It took a very long time, but my paintings have finally arrived from Louisiana. We cleared out the old farm house, and what's left is here in California now, thanks to my parents, family and friends who helped in the process.

Now I have not only inventory, but perspective as well. I can lay out some of my older pieces to see how far I've come. None of us realized the sheer volume of work I had done until the boxes were packed. Not all of them are sale-worthy, by my reckoning, but I have made a lot of paintings. 

My most recent painting, which is the quetzal on the front page, was done in acrylic. I created that one in honor of the Guatemalan asylum clients my brother serves at his law office. Many really wish they could go back home, but it isn't safe for them. I figured this painting might assuage some of their sadness. 

Yes, it's been a long time. I moved to San Diego, California, in August of 2019 to work for my brother. It was supposed to be a first step to live closer to my parents (an hour north of here) by having a temporary job until I could find a full-time teaching job. Schools usually start hiring in April, and I didn't make my decision to move until July.  I brought with me only what I absolutely had to have, with the expectation that I would return 3-6 months later to get the rest or just go back home for good if I didn't like it.

So, that didn't work out. By January 2020, there was a pandemic, and nobody was going anywhere. I was stuck with only minimal belongings, my dog and cat, and an expensive tiny apartment that felt like a prison. I couldn't go back to Louisiana to visit my son and my friends and couldn't even see the rest of my family in California. It was incredibly stressful. For nearly a year, I could only Zoom or call my elderly parents due to the risk of COVID.

I could have done that from Louisiana and kept my teaching job, I thought. 

Fast forward to today. I'm still working for my brother, but I am looking for a job and an apartment in the area where my parents live. Following several different options for employment and considering starting my own business is taking up a great deal of my time right now.

My biggest seller is my music series.  If you know about music theory, you know what these symbols are. Musicians love these decorative renditions of the symbols they use all the time.  I know because I'm a musician myself and have lots of family and friends who are musicians, too.  I learned music theory in elementary school and have played several instruments throughout my life.

One of my earlier posts showed some initial work on a new pair of treble and bass clef paintings, and I had put them on the back burner for a while to work on other projects but also to ponder what direction they should progress.  They have stood on my paint desk for a long time, occasionally covered by another piece being worked on but usually visible so I could think about them.  This week I did some more work on the pair, particularly the second piece, and I like where it's going.  I still have some work to do on them, but they have a much clearer trajectory now.

In celebration of the new design colors forecast for the fall, I'm doing a whole set of 12x12" canvas abstract color paintings that will be available soon.  The new colors are looking to be very similar to the 2015 colors, but a little more subtle.  I'm going to use both 2015 and the forecast 2016 colors.  So, whether you already repainted in 2015 or are planning a new design this year, you'll be covered.

Add a little burst of color interest to a wall near you.  Prices have never been better! Look for these special paintings to be up on the site within the next couple of days.  And with the coming store feature, you'll be able to purchase them right off the site with Paypal. 

AM

P.S. If you don't wish to use Paypal, I can accept other forms of payment by phone or by mail.

Summer's almost over, and I can't say I'll be sad to see this heatwave go, but whenever the seasons change, there's that feeling of time creeping away together with excitement about what's coming next.  In the spirit of change, I'm going to try something I have never done before. 

While I work on my big paintings that take more time, I want to offer a mini-painting sale.  This is an opportunity for those who have wanted a piece of original art but couldn't afford it to get something custom made.

For $10, I will make a 4x6" mini-painting of something you like*, and for $15, a 5x7" mini-painting.  You will get to be the owner of a commissioned artwork, and I will get to experience a little more diversity of design.  It can be acrylic, watercolor, color pencil, or ink.

Just go to "News/Events" and look for "COMMISSIONS."  There you will find a form to help get you started. For these small commissions, full payment will be due only upon acceptance/completion (not in advance or in increments). Feel free to ask questions in the comments below.

This sale will be available for the rest of August.  Have fun with it!

Today I had to take my car to the mechanic for the fourth time.  He can't figure out how to get my AC working.  It's really, really hot in the South right now, and we have a good two months until it cools off, so it's a little stressful.  While I waited for the mechanic, I walked to a nearby coffee shop. 

I sat outside on the patio for as long as I could stand the heat, entertained by a group of older gentlemen sipping coffee and discussing current events, probably a regular appointment.  My dad has one of these groups, which he calls his "gaggle of geezers," at the coffee shop near his and my mom's home, too.   Anyway, I sat there and half-giggled to myself about that. 

I had brought my sketchbook (I usually do) and some oil pastels (think soft crayons), which I haven't used much yet, so I started drawing.  In a stressful situation, this is a great way to pass the time because I'm busy observing everything around me and imitating it on the paper, so the concentration is on the creation, not on the reason I'm waiting.  There are professional art therapists who use art making to help people every day because it can take them out of their worries and help reveal what they really need most.  What a wonderful profession that must be.

Although the resulting "creation" is neither my typical style nor all that impressive, it certainly was therapeutic, so I'll go ahead and share it anyway.  Thanks for reading.