Honora

More experimentation with watercolor. 

Delphia

I ran into my all-time favorite high school art teacher and when he found out I was experiencing a major creative slump he recommended I try a different medium to mix things up. Acrylics are my first love but I decided to give watercolor portraiture a shot and turns out I really enjoy it! 

Flora

I was in a big time creative slump and decided to try something new and playful. Hence the magazine collage. I had a blast making it and kind of felt like a kid again. I'll definitely have to do another one sometime.

Yet Another Caribbean Cruise

Truth be told, I'm addicted to cruises. In March I went on my seventh. I know--I sound totally spoiled but it's more doable than you'd think. Did you know you can find cruises for up to 80% off? The whole package, which includes accommodations, all the food you can eat, transportation from one island to the next and entertainment, can often be cheaper than a night at a hotel. And it's so much more relaxing than your typical vacation. Okay, I didn't intend on sounding like an infomercial, I just love cruising!

We tried a Holland America cruise for the first time. Each company has their pluses and minuses. We loved the food but found the entertainment lacking compared to other cruises. 

Our first stop was The Bahamas. We tried to go snorkeling but the weather did not cooperate and the waters weren't clear enough, so we enjoyed a good swim instead. 

We went kayaking in Turks and Caicos, which was one of the highlights of the trip. 

Dominican Republic was beautiful. 

I love exploring new countries! It's on my bucket list to visit 40-plus before I die. 

Puerto Rico turned out to be another highlight.

I loved how colorful it was! 

Would you judge me if I told you I'm already having cruising withdrawals? Like I said, cruises are addicting! 

Jackson Trip

My husband had to deliver a giant sculpture to a gallery in Jackson, Wyoming for work in March, so I got to see Wyoming for the first time. 

The best part about road trips? The scenic views from your car and of course, the tunes. 

We shopped, checked out a few galleries and ate some amazing Thai food. 

I loved all the Native American art. Rumor has it I have a Cherokee ancestor. One of these days I'd like to have my DNA tested and find out if it's true.

Denver Trip

I'm behind on posting here. Three trips/vacations behind! In March my sister and I road tripped to Denver, Colorado to see Lorde in concert. 

It was a MAGICAL show. We got really close to the stage and even held Lorde's hand at the end while she sang Team.

This was our first time in Denver and we thought it was lovely. We shopped, we swam, we ate at lots of delicious vegan restaurants.

Of course, being the giant music nerds that we are, we had to check out a huge local music store. I highly recommend it.

Elephant

They're loyal, they're smart, they're gentle. They come from exotic lands and represent good luck. Elephants have been a long-time favorite animal of mine so I thought it was time I did another elephant painting. (I haven't done one in years.) 

Dakota

I painted my furry niece, Dakota. What do ya think? Does she seem to like it?

Amethyst

Another mixed-media experiment for me. One of my favorite parts is the little woman looking down on the main subject and she doesn't even notice. She's too happy and content to give a crap what anyone else thinks of her.

Temperance

My siblings and I decided to do a handmade Christmas this year. I painted my brother's wife's cat for their present. They loved it. 

Best of 2017 Show

Looky! My art is currently hanging at Urban Arts Gallery in Salt Lake City as part of the Best of 2017 show. It will be there for the rest of this month. Check it out! A piece of art makes the perfect Christmas gift--or treat yourself, you deserve it! Your lonely blank walls will thank you for it.

Ada

This time I experimented with collage and color. I drew the figure on the canvas then glued random pieces of paper on before painting. I also wanted to make the colors a little more off than usual. I made her skin lavender and chose complimentary color yellow for her lips and the background. It was nice mixing it up. Artists have to keep trying new things or they'll quickly get bored! I feel the risk paid off. I look forward to doing more collage portraits.

Maggie

Maggie was one of the best things to ever happen to me. She played a role in my emotional healing. She was a Pomapoo. The Poodle in her made her have wavy hypoallergenic hair, the Pomeranian side of her made her want to sit on my lap all the time. While I watched a movie or TV, while I read, she even tried to while I painted. One day I had a stomach bug and stayed in bed all day. She was by my side the whole time. As simple as that was, it meant so much to me. Animals are truly healing. I miss Maggie so much, six or seven years after we had to find her a new home because we were moving. She brought healing and comfort to her next family, who'd just gone through a painful divorce. 

I've been meaning to do her portrait for awhile now. I'm pleased with the outcome. I've had other dogs, but Maggie was unusually special. I look forward to seeing her again in the next life. 

The Mermaid and the Seahorse

At two by three feet, this is the biggest painting I've done in probably a couple of years. I never thought I'd paint a mermaid, but one day I just felt inspired to. I wanted to make the painting look a little whimsical and off so I chose to make the water purple rather than the obvious blue or aqua. I really enjoyed making this one. To get in the right mood, I listened to Daughter, Apoptygma Berzerk, Sia and Temper Trap. Music is important to my painting process.

Flapper Fascination

Here are some drawings I've done over the past couple of years. I'm not sure why I find the 1920s so fascinating. It's definitely a beautiful time in fashion. I think I'm also drawn to the strong women of that era. And the charm. It was definitely a charming time. I've been drawn to this point in history for years, but admittedly, Downton Abbey only fueled the obsession. I hear they're making a movie. Fingers crossed!