Stepping on Van Gogh
May 14, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
May 14, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
May 12, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
It’s Mother’s Day today, but today, it’s not all about ME! I have taken a back seat to my daughter, Ella. Today, we are off to D.C. to see her “absolutely most favorite person in the world,” Taylor Swift. In preparation for this day, Ella came to me a while back and said… “Mom, I need a painting! I need me and Taylor having tea and I should be wearing this and Taylor needs to look like this…” and on and on she went. You see, Ella is under the impression that at every one of her concerts, Taylor Swift chooses one girl (who has the best sign) to have tea with.
Well, I supose spending hours on a painting, helping her design the poster of her dreams, printing it out, tiling it at 7:00 am on a Saturday and taking her to a Taylor Swift concert is what being a Mom is all about, right? Well, we all know I would do absolutely anything for that little girl. I love her with all my heart and so desperately want to give her the world… and if not the world, well, a Taylor Swift painting. To see her smile lights up my soul, and that makes my Mother’s Day.
Well, I don’t know if this ‘Taylor Tea Party’ is a thing or not, but hey, we’re ready! Bring it on! Now, let’s just hope we can get this thing through security. (wink, wink)
May 2, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
I’ve been experimenting with backgrounds. When I first dabbled into this whole world of watercolor I didn’t really focus on backgrounds, mainly just the figure/subject. But, I was hired to do a painting with a background in it. So, here I am, trying to get my background groove on. This one… the Brooklyn Bridge.
April 30, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration

What I remember about Grandma Lorraine… My paternal grandmother was the school nutritionist, her office was in the grade school and I would see her every day. While she was in charge, school lunches totally ROCKED (yum!) and she always had extra change lying around for her grand-kids so we could get double dessert (ooo Bonus!). She made the best applesauce cooked down with little red cinnamon candies. The apples were picked from the trees in her yard, that we would climb. Her potato salad is legendary, my family will still call each other when we forget an ingredient. She was the queen of pink and black. She loved bridge. Her finger nails would always click on the piano keys when she would play. Her toe nails were always long and polished. She had the funkiest jewelry (clip-on earrings and all). She had a knack for tacky bathroom accessories (furry toilet lids, gold tissue box covers, etc.) She smoked. As kids we would play on her circa 1960′s Butt-Shaking Vibrating-Belt Machine. She had the spookiest basement that I still have nightmares about. She would give us little taps on the fanny that drove me nuts. (I now do this to my own kids). She came to my college graduation. The first and only time I ever played shuffle board was with her in Florida. She passed away in 1994…
I don’t think my painting does her justice.
April 28, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
Funny how the term “seamstress” is so feminine. Even dictionary.com defines it as “A woman who sews, esp. one who earns her living by sewing.” No males mentioned there. Yet if you break it down… Seam – “the joining of two pieces” and Stress – “constraining force or influence” it seems (pun intended) to be much a much tougher word, don’t cha think? All I know is that sewing is a learned skill that turns into talent when the passion for it totally consumes you. Kinda like painting (smile)… btw, I’m not a sewer. However, my daughter has a desire for it. Can’t wait to see where it takes her.
April 14, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
Feels great to be painting again! I suffered a bit of an injury a few weeks back when I tried to rescue a wine glass from falling over. Well it met it’s doom on my ring finger. Eight stitches… ouch! I have healed enough to start painting again. Little miss polka dot here was almost finished when my “accident” happened. Feels great to pick up a paint brush. I’ve got plenty of work piled up and I’m smiling just thinking about it!
March 30, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
March 6, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
March 2, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
March 1, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration
As some of you know, I have been working very hard on some submissions to the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally Committee. It has been my childhood dream to take over the poster design of this great event and follow in the shadows of the wonderfully talented Tom O’Grady. Well, my heart was broken when I found out I was not to be the artist this year. Lost by one vote. Seriously… one vote? How much closer can you get? I did have some pretty great people in my corner, and my many thanks go out to them for their support (you know who you are!)… Anyway, I look forward to trying again next year (and try, I will!) This girl does not give up easily on her childhood dreams. Thought I’d show off my 3 submissions to you all. My favorite is the first shown. I have titled it “Balloon Shadows.”
February 28, 2013 in Cool Stuff, Illustration