Summer year round!

Check out the new paintings of the beach pathways - they're your chance to have a bit of summer year round!

Each painting is on a 16"x12" panel, and comes un-framed ( I like to let people choose their own frames, as it's usually a very personal choice).

I had a great time painting these, and can't wait to get started on the next beach series. All three of these are available in my Etsy shop - so check them out! Everyone needs a little bit of beach to get through those long winter months...

Painting again!

So, the past few weeks I've been doing some long weekend trips. I have taken several "beachy" pictures and have even gotten a good start on a series of 3 paintings.

These are a good illustration of the major steps of a painting:

1. A rough sketch of the layout

2. Color blocking the major sections

3. The final details - these really pull the overall image together and create depth.

Here are the original photos:

This may or may not be the top image (the sketch):

Left:

Right:

I have at least 2 or 3 more series I'll be starting on when I finish these 3. I hope to get the sketches of the new paintings done by the end of this week. I'll be sure to post completed images of all as I finish. Keep checking back for updates!

Loading up Etsy!

I've spent the last couple of weeks photographing a large portion of my ceramics. I've also taken a few more pics of some of my large oil paintings. And I'm finally getting everything edited and loaded onto my Etsy site! Once I finish getting my existing stock listed, I'm going to get started on some more in depth projects, and get them listed as soon as they are finished.
I'm also doing a few small things when I need a break from editing photos. I've made a few Yoga Eye Pillows, on request. These have turned out to be a pretty neat item. I started with some of my hand dyed silk, made small pillows, and filled them with lentils and lavender flowers! Very relaxing.

I've also done a few embossed metal images similar to my Bicycle Series paintings. These make great gifts for the cyclist in your life!
I'm updating Etsy almost daily, so check back often!

Back to the States!

Well, we've finally made it back to the States! It's so nice to be home. We were originally back in Georgia for about 4 days, then loaded up a minivan with three dogs and the kiddo - and headed to Oklahoma City. We spent a week with family and friends,

and are now hanging out in Savannah again. So many plans. I have to get busy. I have several art ideas - my two main projects will be (1) updating the Etsy site with items I've already completed and (2) mosaics. I've been stewing on a "green(ish)" way to make some mosaics, and I'm really excited to get started. Switzerland got me to seriously think about ways to recycle the most unexpected things. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the progress!

Interlaken, Switzerland - one crazy weekend!

June 19-21, 2009

Mark and I loaded up the back packs and took a train ride south, to Interlaken, Switzerland. We stayed in a hostel, and spent two days trying to kill ourselves...
We checked in Friday night, roamed around in the rain for a while, then hung out in the hostel's bar to listen while DJ Freakadelic threw down the hits. The hits from the 90's. And the 60's. And whatever other era he randomly chose. But it was really funny, none-the-less. Here's the view from our room's window:


Not too shabby a location for a hostel.

Wood carving seemed to be popular in the area:



Saturday we got up, grabbed breakfast, and loaded in the van to head off for Paragliding. After a brief drive, we hiked a bit to the launch site.




After donning the necessary safety gear,



we strapped in and 3, 2, 1, RAN!

Check out that lake view! One to the left,

and one to the right.

We survived!

The view of Interlaken was gorgeous. But we just did not get the rush we thought we would. It was more relaxing than anything. I was not ready for it to end. But we had a schedule to keep! So off to lunch (uh, at Hooter's, actually) and then to the next appointment.

At 4, we headed off for some White Water rafting. First time for both of us on this sport as well. We figured, hey, let's just jump right into some grade 4 rapids. (Well, technically we didn't know this until AFTER we were done...)

Eventually, they let us put the raft in the water. They were very happy to point out that a mere 3 hours prior to being at our spot in the river, the water was a glacier. We could tell - even with all the gear on, our paddling hands were frozen.

This was great. The river eventually dumped into one of the lakes, and a few of us went for a bit of a swim back to shore. The water was so much "warmer" in the lake, you couldn't pass it up.

This finished day 1 of extreme sports, and we headed back to town to find some dinner and try to sleep through a party in the bar... Yes, we are wild and crazy and like get to bed by 10pm...

Sunday, we headed down for the fabulous breakfast buffet (white bread, dried cheese, coffee, etc - but some really great apples!) and roamed around town a bit more. Around noon, we headed off for the final event - Canyoning! Yeah - we didn't know what it was before we got here either... They drive you up river, you take a bit of a hike, then you start rappelling, jumping, sliding, swimming, climbing - you name it, to get back down river. It was fantastic!

The canyoning was, by far, the best event! I still have the bruises to prove it. And if you're ever in this general vicinity - you have to check out the company we did all the stuff through: http://www.alpinraft.com/ This will be a tough weekend to top!