Well here it is, finished at last.

I love Border Collies and Aussies! This painting is in acrylic and is 24 x 30".

I chose to glaze a jewel toned turquoise over parts of the painting for vibrancy.

I love the way it turned out and hope everyone else does too.

So far my efforts to join the dog communities has been more of a challenge than I anticipated. thug I have sent out over a dozen query letters to various dog organizations the response has been slow or none. Wonder if it's me... My letters are short and pleasant explaining who I am with a few images and links to my site. My follow up calls and messages are sometimes answered.

Well I got a break this November when the AZ Greyhound Rescue was kind enough to squeeze me into their fall festival. It is a very nice, short venue and I am pretty excited and glad to be included. Plus just had an interview with Tucson Lifestyles Magazine - Yipee!! I am looking forward to more commissions doing work I love. My new Vets are interested in purchasing some of my work so that is really cool too.

After a long slow hot summer it feels good to speed up again. Now back to work!

Oh Sweet Risa says Hi!

La Sirena - the Mermaid

Slip stream quick sliver sure, The Mermaid of the Sea of Cortez glides thru her forest of kelp and coral reefs. She is friend and guardian to the sea life in her home.

Folk tales of fantasy have always attracted me. Mermaids, dragons, elves and unicorns - magical beasts and beings.

I always felt that everything has a spirit. Trees, rivers, wind. The ocean must have its guardians too. La Sirena that lives in the Sea of Cortez is the color of her consorts, the garibaldi. Though her home is the kelp, she is connected to everything that happens - she can feel the happiness, pain, fear, joy of those living in her home.

This is a reverse glass painting, 16x20". There is more silver and gold than is shown in the painting. Tiny silver sardines gleam and surround her as she speaks to a butterfly angel fish.

Moon jelly fish float overhead and a ray glides off into the distance. Golden sea turtles slip through the colorful coral with their entourage of tiny yellow angelfish.

I Never get tired of looking at this painting.

Crafty Chica Day Of The Dead Faux Pastries

Sending this because I DO love mexican pastries!! This has been the year of the doughnut for me which is why I no longer fit in my size 4 jeans :~(

But this Might save me - or not... part of the appeal of the doughnuts is their apperarnce, so cheerful behind their glass case. Anyway, this made me laugh and maybe I will make one or two in mosaic or 3-D. I like using paper mache' clay but this is a cheap alternative that also works well.

Yeah, peace, love, and glitter! LOL Over and out!

Best Friends Forever - BFF

I love the friendships that dogs form not only with each other, but with others. It is a privilege to be in their circle of friends. This 24" x 30" acrylic painting is of two inseparable friends. their joy bounces off the canvas.

My Risa is still as playful as ever at almost 11 years old. Animals have so much to teach us when we listen!

This is the progress of the painting so far. I like to play with underpanting so the color peeks thru. This one in a series called BFF. I like to work in series or sets to thoroughly explore a subject.

Gonna Get Over You

Here is a fun little video. Dancing in a mexican grocery store. I liked it even if the dancing was a little cheesy, it was a fun, light hearted way to start the day courtesy of Crafty Chica Cathy Murillo. For everyone out there who wants to laugh at a break up instead of cry and feel sorry for themselves! (pity parties are o.k. too as long as you have your friends with you :~)

Elephant Walk Mosaic

A new piece for my mini mosaic abstract series. I started off with the nebulas and as usual, the artwork morphs back to representational. Art has been as much a discovery of self in the work. I am the work, it is an extension of myself.

I love abstract and contemporary pieces, but have found they do not come as easily and I actually have to work Harder to make a satisfactory abstract piece.

This little guy is 6x5" and made with stained glass, tempered glass, stones, vintage bugle beads. Just bits and pieces I have had. While I would totally deny being a "pack rat", a glance in my studio says different. Little stashes of stones, beads, fossils, etc.."Stuff" - stashes for the next special midnight project!

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

One of my Very Favorite authors. His passion shines in his work. The books are wonderful for Any age. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is so captivating - both the audio and the book itself. In the audio you are drawn in by all the sounds, as if you are right there. Highly recommend listening as well as reading these books!

Betsy the Border Collie

This painting is dedicated to Betsy the amazing border collie in Austria with a vocabulary of over 300 words! In this three minute video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcV8hMX_npA&feature=player_embedded you will see just how wonderful the intelligence of animals is. Betsy is an exceptional to the world of dogs. I know this is why I love animals, nature and do not get tired of representing them in my work thru different media.

