Let's Dance in the New Year!

Get down with some inspiring music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptPWSkdpBFo

I may have to put fire spinning lessons on my resolutions list.

Found it! Happy Tib's Eve!

My mantel piece with my angel chimes, glass creche and angel candle holder.

"Lord, You create day and night, Rolling away light before darkness,
Thank You for the darkness. Without it we could not appreciate the light.
By the darkness we can measure blessing-
Health by sickness, Laughter by tears, Riches by poverty, Freedom from oppression...
In centuries of night, Men rose at midnight and lit flames,
And by those slender lights, From torn and tear-soaked prayer books,
They pleaded forYour mercy...
Thank You for unfinished tasks, In the darkness
Teach us to light candles... even as we did tonight.
In memory of ancient light after darkness.
A candle is small... but candles light other candles,
And light draws strength from light.
Each night of life let us add candles...hope...faith... brave deeds...freedom...
Thank You for the darkness
Thank You for the light."

I love this poem and when I find the rest of it, I hope to give it's writer their due credit.

TIB'S EVE - The day before Christmas Eve (today!); also, a day that will never come. From the Newfoundland word of the day site

Moon Set

Moon set at 8:40 am. I am searching for a beautiful poem about the Maccabee's that speaks of being thankful for the darkenss that we may learn to better appreciate the light. As usual, when I want to find something in this house, it is swallowed by mysteries.

To see a beautiful shot of the lunar eclipse, go here: http://www.cbc.ca/bcalmanac/photogallery/

Happy Solstice

Hurray, the winter solstice arrives tomorrow night with a full moon in attendance. Now the days will begin to lengthen. Light a candle and praise the powers that be for bringing back the light.

Giggles

Giggles 16x16 acrylic

I don't think this little painting is quite finished yet but it lifts my spirits.

Pale tutu

16x16 acrylic

Another pose from the ballet models. I love how the frothy tutus reflect the light.

Niece

My niece lives in New Orleans and belongs to a crazy little dance/marching group (the pussyfooters) that performs in rad outfits several times a year. I am so jealous. She is on the right. I so want the boots and corset!

Bulldog

bulldog acrylic 16x16

I like the weird oxidized red that the paint turns on the old junkers. And I like the "teeth" on this one.

What I don't like, is, when I have waded through weeds or snow to get out to an oldtimer to take photos and I hear the faint menacing "woof" of somebody's watch dog!!

Red Gloves

acrylic 16x20

Snow Buck

12x12 acrylic, stamps, tyvek

I like the marbelized effect of the paint on tyvek. I had originally made the mountain black and liked the veining in it but the black swallowed the deer so I had to back off and try white. I wish more of the texture would show up in the photo.

It's fun making these small paintings but If I were smart, I would probably paint them on gessoed watercolor paper and then mount the good ones on canvas a la R. Burridge.

Permission to Play

Hester 12x12 acrylic

I have been wanting to play with leftover paint from my palette (acrylic skins) ever since I have seen Robert Burridge using it in some of his paintings. I have a lovely photo of a Columbia valley pioneer taped up over my desk and had been wanting to use her image. The two came together in a quick silly painting. I think I will have to go back in and shorten her chin but it was fun. Now I have to get all the paint off my fingers before we go out for a christmas dinner tonight!

Fantastic Women Artists's blog

Check out this great blogsite with wonderful paintings by/of women:

http://irea.wordpress.com/

Prairie Dress

This is Mabel modelling one of my projects, a prairie dress and apron.

Doris

Doris was my mother's name and she never like it much. But she preferred Doris to being called "Red" because of her hair. It is a strong name and not much used recently. When was the last time you met any little girls named Doris?