Morning Walk, Vallauris

Hooray, I actually finished a few pieces of new work (India ink drawing with gouache) this morning and posted them in the etsy shop. There are more in the works and I'm working on filling up the shop with new things for summer. Vallauris, France is in Provence and happens to be a little art town known for ceramics. Picasso famously did a lot of clay work there in the 1950's when he was with girlfriend, Francois Gilot. Maybe someday we'll make our way back there!

Inky Weekend

Looking up at the Letterpress shop

Did a lot of drawings over the weekend... in prep for the 2 upcoming shows. (my daughter did a lot of drawing too... marker all over her feet, legs and face. too funny!) I've been loving drawing architectural scenes and hope to search out more images to draw. (maybe a good walk downtown... lots of old buildings there).

I have 2 linen art quilts I've blogged about in the past year and am hoping to hastily quilt them to have for the Ruby Slipper show in Spokane. They're throw size (or a bit larger) and I think they'll look great on the wall. Hopefully later in the week I'll post some progress on them!

Calistoga and the Little Lavender Girl

The Elms - Calistoga, CA

Little Lavender Girl

2 new woodcuts I've started this week... actually Calistoga (the house) I did the drawing this morning! The lavender one is going to take a long time because of all the lines and little buds to be carved. Not quite sure how successful it'll be but, I wanted to try. It is really a lovely image if I can just translate it into wood :)

The house is from way back when my hubby and I used to vacation Napa and Sonoma with friends (on this trip) and sometimes alone. I love the house - it reminds me of my fave Hopper painting. This is a B&B we stayed in called The Elms - absolutely enchanting! I highly recommend it if you're staying in the wine country. Brings back such great memories of our salad days together.

Saint Marthe Cathedral in Tarascon, France

This was a memorable Cathedral we visited in the town of Tarascon... it's named after one of my best friends! I'm looking forward to painting these drawings I've posted. The holidays seemed to have broken my rhythm, though! Lately, I've been sitting on the floor, knitting while the kids play next to me... or just playing with them. So, I'm sort of stuck in that lazy, post-holiday 'in-between-world'! I've gotta get my groove back... but it is nice to just chill for awhile.

San Francisco Row Houses

I love architecture and the old buildings and styles of San Francisco. I took this photograph a few years back on a trip to Sonoma and Napa... of course we had to hang a bit in SF and go the a great restaurant - The Stinking Rose (yummy garlic food!). This is close to being done, I don't want to overwork it but I may tweak the buildings and lower sky a bit more.

Painted Villa

Don't really know why but I'm fascinated by this house in the South of France... I painted it on a wood box (jewel box) and now, this India ink drawing on paper. I will probably put it in my etsy shop soon. It's supposed to by in the 100's this weekend... blah!

San Francisco Row Houses

The start of a new painting! This is a larger one which is about 20 x 24 in. I know it is not that big, but for me, (I've been doing small paintings on my Half-Julian easel in the dining room) it's a great feeling to get bigger again.

Sausalito Store Front

Here is another Jewel Box painting in progress.

I don't know why I'm so fascinated by Sausalito, California but I am! I've been there several times and always feel like I'm in the south of France (except it's usually kind of cold). The houses are cute, I like the way they're perched on a hill. The place has kind of a 'small town' feel but also hip and happening... plus it's so close to San Francisco. My husband and I used to go there on our many trips to the wine country... but now with kids, who knows if we'll ever return. Those were good, old days - 'todays' and good too, though!

French Box

I'm working on a new series of jewel boxes... this time they are architectural in subject. I love doing faces but needed a change. This one is from a photo I took from a moving car (!) on the Cote d'Azur... Juan-les-Pins to be exact. There are some beautiful, old mansions there... this one of Moorish design. I'm really having fun with it and will post more later.

Dog House - Santa Cruz

Here's a painting I did a few years back. The house is gorgeous, set on a bluff, it overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the famous wooden roller coaster on the beach below. Originally, the painting had a profile of myself but, I hated it and turned myself into a dog. Ah, much better! :)

Staircase to Unknown

Woodblock Print , hand painted. Image size: 4 x 4 in.

This print was inspired by a photograph I took on a trip to Nelson, B.C. It was taken in one of the fabulous old buildings there. I have a fascination with staircases, because you never know where they may lead... to some place magical, a secret room, an 'eye full' of the unexpected... who knows?! 'No Admittance' signs are especially alluring in these situations.