Robert Burridge Workshop....wow!

"Light as a Feather" by Robert Burridge


If you ever have the opportunity to take a workshop from Bob Burridge, DO IT!!! I have never learned so much in 5 days. His "Abstract Acrylic Painting and Collage" workshop, at Dillman's Resort was chock full of techniques, encouragement, inspiration and his wacky humor.

For me, the juice of this workshop was learning to develop a series of work that comes from your soul...A series that's broad enough to last you a while....but narrow enough in it's intent to unite all of the pieces. A big "ah-ha" realization.

Another "big" idea for me, was the small warm-up paintings he suggests you do before you tackle your larger, more complicated works in progress....Actually, now that I'm reflecting on it...there were a ton more "big" ideas that I got from Bob's class! At the very least....pop over to his website and subscribe to his "ArtsyFartsy" newsletter...You'll be glad you did.

Below are 2 paintings that I completed during the workshop....Yup....this is the beginnings of my new series....stay tuned to see and hear more about it!


"The Grass is Greener" 10 x 11 Acrylic (above) (sold)

"Star Climber" 10 x 11 Acrylic (below) (sold)


Quote of the Day:
"To play it safe is not to play." – Robert Altman

Computer woes and other news...


First the good news! "Bass Dreams" got an Honorable Mention at the Starkweather Gallery 12 x 12 show. Yea!!!! The show runs from October 3 through the 25th. If you are in Romeo Michigan, it's worth a look-see!

Now the bad news....My computer hard drive died yesterday...luckily I had backed up most of everything...but it still takes forever for me to figure out how to re-load everything!
grrrrrrrrr.

But now more good news...I'm leaving Saturday for a Bob Burridge workshop at Dillman's Bay Resort in Wisconsin. My friend Sue Galos and I are heading north tomorrow morning...driving through Michigan's upper peninsula and arriving sometime Sunday. The workshop is Monday through Friday and should be just fantastic! So, I probably won't be posting until the week after next.

Looking forward to some beautiful fall color, and some inspiring workshop ideas!

Acrylic painting finished....i think.


"Bass Dreams" 12 x 12 Acrylic...

Well, I woke up this morning with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective. Brought the guitar back to life a bit....I think it has about the right importance now.... It was really hard to get a good photo of this one.... Well...I think I'm calling this one finished! I'm going to drop it off tomorrow at the Starkweather Gallery's 12 x 12 show in Romeo Michigan. Crossing my fingers that it will be included! :)
Edit...I was thrilled to fiind out not only did it get in the show...but won an honorable mention award. :)

A Frustrating Day of painting...


"Bass Dreams" 12 x 12 Acrylic....

I think this is just about finished...I'm not all that happy with it...It was a frustrating day of painting. Ah well.... It's tough when my skill doesn't match my ideas.... I think part of the problem is that at 12 x 12, the size of the canvas was too small.... Live and learn I guess. I'll look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow and maybe be able to think of something that will help.

New Acrylic, continued.....


"Bass Dreams"~ 12 x 12 ~ acrylic work in progress..
Day 2 on this one...I wasn't able to work very much today...I had to take the blue tape off because I find it influences my color choices too much. (I put the tape on to mask the gold gesso that covered the canvas...it creates a bit of a mat)

Acrylic work in progress....


"Bass Dreams" ~ 12 x 12 ~ acrylic work in progress....(that's blue masking tape on the edges to mask the gold gessoed canvas.)

This is the really early preliminary work on a new painting... I took a photo of my youngest around 7 years ago.... He had fallen asleep with his guitar, and when I went in his room to wake him for school... this was (sort of) the scene I encountered. :) He had an early passion for sure.

Old Mission Peninsula...



Old Mission Peninsula... 5 x 7 watercolor sketch in my Moleskine

Yet another plein air watercolor sketch from my trip up to northern Michigan last week. Old Mission Peninsula is the land that separates the east and west Grand Traverse Bays. This spot is at the tippy top, northern most point. It's a rather unique shoreline...It appears as if the tide is out....which is impossible, since the great lakes aren't noticeably affected by tides...

I'm spending the day doing prep work (gessoing watercolor paper and making up collage paper) for an upcoming workshop with Robert Burridge in early October....can't wait!

Point Betsie Lighthouse


Point Betsie Lighthouse 5 x 7 In my Moleskine

Another of my plein air sketches from northern Michigan.

I think Point Betsie Lighthouse is one of the prettiest (and probably most painted and photographed) lighthouses in the area....We spent a lovely and blustery afternoon there.
The very best thing about plein air painting is that when you look at your sketches or paintings later...they immediately take you right back to the place and time that you painted it...I can feel the warm breezes and hear the gulls and the wind. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Plein Air...


The Platte River along Lake Michigan Road... 5 x 16 in...Watercolor in my Moleskine

Back from a plein air trip to northern Michigan...Around the Traverse City area. We had absolutely gorgeous weather Tuesday through Friday...I went with 2 painting friends from Canada...We had just a grand time. A great break from routine....

Plein Air Trip!


"Deadstream, Honor MI"~ 8 x 8 ~ watercolor and casein (sold)

This is an older painting from my "year of painting" series....This stream meanders it's way to Lake Michigan....I'll be driving by here later today. :)

I'm off for a week to paint Plein Air with two of my Canadian painting buddies. We are headed up to the Traverse City area....the weather forecast looks stupendous!!! (knock on wood)

Wax Resist and Watercolor....

This was a day of experimentation!!!! While cleaning up the studio (I've been such a good girl) I uncovered my batik supplies! So i decided to devote the afternoon to play.....complete play...no ideas in mind at all...really a lot of fun to do once in a while!


Started with an unfinished watercolor, and painted over parts with bees wax....then more watercolor....


Started with a watercolor....found my Batik wax pen thingy...(i know that's not the right name)...and drew and dripped (accidentally...and then on purpose) with the hot wax.


Watercolor, then used a black crayola crayon on top of the paper that was sitting on a food warming tray turned up high...paper gets rather warm!

Getting back to work....



"Tools of the Trade" 13.5 x 11 mixed media

Sometimes, after an absence from painting, it takes a while to get back into the swing of things...This is true for me anyway....So yesterday, i just grabbed a piece of paper from one of my many piles (I'm still doing a studio clean-up) and did contour drawings of some of the things that were laying around... and started slapping paint on it....Certainly not a great painting...but a start back at it....and as Martha says...."It's a good thing"

House Portrait.....



"House Portrait" 6 x 9 watercolor

I do quite a few of these....I actually enjoy doing them. I started my down my artistic path doing house portraits in pen and ink, 24 years ago....Good grief....that makes me feel old! :) If you are interested in commissioning me to do a house portrait, pop me an email and I'll send you the particulars....

Print available


"Phantom Tulips" print
A friend of mine convinced me to get this painting scanned and offer it as a fine art print.
A 14 x 11 inch size (open edition and signed) is $70. If you are interested, just contact me. (If you would like it larger or smaller I can do that too.)
I just got back from northern Michigan....We had a family vacation there. Our youngest (21) is here for a week (from LA) and our oldest (24) was here from Cleveland. After an initial adjustment to being back together...(all brothers fight, right?) we had a wonderful time. Lots of golf, and wandering around Traverse City.
Next week will be back to normal...whatever that is. One thing for sure...a big studio clean up is in order....yuck.

Seeing Stars


I bought a decorative plate from Target a few years ago, that was covered (mosaic-like) in thin mica-like iridescent chips. I laid it on the floor in front of the window to put a plant on it and "wowzers!" A light show! I was amused for way too long! :) Turned this boring corner of our eating area, into a kaleidoscope of colors and light.