Show of violets...

spread of violets on Deadstream Rd. in Honor
This photo does not do them justice... but I'm posting it anyway. I'm paying tribute and celebrating this gorgeous purple bonanza of violets down the street from me. Does my heart good to see such loveliness.

Quote of the Day: "It's only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis."  ~Margaret Bonnano

Jumping Through Hoops


"Jumping Through Hoops"
12 x 12"
Acrylic on acrylic paper
(c) Lauren Everett Finn 2009

Kind of a fun one for me... Though I felt a bit constrained by the smallish size.
With all that's going on here (selling our house, spring yard clean up, going through things to prepare for a big yard sale this spring, smallish solo show in May, etc. etc.) I'm having trouble focusing! Especially the finishing steps for some of the paintings that are almost there.

Quote of the day:
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
~Mark Twain

Coming Up For Air....


"Coming Up For Air"
8 x 8"
Acrylic and copper ink on watercolor paper

Copper is hard to photograph... it moves from light to dark depending on your viewing angle. This is one of those that actually does look better in real life. :)

Quote of the Day:
"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries."
~ A. A. Milne

Distractions and Diversions...revisited


"Distractions and Diversions 2" ~ work in progress
12 x 12"
Acrylic on canvas

A bit of a different take on a previous painting. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this. I guess I need to do some thinking before I go much further. :)

Gorgeous blustery skies here in Michigan today. One of those...sunny then cloudy then sunny then cloudy days. The strong winds are at least drying up all of the rain we've had!

Quote of the Day:
"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."
~Anne Lamott

My Valentine Bouquet...work in progress


"My Valentine Bouquet" (work in progress)
12 x 12"
Acrylic on Black archival mat board

I have been working non-representationally a lot lately. (As in the "Taking the High Road" series) Today, I felt the need to do some work from life. I got a lovely valentine bouquet from my hubby and put them in a vase that has orangey red dots on it. I did some sketches from life, snapped a photo and began painting. Seems like it's always invigorating to change things up. I get rusty with my observation skills if I don't practice!

Quote of the Day:
"Variety is the mother of enjoyment."

Brainstorm....


"Brainstorm"
5 x 5 inches
Acrylic, colored pencil, ink, varnished

Input...output.... The swirling excitement of a brainstorming session.
Exciting and a bit dangerous sometimes with the wacky ideas we come up with. This painting really doesn't fit with my current work... but it came out anyway. :)

Quote of the Day:
"Everything that is worthwhile in life is scary. Choosing a school, choosing a career, getting married, having kids- all those things are scary. If it is not fearful, it is not worthwhile."
~ Paul Tornier

Valentine Bouquet in Watercolor


"Valentine Bouquet"
10 x 8
watercolor class sample (at JoAnn's in Auburn Hills)

This class will be available next week. Come join me and we'll splash some paint around!

I had the best time with my beginning watercolor class on Wednesday night. The ladies were just so much fun! I must say, all 3 of their projects turned out just great! (It was the Winter Trees class)

Have a great weekend!
I get to wear my "big girl" shoes tonight....Don and I are going out to dinner with 3 other couples...Wow! A date night!

Quote of the Day:
"The real study of an art student is more a development of that sensitive nature and appreciative imagination with which he was so fully endowed when a child, and which, unfortunately in almost all cases, the contact with the grown-ups shames out of him before he passes into what is understood as real life."
~Robert Henri (in "The Art Spirit")

Newest favorite iTunes buy:
"Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Back to Warm-ups!



"Teal and Golden Bouquet" (catchy title! LOL)
5.5 x 7.5 inches
Acrylic on fabric glued to watercolor paper.

I am still working on the High Road series...but did a few warm-ups today. This one has very unusual colors for me.... I really like painting on the batik quilt fabric (glued to the paper) What a dynamic under-painting! I would be more pleased if I had left just a bit more of the fabric on left side of the bouquet...oh well... I guess that's why they are called "warm-ups!"

Quote of the Day:
Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.
~Erma Bombeck

CD cover....


CD cover art for my son's new album.
(I put the black line around it so you could see the boundary)

I really like collaborating with other artists... and when it's your own kid, it's even more fun.

Quote of the Day:
"When you have a taste for exceptional people you always end up meeting them everywhere.
~Pierre Mac Orlan