Mini Horses in Pahrump

What a nice day we had! We drove to Pahrump to visit our friends Brent and Patti and met some of their friends. We had such a nice time and got to spend some time with these wonderful mini horses.

Coming home, we saw this beautiful sunset. Glorious!

This is my tribute to Sunny. Sunny was lost this year and belonged to My brother John and his wife Cindy. He was a wonderful dog who gave his "parents" many years of love.

Somewhere It's Snowing

Don't Blink! In one day our beautiful snow is all gone.

Let It Snow!

I love to paint snow! Living in the desert does this to me. I could go to the top of a mountain and see snow but why not just paint it? These are my latest snow paintings.

Christmas 2008

Yes, we have put up our faux Christmas Tree! No need to water this one!

Mollie

This is Mollie! Such a happy dog and a barky one too!

ACEO's

I have been playing with tiny paintings that are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" big. Just for fun!

My Neighborhood

Hey friends and family. I just realized that some of you have not seen my neighborhood. Yes, there are trees in Las Vegas, and lots of them. The sky is always that blue!

Life is just a Chair of Bowlies

What to do? What to do?
Last Friday was our 21st Wedding Anniversay and Jim lost his Job on the same day! We moved to Las Vegas for that job and now.....??

We are laying out our options and deciding what to do. I guess the painting sorta says where I want to be. I miss family dinners, talking to my grandkids, fall leaves and winter snow.

Today I paint again and we will see what comes out of that. I have to paint standing up because my low back is out and very ouchy! I will go escape into watercolor land!

Yahoo, I'm drawing

Yes, I actually drew this. For me, this is a moment! I have been practicing drawing and painting loose. I haven't mastered water yet but I'll keep trying.

First Snow on Farm

I'm painting again and this one was fun. I drew the picture, spattered it with masking fluid and after it was dry, painted the painting. Then I removed the masking fluid and Voila!, Snow!

Still Painting- River Glorious

I had my second class yesterday. How am I doing? I didn't think I would like to paint this free and loose but I'm loving it. I love the colors and the many shapes. Even though I call myself a beginner, my teacher, Jan Schaffer, says I'm not. WooHoo! It took me a year to call myself an artist so this is a giant step forward. I am calling this painting River Glorious from an old English Hymn. "Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace"

Loose Painting - WIP

This is my work in Progress that I am doing with my new teacher. I have a lot to do on it but I wanted to post the painting as I paint.

Life is good here in Las Vegas with some minor bumps in our road. Painting is my salvation and it does my soul good to paint. I'm working on finding balance in my life and somedays it just feels good to do nothing but paint or draw. I find a connection with my Higher Power when I still myself enough. My Mantra is "Be Still and Know that I am GOD". My little brother told me "Wet the paper and let GOD do the painting". Good advice brother Jim. Love You!

What to Do? Paint, clean house, bowl, play cards?

I have been going, going, going! What a busy life here in Vegas. Here is my latest painting. This one I did the Saran Wrap in wet paint technique. It looks kind of crooked but I layed the mat on crooked when I took the pic. OOPS! It was a fun painting to do and the first painting I drew myself. Yea Me!

The Imposter

What's that lurking in the Pumpkin Patch? I realized that once I had the painting done, the biggest pumpkin was in the center of the painting. I wanted to draw your eye away from the center. Did I succeed? Today was painting day for the group and they did great!

Floral Dollie

When I was a little girl, I used to make dolls out of Hollyhock flowers. I will always love Hollyhocks! This is my latest painting. I love the pink. I used Permanent Rose in several values.

Jim's first painting

Here it is! For those of you that requested a pic of Jim's first painting. I think he did a great job! We are going to paint again today.

My Little Shack in the Woods

Today DH and I painted together. He did well, although he thinks he didn't. This painting is for my Aug-Sept Challenge for the Yahoo group Watercolorlessonsbycia.

New Floral

I painted this yesterday morning from The Watercolor Flower Painter's A to Z by Adelene Fletcher. I had a really fun time painting the many colors in the white flowers. I still have a few touch up's to do but for the most part, it's done. I will sign it soon.

