What Goes On

Around here, what's been going on is wonderful weather. We've had many days of sunny skies and temps in the mid to upper 60s, even reaching 71 one day! You know I have been loving it, as have the daffodil shoots, and last night, I even saw some new irises springing up through the February ground. I found these lovely flowers and plants while I walked with my daughter in Old Salem yesterday!

I've been working on new paintings and new songs. I have a solo gig on March 5th in downtown Winston-Salem, so I'm seriously thinking about my set list and getting my new songs tightened up. When I'm not doing that, I'm either walking around the mountain or painting.

Here are some of my newer pieces. Most have been listed in my Etsy shop, so you can easily check them out by clicking on the link.

Several itty bitty miniatures... each of these has been framed in a mini bone or mother-of-pearl frame, averaging around a mere 2.5 inches in size. They are perfect for a little spot on a windowsill or bookshelf or bedside table.





A mixed media with oils, photography, and text, measuring 24 x 30 and also listed, as of today.... A Morning Song.

This white-throated sparrow is one of my favorite watercolors. It measures 5 x 7 and has been framed in a beautiful cobalt blue Italian made frame.

And lest you think that I only paint birds, here are a couple other newer watercolors to prove you wrong (though it is quite true that birds are my favorite subject of late!).



Until next time, enjoy the world of nature, listen for the birdsong, and hug the one you love!

Spring, Oh Spring!

It's just around the corner, at least for some of us. I found these in my garden yesterday evening and was so joyous that I danced a little jig and clapped my hands in delight!


So this morning I took my dog Foster outside with me and we did a little tour of the yard to check on things and take photos.





Because I wanted to celebrate my joy, I painted a new watercolor specifically for this gorgeous buttery yellow and blue frame... Spring Bunting has been listed on Etsy. It's small, perfect for a shelf or table top, measuring in outer dimensions just 4.5 x 5.5inches.


Until next time, love the season you're in, have hope, and be kind!

Groundhog Day Hike

I never get tired of our mountains and woods around here. Yesterday I took a walk with a very good friend and his dogs, and here are some photos of what we saw. I've got some good painting subjects, don't you think?

Lichens...

Beaver damage by a pond...

On one side, Hanging Rock in the distance...

On the other side, Virginia Mountains up near Stuart in the distance...

Another view of Hanging Rock...

The Saura Mountains as dusk is approaching...

And a gorgeous cloud formation as the sun begins to set...

Until next time, be thankful, be content, and be kind.

The Road Less Traveled

Where does that road take you?

This new watercolor is a reminder

to stay in tune with the natural world while we make our journey through life.

This 8 x 10 is titled Raven Song and reads:
Follow the road less traveled
into the colors
of a raven song.

Follow your heart, make time for a hike, listen to the birds, and be kind.

What are you waiting for?

Each of us waits for something ... for that special partner, for spring... or summer or fall or winter, for a better job, for a few minutes of peace and quiet. The list is as varied as the colors in our world.

I seem to be longing for spring lately, although I think I might be happy with one more big snow. But after a weekend of sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50 and lower 60s, I definitely got a taste of spring fever. So this newest artistic creation speaks to that quiet longing for afternoons in the garden and morning walks in the woods surrounded by birdsong.

This piece, called Waiting for Calm, combines my love of birds with my passion for words and the visions they can create. The words were cut from magazines and catalogues and assembled, much like a ransom note (as my husband was heard to say), but their message is much sweeter than a ransom note.

Waiting for Calm

imagine a fresh summer dream
resonant with organic music
a voyage of soft
sweet, chiming
native sounds
blending true
floating
into the heart.

Find your calm, find your peace, share a song, and be kind to those around you.