There are not enough hours in the day to do all of the creative work I want. Need to work faster or sleep less!

Digital tiger roams South Kensington / Digital / Things / V&A Channel

This is a fabulous concept and imagery. So Cool and I want to see it too!

Digital tiger roams South Kensington / Digital / Things / V&A Channel

Olivia - Australian Shepherd

Olivia's charismatic photos were found while I was browsing Aussies on Flickr one evening. As soon as I saw those arresting eyes, that face, I knew I had to paint her. Who was she? Where was she?

I contacted the photographer and sadly, Olivia had passed away months ago. She was 11 and had contracted vestibular cancer.

The photographer graciously shared not only photos of Olivia, but a moving memorial slide show that had me sniffling.

My own aussie Risa is the companion I love to be with and spoil. Risa is now 10 1/2 and I am enjoying every golden day with her.

Dog Sees Mom, Just Home From Afghanistan

Stuff like this always makes me mushy! "Nobody can tell me that dogs don't have souls. Any being who can cry like that from being reunited with a loved one has a soul."

Sweet Golden Retriever Niki has found her forever home - Yeay! It's so hard to see the wonderful dogs that deserve a great home and are in shelters because for some reason the owners do not/cannot keep them. Seniors going into a home cannot take their pets, the apartment pet deposit is too much for some, no room in the family, too old etc..

Spaying and neutering is a big answer, but so is thinking way ahead before people decide to get a pet because of all of the responsibilities that go with it.

O.k. I'm done - for now...

"Sand Skin"

Woody. 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas.

The Shar Pei is an ancient Chinese breed and the name means Sand Skin which refers the the bristle like coat.

Loyal and protective, the Shar Pei is for personalities that are leaders as they have dominant personalities.

Like Chows, they have a blue black tongue and make wonderful companions when they are socialized early.

Love the background color the client chose!

Take Control of Your Health Care

Speaking out on taking control of your health care by asking for all of the raw data and information in your charts. Watch this and recognize if you are/ have been or know of someone who has been at the mercy of our health care system then this 3 minute video will inform and help with websites and places to get support from other patients.

Dave deBronkart: Meet e-Patient Dave | Video on TED.com

In January of 2011 my mom was diagnosed with an aggressive uterine cancer and underwent surgery and aggressive post cancer treatment involving chemo and radiation. The treatments were awful - very debilitating. Mom already had advanced Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and had misdiagnosed medications a few years ago which damaged her liver and kidney. Her body/immune system was already so weak. The side affects - weakness, neurosis of the feet and hands - will remain indefinitely.

The lengthy, extreme post treatments did not guarantee total cure.

If mom had refused some or all of the treatment they said "it could come back". If she did all of the treatments they could not guarantee total cure - "it could come back." Health Care here is a business first. Doing all of the treatment means more insurance dollars. I did not hear of any suggestions or action for alternative treatments/medications.

As of today my mom can shuffle walk, has precarious balance, two wigs, a cane, and can only take Tylenol for her RA. She is 72.

I wish my parents had seen this video. Would it have changed their patient behavior? Maybe. They are old fashioned and believe the doctor is Always right, even though it has been pointed out that the family doctor they have had for decades has made some seriously poor decisions/calls. Change is not easy. Gets harder as we age, especially when health is compromised and fatigue is a constant companion. No energy left to protest or research.

But for those of us who are born fighters/Warriors/Rebels, we do not go quietly into the night. We have energy reserves of stubborn defiance. We are always asking Why and listen to our intuition and then ask MORE QUESTIONS. Behavior which governments and institutions such as our health care system find vastly annoying. They try to ignore us, give excuses, then tell us to Go Away. I am so glad there are individuals out there - Rebels - who will speak out and question traditional medicine and demand better answers and care. Patients taking control of their own lives/health.

Sweet Lucy is a border collie. Done for a border collie rescue in acrylic on canvas panel.

Because Border Collies and most of the herding group of dogs are highly intelligent, high energy dogs they need owners who understand and work with their special needs.

These working dogs need J-O-B-S. Due to their high intelligence, they will become bored with the mundane and are not the couch potato types!

Before getting this breed people need to really look into what their energy level is. I Highly recommend a book called The Perfect Match by Walkowicz. Great help in choosing the right companion.