"A Passion for Painting" Award

James Parker is a wonderful artist and prolific blogger who I’ve gotten to know through his work in cyber-space. I first noticed him as a fellow participant on Karin Jurick’s Different Strokes from Different Folks blog. He has a great sense of humor, seems to be interested in everything, and in general is a person I would like to go out for coffee with, preferably in Costa Rica where he lives.

James graced me with the "A Passion for Painting" award last week. I was so flabbergasted it took me four days to formulate a response. Now that I've recovered, I am going to follow directions by posting this award, listing seven of my “loves," passing this award on to seven other deserving artists, and notifying them of their award-winning status.

Loves
1. G*d, even when S/he’s hiding and appears not to be doing a very good job at all, and has just swept all the game pieces off the table again.
2. My two Geminis: David and the soft and sweet Marissa.
3. My parents, brothers, family (welcome Mason born Feb. 18), friends, and pets (Snoopy-dog and Carly with the wonderful kitty perfume).
4. Art, photography, looking at flowers, watching people, and making messes.
5. Books! When I don’t have time to read them I read about them.
6. A good laugh – either having one myself or making other people laugh.
7. Friends of Bill

And the Passion for Painting Award goes to seven people who I'd like to be when I grow up:
1. John E. Vander Stelt
2. Jacqueline Gnott
3. Susan Abbott
4. Stephen Magsig
5. Thomas Thorspecken
6. Annelein Beukenkamp
7. Julian Merrow-Smith

Check out their blogs and websites and be sure to visit James Parker's online world as well. Thank you James!

House finches and waiting for spring

This is my entry for the March 20 "Virtual Sketch Date" blog. It's 2.5" x 3.5" digital art, oil paint style. Image contributed by Stacy Rowan.














The cheeky little house finches are also incorporated into the a work in progress for the March 20 Weekly Drawing Event (WDE) on Wetcanvas.com. Work in progress is above. Reference photo is here, fourth image down, contributed by Alain J., of her dog Mulligan. Oil, 9" x 12", stapled-edge canvas.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Give...Me...That...Cookie!!

This digital sketch of a coatimundi from the Reno Zoo is my submission for Paint Out #10 on the Wet Canvas! Open Critique Forum. The reference photo comes from Paint Out host Texas artist Bob Cook.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Hollyhocks from Wet Canvas! Weekly Drawing Event

I recently discovered the Wet Canvas! artists' cyber-community. This is some catch-up work from the Feb. 13 Weekly Drawing Event (WDE) on the All Media Art Events board. A different artist posts a dozen or so reference photos every week and those who wish to interpret an image have a week to finish one or more selections. Reference photos from that week came from Bonnie (AKA "artastic") in Saskatchewan, Canada. Thanks for the fabulous inspiration Bonnie! This is 11" x 11" a digital painting.

Sushi Gumball Machine

This is my entry for the latest "Different Strokes from Different Folks" challenge. My fellow bloggers came up with a lot of different creative takes on this two-week project. Be sure to visit the DSFDF to see them. Acrylic, 140 lb. Arches watercolor CP paper, 13" x 20".

Buy it now on for $149.99 plus $9.80 USPS shipping. E-mail gnmarianne@comcast.net for international shipping.

Northern Cardinal Digital Art 8" x 10"

This medium-sized song bird is found from southern Canada through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico to northern Guatemala and Belize

About the artwork:

• printed on 140 lb. cold press Academie watercolor paper
• measures 8" x 10"
• printed on a Canon 9000 wide-format digital printer

Available now on eBay.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Chinatown Traffic

I just discovered the Paint Out in the Open Critique Forum on Wet Canvas. This is a watercolor painting I did based on the reference photo given Feb. 8.

• Painted on 140 lb. cold press Arches watercolor paper
• measures 6.2" x 11"

Now Available now on eBay.

Contact me anytime at info@persephonesplayhouse.net

Last Remaining Orchard in Silicon Valley

The apricot orchard across the street from my house, which I have dubbed "The Last Remaining Orchard in Silicon Valley," is in that popcorn stage of bloom. Its official name is "Orchard Heritage Park". This historic orchard has been preserved as a city park in a unique arrangement between Charlie Olson -- a longtime Sunnyvale orchardist -- and the City of Sunnyvale, California. The rooftop visible in the center background is the Orchard Heritage Park Interactive Exhibit. Other structures in the park include new Orchard Heritage Museum -- exploring the city's agricultural history-- and the Bianchi Bros. barn moved here from an orchard in nearby San Jose. Digital art, watercolor style, 11" x 15". Open edition print available now on eBay.