Alpacas and Chandeliers

Alpacas and Chandeliers
oil on canvas 11 x 14 inch

When we first moved to Colorado last April, we stayed temporarily on a ranch in a loft apartment above a barn.  It was primarily a horse ranch, but the owner had a small herd of alpacas.  Ever since staying there, I have wanted to paint them and I finally did.  Why the chandeliers?  No other reason other than I thought it was a funny idea and they were fun to paint.  Alpacas themselves are funny looking creatures.

This is my last painting in 2018 and boy did the year fly by.  So many changes, so many activities. I am not as prolific a painter as I used to be, but I sure did explore our new state.  Vic and I love to take hikes on New Years eve, but this year it's 12 degrees and snowing which is why I am doing a blog post instead today.  I love walking in snow, but the temperature isn't hiker-friendly, so we did our hike yesterday.  It was a fun day...seven miles, lots of just taking it in.  Here's a couple of scenes from our time in Roxborough State Park.

I am looking forward to 2019.  May there be more days like yesterday in the coming year!

Thank you for following this blog and I want to  wish you a very Happy New Year!  May the year be all you hope for.

♥ Lisa

Merry Christmas!

from 2016
Mother Christmas

I have been sharing winter themed paintings from years past on my Facebook page and Instagram since the season has become so busy that there really isn't time to paint.  Some of my favorite artists share older art as well, and I really enjoy it when they do, so I am following their lead.  This painting is the one I shared today.  

Last night Vic and I went out for dinner downtown in Castle Rock and I was so excited to see the lights.  They are all over the area and Vic drove me around so that I could pop in and out of the car taking some photographs.  I am like a child in a toy store when I am surrounded by a multitude of things to photograph, I get so excited and inspired.  These are just a few from last night.  One thing I love about Colorado is how there are so many people outside.  People love the outdoors here.   

My favorite photo is the one below.  It's just such a serene and peaceful sight to me.  The warm glow in the houses, the streetlights, a few Christmas lights...and that mailbox...I love it. 

I will be back some time after Christmas with some new work to share.  Think Alpacas!  :)

Until then, Merry Christmas to you all and thank you SO much for following my art and for all your support here and on social media and also for buying my art.  I appreciate every bit of it and you have helped me to keep going!  Thank you always.

♥ Lisa

Three and a Dog in January

Three and a Dog in January
oil on board 5 x 5 inch
available here

I like the number 3.  Always have for some reason.  It goes way back to those School House Rock jingles that aired on Saturdays during morning cartoons.  Anyone remember those?  My favorite was "3 is a Magic Number" and I just found it on YouTube.  You can find anything on YouTube.

Speaking of YouTube, last night I was exploring some new music to add to my iPhone.  I always have music playing whether I am in the studio or cooking or doing housework, and of course while driving.  I try to listen to podcasts from time to time, but my mind drifts too much while I am busy doing other things. Anyways, last night I stumbled onto this really great video with Martin Sexton and these other amazing musicians.  I once saw him in concert in Wichita and he was really good.  Here they are performing John Prine's Angel from Montgomery.

Until next time!

♥ Lisa

Winter Sisters and Their Cat

Winter Sisters and Their Cat
oil on cradled board 5 x 5 inch
available here

I actually started this painting last year and then set it aside and forgot about it until I was picking up my studio recently.  I used an old photo dated 1925 of two little girls unknown to me and I've been calling this series "Past People" portraits.  I love painting them because it feels a little like honoring their memory. I find myself wishing I could somehow look through a window and see the real moment these photos were taken, to understand a little more of who they are and where they lived.  

Now that most photos are digital, don't you wonder what will happen to the memory of us once time marches on?  Fewer of our photos will end of up in a box at some antique store, and what about our blogs?  Our facebooks?  Our own computers where all our photos are stored?  The other day I uploaded 3,000 photos!  What will happen to those in 100 years?  It would be interesting to know, wouldn't it?

Until next time!

♥ Lisa