Smile

What's better than a smiling Doodle Bird?

Smiling Doodle Bird, 9x12 inches, ink on  paper.

Perfection of Imperfection

Imperfection. I make imperfect art. Weird isn't it how what we strive for, perfection, never really making the grade, at least it never seemed that way to me. As an artist I found fault with my lines, they weren't straight enough, too bold, not bold enough and shaky. Grrrr. Life has been like this for a long time since I had a traumatic brain injury when I was 21. After that fateful day nothing seemed right for a long time, decades actually. But if I've leaned one thing it is this there is perfection in imperfection. 

Big and little Doodle Birds, 9x12 inches, pen on paper.

Doodling Away

Doodling away winter weather. It's fun pastime.

Purple-headed Doodle Bird, 14x18 inches, pen on paper.

Doodle dog, 10x12 inches, pen on paper.

Doodle birds

What are Doodle Birds? Mythical creations from my pen. I begin with a few simple shape then I let my pen do the drawing.

Spreading my wings, 16x18 inches, pen on paper.

Fat billed loon, 18x22 inches, pen on paper.

Green Eyes

Old Green Eyes favorite snacks are kippered snacks, tuna fish, fresh butter and spiders.

Green eyes, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Snow Puppy

It snowed today inspiring me to paint a snow puppy.

Snowy puppy, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper. 

Let's go play!

What's better than playing with a dog? Nothing.

Let's go play, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

First Love

I wanted a dog for Christmas when I was eight-years-old. I found new underwear, bathrobe,  dress and a wooden, frog bank under the tree. No dog. I wanted, hoped and prayed for a dog for years. My parents weren't dog people we had a cat, a wonderful, wacky Siamese, named Wing Wang...yeah make some jokes about that.

For my birthday, my 60th birthday a little black and white puppy came into my life. Ernest, Sir Ernest Shackleton the Second, has been the best gift I've ever received. I love this funny ball of energy. He has two speeds zoom and sleep. This is him begging for more cottage cheese -- that's a curd above his brown eye. 

I love Ernest, Ernest loves me and cottage cheese.

Ernest, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Happy Dog!

Who knew what would happen when we agreed to foster an ancient mini Aussie. I assumed he'd be with us until he was fully vetted, beautified and adopted. Love has a way of wiggling brown eyes and and pointy ears into hearts and I fell in love with the old dog. His vision is diminished as is his hearing, his coat is thick an fluffy and his toenails click on the floors. I love this old man of a dog, who knows what he has seen and heard in his many years but I know something he loves to hear, "I love you." I say it often. I kiss his furry brown head right between his big ears and that is how we roll these days. Rusty is no long available for adoption because I adopted him.

Happy Dog, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Parsnip

I painted Parsnip in an effort to appeal to the snow gods. The ground isn't white...yet. Fingers crossed.

Parsnip, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.

Snow Buddies

The frosty cat and chilly dog met on the field for a playdate. First they worried people might see them frolicking in the snow but soon they discovered no one noticed them. They chased and raced until they had to stop. That is when I snapped this photo. Snow buddies like deep snow, making tunnels and caves in snow and howling at the moon on clear, cold nights.

Snow Buddies, 5x7 inches, pastel on paper.
$15 matted and in cellophane sleeve.

A dragon ate my homework

It could happen, really a dragon could eat your homework if you happened to live in the right place at the right time. In my universe dragons are friendly creatures who are willing to be friends with authentic humans. Dragons don't like hair spray, lip gloss, fast food burgers (they say they have no substance) and they loath red sports cars.

Blue dragon, oil pastel on paper.

Green dragon, acrylic on paper.

Snow Kitty

Who doesn't love a snow kitty? I can hardly wait for the first snowfall so I can make snow kitties, snow puppies and maybe even snow fish.

Snow Kitty, 9.5x11.5 inches, pastel on paper.
$20
Available at the McBride School Christmas Bazaar
East Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, Oregon
Saturday, December 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.