Come back monthly to keep me on my toes and see what art I am featuring!
November, 2018… “Love Matters Most”
This is a piece of art that has been on my easel for months. It started with the photograph of my good friend Ibrahim as he lovingly washed the weary body of our friend and patient, George. In Kenya, when someone gets sick, especially from HIV/AIDS, they are very often abandoned by their family and friends - and simply left to die. That’s why we started the LOMAMO organization…so that no one should feel alone in their struggle to survive.
After walking for 30+ minutes we arrived at George’s home to find that he had crawled outside to lie beneath a magnificent tree on his property in the region of Nyahera. He couldn’t walk so he had pulled himself the 40 feet or so by his hands and arms. He smiled warmly when he saw us. Immediately Ibrahim began to care for George. I stood back and removed my shoes. It was the holiest place I’ve ever stood. Sadly, George died about a week after I captured this image. Thankfully he knew Jesus so I know I will see him again one day.
I created this piece of art on an 18x24 inch canvas using a combination of acrylic glazes, mixed media and collage.
October, 2018… Love Matters Most (a brand new ministry in Kenya!)
This is the artwork of my good friend Tanea DeVriend. We’ve traveled to Kenya together twice in the last 8 years and she generously offered her giftedness in graphic design to create this beautiful logo for us. Thank you TD!
Since early July I’ve been working with some friends from around the planet to launch a new ministry in Kisumu, Kenya. It is called Love Matters Most (because it really does…) or LOMAMO for short. Our mission is to serve those who’ve been abandoned to sickness, restoring dignity and health through love and compassion.
We were blessed to receive our certificate from the Kenya government and had a kick-off celebration on 28 October 2018. Just three weeks later we have nearly 50 patients under our care. It is such a privilege to serve those who’ve been marginalized by the stigmas of society. I am so proud to work alongside my brothers and sisters in Kenya who are doing this work everyday. If you want to get involved, drop me a note or hop on over to lovemattersmost.org
The entrance to LOMAMO headquarters on the Big Day!
Our LOMAMO team with friends from the Netherlands!
Guests at our Kick-Off event! Oh how I wish I could have been there…
September, 2018… The Pacific Northwest
These images were captured during a long and lovely weekend graciously gifted to us by some dear friends. We stayed at their ocean front home in Oregon and took day trips through the amazing and majestic Giant Sequoias. Full of gratitude.
Many thanks to our dear hosts…
August, 2018… Botanical Printing
I LOVE learning new things! In August I was taught the art of Eco-Printing or Botanical printing. I could go on for DAYS about all the details but suffice it to say you can turn a plain piece of silk into a beautifully printed scarf using leaves from the neighborhood and a little bit of secret sauce! Classes coming…
July, 2018… Remembering Kelly, our UmberDove
July 14, 2018 marked the one year anniversary of the date my dear niece, Kelly Clark, also known as the UmberDove, took flight from her earthly body. My dear friend and neighbor, Cindy, joined me as we created a memorial and floated it down the American River. Leaves were sewn together in the shape of a heart with messages of love and memories written with Sharpies. Wild blackberries and daisies, from Cindy, adorned the offering. Love & blessings.
June, 2018... A Traveling Safari
This project is my response to a Call to Artists to support the 20th Anniversary of the Ronald McDonald House Charities with "Suitcase Art".
Using images from past African safaris, I applied acrylic glazing mediums to adhere some of my rice-paper printed images to the exterior of this vintage suitcase. Then... on the inside I added more color and vibrance with a silkscreen I made of an African Acacia tree with a zebra. I also had a piece of plexiglass cut to fit, which I painted to resemble a watering hole, so that it could provide a "stage" of sorts for a traveling safari. Beneath the plexiglass are a myriad of African animals nestled inside colorful canvas bags ready to get out and play...
Another piece of my breaking out series of art created beyond my comfort zone.
May, 2018 - A Friendly Visit
This was a fun exercise. This is a 5x7 inch canvas panel that I was asked to "make art on" and return to the Sacramento Fine Arts Center to be part of a fundraiser next month. The "bird" is really just leaf shapes, which I had never noticed before. The leaf print is one I made in Africa and printed on rice paper using an intaglio process called ImagOn. I did some acrylic glazing before and after, added some texture and finished with some watercolor touches. This is definitely part of my breaking out series where I am trying things I've never tried before and busting through self-imposed boundaries... Stay tuned! And thanks for checking in.
April, 2018 - Amazing memories!
This print was made while working with Ron Pokrasso in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I made this photograph while on safari in Kenya, then converted it to an "ImagOn" plate for Intaglio print-making. First I made a larger monotype plate with some varied color and marks, then wiped away the color where the zebras would print. I love the result. The original hangs in my breakfast nook; Archival Giclee prints are available in various sizes. Please contact me for more information.
March, 2018 - My new friend!
One of my goals for 2018 is to spend more time outside...moo-ing at cows, neigh-ing at horses and calling all sorts of birds. I want to breathe more deeply, stretch more often and enjoy every beautiful gift I come across. Thus, my new friend! This property is next door to my dear chiropractors in Newcastle, so one day while I was up for a session I took a walk to this fence and started mooing! The cows were on the far side of the pasture but one by one they came over for a closer look. This one and I did some special bonding! At the moment this is a digital photograph. I suspect it will find itself in another medium one of these days but for now, please meet my new friend!
Another view... can you say, "MOOOOO?"
February, 2018 - Lone Tree on the Masai Mara
Lone Tree on the Masai Mara
For those who are new to my work, this is an old favorite. I took the original photograph on the Masai Mara in Kenya after completing my first mission trip serving those impacted by AIDs. Once back home I converted the photograph to black and white then handprinted it with pan-pastels using a technique shared with me by a dear friend. I've made several originals in various sizes over the years...exploring different color options. This image is available as a custom archival Giclee print in whatever size you desire. I've recently created a new original hand-painted version of this image, which will be featured at a Membership Medley Show at Blue Line Arts Gallery in Roseville later this summer: https://www.bluelinearts.org/. Contact me for more info!
January, 2018 The Painted Elephant
Painted Elephant
I created this painting using poured acrylics. First I did a pour, blowing paint around the canvas with a straw and developed a more or less "orange" background with some interesting topographic textures. A few weeks later I poured 4 puddles of paint on this painted background and, again using a straw, I finessed this Painted Elephant out of the puddles. I used a brush, tapped against my sink to create the splatter effect and I also used a small brush to pull down the tusks and provide definition to the trunk.
The original is 14x18 and framed for $375. It is also available in various sizes, on either fine art paper or canvas as an archival giclee print. Please ask for a quote. Thank you!