Close Encounters

Because I spend so much time hiking and running with Pono, I usually get a chance to see a desert tortoise or two in the spring.  This year, I was beginning to despair that I missed my chances since I was out of the country for much of the prime tortoise-viewing.  I have been careful to go to the places where we've seen them in past years, but to no avail.  The hot weather is beginning to descend, and the flowers are fading.  I feared the worst - that I would not get a close encounter of the tortoise kind!  So you can imagine my joy this morning, when I returned to the car at the end of our morning run to find a tortoise, quietly hanging out about 20 feet from the car.  It was as though someone came along and placed the tortoise there and said, "wait for Karine."  I know that's not what happened, but it felt like such a gift to see her!  There isn't much that equals the wonder at seeing a desert tortoise in the wild.  I was careful not to get too close or make too much noise.  She merely waited for me to take a few photos, with a casual blink, every now and then.   

That one tortoise sighting was enough to make me float on a wave of happiness all day.  Maybe she was sent to me, to tell me that even though M is halfway around the world, and even though my paintings aren't turning out the way I want them to, and even though I am not selling as much art as I would like, it's all going to be okay.  From the blinking eye of a tortoise, who has endured much more than I have:  life goes on.  

The other recent close encounter was this one:

"uhhhh...what the heck is this thing?"

"Hmmm...smells exactly like stinky dog breath!"

Have a great week, you crazy kats.  And remember, it's all going to be okay.

What's new

It's odd that I am only posting once a week, because I write to you all in my head every day!  How is it that none of those posts appear?  hmmm....

I sent 8 pieces of art off to Metro Galleries in Bakersfield, CA today for a group show that opens this Friday.  I hope to make the opening, but right now I am not sure about much of anything.  I really WANT to go.  I do.  Then, I drove past the gas station earlier today, saw the price of gas, and wondered if I should.  If one of you decides to go, let me know, and then I will make a point to be there.  Anything for my blog readers!!!

The wind finally had mercy on us, and the past two days have been sublime.  Calm, sunny, and WARM.  Warm.  My favorite. 

New flower photos are coming soon - today's exciting action comes from a jackrabbit I caught, licking the salt off the concrete near our house. 

Happy Tuesday night.

Surprise

After several days of oppressive humidity and heat, today a thunderstorm finally crashed into our desert day.  Pono the dog is terrified of thunder, and has remained shivering and unhappy in the laundry room all day.  I had to go outside, feel the coolness of the wet air, and watch the lightening rip across the sky.  Thrilling!

Here is the first painting of the new series.  "Surprise."  Oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches.

It's all about the ears, really.

I have some exciting news - some of my figurative work has been included in a book written by my friend (and amazing artist), Carla Sonheim!  The book is called Drawing Lab for the Mixed Media Artist, and it is available here.  Now for the surprise part - I am giving away a copy of this book right here on my blog!!!  You are most certainly wondering "how do I get a chance to win this book?"  It's easy!  Just leave a comment, explaining why you would like to own a copy of this book, and next Thursday, July 22nd, I will pick a winner from the comments.  So you have one week to leave a comment!  Good luck, and be sure to hop on over to Carla's blog for more book-related info, and to tell her Congratulations!