A NEW BLOG DESIGN

Well, I've revamped my blog layout. For those of you who remember my old layout, you'll have to let me know if you like this one better. I don't know if I'm sold on it yet but I felt I needed to get away from all the black that I had on my previous one. What do you think? A little more friendly?

ODD COUPLE

This week, the theme was "Odd or Strange Couples". Here's my submission. He's a "10" in her eyes!

A PAINTING IDEA IS FORMING

I've been thinking of painting something that has to do with camping, friendship, roasting marshmallows and the feeling a ghost story gives you when you're outside, in the dark, under some looming trees, with only the heat of a campfire for comfort. I've been thinking of anthropomorphism and how it seems, in this situation, trees and such seem to come to life showing their ghoulish grins and grimaces.

Since this has been on my mind, I've been noticing freaky faces in EVERYTHING!

I recently traveled to Central California for my son's graduation from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and lo and behold, surrounding his little apartment were a ton of oak trees. They grew all along the driveway up to the house, on the side and behind the house, and along an old creak bottom. Let me tell you, OAK TREES ARE FREAKY! I wouldn't want to walk along his driveway at night, that's for sure! They really are a sight to see. Their branches twist and turn as they reach out, it seems, about ready to ensnare you. They are truly beautiful to say the least, just amazing trees, but since I had this painting idea on my brain, I was seeing freaky faces everywhere!

I started taking pictures. I think I took almost 200 pictures in all! This included trees from around his apartment, The Oaks State Park, and the walk we took to get to a beach down by Los Osos, CA.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite pics with you.

What do you see?

Oh, and this one is for my brother-in-law. Funny!

DANCING COWBOY

The theme in my illustration group for this week was Dancing Cowboy. This cowboy just can't help putting on his tutu, even if it's only for a moment or two.

BAD HAIR DAY

I belong to several illustration groups on facebook. One of the groups has decided to choose a weekly theme where each artist comes up with their own original take on the theme. For this week, the theme was bad hair day. This is what I came up with.

DRAWING SOME GOLDFISH

Here fishy, fishy...

DAWG ART

A friend/ schoolmate of mine, Alicia VanNoy Call, is having an art show tonight (April 5, 2013) at the Window Box Gallery, in Provo, UT. Animal shelters from different locations all over the world have sent her stories and pictures of dogs, cats, etc. that have inspired or touched the lives of people in a special way. She is helping these animal shelters by donating any proceeds from the sales of the artwork back to the shelter who sent her the story.  Even the Window Box Gallery is forfeiting their profit as well. What an amazing fundraiser. I'll be attending tonight. I hope all of you will check out her paintings. By the way, if you have a special animal in your life, she does commissions! She'll even have an online auction for the pieces. Check her out.

Here's a few of her works! I sure love her style!!!