It’s official ~ Last night, I helped Erika put the rest of her gorgeous candles up for sale at her new Etsy store! It’s always sooooo exciting to open your first online store!! To visit the Funky Treehouse, just click here. And can I just say once again, these are the most beautiful candles EVER!! And she has some red ones, that would be perfect for Valentine’s day!

This one was taken on a walk to meet some friends for dinner, and I thought it was particularly appropriate to use in the announcement of my first ever PRINT SALE tomorrow starting at midnight, 12:00 AM EST Thursday, January 31 and ending 11:59 pm EST, Thursday January 31. (Translate your time zone here. Enter US/Eastern) For 24 hours at my Etsy shop, you can purchase 2 prints and get a 3rd print FREE!

Here’s how it works:
Your free print must be the same or lesser value of the lowest priced print. Do not place the free print in your cart. Just select your complimentary print by writing it in the "notes to seller" field during checkout.

Have fun shopping!! See you over at the Etsy shop tomorrow!

8 x 6 in.

Gotta keep it interesting over here, so I decided to paint something totally different from little white birds with red hats who are in love ;) who are living happily ever after, by the way.
(original is sold) ...so I listed it as a print over at Etsy. It’s too pretty not to keep sharing it. *Edit* January 30 - In fact, it’s so pretty displayed over a sofa in Holly’s post this morning (thank you Holly!!) that I decided to make it into a large print as well.

I’m starting a new series here on the blog. My contribution to the environment, my contribution to feeling more grounded and peaceful, and the best part of living in the neighborhood in which I now reside ~ I can WALK so many places!! I’ve decided that when I walk in this city, I appreciate it more. When I drive, I come home hours later feeling frustrated and I miss all the beauty, interest and excitement that exists in this city every day. And since I love my new camera, I’m taking it with me and sharing bits of this city with you. I’m sure if you’re visiting this blog from all over the world, you must be a little curious about what this amazing city, called Los Angeles, the city of angels, is really like? Well this will be a glimpse of it seen through my eyes. I hope you will enjoy it. I know I will, and so will Lulu, who will be my partner in crime, as often as she can come along.

This image was taken this morning on our walk to the post office. Since you can see our shadows, that means that sunny Los Angeles has returned. And the signature L.A. part of this photo, are the palm tree fronds that are also casting a shadow.
I’ll be right back with today’s painting...

Here’s one of my creations from yesterday. I decided it was time to pull out the gocco printer again. This image also has hand painted color details that I’ve added, so each one is a unique print. You can find it right here at Etsy, along with 4 new LARGE size prints that I’ve added. I’ve started getting requests for my work to be larger and I have to say turning these characters into a bigger size is inspiring me to paint LARGE. I think I’ve said this before on the blog, and I’m just so into the ease of painting small, for scanning and shipping reasons, but sometimes as artists we have to be willing to take our creations into new territory. Anyway, they look so good BIG!!! that it must just be time to EXPAND!

Speaking of BIG ~ there’s going to be a big event this Thursday at the Etsy shop, so stay tuned!

Oh, and I can’t forget to share ~ here’s Sean painting last night. It turned out AMAZING, a Mark Rothko inspired piece that he’s hanging in his office. We skipped our movie in honor of creating, but the fondue was YUM!

Today is Seanie’s birthday! And as you can see, I decided to carry the heart and love theme on into the birthday celebration. While the stormy weather continues, all I can say is this is one of the best days I’ve had in the new home so far, and it’s not even my birthday...that’s next week. Our morning started off with cake and champagne, and then we decided to let the day take us where ever we wanted to go, and it has now lead us to an afternoon of jazz and painting ~ that’s right ~ Sean paints too! I’m about to launch into a some creativity myself...as soon as I figure out what I want to create. We’ll be closing the day out with some swiss cheese fondue and a movie. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a nicer Sunday. Hope you’re having an especially good one too.

4 x 4 in.

You guessed it! The birdies found each other. LOVE when that happens!!

I hope you are staying dryer than we are. We have had non-stop rain since Wednesday ~ well not entirely true because yesterday there was about a 1/2 hour of sun and even some hail. It won’t rain for months at a time here, and then when it does it doesn’t stop for days. But, I have to say I like it. I like the change in weather. It feels wintery, like it should this time of year.

(click here to buy original)

4 x 4 in.

You know the days when you think no one is out there for you?

There always is. And they are looking for you.
(click here to buy original)

4 x 4 in.

This is the first in a series of 3...I bet you can guess the outcome :)

Also, this is the same paper background I used in the snow animal series, but it’s in red ~ you know I’m excited about that!!!

(original is sold)

5 x 5 in.

