Painted pottery

These gifts have been delivered and opened, so now I can publish them on my blog.   In the fall, while walking my sweet dog, I collected leaves with the intention of painting them on pieces of pottery as Christmas gifts to our adult children.  I chose specific leaves for specific persons.  I had a lot of fun creating all of them.   I then filled them with nutritious foods for each family.  The theme was nature/natural and organic.  The pieces were very-well received.  Maple leaves in a bowl for Trista.  Oak leaves on a platter for Davion and Rikki.  And Sycamore leaves on a platter for Josh and Jenaye. 

Kathy's childhood home

This is the home where my friend Kathy lived as a young girl.  The house was recently moved to allow for a new N/S freeway in the city of Spokane, WA.  This is the way the house looked when Kathy lived there.  The roses were especially important, as her mother had planted the bushes and took wonderful care of the them.  I love the tile roof and the vintage chairs on the porch.  This was a fun painting.............I could just imagine Kathy growing up in this house.  I felt the same way about Audrey's childhood home.  Thank you ladies, for doing me the honor of painting something so near and dear to you.

The Dombrowiks' Home

This lovely home is located on the southside of the city of Spokane, WA.  It belongs to my niece and family.  This was a fun piece, as the architecture and landscape were easy to capture.  The beautiful NW sky is always a delight to depict, as well as the pine trees that are so prolific in the area.  I can actually sense the wonderful fresh air and smell the scent of the trees. 

Johanna's special Corgi

Our grandchildren have taken quite an interest in my artistic endeavors.  I have given each one of them a painting that I did when I was a child.  Pleases me so that they appreciate what I  have done and currently  now do.  Our lovely granddaughter loves Corgis.  I recently asked her if she would like me to paint something for her.  She requested a portrait of a Corgi.  That is where this inspiration comes from.  This is for her 11th birthday.  I hope she is pleased with it.

Covered bridge in Oregon

What draws your eye in this painting?  Doesn't it look like a big open mouth?  I love covered bridges and after much searching I found one that I wanted to paint.  This one is in Oregon and I chose it because you had to go through the town we lived in to get to this bridge.  We lived in Philomath Oregon for 6 years.  I do miss that beautiful state. 

History:
"The Chitwood Covered Bridge is still standing.  It was constructed in1926 by Otis Hamar and is 96 feet in length, spanning the Yaquina River.  (Few covered bridges survive in Oregon, however, the nearby North Fork Yachats Bridge stands also, further west.  It was constructed by the same man, and was his last work.)  Pepin's Grocery store, located adjacent to the Chitwood Bridge, operated until the 1950s.  Sometime after, a fire broke out at the store.  Embers ignited the bridge, only a bucket brigade of locals saved it.  The bridge became dilapidated until it was restored in 1984. The World Guide number for the Chitwood Bridge
is: 37-21-03.  In 1979, it was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places (#79002103.)  Unfortunately, many important buildings of Chitwood are gone: The train depot was demolished, the grocery burned, and the general store fell apart; recent photos of the area don't even reveal a debris pile.  The continuation of the bridge ensures visitation to the site, and remembrance, as roadsigns off major highways point the way to the famous bridge"

Old barn in a pristeen environment

I truly had high hopes for this endeavor.  When I took the photo, I thought that the shadows, the aging barn, the manicured yard would be the ticket.  I just couldn't do it justice.  I am quite disappointed.  However............

though I consider myself an artist, I apparently don't know much about photography.  New lesson in my life now.

All that I saw when I took this pic were the shadows and the old barn.  I didn't think about the view/perspective.  This is where I need to rely on my husband to take the photos.  He is so good at it. 

The damn barn sits right in the center of the photo vertically.  I know better than that.  Tried to compensate for that, by placing the barn toward the left.

I really don't like this painting, yet I have learned much from the process and that is why I am willing to share it with you all.  We can't always be perfect, can we?  We only wish to show our best side in everything we do.  But, hey!  That isn't real!  So, I am willing to show you my faults and weaknesses through this painting.  And I will appreciate your comments.  I can only learn from this, right?

Doug's Yard

Another area of my brother's beautiful yard..  He is so creative and adept in landscaping, building, etc.

Dearest Dad

As always, there is a theme to my paintings.  Here is a story behind this particular painting.  I have been working on it long and hard and it is finally completed.  This one is dedicated to my brother and I will be shipping it to him in the next few days.

 My brother asked me to create this painting for him.  The site for this endeavor is in my bro's back yard.  In 2004, my brother married the love of his life.  They were wedded under the gazebo that my brother spent so much time creating and perfecting.  He is like his father and his Uncle Joe, in that he loves landscaping, creating and planting flowers, etc. 

The night before the wedding, I had a dream.  In that dream, our Dad was back in the flesh sitting on the bench under the gazebo......looking quite young and very happy/pleased with the surroundings.  I told my brother about it the next day............we both felt that Dad was there for the ceremony and that Dad was very proud to be there.  I know he was telling my bro that he was also very proud of his son. 

My brother asked me to paint a portrait of my dream.  This activity has brought so much emotion...........sadness, joy, love, etc.

Dad is no longer with us physcially..........he died in 1986.  I adored my Dad.  He was the best!  I  hope I have captured the essence of my father in this painting............for my very special brother.  Sweetness, for sure.

Audrey's childhood home