Present and Future Owls

Happy New Year!

Here are my two newest paintings.  They are present and future owls, and are full of symbolism and meaning.  I've had them up on my mantel for about two days now, and I can't stop staring at them... and reading about owls.  Owls have incredible depth perception, symbolize wisdom, and seeing hidden things.  They are now available in my print shop together with Yesterday's Tears, and are available as greeting cards as well.:  (Click here)

Present Owl

Future Owl

Yesterday's Tears

This painting has been a journey that I started in June.
It's called: Yesterday's Tears.

Merry Christmas.

Good Things Are A Cooking

Good things are cooking these last few days in our kitchen. My mom's been visiting and we've been gearing up for the winter. Mom's showed me about 5 new recipes, so we've been cooking since she arrived last Thursday. Adriaan's going to Indonesia for a number of weeks, so he's taken some days off of work to help get everything ready for the season. We hope he'll be home for Christmas, but it will depend on if the job he's going on. We've been spending time with the girls, and I've enjoyed every minute of having him home. We went to Pella, for Sinterklaas, soooo fun. Emma got to ride on the main float with Sinterklaas in their Sinterklaas parade. Emma was over the moon excited. The twins turned three on Saturday, and we've had our share of sugar between the chocolate letters, "my little pony" cakes, sugar cookies and other Dutch pastries. I could post a million photos, but this one kind of sums up the sweets that have made their way through our home. Now that all the Christmas decorations are up, snow tires on, driveway plowed... I'm about ready to make some artwork again. It's been weeks since I've done any illustrations for Illustration Friday and I'm itching to do some more painting/photo portraits. I hope you're all enjoying the season as much as I am. This morning I listened to my mom's James Taylor Christmas CD, and I'm putting it on my Christmas wish list. Never mind that actually. I think I'll pick it up this afternoon when I pick up the girl's tights and dress shoes to go with their Christmas dresses mom brought them. I'm planning a photo shoot with Grandma Sue and the girls this afternoon before she heads back to the Northwest this evening. Good times. I'm so thankful and blessed... and full of sugar.

Doll House Heaven

My Aunt Linda is making my girls a doll house, and it's the best doll house ever!  I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it, and then she's been emailing photos of the house in process with all the amazing details.  Ahhhh.  I'm going to love this doll house at least as much as my girls will.  I have to share.  She's also given me a list of children's books about doll houses that we'll have to collect from the library!  I can't wait.  Here are the books that we've had recommended to us by Aunt Linda with her descriptions.  I'm sure the books will just add to the anticipation we're already having.

Dollhouse Mouse by Natalie Standiford.  It is a great book about a little girl mouse who likes to go exploring!  There are 2 very good books about dollhouses I really love. They are old books; but they are so good they have been reprinting them for years!  The first one is "Big Susan" by Elizabeth Orton Jones. It was written in 1947 [the year I was born] a long, long time ago!!! It is a long book- 82 pages- but it is a wonderful story about a little girls dollhouse. The second book is "The Tale of Two Bad Mice" by Beatrix Potter [very famous writer]. It was written in 1904- older than me!!!  This book is about 2 mice who live in a dollhouse!

Portrait of Emma

I finally have some direction for the painting I've been working on.  It's been bugging me for about two weeks now.  Yesterday, I finally took the plunge and tried something new.  I've always loved combining photography and painting, and I've done this in different ways.  I've silk-screened photos, done image transfers, created transparent layers of photography with paintings.  I've even done t-shirt transfers on fabric, which I adhered to a painting.  I've wanted to try making a photo transfer with gel medium and color copies for a while now.  I've watched how-to videos... last night I decided to try it.  I tried it big right away.  This painting is 30"x40".  Well, my finger is raw from trying to rub the paper off of the transfer, but I'm really excited about the image possibilities with this technique.  I also like where the transfer rubbed off and the gold paint is shining through.  I'm not sure how much I want to go back into this portrait with paint, but I wanted to document this stage because I think it's so beautiful right now.  I also want to document the creative process.  Now, I want to get some Lazertran because it's so much easier than this method, and the results are even more beautiful.  My mind is swimming with ideas. 

Twirling

This morning the twins were in their princess outfits when it was time to take Emma to school. So, instead of fighting to get the dresses off, we just put the jackets over the dresses, and pants under them. You've got to pick your battles if you want the big sister to school on time.

When we got home, the twins twirled while waiting for me to open the door. I had to capture the moment with my cell phone camera, because I know these moments soon become a blur unless I capture them. I wish I could say I'm writing all the fun moments down, but I haven't.  I've forgotten too much already.  Sweet memories become a blur unless we give expression to them.  I'm loving these watercolor crayons. They're way too fun. I'm liking the "window of memories" look too. You know I'm thinking Christmas presents... capturing some of these precious moments for the Grandmas and Grandpas - who live so far away.

For Grandma Reen

It's been a while since I posted...  I've been working on a new painting, which I'll post once it's got some direction. I've also been working on prints, and trying to get some projects done before I start anything new.  The last few days, my dad has been visiting and we've had a great time. It sure has been wonderful having time to talk to my dad. I always love getting his perspective.  This morning before he flies back to the Northwest, we're making pictures for Grandma Reen for him to take home.  Here's the one we're framing, inspired by A-HA. This was one of my favorite music videos when I was 12. It's sure been fun laughing about all the memories. I hope you enjoy this memory of the good old 80's.