"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.

Hope Valley, California

This is the first in a series of paintings I’m doing on Hope Valley, CA. There will be about 20 in the series. It’s based on photographs I took there in 2002. Watercolor, 13” x 7.5”. Sold on eBay to a collector in Southern California.

Fruit Tart Digital Art

My philosophy is usually "eat dessert first." However this time my dessert was so pretty I photographed, then ate it. then I started making digital art.

Top: Digital impressionist oil painting with ink outline. Image size 8" x 10" printed on 8 1/2" x 11" canvas paper. Also available as ACEO (3 1/2 " x 2 1/2"). Make an offer on eBay.

Bottom: Digital chalk drawing on rough paper, image size 8" x 10" printed on 8 1/2" x 11" canvas paper. Also available as ACEO (3 1/2 " x 2 1/2")

"Wigs" Original Oil Painting 9" x 12"

"Wigs". Oil, 9" x 12" on stapled canvas. This is my contribution to the Feb. 18, 2009 Different Strokes challenge. SOLD
to a collector in New York City.

San Francicsco Victorian

This is what I did for the Feb. 4, 2009 Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge. I didn't post it in time for the deadline, so you won't see it on the DSFDF site. Oil, 9" x 12".

My cousin Jenny

This is my beautiful cousin Jenny. When I first posted this painting she was about to give birth. Congratulations to Jenny and her husband Patrick on the birth of Mason Feb. 18 at 6:45 p.m. With love to Mason from his Auntie M. Oil, 9" x 12". NFS.

Zodiac Reflections

A.K.A. "Full Moon in Cancer over the Jefferson Memorial". This is my entry for the latest challenge on the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog, the Jefferson Memorial at night. It's oil on acrylic, on 12" x 12" gallery-wrapped canvas. See earlier version two posts down.

Fruit Still Life

A painting I've been meaning to do for a long time based on a photograph I took in 2006.

Jefferson Memorial

This is the first draft of my entry for the latest challenge on the Different Strokes blog. Of course I don't think it's good enough, in fact this version doesn't exist any more and has been painted over, and I have 15 other versions in mind. However, my friend Vero encouraged me to post all my finished work no matter what I think of it, so here it is. Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper.

Somebody's Licking My Toes!

I was looking at photos of birthday parties from days past and found this photo of my friend's son getting his toes licked by a dog. Digital art, oil painting style.

Black-necked stilt, wetlands bird of the Americas

Digital art print of black-necked stilt, standing on one leg.

The black-necked stilt is one of the characteristic birds of fresh or salty shallow sloughs and grassy marshes. It is known for its uncommonly long red legs. This bird prefers to run about and feed in shallow water, although it can swim and dive iif necessary.

This bird's population has been affected by the decrease in wetlands on the Pacfic flyway. To learn about conservation efforts regarding the black-necked stilt, see the Monterey Bay Aquarium website. You can also view a live aviary webcam at the site and see the black-necked stilt in action.

About the artwork:

• printed on 140 lb. rough Arches watercolor paper
• measures 11" x 14"
• printed on a Canon 9000 wide-format digital printer
• Arches watermark in the lower right-hand corner.

Based on an original photograph taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sandy Shore/Aviary Exhibit. This is an open-edition print. Available now on eBay.

Indoor Pool

More Monterey Bay Aquarium Aviary photos. Digital art, watercolor painting style.

Adirondak Chairs

These chairs sitting in the shade of a tree during a fall sunset caught my eye. Digital art, watercolor painting style