DSDF 12-13 Buddha Chakras 1st Christmas!

"Buddha Morning" 10x10 oil on canvas

I am so glad I did this week's DSDF in oils. It's so juicy so I used one of my special 10x10x2 gallery wrapped canvas. It was very odd to paint this and the scary news from India was first thing I heard when I turned on the TV (I like noise in the background). My prayers to all affected.

Buuzzzy beeesy busy! Getting ready for Thanksgiving at my sis-in-law, she and hubby give the best Thanksgiving bash! I'm bringing Browned Butter Squash and cut veggies and dip.

Tomorrow we meet the newest addition to my husband's family, a grand niece. So I've been busy making some gifts for them and my sis-in-law first Christmas ornaments (different photos when you turn the ornaments) . This was my genius idea so I'm glad it worked yippeee!

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I was so surprised to receive an overnight FedEx box and opened it with these contents! I couldn't figure out who sent it as it didn't have any note. I called family members but it wasn't any of them. Finally I called the shop where it came from and with some coercing I found out it's one of my regular portrait customers who read on my blog that I've been very sickly this year so he sent me these!!!! I didn't ask how much it was but the gal on the phone said it was a substantial gift. GOSHHH that's just the sweetest thing! Umm I have to install a software, and open the DVD and plug in the finger things and connect them to my fingers..... I'm game!

So I'd like to take this moment to let you all know how thankful I am for your continued support of my blog. I appreciate the friendship and companionship I've received from you all and for all the things you've been so willing to share in your blogs! xoxoxoxox

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and if you're not celebrating the event, please know I am thankful for you!

NFAC Bunny Got (Christmas) Tree ACEO

"Bunny Got (Christmas) Tree" ACEO

This jolly folk art bunny is my lovely entry for the NFAC (NibbleFest Art Contest). I think he may have come out of my holiday spirit hahaha! This month's theme is "Christmas Tree".

This reproduction is based on a painting I did on some folk art I see around my area, so you might say it's a product of my environment. I did a series of Bunny which still cracks me up today so I might just decide to revive him and his happy personality :)

This item, as the rest of the NFAC listings start at 99 cents.
VIEW HERE TO BID

My other Bunny Art (not included in this auction)

"Bunny's First Christmas", "Mz Bunny Got Pet", "Bunny Got Snow" and "Mz Bunny Got Baby" (as always, click image to view bigger version)

DSDF #11 Upside Down Walker Lola Snapfish photo book

"Upside Down Walker" 7x10 watercolor

Oh my, this week's challenge is pretty challenging. I laughed to myself when I turned my painting upright and I was a bit disoriented that the woman was facing the opposite direction from when I was painting her LOL! Ok, maybe you can understand more what I'm talking about when you visit this week's Different Strokes by Different Folks, a blog hosted by Karin Jurick.

I need to note that I've determined an additional benefit I've inherited from Charles Reid when I took his workshop. His painting technique has allowed me to not discriminate against most papers. In fact, I haven't encountered a watercolor paper that I can't paint well enough on. This paper is Portofino Aquarello Cartiera Magnani. I didn't like this paper when I used it the first time. The paper wasn't letting me get crisp edges; I guess not enough sizing. But I am perfectly happy this time around.

One of my favorite things to multi-task with is listening to Oprah's show. I've often wished I was in her studio for her Favorite Things because I love love gadgets and anything free! Well recently they have actually been extending the freebies to their TV audience. Last week it was a free photo book from Snapfish.com Incidentally the offer is still active until November 22 and if you'd like to me to get 20 4x6 prints for referring you, give me your email so I can send you an invite. By opening an account you will also get free 20 prints. Anyway, it turns out the book which is worth $29.99 is only for 20 pages. Well my book is 44 pages long! It's a book on my very missed and departed sweet 97 year old grandma who I lost last year, I call her Lola because that means grandma in the Filipino language. Gosh, she was a girlfriend more than a grandma to me and yes, she was tons of fun and very wise. Always a joy to have around and very independent up to the end. So here are som excerpts from my book. I can't wait!!! It's my Christmas gift to my Mom and I dedicated it to her :) 98% of the photos were my photography.

The cover

Page 1 (Mom, Lola and me)
Pages 6 and 7
Pages 15-16

I put limited text. I think the images will speak for themselves and will always populate so much more memory than numerous statements I can make. I am so so thankful for the first digital camera Mom bought me in late 90s. I'm so glad I don't let people discourage me for taking more pictures than they think is sufficient or let them make me put the camera away. All I can say to those people is NA-NA-NA-NA-NA and a raspberry on top pppffffftthhhh!

