Loosen the grip and lose the fear . . .

Rock Creek Road

I'm never sure where to quit.  I pull it off the board, I tape it to the fireplace or stick it to the fridge so I can live with it for a while before I decide but I fear overworking while I try to loosen my grip.  Loosen the grip - lose the fear. Mantra for the day.

Special project . . .

Smith-Albrecht Home

This is a special request I received by email from someone who had seen my barn painting.  I'm pleased with this one and hope you can see the little one in the doorway.  That sort of thing gives a simple painting life and including her is the spirit in the paint.

This one goes in the mail tomorrow.

I hope this home portrait finds a happy owner.

High Wind Warning . . .

High Wind Warning

Trying my hand at quick watercolor to start to loosen my grip.  This one took maybe 15 minutes, my personal time limit.  The subject particularly apropos lately as the wind will not let up and grass fires are everywhere, sadly.  Destruction has been minimal but this always has the potential to be devastating.

Be careful out there.

Goodbye etsy - hello BigCartel!

Yep.  Slowly moving my work off etsy and onto a cleaner, more modern site.

I'll admit that I finally got tired of seeing the same things on the landing page day after day, week after week, year after year, in spite of all of the complaints and ideas proposed to make etsy more sleek.  What began as a site for handmade and unique has finally turned into a site where everything is welcome to the point where anything handmade can mean truly artisan work created from start to finish by a single artist to cheap charms hung on a cheap chain.  Don't get me started on the dishes from the garage sale next door.  I just can't compete.  Worse, I can't be found.

So I find BigCartel.  Sleek, modern, easy to use.  Gone are the teens and tweens and any mention of Hello Kitty.  If these people were craft and art show people, I would be proud to have my tent parked next to theirs.

Not sure my rant is over but do take a look and cruise through the BigCartel site - even my own shop site, if you have a few minutes to spare.  Tell me what you think.  I think it's a good fit.