Sunday Sketches

Spring would not be spring without a new trillium painting!

I could not resist this subject matter for my Sunday Sketch.


More Sunday Sketchers....

Sunday Sketches

Georgia on my mind........

Just returned from 10 days in Savannah. The trees and birds were highlights of my adventure. Thought I would attempt a quick sketch to see if I could portray the feeling of the live oak and moss.


More Sunday Sketchers......

Regal Bird

How many times can you just drive by before stopping?

For me it was three times. On my way to Belfair, Washington, to visit with a hospice patient for art therapy, I pass George Kenny School of Chainsaw Carving. His sculptures are displayed outdoors and definitely make a statement. You can get a glimpse driving by, but it is well worth a stop.

The day I stopped George just finished carving two bald eagles one of which caught my eye. Two weeks later I could not resist stopping to see if the eagle I liked was painted, burnished, and finished.

Yes, and I am happy to report he made his way home to my yard.


Check out the details he achieves with a chainsaw!

Sunday Sketches

I am sill obsessed with the magnolia blossom!

Previously I posted the block print version.

Here is my latest rendition in oils.


It feels great to be painting again after a quiet time.

View more Sunday Sketchers.

Block Printing Addiction

Yes, I believe I have the cravings to make block prints!

The other day, my artists friends and I had our second play date and, once again, chose to create block prints. Ellen Miffitt teaches the medium locally, but we got to enjoy her in-home class and culinary treats.

Last time I tried the flexible block and this time I went for the more stiff kind, but not as stiff as the old linoleum block.

I chose to carve the dogwood flower which bloomed in my yard last spring or was it early summer? This bloom was unfolding and a bee was in a frenzy searching for nectar and annihilated the stamens. It was absolutely fascinating to watch.

Here is the block:


The first print:


Printed on wall paper:

We put another date on the calendar; addiction confirmed!

Murals for a Cause

A fellow artist was brought to my attention because she too creates murals to bring awareness to a specific cause.

I was in Gaza creating murals to bring awareness to the water crisis, and Jame Kim is creating murals to bring awareness to endangered migrating species.

She calls her project the Migrating Murals.

Jane Kim combines the accessibility of street art with meticulous scientific detail. She plans to paint a series of eye-catching large-scale murals in public places along the migration routes of endangered species like the North Pacific blue whale and the whooping crane. The whale murals will stretch from Baja California to Alaska and crane paintings in locations from Texas to Canada.

Her Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep murals will dot U.S. 395 from Olancha to Lee Vinning - two small California towns that mark the herd's approximate southern and northern boundaries. She hopes to complete them by October.


The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep population has dwindled to around 400, and estimates suggest that the remaining numbers of North Pacific blue whales is currently in the low 3,000's.

Next on Kim's agenda is to paint murals of endangered coho salmon, possibly stretching all from the Pacific Northwest to South Korea.

Play Date

My artists friends and I set aside a day to get together and create art; we call it a play date.

Ellen Miffitt, artist and teacher, facilitated the play date with everything needed to create a block print. In addition she provided tea and coffee cake, yum!

For those of us new to block printing or returning after attempting years ago, the materials have changed making it easier in many respects. The block we carved was soft, flexible, and easy to wash. You could also carve another image on the back side!

Ellen is a fabulous instructor who teaches locally this medium as well as several others. Check out her class schedule at her website.

Here is what the block looks like:

First print in black:

Print in black and gold:

Print on colored paper in black and gold:

I am looking forward to our next Play Date.........