Latest paintings

Here are the 2 paintings I did on retreat, they are both acrylic on a really great little canvas I found, 12"X 4" gallery wrap. The first one is called Mendo shed, and the second is girls in sunset.





And then the 2 new music paintings I am going to take to see if they can be shown in the VOX show for August Second Saturday. The first is 11X14, drummer rasta man, and the other is 36X18 called wear some red!












Ok, that's all for tonight. Be well, Tj.

What?

I'm feeling weird… out of sync… not useful… lack of direction… let me clear my throat to sing… Am I blue… am I blue… ain't these tears in my eyes telling you… Ok enough! At work I’m nearly board. There is just enough work to keep me busy, barely. That is going to change soon, we have a big project that will be coming in, I am not involved with right now. So for now… the work I'm doing lacks importance. Or most of it anyway. Just hang on till you can retire Tj!!! (Note to self)

I went on a retreat with my Swell Sisters over the weekend, and although it was great fun it lacked the magic of the first retreat and so that kind of bummed me out. Now don't misunderstand, I totally enjoyed the weekend, loved the time together, great company, loved the house, LOVED the location. But this time I did not come home jazzed and energized and ready to conquer the art world! Maybe it's me, but there was some drama this time, and the first time there was none, so that might have something to do with it. What do you expect when you get 13 women together in a house for the weekend? Really I totally missed most of it, I was outside painting. But I did hear about it and I'm sure it had some little affect on the chemistry for the weekend! But it was a totally fun time! We explored the coast, went shopping in the village, ate great food, they drank (I don't), played games, they drank some more, laughed a lot, sang karaoke! In fact… Petra and I scored a perfect 50,000 points on one song! We were rockin! But by that time, all of the others had left the room, taking some girly photos and getting in their suits for another round of Sister Soup in the hot tub! Petra took a photo of the screen so we have proof! It was a blast singing with her! We came home to horrible heat and bad air. Gotta love Sacramento in the summer… I guess.

I did get a couple of small paintings done on the retreat. Once I have photos, I'll share. I am in a show at VOX studios for August. It is a music show, and he liked my music pieces that I already have so I didn't really need to do any more, but I can't do that! I have 2 that I'm working on. One I started last week, and one I started last night. I know finish one already! See... I'm just waffling!
I do have another vacation coming up. A week long vacation with the family. That will be really nice. We rented a house on the Russian River, we'll be floating and swimming and just doin nothin. I always love our family vacations! Well that is it for today, I hope everyone is having a great day! Be well… Tj.

Georgous!

I'm sitting at a desk in an ole house in Mendocino looking out at a bright sunny morning! Blue sky, light fog. Just Beautiful! I wish I could bring you all with me!!! This place is amazing, huge old historic home, 6 bedrooms, 5500 square feet. http://www.spring-ranch.com/ Enjoying my time here with my Swell Sisters... Crazy bunch of women! It's 8:25 am, and most are still sleeping! I think we are going into Mendocino village today for the 50th annual art and craft show, hope to find some kind of treasure! The weather is perfect here... not looking forward to coming back to the heat in Sacramento. Did do a little painting yesterday and hope to get more in today! Miss my family and my baby Bosco... my dog. Actually I have had reports that he misses me terribly. Poor baby. I am looking forward to my next vacation... soon after my return... to the Russian River! Ok, that is all for this morning. Be well! Tj.

Tired but excited!

Yep that is how I'm feeling today. A little tired, I guess from the busy weekend. And really excited because I am going on an art retreat to Mendocino this weekend!! Several of my Swell Sisters and I rented a house in Mendocino for 3 nights/4 days. It's a great big house 6 bedrooms, and 5500 square feet, lots of room to spread out and make art! And it is going to be HOT here in Sacramento this week so it is perfect timing! Here it is supposed to be highs around 100, 104, in Mendocino highs in the mid 60's! Woohoo!!! I just hate the heat, love the ocean, so that sounds perfect to me! I hope to come home with several masterpieces! From being very relaxed and cool! :) The Clothing Optional Show went fairly well. I loved that my bestest friends came! Thanks Carolee and David!!

My next art show is at VOX gallery downtown Sac. Or at least it is suppose to be. I went to a meeting last night, or it was supposed to be a meeting, but well, there wasn't one. I'm sure it was just a miscommunication. Hopefully. I got to see the gallery though, it was nice… some great brick walls!

Now, on to other things… Furloughs. Bla. I now have 3 unpaid furlough Fridays a month, 15% of my income and the Governor is looking at possibly a fourth. That would be 20% of my income. I am all for doing my part, but is my family really responsible for over $1000 (20%) a month to balance the budget? Really, how much are non state employees giving a month? Sorry. I just think that is unreasonable. And those families who have 2 state worker incomes they are giving almost half of their monthly income. It's wrong. Those younger state employees who were only grossing $2000 or $2500, must really be hurting. I feel really bad for them. This won't help the economy at all, CA is in a hole. All Californians need to pitch in. There has got to be a better way. Oh wait how about pass the budget and furlough those in higher positions!!! Come on Arnold!
Ok, I'm done for today.