TAGGED ACK! *Since I'm new to Blogspot I will do this once :) ***

I've been tagged by the lovely Theresa Rankin! This is a really fun way to get to know your blogger friends in art! The rules of this great game are:-
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 other bloggers at the end of your post and comment on their blogs to let them know.

Here is the list of 7 things about me, like it or not here we go!

1. I marvel at the realization that my manual wheelchair which I use for traveling (otherwise I use a motorized one daily), has been to Japan, Europe, Canada, Philippines, New York, New Mexico, Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Nevada, Arizona, all over California, New Jersey, Boston, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado, etc.

2. I am attached to my digital camera. When eating out, I tend to take photos of my food before eating "just in case" I decide to paint it!

3. I came to the US when I was 17 having only finished 5th grade. After testing the San Francisco Dept of Educ. put me in 10th grade. I guess I was still advanced because when some teachers had to be away, they asked me to take over the classes. I lived in constant stress, it was too much for this little Filipino girl in a wheelchair GAH! HAHAHA I quickly grew more Westernized and they left me alone! BWAHAHAHA!

4. I auditioned as actress at the Paramount Studios when I was a high school senior. It determined whether I took my Art scholarship or pursue showbiz instead. Well I went to college hahaha!

5. The Paramount Studio audition didn't get me an acting job but Anson Williams or Potsie on Happy Days liked my singing and got me a gig. I represented Paramount Studios.

6. My dad was a famous movie director in the Philippines and he featured me in 2 movies: first when I was 7 years old and 2nd, I was 11. I had long dialogues and I sang while crying. Amazing how inhibition creeps in as one matures.

7. I've spent this whole year without any direction for my art. I am mainly focusing on commissions while I wait for my calling again.

I am boldly tagging these artist friends!!!

1. Alice Thompson
2. Hillary Millery
3. Akiko Watanabe
4. Caren Goodrich
5. Kathy Jurek
6. Truly Younts
7. Deborah Ross

Heart Glow watercolor ornaments

"Heart Glow" 6x6 inches watercolor

I did this for a challenge in my critique group that meets monthly and also for my WNW watercolor group. The project was to take a still life composition and cut it in squares, rearrange it for a more abstract composition and paint it. The theme is Christmas. Of course I added a representational object on top because I had a feeling sticking to the challenge was going to drive me insane. In fact, this is really 8x10 format and I cropped it heehee Well I love red, I love glass art and I love SOME heart-shaped things, so there you go.

8x10 version. see how it's better to crop it? ... or not?

I met this challenge despite my stomach issues since Saturday but I just am not going to be able to pull off this week's DSDF but y'all might go visit them as they always have cool art to see!

Last Thursday was finally the 5x5 show fundraiser for the local art center. Both my contributions were bought. Last I looked my Obama portrait had way more silent bids than McCain. I wonder if they ended up with one person. It's always a blast. So well attended and all the 5x5x1.5 inches canvases are lined up at eye level on all the walls of the lobby. At the beginning of the evening all I see are butts as shown here. But at the end after they call the closing bids and folks sales people have taken down the sold pieces I finally get to enjoy a more artistic view lol I can't imagine guessing the number of submissions... 300-400? There have been more in previews years I think. This was my 3rd year donating art and 2nd attendance.

Thankfully, the spread is always healthy and constantly replenished!

God Bless America! DSDF #10

"New Dawn at the Capitol" watercolor

This is week #10 challenge for Different Strokes by Different Folks, a blog kindly hosted by talented Karin Jurick.

I wanted to depict current season at the Capitol on this important and historical election day. Please go vote and be a part of change!

Alabama Cow and Fall pic

"Sunny Alabama Cow" 8x5 watercolor

I really wanted to paint Karin Jurick's Alabama Cow for her DSDF week 8 challenge but I never found the momentum so watercolor was the quickest. Anyway I'm pleased to have painted this beautiful cow! You know we pass many cows when we drive around some lingering farm areas in Northwest Arkansas but I guess my California eyes have never really had the pleasure of observing how CUTE they can look! She actually looks like the cows they portray in Disney cartoons LOL!

Well it seems I was hardly home this week and I'm feeling a little sorrowful about that because I need to be still and paint at home but my schedule to cover the gallery has been a bit off so I'm having to do more days than usual. I also attended a couple museum events. One of them was a calendar signing day where I met many local Arkansas artists I admire and also meeting the First Lady of Arkansas Mrs. Ginger Beebe! She is so petite and very nice, I enjoyed meeting her very much :)

Part of the joy of traveling around town was enjoying the fall show of the Ozarks and I must say, this has not been a bad season for colors at all!

Don't forget to turn your clocks back Sunday morning! Cheers!