White Lab In Oil

Heart Strings

I just decided to name this heart strings because every time I paint a portrait of a sweet
animal such as this one, I feel my heart strings being pulled and feel such joy!!! I must admit
that labs are a special favorite as my grandpuppies, Brewsky and Jet, are both labs but I have
felt the same doing bull dogs, Yorkies, German Shepherds, Westies, Dalmations, cats of all kinds,
mutts, etc. They all are wonderful!!! This painting will probably be going to one of my galleries
but if it touches your heart strings too....email me at normasart@cox.net! It is 12" by 12" on
wrap around canvas with sides painted making framing optional. Hope you are enjoying this
wonderful weekend.....I am off to the beach in a couple of hours. This piece is going to my gallery in Richmond. If you are interested in a custom pet portrait, let me know or stop in to view this one at Gallery 5800 on Grove Ave.

English Robin

English Robin

Another beautiful day with lots of sun and a lovely breeze blowing. I had lots of errands to run with getting my car inspected on the top of the list. It only needed a light bulb replaced but an oil change and rear axle something or other was highly recomended. Of course, I did it and there is another problem that needs to be looked at in the near future.! Sometimes the idea of just going places on horseback sounds kind of appealing!
Tomorrow I teach down at Harbor's Edge and I always look forward to my time there. I'll be busy working on new paintings to take up to Richmond next week over the weekend but I hope to go to a concert with a friend on Saturday at the beach. I hope you like this little bird with it's bright color. I started working on e blue crab tonight but I think it needs another day to look at it and do some tweeking. Enjoy the weekend! This piece is available for 70 plus 4.50 shipping and handling.

Tea With Mom

Tea With Mom

6" by 6" original oil on gallery wrap canvas with 1 and 1/2 inch sides painted.

What a difference a day makes! Last night's painting efforts were pretty discouraging so I called a friend and asked if she wanted to go down to the beach today and go for a walk. We walked several miles and had a salad at an outdoor cafe and when I came home, I felt refreshed and ready to organize my studio and return to my easel with a better attitude. I really appreciate the comments and e-mails I received! Thanks for all the support!
I was going to paint a seagull that I photographed today but when I looked at last night's painting that I wiped off....there was a faint image left and I figured I would try painting it with a palette knife this time in a more loose style. It was really fun and I am pleased with the results. I am really liking the palette knife!!
I chose the name for this painting as I always think of growing up with my Irish born Mom and her love of tea. In Ireland, every time you return home from an outing, are taking a break from activities, getting up in the morning or going to bed at night....these are all an excuse to enjoy a cup of tea! She used to love to play tea party with me at these times with my little tea set and those are warm memories for me. So here's hoping you can take a nice break in your day and enjoy a spot of tea! :-)
This painting is available for 95.00 plus 4.50 shipping and handling. To purchase, click on the button below or e-mail me at normasart@cox.net.

No Painting Tonight

I had the greatest of intentions of posting a painting this evening but instead wiped it off at the end of my painting session. I rarely do that but just found myself really feeling down today and I guess I just have to accept that there are days like that when it feels like drugery and I just can't seem to get into the groove. I may just head down to the beach tomorrow and see if I can find my muse in a seagull running along the sand or a child playing in the surf. :-) Hope your week if off to a good start!

One Little Pig

One Little Pig

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I have been having a relaxing weekend and didn't plan on posting but at the last minute decided to post this little pig which I did this past weekend as a commission for a client in Canada. She is doing a series of three farm animals on her fireplace mantle and this little guy is one of them. The other is a cow and another was a rooster head. I enjoyed doing this little guy and really like his face. He makes me smile.

Andrew had some of his friends over this weekend and they all went to the beach. Today has been a little overcast but still nice. I plan to work a little and then get out and enjoy some of it! I will be working on a newsletter this coming week using Constant Contact. I had used it last year and stopped and decided it was worth starting up again. They have great looking templates and people to help you learn how to use them! I will let you know how it goes! If you would like to sign up for it ahead of time, drop me a line!

Yellow Warbler Perched

Yellow Warbler Perched

6" by 6" original oil on gallery wrap canvas with 1 and a half inch sides painted.

Sometimes a painting just seems to paint itself and this was one of them. It was a joy to paint and I am really pleased with the colors and the feel of the piece. Birds bring so much joy to so many and delight with their energy and color. Hope viewing this little warbler brings delight to you! Do you believe it is the weekend again?? And a holiday one at that! Hope you have something fun planned. I hope to be going to a movie with friends and perhaps to the beach. The weather today was gorgeous. Andrew mowed the lawn and edged so I hope to pull some weeds tomorrow and fertilize the roses. My new garden that Lena and I planted is looking beautiful! I will have to post a picture on my blog after I do some weeding. I have been growing some herbs and tomato plants that a friend gave me. They have been loving all the rain. Well enjoy the weekend! This piece is available for 70.00 plus 4.50 shipping and handling. Click on the Buy It Now Button below.

The Eyes Have It!

The Eyes Have It

8" by 8" original oil on wrap around canvas with sides painted.

Garden Bluebird

Garden Bluebird

6" by 6" original oil on gallery wrap canvas with 1 and 3/4 inch sides painted.

