Fun Day

School starts next week so I decided to treat my boys to a fun day in Chico. Our first stop was swimming in Bidwell Park. I wanted to paint this in a loose fashion with bolder colors. The people in front were added for interest.

Our next stop was Cal Skate for an afternoon of roller skating. They have a game area which included this kiddie carousel. I didn't add the horse on the left since it was hidden from my view by another game. All in all, it was a fun day. Plus I was able to paint!

Battle Creek

On Friday we explored the beautiful falls on Battle Creek. It was a beautiful day and I was able to paint while my husband and boys fished. This is a much looser style then I am used to but I really like it. I was also trying to be freer with color. It's a good start and a style that I will continue to experiment with. 6x6 watercolor on Raffine watercolor sketch book.

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Today my husband and I have been married for 19 years. We have two wonderful boys, who I attempted to capture in the painting below as a gift for my husband.


Our boys are sitting on rocks, over looking the ocean near Eureka, California. I may attempt this painting again as I feel that this one is over worked. But, alas, I didn't have time to paint another before giving it to my husband this morning. He, by the way, wrote me a lovely poem, in addition to the gifts he gave me. What a sweety.

I love you honey! Happy Anniversary!

Watercolor and ink on watercolor paper, 8x10.

The life of a Jellyfish . . .

Another in a series of Jellyfish - similar to my others. I guess this is actually a sea nettle, a type of jellyfish. To learn more about these fascinating creatures, visit here. You can also visit the terrific website of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

I have also been working on a special painting which I will reveal shortly. . .

Thanks for visiting!

Jellyfish 1

I love the ocean. So powerful. So beautiful. And so many unique and beautiful creatures. I've been wanting to paint a serious of sea critters and finally put brush to paper and came up with this. A bit too enthusiastic with the salt effect but all in all, I think I am pleased with it.
5x7 watercolor and Pitt pen on Raffine Sketchbook paper.

Celebrating Life

One often thinks about life in the spring. New flowers, the birth of baby animals and the warmth of the sun all help one to appreciate life. Well, a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to appreciate life more. My brother and sister-in-law were vacationing when they nearly died. My brother was ok but my sweet sister was in a coma for about a week and things were not looking good. But she has come through it all. My sister, my friend, is alive! So to celebrate life and her continued recovery, I painted her the picture here. She should have it today. Hopefully it will bring her cheer and warm feelings as she works through the therapy and the day to day issues that she still faces. Pat, if you are reading this, I love you very much.