Happy Halloween

"The skies they were ashen and sober;
The leaves they were crispèd and sere —
The leaves they were withering and sere;
It was night in the lonesome October"

 

Edgar Allen Poe





 

 

 

It took me 4 hours to carve this pumpkin but I think it was totally worth it! I used wood carving tools to achieve smooth carved edges.

 

 

 

 

My son Matty created this awesome costume entirely from recycled materials: wooden baby gate, tea dyed fabric, a milk jug and a tin can (and with a little help from me and my dad).

 

 

 

 

 

My son Mason also spent 4 hours carving his Halloween ghoul full of mirth.

 

 

 

 

 

I wait all year for Halloween! I stay up late every night in October watching scary movies and I love dressing up.

 

 

 

 

EEEK! Is that my youngest ghastly ghoul Mason? It is!

 

 

Happy Halloween everybody!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter is Coming

 

Last week it hit me that winter is coming. I had been in denial; working late in my garden and refusing to light the wood stove at night in an effort to conserve the meager stack of firewood. And then I decided to hibernate. Just like that. I look forward to my busy household hibernating; to slowing down; to warm woolen knits. But mostly I look forward to my cats.

 

Cats; with tickling whiskers and back massaging paws. Cats; emitting a purring, vibrating soothing warmth. Winter is coming and like me, my cats move from the gardens to the indoors. I will sit curled up with a mug of hot chocolate. I will while away the hours reading good books and knitting with my cats about me. And although Tuxedo chases my favorite yarn balls about the house and King Louie emits ferocious demanding meows, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

 

 

"Snoopy"

10" x 10"

commission

 

 

"Bree"

18" x 24"

commission

 

 

"Sunday Blu"

SOLD

 

 

 

"King Louie and the Fool"

18" x 36"

SOLD

 

 

"Barn Cat"

8" x 8"

SOLD

 

 

"Ernest"

18" x 24"

SOLD

 

 

"9 Lives"

10" x 10"

SOLD

 

 

"King Louie"

18" x 24"

SOLD

 

 

"Louie"

6" x 8"

SOLD

 

 

"Steampunk Louie"

6" x 36"

SOLD

 

 

"Sherman and Jellybean"

12" x 36"

SOLD

 

 

"Jellybean"

12" x 12"

SOLD

 

 

"The Night Cats"

12" x 12"

Commission

 

 

"Louie"

12" x 36"

Private Collection

 

 

"The Night Cat"

10" x 12"

SOLD

 

 

untitled

18" x 36"

SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never Let Me Go

 

"Never Let Me Go"

polymer clay, wire, yarn, acrylic paint, wood

 

$200

 

 

"I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)"

 

                                                                            e.e. Cummings

 

 

 

 

Conversations With My Dogs

 

detail from "Slow Joe"

 

 

When I talk about painting "Bad Dogs", people often get a little irate. They say, "But you have great dogs! How can you say such a thing?"

 

 

Oh sure, they're great. I could, in fact, wax on all day about how awesome my dogs are. But I would be lying to you if I told you my neighbors have never heard the following conversations I have had with my dogs:

 

 

"Stop humping the cat! I can't even look at you for the rest of the day now!"

 

"Where the heck did you even find a chicken?"

 

"Stop sniffing my crotch! It's the same crotch I had yesterday."

 

"Drop it!" You are sooooo not putting that stinky deer leg in my car!"

 

"Bark it up Barky. I think you forgot to bark at something."

 

"What are you eat...Oh God...is that a rat tail in your mouth?"

 

"If you eat that I will not be kissing you today!"

 

"Stop whining. It's not my fault you ate the volcano ! "(science fair project)

 

"Oh gross! That's the grossest puke ever! When were you eating rotten starfish anyways?"

 



 

"Slow Joe"

(who is in fact my mother's mostly good dog)

10" x 10" framed

$115

The Year of Letting Go

 

"Lisey Bathing" #2

30" x 36"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

 

 

The year of letting go, of understanding loss. grace. of the word "no" and also being able to say "you are not kind". The year of humanity/humility. when the whole world couldn't  get out of bed. everyone I've met this year says the same thing, "you are so easy to be around. how do you do that?" the year I broke open and dug out all the rot with my own hands. the year I learnt small talk and how to smile at strangers. the year I understood that I am my own best friend when I reach out and ask, "do you want to be my friend?" the year of sugar everywhere. softness. sweetness. honey. honey. the year of being alone and learning how much I like it. the year of hugging people I don't know, because I want to know them. the year I made peace and love right here.

 

Warsan Shire

Circus Freak

"We're not the pretty dogs.
The preened, puffed and witty dogs.
We're not the privileged elite.
We are the gritty dogs,
the sewer and the city dogs.
And we roam free on our feet."

 

David Smith White

"The Underdogs"

 

 

"Circus Freak"

18" x 29" acrylic and plaster on board

$450





Unwind

"My heart is so tired"

Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

 

 

 

"Unwind" #1

24" x 24"

acrylic and paper on board

 

 

 

"Unwind" #2

24" x 24"

acrylic and paper on board

 

"Unwind" #3

24" x 24"

acrylic and paper on board

 

 

 

Last year I painted this series as a reflection on being overwhelmed, heartbroken and tired; on how important it is to take time for renewal, to unwind, to wake up and start again.

 

The original versions of these paintings had keys inserted into the women's back. I had intended for the keys to symbolize the process of winding down at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, time and again the paintings were misinterpreted as misogynistic, and my heart broke each time. I really wanted to stand behind the message of these paintings while still celebrating women. Last week I finally decided to paint over the keys and send these paintings back out into the world with a lighter heart.