I Dreamt of Things: My Dad

I dreamt of a rainy nighttime road trip up the California coast with my dad. He was driving and singing to himself while I snoozed in the back seat. When I woke up and tried to talk to him, he didn’t respond. I don’t think he knew I was there.

You Knew She Was Out There

Moments of Clarity 03 / You Knew She was Out There 
13x10 inches. Mixed Media. 2010.

I’ve been making a lot of new work lately. . . This is one of my latest. I also finished two big pieces this week (20x26") but it isn’t as easy to get quality digital images of them since they’re too big for my scanner. I’ll have to get the big ones photographed before I can show them to you. I’m really excited about this new work. I love the various materials combined with each other.

I’m still trying to think of the best ways to display this work. I really don’t like the idea of framing them behind glass because of their textural and 3-dimensional qualities. I want them to breathe! I think I’m going to take some advice I found from another artist online here and try to mount my works on paper onto canvas. I think that will look much better than frames . . . and hopefully the process will be cheaper too.

Back Yard Garden

I decided to start a small raised bed garden in our back yard this spring. Matt helped me build the bed and then I got the dirt and seedlings from Bookcliff Gardens Nursery. Mojo is a great helper!


I just planted one or two of each plant. I just wanted to see which plants do best in our back yard. I think next year I might ask Matt to help me build another bed so I can have a bigger variety and at least two plants of each type.


We have beefeater tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, cantaloupe, cucumber, strawberries, and a bunch of herbs — parsley, basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, rosemary, and lavender. I pulled off some cilantro today to make a batch of grape salsa and also a batch of tomato salsa. YUM... More photos to come as the garden grows!

Sold! Small Paintings for Friends

Rainstorm. Acrylic and ink on paper. 4x6 inches.

An artist has to begin somewhere, and it always feels good to have friends who support my creative endeavors. My friends Jason, Sarah, and Lisa bought these recent paintings! Thanks guys!

A Thought. Acrylic and ink on paper. 4x6 inches.

Wish. Acrylic and ink on paper. 4x6 inches.

Mojo Bouncing Around Seiber Canyon

We went for a hike in Seiber Canyon in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area last weekend and had a great time. Mojo had fun playing in the grass — in some places it was taller than he is! This canyon is rarely visited and, as expected, we didn’t see anyone else nearby.


We did find evidence of a black bear nearby, though! His paw track was about six inches wide. I bet someone with more experience than me could take an educated guess about how big this bear was; I have no idea. It did look like his visit to the area had been recent though!

New Paintings: I’m on a Roll!

Moments of Clarity 02 / Sprouts
10x13 inches. Mixed media on paper. 2010.

Ever since we moved into our new house, I had been in a bit of a creative funk. I guess I just needed to get the work space set up in a useful way. And now that the weather has improved, I feel inspired! I’ve been working on lots of new stuff, and have tons of ideas that I can’t wait to get started on.

Moments of Clarity 01 / Gardening at Night
10x13 inches. Mixed media on paper. 2010.

I’ve been working with some new materials in these recent works. I’m really interested in how to create 3-d relief on a 2-d surface (I guess this is always an aspect of my work, whether small- or large-scale). There’s something really interesting about the contradiction inherent in making a flat surface have a sense of dimension. I also like the relationship between what happens above and below the horizon line.

Life Underground (study). 2010. 10x14 inches.

In this piece, I’m exploring what happens with the twine when it isn’t anchored to the paper. The drooping loops can move and change, and thus can’t be completely controlled. Juxtapositions of opposites really intrigue me — which parts of the painting do I tightly design, and which parts are left up to chance? The question now is: How can I frame it and still keep that paradox in the forefront? My first thought is to forgo having glass in front of the work, but then I worry that it won’t look “finished.” Hmm.

Lower Delores River Camping

This weekend we went camping with a group from Colorado Environmental Coalition. The river is beautiful, as is the entire area around Gateway, Colorado. At first it seemed like it might rain all evening, but once we got our tent set up the clouds parted and a beautiful rainbow emerged over the cliffs.



The river is beautiful and the wildflowers were abundant!



Matt and I enjoyed riding our bikes down a dirt road that parallels the river. Mojo ran alongside our bikes for a couple miles, but once he got tired we let him navigate from a basket on the handlebars. What a cutie!

Paintings SOLD at the Grand Junction Art Center!

Somersault #1. 4x6 inches. Ink & acrylic on plastic. 2009.

Two of my small pieces were recently on display at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts (The Art Center). I was excited to find out that both of them were sold! It is so gratifying to see that people are inspired by my work. I hope to continue on this path and make more inroads toward making and selling more artworks on a regular basis. Maybe one day my artwork could become a primary source of income (One can hope, anyway!).

If you'd like to see more of my work, please visit my profiles at: ArtSlant or MyArtSpace.

Loop #2. 4x6 inches. Ink & acrylic on plastic. 2009.

