Out and About - Schafer State Park

This weekend we needed a little break and decided to head to Schafer State Park just 12 miles north of Elma, Washington. It is a small campground near a river with short trails perfect for a little walk around. There is no camping in the off season so part of the park was closed, but in the summer you can wade in the river and I believe that there is a little concession stand that has ice cream and such. It is right along the Satstop river and there looked to be quite a few fishermen out along downstream the river.

Toshi loves the snow, and since moving to the Pacific Northwest he has been quite disappointed by the lack of snowfall compared to what he was used to in Nebraska. However, he has found interest in the many rivers and streams that Washington has to offer. I'm pretty sure he could investigate the river all day and never be bored!

There was lots of this ground frost near the river. I looked it up later and the moisture conditions in the area are good for interesting frost formations.

I had to get my photograph with the mossy tree branches. Yep!

Holiday Ornaments!

Every year I try to do something a little different with ornaments and this year I'm featuring animals in holiday sweaters. Even your pet friends like to get spiffied up for the holiday occasion! They are each hand-painted by myself and hand-carved by fellow Etsy artist "SuppliesbyWKStudios" who makes blank carved figures for painting.

Holiday ornaments are now available in my Shop!

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone has a grand time trick or treating this Halloween. Toshi our Shiba couldn't decide which costume he wanted to wear. Pumpkin or Space Pup....it's a hard decision but I think he's more partial to being crew-member for NASA.

Cat's really don't do the costume thing (no matter how hard we try!), but they do love investigating pumpkins.

Our pumpkins after we carved them up. I went with a witch cat silhouette while Matt made a grinning pumpkin. Happy Halloween!

Take a run in the forest...

Just wanted to share with you a commission based on a miniature pinscher who loves to run around chasing the neighborhood squirrels. I love meeting friends or clients pets, whether it's through photos or actually getting to put them in person, working with our four-legged friends is always a treat.

Take Your Trusty Travel Pal

What started as a fun illustration based on our dog Toshi, has expanded to incorporate more of my favorite dog breeds. Toshi loves camping and I imagined what he would take with him if he could pack his own travel gear. He thinks cats are quite silly but he likes playing with them and would make a fine little nest to tote them around I think.

Here's our sleepy Shiba Inu, Toshi last time we went camping. This is less adventure time and more siesta time.

For the rest of the series I picked Airedale Terrier, Rough Collie, and a gentle giant Newfoundland. I
have plans for more dog breeds to join the pack eventually.

These original paintings are available in my online Etsy Shop.

Airedale, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on paper, Available

Rough Collie, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on paper, Available

Newfoundland, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on paper

Toshi LOVES Snow.

Well snow shouldn't be super special or even a surprise, but this winter has been very strange in Nebraska. We have had many sunny 60 degree days of late. Not at all typical and we knew that we would pay for it one of these days...and today's the day! We should get maybe a foot of snow by the end of the day and our dog Toshi couldn't be more thrilled. He pines for the snow, he thinks about snow day and night, and when it's finally here....well the grin on his face says everything.

I have to admit that I was waiting for the snow too. 

Matt took these photos out on our walk, check out his blog for more snow photos.

Happy Holiday's

Been a busy last few weeks...finishing commissions, wrapping presents...then unwrapping presents! Here are a few photo highlights of my holiday festivities (and yes I finally got an iphone and got on the instragram photo bandwagon!).

 Every nerd needs a 8-bit wreath to add that geeky cheer. (Available at Thinkgeek if you need to add to your 8bit collection)

 

 These are adorable mini sweaters my mom-in-law knit my guy and I for our x-mas tree. Modeled after the sweaters Ron's mom made Harry and Ron every winter, these are just so awesome we will probally keep them out all year round!

My family started out Christmas-eve with a gigantic appetizer spread. Part of said spread was a great cheese tray with lots of fun cheesy delights.

Mr Toshi here posing beautifully as he get's fed his favorite treat...banana chips! 

It's a tradition here at our house that whenever you leave your seat there will soon be a cat to take your spot. Here Kit and Mochi both went for my desk chair. Notice how they are both avoiding eye contact with me...thinking that if they don't see me they won't have to move it!

Here is a little sneak peek of what I am currently working on in the studio. This February at the Lux Center in Lincoln, I will be having a show featuring 50 of these mini paintings and other goodies. These little works are glimpses into the lives of the woodland inhabitants. Many tea parties and adventures to be had in the Woodland Shade!

NEW! Sculpted Pins/Brooches

Every once and a while I get a hankering to do some sculpting 3-dimensional work. This is one of those such occasions when brainstorming ideas for creations this upcoming fall/winter season

So making their grand debut today are my sculpted pins/brooches based on characters from my paintings. In case you didn't notice I am very excited for fall and Halloween!

 They are sculpted from polymer clay, then baked in the oven. Next they are hand-painted and sealed.

I wanted to do a sculpted version of Toshi our Shiba Inu, but then the cats felt left out so I did a Ragdoll/Siamese mix to represent our cat. I feel quite attached to these, little reminders of my pet kids... so I'm opening up a Custom Pet Portrait listing in my shop to cater to the pet lovers out there.

A variety of sculpted pins plus the Custom Pet pin/brooch are available in my Etsy Shop.