Sabbatical

Horse Head Mask commission, for an Arizona ballet production of 'The Nutcracker'....

Just a little blogging hiatus... (be back soon)....

Horse Heads

Funny how these horse head commissions keep coming down the pike. I have yet another pair to make for our local ballet company's production of Cinderella in May. To date I have made well over a dozen of these by now, and the requests still dribble in....

"First Snow", 9 x 12

Third of my three entries into the January '09 Nibblfest Art Contest, as mentioned in my two previous journal posts -- this month's theme being 'Winter Wonderland'....

http://cgi.ebay.com/NFAC-First-Snow-Original-Painting-by-PATIENCE_W0QQitemZ150322313539QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item150322313539&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Born and raised in the Midwest, I feel a real connection with our four dynamic seasons. Very much affected by them (for better or worse), my internal bio-rhythms seem to hum right along with our seasonal transitions. As such I always anticipate and appreciate the unique changes each presents -- in weather, landscape, lifestyle, activities, etc. Personally, I believe it takes the extremes of one season to fully appreciate the extremes of another. For me, life would be likely deadly dull without this recurring dramatic Cycle....

Needless to say, it probably goes without saying that always without fail do I look forward to that very first snow of the season (as well as that LAST one, because by then? I'm usually feeling, "Enough already!"). Because please, what could be more magical than the First Snow...?

"Lost Cockatiel"

As stated in my previous journal entry, I entered three pieces into this month's Nibblefest Art Contest, the theme being 'Winter Wonderland'. This is the second one of the three....

http://cgi.ebay.com/NFAC-Lost-Cockatiel-Original-Painting-by-PATIENCE_W0QQitemZ150322310333QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item150322310333&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

A little background information here...

I have a much adored pet cockatiel, that I'm very attached to. He's been my faithful and loyal companion for the better part of 20 years, and is utterly devoted to me. Plus he's never been a lick of trouble, except twice, when he managed to escape. On two separate occasions the little stinker got out and actually flew around town for nearly a week before I was lucky enough to have him returned. The second time was during the month of January no less -- needless to say what a disaster that could have potentially turned out to be. It goes without saying that little Australian desert birds were not intended for the subzero conditions of a typical Midwestern January. Fortunately, by the capricious nature of fate, the weather that week was relatively mild -- above freezing temps, and no snow (thank goodness). Little bird came home safe and sound. Still, I can't help but think sometimes how different things might have turned out if the weather had decided to be more 'normal' that week (like it is now, brrrr)....

As such, this little painting is a tribute to my little guy and his most excellent adventure (and to happy endings)....

'The Weather Within'

It's that time of the month again. No, not THAT time of the month (blushing)-- no indeed, I'm talking about the monthly The Nibblefest Art Contest, that begins on the 20th of each month. The theme for January is 'Winter Wonderland'. One new aspect this time, as the rules were recently changed, is that participants are now allowed to upload up to three entries. While it's only my third month participating in the contest, having enjoyed it so much so far, I made special effort to complete three entries in time.

This 6 x 8 entry is titled 'The Weather Within'. I set out to do something different from the obvious winter landscape scene (of which my other two 'Winter Wonderland' entries already featured), and this is what I must say rather painted itself when I sat down to work without a direct plan or any preparatory sketching -- a female, gazing into a turbulent snow globe, with a small, indistinct figure apparently trapped inside. Indeed, I'm sure this can be open to any manner of interpretation:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NFAC-The-Weather-Within-Original-by-PATIENCE_W0QQitemZ150322315912QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item150322315912&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Nibblefest Redux

"...an overworked, wistful young farm girl, caught in a rare moment's reflection, ponders her life's role as a Keeper of Chickens...."

Busy doesn't even begin to describe what this past month has been like in my household. NEVERTHELESS, I had fun with my first entry ever in the monthly Nibblefest art contest last month -- so much so that I decided to participate again (even this close to the holidays, when things are threatening to nearly unhinge around here). This month's Nibblefest theme is 'Chickens', and below is my entry, entitled, "Chicken Keeper"....

My 2nd ever Nibblefest Art Contest Entry

My art on ebay for .99...!

The link to my very first ebay art auction, and Nibblefest entry: http://tinyurl.com/5fkq5k

I've been intending to mention the Nibblefest Art Contest in my journal here for a long while -- and I suppose since I have actually finally entered it for the very first time, ...ever..., (though I've been meaning to for years) I figure now is as good occasion as any....

http://groups.ebay.com/forum/Nibblefest-Art-Contest/Welcome/7913

Nibblefest (or NFAC, for NibbleFest Art Contest) is a monthly themed contest, whereby artists are invited to submit art auctions, pertaining to the theme, via ebay. All the Nibblest auctions must have starting bids of .99 cents, with no reserve. So, many a bargain to be had there...!

The Nibblefest theme for this month is 'Christmas Trees', so I whipped up this little number as my entry -- a patchwork and folksy 'Evergreen Dreams', painted in acrylics on a 6' x 8' sheet of canvas paper.