It was great getting back in my studio today and getting back to work! I stopped first at Jerry's Artarama and picked up some paint and canvases. I also got some free DVD's to watch of some of my favorite artists at work. It is a great deal if you have not checked them out. You can keep them out for 2 weeks without giving them a deposit but they keep your credit card on file in case you lose one or don't return them.
Tonight is Andrew's last soccer game of the season. The weather is nice so it will be great sitting
out in the bleachers. Sean and his dog Brewsky began their trek along the Appalachian Trail today with friends. I wish I could observe some of the antics I know they will be getting into. Brewsky is in his element and even has his own doggy backpack. My other son, Patrick, is picking them up when they get forty miles along and will bring them back. They were going to try to do it for ten days but one fellow got a job and another had an opportunity to go on a trip.
Well, hope your week if off to a great start! This piece is available for 70.00 plus 4.50 shipping and handling. The buy it now button is below or you can e-mail me with any questions.

Graduation 2009 NFDP

On my way home today from Sean's graduation from Virginia Tech. It has been a wonderful weekend and I am
SO proud of my son and his accomplishments! It has been a joy to spend time with my sister and her husband and all my boys. I wanted to share this picture from our weekend. I'd like to show all my boys but my pictures did not turn out too well so I hope to get some from others who took some and may post them later! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Red Robin Looking Proud

Red Robin Looking Proud

8" by 8" original oil on wrap around canvas with sides painted.
“If I can stop one Heart from breaking I shall not live in vain If I can ease one life the Aching Or cool one Pain Or help one fainting Robin Unto his Nest again I shall not live in Vain”
Emily Dickensen

I thought this was a beautiful quote about one of my favorite birds! Who can resist their red breasts and great energy that welcome spring with their song?

I worked on this piece using both brush and palette knife. I love how the grays in the background help accent the robin and all his bright color!

Today was spent doing one of my favorite things....painting all day in my studio! I am celebrating spring with paintings of birds and will be posting a sea gull tomorrow as summer is coming soon! I am meeting a good friend for dinner tonight and shopping for something to wear to my son's graduationt his weekend. He had his last exam today so he has successfully finished all his work! Next year is my youngest son's last year in high school so his time is not too far behind.

This painting is available at Gallery 5800 in Richmond on Grove Avenue!

Ramblin' Rooster

Ramblin' Rooster Returns
8" by 8" original oil on wrap around canvas with 3/4 inch sides painted.

I am blogging late this evening as I was at Andrew's last soccer game of the season. They won big time and Andrew scored a goal. The air was really nice and cool and it was very relaxing. I love this time of year!
I had fun earlier today working on this rooster and love the color. Tomorrow I will be working on some bigger pieces for my gallery and another pet portrait. This week we have a lot of preparations for my son Sean's graduation from Virginia Tech. Hope your week is going well. I will write more tomorrow. This piece is SOLD.

Plump Little English Robin

Plump Little English Robin

6" by 6" original oil on gallery wrap canvas with 1 and a half inch sides painted.
Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide
forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
Inspirational Quotes on Mothers Day by: Elizabeth Stone

I loved this quote and feel that it sums up the feeling that came over me when I first held my newborn son.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there! I have had a lovely day with my youngest son and his girlfriend who just bought us Chinese food and spoke to my other boys and sister and Mom. My son told me that Mother's Day has only been around since 1949 when Woodrow Wilson made it a holiday. I really thought it was much older than that! I also worked on finishing up this little bird that I started yesterday. I think he is kind of cute with an element of whimsy. He makes me smile. Hope he makes you smile too.
This painting is sold. I do however, do commissions on request.

Tabby Cat Up Close

Tabby Cat Up Close

I'm back! I think this is the longest I have gone since I started this blog without posting! I have had some exciting changes going on with my art business and needed to focus on them for a bit and I also had family visiting. I have two new galleries that are showing my work!! One is in Richmond called Gallery 5800 and the other is here in Norfolk called Bonnie Arnold's. Gallery 5800 has a web site but doesn't have my work up on it yet. If you are in the Richmond area, you can stop by to see them. It is a beautiful gallery and a great area to shop and get a bite to eat. I will be adding links to my blog for both. Bonnie Arnold's is carrying my pet portraits. This one is going to there this week. If you are down in Ghent....stop by and visit. She is on West 21st street near Colonial. She has an interior designer on site, beautiful local art, jewelry and accessories for your home. If you are interested in having a portrait of your pet done and don't live in Norfolk, you can contact me by e-mailing me at normasart@cox.net for more information!
I also spent time with Dorothy Fagan learning how to work my new fine art printer and photoshop which I have had for two years now and had no idea what it is capable of doing!
I am happy to be back in the swing of things and the paint is flying again!
Next weekend, my son, Sean, is graduating from Virginia Tech. I am so proud of him!

Proud White Rooster

Proud White Rooster

11" by 14" on wrap around canvas with sides painted.

What a gorgeous day here in Virginia! Everything is blooming and it was sunny with a balmy breeze! Kind of took me back to when I used to be out playing in our street in Philly and we had until 9:00 'till our Mom's would be calling us in. The Water Ice truck with Philadelphia pretzels would have just come around and we were playing Red Light, Green Light of the girls would be jumping rope....this time of year, school was getting ready to let out and the whole summer stretched out ahead.....ahhhhh the good ol' days! Man, I am wanting a water ice and soft pretzel now!!!! My favorite was lemon lime. :-)