New Year, New Art Project

So we will have a break from chemo, and hopefully the side effects will slowly start wearing off. I expected to have a lot of energy this week, but didn’t happen yet, so maybe next week. Since it is the second round, it may take just a little longer to get my mojo back, but it will come, so the next weeks are really something to look forward to. Whooo Hooo to being able to get the nasty taste out of my mouth, get rid of chemo burn and nose running constantly.

On the art front, I got one piece juried into the Glendale Arts Council Show.

Wolf Dream Catcher on Black Velvet paper, embellished with feathers, fur, leather and beads.

It is a Wolf Dreamcatcher, and will be there until Sunday, Jan 24th. The show is open daily from 10Am to 5 PM. It is at Sahuaro Ranch Park, 59 Ave & Mountain View, in the old packing building just North of the main building and rose garden.  If you live in the West Valley, you would really enjoy it, there are two rooms of great art. Speaking of Art, I have started a new project for the new year. Thinking of Christmas, I decided to make Hand Drawn Christmas Cards. If I do one a week , should have enough to send everyone on my Christmas list an original. They are 5″x7″ and will pop right into a frame, or can be matted and put into an 8″x10″ frame. SO here is a sneak preview of the first four cards.

On the pet therapy front, I got a couple of photos of Loki during our parrot therapy session. Thought you might enjoy! Oops, Loki is screaming, I mean Loki is calling me to do more parrot Therapy……Later!…..I am coming Loki……nuts, you want to be paid now…..I thought this was volunteer work……hmmmmm…

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Where Did 2015 go?

It was Jan 2015, then I blinked my eyes and it is 2016!!!! Where did 2015 go? This happens every year, but it seems like it happens faster each year! I know, I have been on this soap box before, but really how come time seems speeded up and when I was young, it seemed to drag on forever. All it takes is one art project and time goes into zen mode and I wake up a few days later with a completed project. Or it is chemo week, and I sleep the week away. LOL, I guess a lot of it went by while I was sleeping.

So this was the last chemo week for a while, the CEA count is down to 27 and we are praying really hard that it takes a big dive this month to get under 10. The hair is really in the baby grackle mode now, but in a few weeks it will start growing back. Speaking of hats, I was asked to post a few photos, so here they are, the latest style in chemo hats!

Denim Cap

Black Cap

Burgundy Beenie

Blue Sparkly made by Debi Bell

The kitty, parrot and wild bird therapy continues, and I feel a little better every day. We are planning a Texas visit the family trip the first week in Feb, so I am looking forward to seeing everyone! George got a Weber Smoker for Christmas, so we have been treated to pulled pork and smoked brisket over the last couple of weeks. The AZ Cardinals are in the NFL playoffs, so we have some exciting times coming. Wishing you and yours a wonderful year to come!

Schedule…Finch WIP

Finch – Pastel Pencil

We met with the surgeon Friday and the surgery is scheduled for April 28th – with lots of testing until then. Colonoscopy, pet-scan, blood-work, lung x-ray and several other appointments. Fun, fun, fun! At least I will be feeling better for all of this. It gets better each day as the side effects from chemo slowly disappear.

The weather is so gorgeous now, we spent a lot of time today on the patio with the parrots and kitties. We only let Dante out when we are out, so he slinks around the yard acting like we can’t see him. He hides in the bushes, but one loud sound and he is back inside where it is safe. Loki ran around on her branch and flapped her wings and had a great time. The little guys just preen and enjoy the sun.

This week, a little finch is the subject of my pastel pencil WIP. He was so cute standing on the bird bath, he was hard to resist. Everything is pretty quiet now, so he should go pretty quickly! Stay tuned!

Therapy Critters – The War on Cancer Continues!

Those of you who have followed my blog have been exposed to the antics of the cats and birds in my flock. Now they have all been added to my Therapy Team! What can be more soothing than a therapy kitty purring in your ear, or a therapy bird cuddling with you wanting preening? It is very hard to not feel that all is well with the world with one of these guys administering Critter Therapy. For those of you new to the blog, the flock includes, Loki, Blue and Gold Macaw, Sunny, Sun Conure, Charlie, Hahn’s Macaw, Birdie, Green Cheek Conure, Dante, Tuxedo Kitty, and Rusty, Orange Tabby. Here are a few photos of “Critter Therapy”. Will post after the first chemo treatment, but right now, I am feeling the need for some Therapy!

Where is Defeat?!?!?!?

Ok, maybe I should have spelled it “de – feet”……but they are on the way. Hummingbird feet are so small, I saved them for last. They will probably be the most challenging part of the painting. So while Mr. Hummer takes a little sip of nectar, I will try to find his feet. Hope you have enjoyed your Labor Day Weekend!

Blue Jay

Started the Blue Jay this week. You never know If I will start with the background or the subject, it seems that this time, the paper wants the background first, and an artist MUST listen to the paper! It has been a busy summer at Liberty Wildlife, the babies are still coming in! Here are a few photos of last weeks patients. First the baby Cottontails, they are just WAY too cute! Next, a Kingbird with cataracts who is being hand fed. What a little cutie. Then the baby Mockingbirds, who are FULL of personality!!

We visited the Lava Caves in Flagstaff and had a great adventure last weekend. Looking forward to the next trip there! Hope you all have a great summer and stay cool!

Ok, Dear, it is your turn to babysit!

The kids are driving me crazy! Your turn! Not even one worm?????? This painting needs a cute name, and even though I have been cogitating, nothing is coming through! Ideas are being accepted – If you have a cute name for this painting, PLEASE feel free to suggest one! The 112 degree heat has fried my brain, LOL. Weeeeeellllll….Candy is telling me to step away from the painting, so for now the Woody’s are done.

It is that time of the year again……….I will be doing a kickstarter project in the next few weeks to help pay for prints and cards of the upcoming “Blue Birds of Happiness” series, so stay tuned! Details to follow. In the meantime – stay cool!

Update on Chula

For those of you who followed the Chula WIP, tickets are on sale for the raffle. Check out the following:

Eye, Eye, Sir!

Or is that Aye, aye, Sir. At any rate, it is time to step away from the painting and see if there are some areas that need more work.  So aye will leave this piece sitting on the easel for a couple of days and if everything still looks good, will sign it. Wishing all of you and your flocks a very HAPPY New Year filled with lots of fun stuff!

Marching Along….

LOL, couldn’t resist. Since Amber is sitting on pins and needles waiting for this update, thought I would go ahead and post two updates before the holidays get here and there is too much celebrating to get any painting done! SO Amber………these two are for you! Chulla is just starting to pop out of the paper. Hope all of you have wonderful holidays, eat lots of good food, get some great presents, and spend some wonderful time with all of your loved ones! Human, feathered, furred, and scaled friends….wishing all of you a Happy, Joyful New Year!  March, March, March, March…….. the parrots go marching one by one……hurrah………