Pompeii Plasters

Pompeii was a Roman city that was lost for thousands of years under the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. While uncovering the lost city they discovered pockets of space left by the decomposed bodies that were buried. Through a plastering process they were able to fill these air pockets and thus give form to these forgotten lives. How interesting is that?

What struck me was this plaster of a dog they uncovered. It's anguish is apparent and its detail is amazing. The dynamic positioning of its legs just make me feel the ash that is covering him. Sad,eerie, and beautiful all at once.

Baby Shirley

So my manager at work has this super cute baby named Shirley. He asked me to paint her and in my head I was doubting my abilities to do a human painting. Dogs seem easier. I decided to take on the challenge and it was not easy...but I think in the end this was a successful painting that taught me a lot.

Here is Shirley in her first Halloween outfit as a duck. I set her in the sky for both fun and contrast to the yellow outfit...

Today a thought

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

This was a quote that struck a chord with me today. In my moments of introverted hibernation (which have become more frequent lately), I find myself painting as a way to travel. Being I can not afford to roam the world aimlessnessly as I would LOVE I paint to find reprieve from life. To live inside my own creation, by the meditation of the paint going onto a blank canvas.

Dog Quotes

I'm a sucker for quotes. I found these on dogs...thought some of these were great.

1.)My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton

2.)I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

3.)I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying. ~George Bird Evans, Troubles with Bird Dogs

4.)One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why. ~Author Unknown

5.)My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

6.)The more I see of man, the more I like dogs. ~Mme. de Staël

7.)I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. ~Rita Rudner

Dog Series

So I have been busy painting dogs lately. Here is my work so far, mostly finished...a few pieces need a little more love but I like how they are coming so far.

Shadow of a heart

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~Maori Proverb




I just thought this was pretty in my room so I took a picture of it. I found the above quote and found it fitting.

The rose in the rain

I woke up to the wind this morning and looked outside my window to see yet another dreary day, but alas there something different, something beautifully unexpected ...a rose. This rose had been blown from the side of my window( where it could not be seen) into full view. For some reason I felt an ache in my heart, I know a rose is only a plant but I guess it seemed symbolic to me. I felt like this struggling rose represented the constant tension between life's delicate beauty and its wild rage. This dichotomy always seems to interact with each other and it's always sad to watch. Who knows maybe this is how Mother Nature has decided to create some sort of sick balance? Maybe I am putting a lot of meaning behind this rose, but to me my window seemed to be crying, the wind was angry, and the rain was throwing a temper tantrum... I found myself rooting for the underdog.