I hope the world is being good to you! Be well. Tj.

A little reflection on Tuesday

Well, this was a fun filled weekend that just passed us by! Friday night I went with my hubby Joe to Mok Hill… or Mokolume Hill to the Ledger Hotel. He was playing with someone he had never played with before, it was a kind of audition… for him and for them. Wingnut Adams Blues Band. http://www.wingnutblues.com/ And WOW it was great! Joe loved playing with him, and they loved Joe! So, he is the first call bass player guy now, yahoo! Wingnut put on a heck of a show… highly recommended!

My brother Tim and nephew Thaddeus returned from boy scout camp on Saturday afternoon, so we all went to Tim's to celebrate the 4th and also his birthday, which is on the 3rd. We ate pizza, and cake and ice cream, and shot off a couple of boxes of fireworks. Fun fun! Tim was tired and bruised up… sounded like the parents had to pass more tests than the kids did! Hey Tim you aren't a kid anymore you know!!! :) but really I hope you had a great Birthday!!

Most of the rest of the weekend was spent painting. Getting ready for the Clothing Optional show. I really had a great time with these big beautiful women! I hope they go over well. Here is the postcard for the Second Saturday event! Be well everyone!

One more for the Clothing Optional show at Marco Fuoco Gallery

I had to do one more. She really I think was the inspiration for this whole series, so she couldn't be left out. The Venus of Willendorf. 16x20 gallery wrap canvas.

She is a statuette of a female figure estimated to have been made between 24,000 BCE – 22,000 BCE, discovered in 1908 by archaeologist Josef Szombathy at a paleolithic site near Willendorf, a village in Lower Austria near the city of Krems.

I just love her, she is very powerful... this is my interpretation of her, I hope I did her justice!

2 more nudes for the show!

Wow what a great weekend I had and I finished 2 more paintings!! The first is 12x12 acrylic on canvas panel, the 2nd is 36x12 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas. More about the weekend tomorrow, for now here are the 2 new paintings... be well!!

Another nude, close your eyes kids!

I finished the second nude for the July Clothing Optional show at the Marco Fuoco gallery. She is 12x36 gallery wrap canvas, and holding a magical glowing sphere... :)

I sure am having fun with these! Who knew I'd enjoy painting big beautiful naked women? But I really am! I feel like I'm connecting on a whole new level.... it is surprising! I am going to do at least one more 12x12 for the show, maybe even one more this size we will see! Be well! Tj.

Nudes

I am exploring a new subject, the human body. Specifically the female body, and I think mostly the big and beautiful... imagine that. :) I am going to be part of an exhibit at the Marco Fuoco Gallery for July Second Saturday called Clothing Optional. In the paintings of course, not the artists! Yikes!

Anyway, I did one last night and I am pretty please with it. What do you think?? I am hesitant to post it here... this is supposed to be family friendly but well what the heck here goes! Close your eyes kids! Be well... Tj.

Blog anniversary

Today is the first day of my second year of blogging. I don't have anything much to say today except I'm glad I took this up. It's been quite a year and I'm happy to have some of it documented... unfortunately this is my mood today after being poked, proded and pulled through the grinder (verbally) last night by someone I adore. Turned into a great big yelling match. I'm sure this too shall pass... humph..

oh and did I mention it all started because I offered to share a pizza? Gah!!!

Monday reflections...

Hello bloggers! Happy Monday to all. I had a great weekend… spent time with lots of family and friends. Friday night was spent celebrating my dear father in laws birthday! It was a great celebration, lots of food, music, family and friends. Saturday morning I went to the Pride parade with Lindsey, the Pride festival is in the park right by our house every year, and we always walk over to see the parade! Always fun and colorful! I took photos and will post some as soon as I download them! The rest of Saturday was spend preparing for and participating in the Summer Solstice Celebration! It was a nice event. Thanks to Laurie Lee for letting me participate at short notice. Thanks to Lindsey for helping and staying the whole night, and thanks to Nick for helping set up! The drumming was great, the Fire Dancers were amazing! I don't think I've ever watch close up before… wow! Daring, delightful, scary, exciting, thrilling… but are those ladies crazy?? I don't know if I would have that courage, fire scares me too much! And I do have to say for the first few hours of summer it was ccccccold!!!! We were freezing by the time we left… even with my shawl and a blanket. Burrrrr…. It is summer right? Yesterday my hubby was playing in Isleton, CA with the Bayou Boys Band. Always a great time! Of course spending time with my honey is ALWAYS time well spent!


