprise from a cute client of mine for her brother. She sent me photos of them both as children for reference. As you all know it is rare that I paint a male figure and I thought he had especially unique hair which was fun to paint.

These are two new paintings I sent to Bonner David Gallery for their small works show. On the bottom piece "Afternoon with the Birds" came about almost by accident. I was having a hard time getting the mothers nose just the way I wanted it so I decided to put a mask like bird nose which then spurred the idea for the rest of the painting. I love these two little ladies and have to laugh at the difference in hair color between the mother and her daughter... which is the exact opposite of me and my girls.

I am currently experiencing some sort of artists block... I am wanting to paint something different or women in a different way only I am not sure what that is. Honestly, as important as moments like this are to my evolution as an artist, they scare me to death! Don't worry, I am so driven to create that I am sure I will come up with something soon.

This is my most recent painting "Olea". It is a small painting which is available through Bonner David Gallery. I tried something new with paper on this one and am very pleased with the way it turned out.

Here is detail of a painting I am currently working on. It is a woman surrounded by 3 birds. I had the opportunity this last weekend to attend an artist's retreat where I met James Christensen who is one of my all time favorite artists. I remember so clearly seeing his work when I was 14 at ZCMI mall. It is pretty cool what 20 years can do. There I was relating to him as another working artist. He was the keynote speaker and gave such an inspiring talk. I had the opportunity in the past as well as at the retreat to meet his daughters Cassandra Barney and Emily McPhie who are both delightful. All three of us are mothers of girls and working artists and relate in so many areas... but first and foremost the lack of time! I think time and the management of it will forever be my greatest struggle as a mother and an artist.

I know that I have been terrible about blogging lately! For those of you who check... sorry, I will try and be better. As an artist I go through times of pulling in and focusing. I have this other little world in which I exist in order to create the paintings that I do. Painting for my show in July was intense. Some days I would paint 12 hours in one day, so in August I took a month off from painting so that I could enjoy the last few weeks of summer with my girls. It has felt good to be back in the studio painting and I am learning to accept that creativity sometimes comes in intense waves and it is ok to take a little time to refill once in a while. I want to thank those of you who came to my show and also those who bought paintings. I feel very fortunate and don't take for granted that I am lucky enough to support myself doing something I am so passionate about. Above are two recent small paintings which are available through Bella Mesa Gallery in California.