Why?

Yarn Bombed Aspens

12" x 36" Acrylic on hardboard

Just off my easel

Happy Valentine's Day!

Currently on My Easel...

24 x 36  Mixed media ( acrylic, collage, oil pastel )
Still thinking on the title

This mixed media piece began life as an acrylic painting of sticks. I was stuck. The sticks were going nowhere so after about a year of noodling on it, I finally pasted over the entire image using squares of colored mulberry paper. I quickly brushed on 3 horizontal bands of acrylic color letting some of the old image come through. I sketched on the branches using my brand new set of oil pastels (Christmas gift from my husband). This is my first try at oil pastel. They are really putzy! But I like the results.

Untitled...

Untitled, 18" x 24" acrylic on hardboard

Another powerful exercise in art therapy.

"Lucia"

 "Lucia" 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas

Inspired by St. Lucia, patron saint of those who are blind, who is often portrayed wearing a wreath of candles  on her head.

"Perhaps"

Perhaps, 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas

 

“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”  

-Eskimo proverb

Raven and the Wren.

My latest painting, Raven and the Wren was inspired by my Grandma Vogel (who loved birds) and this beautiful poem by David Wagoner.

Stand still.

The trees before you and the bushes beside you are not lost.

Wherever you are is a place called Here,

And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,

Must ask permission to know it and be known

The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,

I have made this place around you,

If you leave it you may come back again saying Here.

No two trees are the same to Raven.

No two branches the same to Wren.

If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,

You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows

Where you are. You must let it find you.

Viterbo University's dedication of new nursing building

 
"SISTER TREES"
 I was commission to create 4 paintings for Viterbo University's new state-of-the-art nursing building. Its glorious architecture sparkles with thoughtful and stunning artwork. Pictured here is my series which was inspired by my three sisters who are graduates of Viterbo. Left to right: Mary, Kris, our brother Tom, me, and Nancy taken on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, at the dedication of the building.

"HEALING TREE" (formerly "Vestibule Tree") happily greets all who enter Viterbo's new nursing building.

Catalpa Love

My love for Catalpas trees is most likely due to my Grandma Vogel, who lived next door to us and had a giant Catalpa in her yard. Cool. Soft. Shade. I photographed a fantastically old and twisted Catalpa in Platteville, WI yesterday and I am so excited to begin a painting of it. Oh, those velvety leaves are calling me!

A work in progress....

I've made a few changes since taking this photo. So now I've made it a bit too dark.... I need to lighten up. (In more ways than one!) 

Iconography - Another one of my passions!

I am a diverse artist with many styles and passions. I began studying iconography about 8 years ago.  My icons are written in acrylics and gold leaf.  Icons are rich with symbolism and color.  Although I am Catholic, I feel drawn to this Orthodox form of worship. Perhaps this passion is in my Polish DNA.

Mary Magdalene 

Saint Cecelia - Patron Saint of Musicians

Christ the Bridegroom

Saint Francis of Assisi

Christ the Good Samaritan

Christ the Good Shepherd

Christ the True Vine

John the Baptist

Mary and Saint Augustine

Christ and the Woman at the Well

More Creepers!

I have sketchbooks full of doodles. Here are a few more Creepers.

CREEPERS!

Being a life-long doodler, I thought I'd share a few of my doodles. My daughter called them "Creepers" and the name stuck.

I usually start with a scribble...  then the scribble tells me what it wants to be.

  

Healing Tree

Bursting with color and joy.... Welcoming all who enter....
A commissioned piece for Viterbo University's new nursing building in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Colorful Abstract.... a new series

I'm excited about this new series. It's colorful, loose and compelling. When I sit down and begin to work on it, time melts away. The process is meditative and relaxing.
No title yet. Suggestions?
9x12  Acrylic on canvas paper

Branch Dance chosen for ArtsWisconsin fund-raising card!

Watch for it:

http://www.facebook.com/artswisconsin

Back to Blogging

I have some catching up to do. I've been painting a lot (and working a lot) since April. Here is my latest painting. There is a bit more that needs to be done on it. But I don't know what that is so I have to live with it for a while. After a little time in painting purgatory perhaps I will see the improvements that need to be made!

The background colors are deep jewel tones. (My photo here isn't the best.)

Here are a few more pieces that I have been working on:

I've named this "Support."


















This is a little oddly-shaped piece completed one night in June. Since it was almost completely dark outside I didn't know exactly how it turned out until the next morning.

My latest painting 4-20-10

 "Let Me Call You Tree Heart"

Named by our daughter, MP.
Thanks MP!