So I have a couple of things to share… I signed up for facebook so you can find me at www.facebook.com/ophelias.flowers and I also created a new on line gallery which you can find here www.gallerish.com/artist.php?ArtistID=300 just putting myself out there… spreading me all over the web!


Ok, that's all for today. Bee well… Tj.

Art show this Saturday!

I was invited to participate in an art show this weekend and decided OK! My cousin Louise is also participating and also a few of my Swell Sisters! It sounds like a great time! Here is the info:

Saturday June 20, 5:00 to 11:00ish. Come celebrate the Summer Solstice with a moon dance and art show at Stellar Studios! Art from local artists, fire dancers, drummers, music and great fun! 202 23rd Street, Sacramento. Midtown 23rd and C. For more info go to Stellar Studios web site.

Good week!

Tuesday… a day to blog. This has been a good week. I have a job, I've had it for nearly 30 years of course but... I still have a job that is very good! I also have a fun hobby that will hopefully some day be my job! But for now, I'm keeping my day job. I participated in the Alley Arts Festival (AAF) on Saturday. Very fun, spending time with my Swell Sisters… my husband Joe who helped set up and break down and stayed the whole day with me. Thanks honey! We had lots of people who came through, thanks to all my family and friends who came by! It was a lot of work to set up, and we were fighting the wind the whole time… whew!!!! Almost blew over a couple of times! Sales though, not so much. None of us had huge sales… I made enough to cover the cost of participating and postcards so I guess that was good! But… for now… I must keep my day job! So, thank goodness, I have a job! Here is a photo of some of the art we displayed and me making a sale!

I signed up on facebook yesterday, and also started a gallery page on Gallerish.com here is a link to my gallery page:
http://www.gallerish.com/artist.php?ArtistID=300 I will have lots more art added soon, I have to get some images done of the art I had for sale at the AAF.
I am so looking forward to 2 upcoming vacations! I am going on a retreat with my swell sisters from July 16 to the 19th in Mendocino! Should be a fun art filled weekend! Then we have a family vacation planned. We found a place that will let us bring out dogs! I am so excited to take a vacation and have the WHOLE family!! That's it for now. Be well! Tj

Different Strokes challenge and more...

The challenge this time was of a still life. I have not really done any still life painting but thought I'd give it a shot. The practice is always good! So here is the challenge photo and my interpretation of it. To see others go to the Different Strokes blog http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/

Also, here is one of the paintings I've done for the Alley Arts Festival, actually I was thinking I might not sell this one I just really like it! Peace. Oh and I have had some bumper stickers made, more pierced girlz rock stickers… I'm really into orange these days!
Be well… Tj.

Tuesday and all is good.

Hello world! Thought I'd post some of my digital art. I am thinking of making blank cards to sell at the Alley Arts Festival of the 4 below I call rainbow flowers. They are bright and cheery! Daisies (of course), sun flowers, morning glories, and poppies. I love Photoshop! It is so much fun to alter reality. You can't trust photos any more these days as being "real". Also below is a piece I did a year or two ago, we had a long time co worker who was leaving and wanted to give her a plaque with our photos and well one thing led to another… yes that is me in the red swim suit top and red shorts! Don't I look marvelous! And no none of us have our "real bodies". :)

Lindsey came home yesterday. I was so happy to see her! She was in Arroyo Grande with Kelsi, house sitting for Kelsi's mom. Only gone for about a week, and really when she is home I hardly see her anyway, but I missed her! Glad you are back honey! Joe and I had a good weekend. He was off Sunday all day, I think his first Sunday off in years. He has had regular gigs on Sundays for many years. We spent the day in our garden trimming roses trees and bushes. I did a little planting. It was fun to get out there and get dirty together again and we created a BIG pile of trimmings! In the evening we went out to dinner and then to see Angels and Demons. I was a little disappointed. I thought the first movie, The Da Vinci Code was better. I mean it was a good movie, but not as good as the first, could just be me. But it was a good day!

On a sad note, I lost a high school friend recently, Cindy Nunes Ruark. Services for her will be this Friday. When we were young, Cindy was outgoing and crazy, she was an amazing artist. The first person I knew who made a living doing art. She did big beautiful murals. But as we grew older, she had some tragedies in her life. One of the big ones was when her husband Tom was killed in an auto accident. It was just 6 months after they adopted their son, Devin. Her life kind of spiraled after Tom died. She lived in our basement apartment when we first purchased our home in 1999-2000 she led a pretty sad life. She didn't do anything. Sit and watch TV all day, and drive Devin back and forth to school. I guess since then she had been drinking pretty heavily, I don't know maybe she was then too. But she pass away from cirrhosis of the liver. It all caught up with her. We lost touch, I don't think I'd seen her maybe once since she moved out of my house. But I will still miss her.

Well enough blogging for today. I wish for anyone who reads this to live life every moment. See the magic. Be well. Tj.