Peaceful Lake

mouse over to see before image

This was one of a number of beautiful sites on a recent trip. I think it looks lovely with Kim Klassen's Annabelle texture. Very subtle. I worked for quite a while on this one to get it just right. I tried a number of things and nothing was "floating my boat" until...on a whim I added a warm photo filter and...POP! There it was. Just what I was looking for. That's how it is many times with art. You just have to work play it out and trust that something is on it's way. I suppose that's how it is in life too.

Faded Orchid Beauty

mouse over to see before image

I took this image of an orchid at the LA Arboretum while visiting there a few weeks ago. I used Kim Klassen's texture, "Lilly" on it. She's currently hosting "12 days of Textures". Pop on over and see some other images and what those participating have done with their images and Kim's texture. Very inspiring and lots of beautiful winter-y images from all over the world!

Foggy Hillside

New in my Etsy shop (or click the link in my sidebar)! I'm so excited to offer this print and "Solvang" posted yesterday. I think they are both beautiful and my hope is that they bring you as much delight as they do me.
I saw this amazing foggy scene driving back to where I live from Solvang. I used my newest texture, Warm Ginger (yes, I've had holiday scents and baking on my mind!) to bring out the reds and browns in the image. I'm so happy with it. I actually let out a gasp when I first added the texture and blended it! It really affected the image and gave such a nice, warm affect and I love how it accents the flowers in the foreground. I've been using Warm Ginger on a variety of photos and it looks great on all of them. Really happy with it! I'll make it available as a download soon.

Happy baking!

Solvang and Golden Light

Mouse over to see the before image

I've been making textures, textures and more textures after taking Kim Klassen's fabulous Art of Texture class. So fun! After Thanksgiving and on the way home from visiting family, we stopped in Solvang. Such a cute Danish town and the ebelskivers were so tasty! I'll have to try to make some sometime...looking for a recipe. On this photo, I used my new texture, Golden Light (below).

I think it's lovely. You can download it here. I'd love to see what you do with it! Hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

Fall's Beautiful Colors

"We have everything here a scarecrow could want, the fall harvest, the beauty of the changing colors, apple cider, pumpkins and cornstalks." ~Mary Martin

I have been absolutely enthralled with this fall season's brilliant and elaborate colors. Here, in Northern California, we are fortunate to have them late into the season. Last year, there was snow in my front yard. It's great to be back in California! Although the snow is pretty during the holiday season, I do love sunshine and the way it sparkles and makes all of the fall colors pop!

Technical difficulties have kept me from posting for most of November. I'm hoping to remedy my situation by purchasing a much needed new computer (mac book pro) soon. I have learned two three four things:

• I am only as good as my tools.
• I am able to do what I can when I can with what I have.
• Not being online as much gave me more time to do other things--(paint, cook, take photo walks)
• I sooo appreciate my computer!

New Painting: Embracing Grace Everyday

Computer issues and illness have slowed me down a little in the last week and a half. But here is my latest painting. This painting started out as this experiment in minimalism. Then I wanted to re-do it and make something colorful. I wanted to have a butterfly flying beneath the tree, but it turned into a Buddah. I don't normally paint people but this one really wanted to be on this painting. It wouldn't stop nagging me until I painted it on! Embracing Grace is my phrase for embracing, or accepting fully the grace that resides in every moment that we experience no matter how we judge that moment, good or bad. My favorite definition of grace is:

"Gracefulness has been defined as outward expression of inward harmony of the soul"
~William Hazlitt

 Isn't that beautiful?
Lovely.
Inward harmony of the soul.
Aligned.
Functioning along that alignment.
Living one's harmonious purpose through outward expression.
This is what I'm seeking for my life and I may need to continue seeking it for the rest of my life...
what better way to live.