How Mr. Toots Earned his Special Name.
The origin of Mr. Toots name. Mr. Toots, a handsome cat I was recently asked to paint, has a name that is something of a mystery. When I asked the client to give me the cat’s name, she said he … Read More
Life is the most difficult exam…
Life is the most difficult exam. Many people fail because they try to copy others, not realizing that everyone has a different question paper. (myimagequote.com) This post was first published in 2017. (revised in 2026)
Luca: Sassy Feline Extraordinaire.
Furry, sassy Luca – a feline extraordinaire. According to Luca’s owner, this cat has some very defining characteristics: she has a big attitude and loves to give her the stink eye. I laughed when the client wrote that Luca loves … Read More
Cleo, the Border Collie.
Painting Cleo, the Border Collie, helps me heal. With a bit of time and reflection, I am slowly returning to my creative work. After a loss in the family, I wasn’t up to painting or writing. Thank you to those … Read More
Our Pets are Celebrated Today.
Celebrating our furry companions on April 11 – National Pet Day. Bringing comfort, joy, companionship and yes, sometimes even a bit (or a lot) of chaos, dogs and cats form strong bonds with their human families. Loyal and energetic, dogs … Read More
To Summon Spring while Winter Lingers.
Winter lingers so I summon spring in my studio… I sit by the south facing window, morning sun filtering in the living room giving an impression of a warm day ahead. However, winter lingers and refuses to let go of … Read More
Shady, a commissioned Schnoodle portrait.
Schnoodle Shady on watercolour paper. Shady is a totally adorable sweetheart on 9 x 12 watercolour paper. In 2020, I added pets painted on watercolour paper as an option for pet owners looking to have a portrait painted of … Read More
Where Spring Finds its Wings.
Painted birds awaken the canvas for spring. With these painted birds, spring does not quietly arrive — it awakens. Each feather carries the colours of early morning light, each wing seeks a parcel of thawing earth, or failing that, the … Read More
Five ways to show up for art on a regular basis.
Five ways to show up for art (and to be disciplined as an artist). There is a generalization out there about artists that goes something like this: artists are very right-brained, disorganized, and flighty. In the many years that I … Read More
Funky February Florals.
Funky florals add colour to dull February. Why Funky Florals in February? Why not I say? (one of my most pinned posts on Pinterest – First published February 2024). Isn’t colour exactly what is needed when winter won’t give way … Read More
