Oodles of Art at Affordable Prices

Over 100 local artists created over 3,000 original paintings, drawings, photographs, silk screens, etc. for The 30 Day Art Challenge Annual Gift Sales Event which opens December 1st during Seattle's Art Walk from 5-10PM.

It is the 11th annual Holiday Gift Show Exhibition at the T.K. Gallery located at 115 Prefontaine Place in Seattle, Washington.

Free Admission!

Original Art Work selling for only $40 each.

Standing on a ladder, I photographed my 30 oil paintings of "Peruvian life":

Seagull or Penguin?

Before Thanksgiving my friend, Elaine, and I spent a few days at Rockaway Beach on the Oregon Coast. It was stormy at times, but we managed to get in a couple of beach walks despite the weather.

I enjoyed watching the huge waves and was delighted by our frequent visitor we named, Arthur. I think he wanted to come inside out of the storm.


For additional entertainment, we decided to visit some of the thrift shops in the small beach towns nearby. My unique purchase was this metal sculpture; at first sight I thought penguin. He became our table center piece. Arthur would join us at the table (we pushed it next to the window), and it became clear to me that the sculpture was a seagull.

What do you think? Seagull or Penguin?


Elaine asked me if I found this metal sculpture at a thrift store in Olympia, where we live, would I have bought it? Probably not!

Or.......maybe as a humorous gift for a friend or relative?

Sunday Sketches

In Honor of Gypsy


My dearly beloved kitty died. I wanted to honor her with a sketch today. First I drew the lines with ink and then applied watercolor.

She has the sweetest face :)

I had been her hospice nurse focusing on making her quality of life the best possible which meant spoiling her with food and special privileges. She spent her last evening finishing a bowl of ice cream and snuggled next to me in bed.

She is missed by all.....

Sunday Sketches

Last week I was excited by the vivid colors of the maple leaves. This week it is the array of browns in the leaves on the ground which catch my eye.

This sketch was started with splashes of color, followed by the ink line, and then additional watercolor was applied. Not my usual pattern, but found it fun and refreshing.

It is Just Paper!

My classic line when I work with people creating art who are critical of their artwork is, "It is just paper, not to worry."

Well this line takes on a new dimension after viewing paper sculptures by Canadian artist Calvin Nicholls.
My good friend and artist, Judi Colwell, introduced me to him.

I use the expression this time as.....
"Oh my gosh, it is just paper!"

There is nothing simple or ordinary about his paper art. Where we would use a piece of paper and a pair of scissors, Calvin uses everything you could possibly think of to carve, cut and rip perfect details onto his creations. The motifs are mostly wildlife and the details are truly amazing. One can not even fathom the time it must have taken to create these masterpieces of art.

Here are two of my favorites:




Be sure to visit his website to see more ASTONISHING JUST PAPER creations.

Stellar Day in the Pacific Northwest

Yes, sunshine and fall colors!

One of our rare fall Pacific Northwest STELLAR DAY.

I took my dog, Ebony, for a walk on the Chehalis Western Trail here in Olympia, Washington.

I love the arches of color and the depth seen down the trail.

It is like a fairy land.



The leaves are a still-life in themselves.......

Sunday Sketches

Finished another sketch for the Sketchbook Project 2012. I took Carol's advice to use better quality paper and glue it into the sketchbook.

I have been looking at this photograph of the Quechua school children waving good-bye to us after our visit to their school. It was a memorable day for both the children and us.

I love the line up and knew one day it would be a painting. It was challenging to capture their faces with a single line of ink. The watercolors were applied after the ink drawing.