I’m peeking in from deep in the world of organizing. I’m getting so organized, I can hardly recognize myself. The thing is that sometimes it can be so boring ~ until you start to see progress, then it starts to feel free. And then you feel like organizing more! I think I might be feeling inspired to organize more....because I still have a ways to go. (Oh, and did I tell you I finally got my inbox down to 8 emails!) In between the boredom and the glimpses of more freedom, my daily paintings are my treat ~ my fun time to the day. So here’s my fun for today.

(original is sold)

I did list this little lovebear over at Etsy as a print.

4 x 4 in.

A sweet little hoodle wishing you a happy Creative Thursday. Inspired by my good friend Erika :)

(click here to buy original)

I have a new friend, until he goes to his very special new home. He’s a clay character commission (inspired by this painting) that I had to share with you because I love him so. It’s been fun working in 3D for a few days. You know, you’ve got to mix it up sometimes in the creative world.

I wish I could put him to work. He’d make a lovely co-worker.

I also made little Hughey, who will be available in the shop at 2:30 pm PST today. There are these brief moments when I realize that I get to make a living creating this cuteness, and I imagine telling my little girl self and she would be thrilled.
Thanks for sharing your thoughtful comments on the world of celebrity. It was really nice to hear from you!

7 x 5 in.

How are you? How was your weekend?

We got up at 5:30 am yesterday and went surfing at sunrise. I’ve never surfed in January before, so I was slightly afraid the water would be freezing, and even worse that I would then be freezing. But as it turned out, I’m happy to report that neither happened. A warm soft wind was blowing, and I wore a top notch wet suit (it is well worth investing a good one!), and I was just fine. Don’t get me wrong, the water was COLD, maybe the reason for the arctic inspired painting ~ but it was such an incredibly beautiful morning, including a school of dolphin swimming close by, that the cold was easily forgotten. Not to mention I finally caught a wave all the way in...now I still just have to stand up...one of these days.

We also had a famous family celebrity sighting at breakfast. And do they have the cutest, sweetest baby ever?! They also seem like very gracious and kind people in the world of Hollywood. I will say that while it is a bit surreal living here sometimes, because you see famous people all the time ~ my star struck awe has worn off, finally (it only took a few years). Let me just say, these are all people much like you and me. They just happen to make a living in a very public way, which does obviously afford them a very nice lifestyle. But basically they are simply a family having breakfast on a Sunday. With that said, I’m always inspired by anyone who seems to have genuinely stepped into the creative work they were meant to do, and had success with it. So, it was fun to see them, until the paparazzi showed up with the biggest camera lens you’ve ever seen and photographed them shopping at the farmer’s market. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m really wondering what the obsession is with CELEBRITY? The only thing I can think of is that people are so desperately wanting to have a life filled with recognition and money (that they think will bring them happiness), and they simultaneously think that this is out of reach for them, so they just want to brush up with those that seem to have it, even if it is only through a magazine ~ and in person, yikes! I’ve seen people fall all over themselves trying to make "forced" contact with a celebrity. Wanting to a live a life you love, and do work you love, and looking up to those in the public eye that you think have captured the essence of that, this I get! Having 90% of television programs be a report on famous people’s lives, and having paparazzi stalk a family buying vegetables at the farmer’s market, this I don’t get. When I was looking for for fulfillment and answers to the direction my life would lead, certain celebs were completely intriguing to me. Then I realized that I too can have the life I want, and suddenly my hopes no longer seemed to be outside of myself, especially in the image of a celebrity. If you have any ideas on this one, be sure to let me know. I’m super curious to know what you think, as I might just be speaking from my Los Angeles bubble?!

happy monday!
(click here to buy original)

great dane on green by Sharon Montrose

Sharon Montrose that is! Ok, long story short... about 6 years ago now I had pinned up 2 postcards of these gorgeous photographs of a dog and cat on my inspiration boards. They were by taken by Sharon. And today we met for the best lunch and chat about creativity and business ever. :)

In between the postcards and lunch today, I came to know Sharon in two ways. One is that her lovely husband, Spencer, is in my acting agency, and the other is that I actually assisted a good friend of mine who was producing one of Sharon’s photo shoots for Pedigree a couple of years ago. And ~ I will never forget, Sharon bought two of my paintings when the daily paintings were just getting going. She and Spencer also came out in support of the Girly Show around this very time last year. It’s funny how the world is so small that you can be inspired by someone and their work, only to come to know and connect with them years later. I love when that happens!

Sharon has been one of my favorite photographers for quite a while now. All you have to do is visit her website and you’ll be oohing and aahing over her photographs. And then, if you are an animal lover, which if you visit this blog... I know many of you are, you might have to run out and get one or all of her dog books to have at home for more oohing and aahing at your fingertips. The best part ~ Sharon has also recently entered the world of blogging. Now you can follow along with yet another kind, genuine, honest, super-talented voice in the world of creativity.