Flowers at Ceasar's Palace

I took this photo at Ceasar's Palace. I had to straighten it a bit. I am going to paint it. All watercolor enthusiasts are welcome to the picture.

Michele's Visit

Michele came to visit from Wednesday night to Sunday. We have a wonderful time! We went to Mt Charleston for lunch where it rained and sleeted mushy sleet and we took lots of pics. We went to the strip and to some neighborhood casinos where we lost $$$ and then won at all back. Yea Us! I miss my baby but my heart is good from her being here.

We Love Watercolors!

Yesterday was our first meeting of the Watercolor Group of Las Vegas at my house. It felt so good to have my first house guests and to paint with my new friends! We talked about paper, paints, and misc equipment. A year from now, we will have great painters among us! Our next meeting is September 9th at 10:30.

I have been painting

Here are my latest two paintings. I'm thinking that landscapes are my "thing". I love the detail in them. Both of these are guided paintings from my many watercolor books. I got lost for awhile there.

Michele will be here tomorrow and I am so excited. She will stay until Sunday. Kate and Dave are in town also but they are doing their "Las Vegas:" thing and we will see them on Sunday for Brunch. Have fun Kate and Dave!

Living in the Desert

Yes, the first picture is one of my thermostat in my van, less you wouldn't believe me, lol. The second one is a cactus at the Sahara library. There are painting opportunities everywhere! I am going to attempt to paint the cactus. To my painting friends: Please feel free to use any of my photos for painting. I would be proud to see the photography in watercolors!

My Busy, Busy Week

Finally, I am making new friends. Wednesday I played Canasta with a wonderful group of women from my Newcomers club. Thursday I played Spite and Malace with a differerent group from Newcomers. Some of the women were the same so I got to know them even better and I really love these women! It's so different than in Indiana. Thursday night DH and I went out to dinner with new friends and had a wonderful time! Friday I stayed home and made curtains. Saturday DH and I Played pinochle with the same new friends. I was pretty much clueless but I had a nice time. I am determined to learn this! Today we are meeting new friends at Red Rock Casino for brunch. I have only met her on the phone but I like her already.

I am not used to all this activity and I'm tired but a good tired! Note to self: Pace myself.

The ultimate in Thriftiness

For those of you who really know me, I love a bargain! I bought a brand new king sized bed skirt at Salvation Army and made these headers. I paid $1.00!!!! There are three headers for my kitchen. That make them .33 1/3 cent apiece! Yea. I made them on my wonderful little Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine that my wonderful sister, Barbara, gave me for my bithday several years ago. Thanks you Barbara!

Learning How to Live Your Life

...is like peeling an onion...With each layer you cry. It's something like that. Jim say's his job is like peeling an onion. So....I painted this for him.

Foliage Picture

If anything gave me fits, it was this one. It is not finished. Well, maybe I am. The foliage gave me no trouble. The rest did. I may go back to it. Right now I am working on my next painting. Guess what that is? An Onion! We will see how that goes.

The Wynn Hotel and Casino

This city is a mecca for photographers and artists. DH and I are picking a Hotel and Casino a week and taking pics. The Wynn is a sister hotel to the Bellagio. It's just gorgeous! We are having a great time.

Indiana Hibiscus

I finished this this morning. I'm off to work but all I want to do is paint. This is painted with my new Daniel Smith Paints. Love them!

My Little Brother

This is my little brother. He lives in Nashville and is a singer/songwriter/actor. Jim, I am proud of you and miss you. Good luck in Norway and keep in touch.

Independence Day

The 4th of July Melon. I love this pic because it has triple shadows.

My Big Brother

This is my big brother, John, standing at a river dam in Ohio. I miss him terribly. Love you John. Norena

Flowers from the Atrium at the Bellagio

Annie's Orchid

What a good weekend! Annie came for a visit and I painted this for her. It matches her tatoo! We had a really good time. We went to the Bellagio for brunch and took pictures. .