March 7 Beth, starring as Barbra Hussie

Everyone should get into costume once in a while and be someone we're not. It could be both a good human experiment and a good human experience. And just plain fun.

11" x 14" $660

March 6 Jed

Last fall on a cool evening, a stray cat leaped at the dining room window. Ron heard the thump and opened the door to a teenage orange cat. Frightened but wanting a home, the cat came into the house and ultimately, into our hearts. Savannah named him Jed.

Jed is a full character cat with an affinity for pink and a propensity for carrying a small fluffy pink purse around. He hides pens under the rug and has learned to open doors. He thinks he should be in the studio when I paint and I know the day will come when he walks in paint and leaves little Jed tracks across the room. He's already done it with watercolor which wasn't so bad since it washes out. Acrylic is another matter.

Jed likes to hide in blankets and peeks out to see what's happening. So, for the 66th painting of 2010, here's Jed.

11" x 14" $650

March 5 Dancing with My Arms Wide Open

You know how sometimes when you don't know the dance steps you just fling your arms open wide and move to the music with wild abandon? Today, I didn't have a clue as to what to paint. I just started and eventually let my paint brush dance with wild abandon.

Thirty-six years ago today, I became a mother. I didn't know much about being a mother. I've learned quite a bit and think it's a good sign that I can still dance, and paint, with wild abandon.

11" x 14" $640 SOLD

March 4 Slippin'Away

Time's just slippin' away. These days go by so quickly. I had all of 10 minutes to paint tonight; work, supper, paint, meeting. It's perfectly appropriate, therefore, to have painted an hour glass with the time, 24 hours, nearly gone.

8" x 10" $630

March 3 A Little Three-eyed Goat Makes it Big

Beth made a herd of quirky, delightful paper mache goats and sent them out into the world. Each traveled with its own story to a new owner. She also made a herd of elephants. Her Uncle Mark was the recipient of a goat. He suggested that one of her goats would make a worthy subject for a daily painting. The goats are each no more than six inches long. This one, at 11" X 14", made it big.

Why does it have three eyes, you ask? Why not?

11" x 14" SOLD

March 2 Spring Approacheth

Today was advocacy day at the state capitol in St. Paul. I started the day at 4:15 in order to meet my ride, Mark, at 5:00. It was a full day of visiting legislators and explaining the value of the arts to this five county region of central Minnesota. The arts are not only pleasant cultural offerings. They impact the economy and provide jobs as well as raise us all up to a higher level of consciousness.

This little painting had to happen rather quickly. I cleaned up the last wet paint on two pallettes and then added a little fresh paint to complete the tree. Quite satisfying in a small way.

5" x 7" $610

March 1 A Rose

Each fall we put the potted rose bushes in the shop to winter over. If the conditions are right, along about this time of year, they produce a few lanky flowers. A couple of days ago, Ron picked two deep red roses and put them in a vase on the dining room table. They're such a welcome sight and though hybrid teas, they do have a little rose scent. From these winter roses, a rose.

8" x 10" $600