On a side note, I can’t begin to say how important it is to have fellow kindred, creative spirits to meet up with regularly when you are taking this particular path in life. Having those kinds of connections and support is vital. I’m hoping to have a podcast with Sharon one of these days, so we can have a chat that you too can be part of.

couldn’t resist sharing this one too

I’ve been meaning to share this one for a while, but since it was a very special Christmas gift, I wanted to wait until it was safe. This is a commission I did for the wonderful Suzanne that I’ve also come to know via this blogging world. Suzanne approached me to create a painting of all of their pets in "my style", as a gift for her daughter for Christmas. Honestly, it is always such an honor to be entrusted to create paintings like this. So here they are the Broughton gang, from left to right, Hazel, Kitty-Kitty, Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, Peter Rabbit and Fluffy, the lizard :)

psst ~ Suzanne writes one of my favorite blogs Emphasis Mine ~ you should check it out! charming, witty, honest, sincere ~ what can I say, you might just love her too.

7 x 5 in.

Well I tried to send this painting to my email list first, but it seems that Constant Contact is having their own hard time getting back into the groove. I can wait no more, here is today’s painting (January 7th). I don’t know about you, but all my intentions for jumping into work last week, kind of fell short of my expectations. My holiday was so wonderful, that I just wanted to continue it on for a few days longer. But now I’m ready, ready to "officially" get back to work, but I’m keeping the pace nice and steady this time :)

(original is sold)

Edit *January 8* This one is available as a new print over at Etsy

my studio 2008 with my co-workers Lulu and Riley

...all the way around. Along with all the reflecting I’ve been doing this past week, there’s also been a lot of re-organizing both personally and professionally. The last 2 Sundays have been spent in honor of shoring up the "framework" (including the building of a brand new IKEA desk) to support all the exciting creative projects that I can’t wait to jump into this year.

In fact this entire month of January has been officially dedicated to organizing everything from top to bottom. And this includes some re-structuring of Creative Thursday and its pricing. I have to be honest and say that I’ve been agonizing about this one for the last couple of months, but it’s time. This weekend, I raised my prices over at Etsy. The reason I agonized over this is because putting a value on what I create has never been my favorite part of selling art, and I’m sharing it here on the blog because there isn’t an artist I know who doesn’t struggle with the same thing from time to time. And I was also recently asked advice on this very subject. So, I’m opening up the discussion. We all want our work to available to everyone who loves it ~ we all know what it’s like to love something we think we can’t afford and we all want to be able to afford and live the lifestyle we treasure, and for all these reasons it’s always difficult to decide how to price our art. Not to mention the world of creativity is completely subjective. The range in what paintings alone cost is so very wide. But I’m not here to change the pricing of art, a personal choice that is up to each one of us to decide individually what feels right. And since I live in this often times very expensive city of Los Angeles; that is a huge contributing factor. L.A. continues to ask more of me and to stay on the path of my unfolding dreams, I must continue to ask more of myself.

Most importantly, I want to thank all of you who have supported my art, especially those of you who have purchased one if not several of my creations! I couldn’t have made it this year without Etsy and without you. In appreciation, I will be sending an email to my Etsy buyers to honor the old pricing through January 24th. Also I will be having my first sale (buy 2 prints and get a 3rd free) for 1 day only at the end of this month. And for those of you who read the blog, I will honor my old pricing through next Monday (by refunding you the difference) if you enter "blog" in the message area of your order. Thanks for understanding.

5 x 7 in.

Oh and I almost forgot, the first painting of the new year! (this one was actually painted yesterday) Everyone needs a bear hug from time time, don’t you think?

(click here to buy original)

Here it is already ~ a brand new year! We rang it in at our house with a super fun gathering of some of our most spirited friends and since then... I’ve been reflecting, doing a lot of reflecting. (We also just saw that movie, Into the Wild ~ if that doesn’t get you thinking I don’t know what will....AMAZING film.) It’s that time of year. Time for new intentions, time for change, to step back into your life in the most powerful way, and by most powerful I mean~ this is it ~ every day is always the chance to grab hold of your life and turn it into what you want it to be.

And it seems like many of us are ready to do just that. Turn our lives into what WE want them to be. I’ve decided that this year as I continue to find and refine my voice both personal and artistic, especially with this blog, and with my podcasts; I want to offer more support (and inspiration) to those taking that path. It’s a road I am becoming quite familiar with. And even with all its perceived uncertainty, I would have it no other way.

I also just want to continue to offer a little happiness in every day with the art I create.

I am wishing you a year filled with the realization of all your hopes and wishes. To borrow Paul’s saying, may 2008 be GREAT!

and go blaze your own trail!