I Dreamt of Things

I dreamt of a crustacean infestation in my living room, all because my friend Brigid wanted to sell her Mercedes on Craigslist.

Student Enjoying My Design for FIDM

I just came across this adorable photo (thanks to Kim) on twitter by a student who is interested in attending FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. She says, “ :) love getting mail from @FIDM” ... This image shows her unpacking her FIDM College Catalog that was designed by me! It’s fun to find examples of my work being used and enjoyed by its intended audience!

Pretty Paintings by Anne B Schwartz

Crystal Cave 089. Mixed media on canvas. 30x40 inches.

I can’t remember where I first came across these pretty paintings by Anne B Schwartz. Like me, she studied graphic design as a college student... But gravitated toward the personal emotionality of painting. These paintings really touch my heart!

Reflections 075. Oil on canvas. 40x40 inches.

What I enjoy most is the abstracted forms that hint at nature. Some of Schwartz’s paintings remind me of piles of leaves I jumped in as a kid. So peaceful and happy, but also full of energy. She says she is also inspired by her study of gemology.

Fall’s Fury 090. Mixed media on canvas. 48x36 inches.

Merging mist 105. Oil on canvas. 30x40 inches.

Deb Haugen’s Emotional Nature

Life’s Explosion. 48x60 inches.

I just found out that my work is being featured this month on MyArtSpace.com! I was so excited I went there immediately to see the other featured artists. I found the work of California artist Deb Haugen, and was stunned and inspired by these beauties!

Pink Newness. 18x24 inches.

I found Ms. Haugen’s website where she talks about her work. I totally agree with everything she says... I’m also much more interested in the emotional responses to landscape/nature rather than a realistic depiction of the scene in front of me. She says:

“For me, I find that creating abstract art with an “Organic” sensitivity in mind lends itself to speak of the emotions involved, rather than painting a pretty sunset that we all recognize to be a sunset. The realistic landscape artist discusses the beauty of a forest they are painting. I am focused on the emotions and feelings that my art conveys, atmospheric memories relived. Organic art reeks of a certain familiarity, something very fundamental, and essential in our daily lives. My paintings convey the organic complexities that surround us, sometimes about serenity, sometimes complex layering systems of decay or destruction. All of life responds to the primitive, tangible, evolution of our planet, some just a little closer to the source.”

Title Unknown

Swept Away. 22x30 inches.

New Small Paintings for Your Enjoyment

Underwater. Danielle Foushee.
4x6 inches. Ink, acrylic on paper.

The only time I can really focus on my painting is when I’m on vacation from my other jobs. I had begun about 60 or 70 new little paintings during 2009, but never had a chance to finish them and scan them in until now. These are three of my favorite ones, although each one has things I like about it. I’m in the process of posting them to my Etsy Site so you can buy them. These small ones make perfect, affordable one-of-a-kind gifts for your friends and loved ones!

Wave No.3. Danielle Foushee.
4x6 inches. Ink, acrylic on paper.

Stitches No.1. Danielle Foushee.
4x6 inches. Ink, acrylic on paper.

Yoga Niyamas / New Year Intention: Compassion

California Poppies. Photo by Matt McGrath.

One of the eight limbs of yoga according to Patanjali is called “niyama.” The niyamas include the following five observances: purity, contentment, ardour, discipline, and self-study. These observances are directed inwardly at oneself for the purpose of personal development — cleansing and preparing ourselves for enlightenment.

It is with this in mind that at the turn of each new year, I like to choose an intention as a focal point for self-study. I like the idea of an annual intention as opposed to a resolution because it allows for wiggle room — room and time to really explore a concept within my own life without judgment and with plenty of room for varying levels of success over time.

Once I choose an intention for the year, I just keep the idea in the back of my mind through all my everyday activities. When I reflect on my actions and habits (samskaras), I look at them through the lens of my intention and see if I've behaved in a way that is compatible with it. If not, I make a point to learn from the experience and to try to act with more awareness in the future.

In 2010 my intention is compassion.

My past annual intentions have been:

• Courage
• Creativity
• Friendship
• Patience
• Contentment

If you choose to hold an intention for 2010, I would love to hear about it and share our experiences together.

San Rafael Reef, Utah

After having a gaggle of people over for Thanksgiving, we decided to spend the weekend with a couple friends in the San Rafael Reef in Utah. Over two days we hiked about 22 miles in Chute & Crack Canyons and Bell & Little Wild Horse Canyons.


Little Wild Horse Canyon & Bell Canyon Loop is considered the “classic” hike in the San Rafael Reef, and it didn’t disappoint! The canyons reminded me of the sculptures of Richard Serra, walking through tall, skinny passages that tower overhead, leaning this way and that. Another part of the canyon felt like walking down a water slide in the middle of a carnival fun house.

Richard Serra Sculptures

This was perhaps one of my top 20 weekends of all time... I love the desert, and can’t wait to spend more time exploring the slot canyons in the reef. Amazing stuff only about 3 hours from our house!