Queen Mermaid~ Queen of the Sea

She enjoys relaxing in a nice cup of tea. :) I personally love tea and have to have it everyday, English style with a little milk added. I thought it would be fitting for me to do a piece that combines two of the things I love- mermaids and tea! Of course she couldn't be just any mermaid, I had to give it a British spin.
I included the page from my sketchbook where I originally worked out the idea. My Moleskine sketchbook  is where I work out all the images and ideas for new art. It's fun for me to look back at where the idea began and how it changed into my final piece.

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SUP paddleboarder

It's no secret. I do love paddle boarding. So, I just had to create a paddle boarding girl.
And we all need to be reminded that "Life is short.. Enjoy the Ride". Enjoy whatever moment you are in, enjoy the process. It's not always about the finished product. Or the finished achievement. Just enjoy the process. Art is very much that way for me. Sometimes I get caught up in the feeling that I have to complete a piece just to have it done, but it's actually more about the process of creating it that's the most fun.
So here she is - in blonde or brunette available in my  Etsy shop

Never the Same Wave...

I'm very happy with my newest surfer girl. : )

I was inspired to write this quote when I sat watching the kids in a surf competition. My older daughter was on Surf Team at school this year.

I watched the waves, and the kids catching some, having a good ride, missing some waves, occasionally wiping out,etc. and I just thought about how every single wave is different. Every single ride is different moment to moment. And how it's kind of like life. ;)

This one is now available in my Etsy shop for all size prints on paper, canvas and wood too.
Etsy

Sisterly Love

                                

A very dear friend of mine recently bought my Mermaid Sister art print to give to her sister as a gift on her 50th birthday.

What I love is the story behind why she chose to give her sister my mermaid art. She truly has the gift of story telling so I want to share the story in her words....

I have to tell you both a little childhood story that explains why this piece resonated with me. When My sister and I were little kids, we lived in a Spanish style house in Glendale. The bathroom had pink and black vintage tile from the 30s and it had a big tub separate from the shower stall. On the wall above the tub, my mother had hung two glazed, ceramic mermaids. Their tails were a beautiful iridescent, pearly blue. One was slightly larger (the older sister) with long, flowing hair and she held a hand mirror in one hand and primped her hair with the other while looking into the mirror. The other mermaid was smaller (the younger sister) with a perky pony tail and she held a large, pink iridescent pearl in her hands like a beach ball. She looked out towards anyone in the bathroom with a playful, sly look. My sister and I used to take our baths together and we would sit at the top of the back of the bathtub and slide down the "hill" into the water. We would do this over and over again, all the while pretending we were the mermaids on the wall. We must have been really tiny because we were able to slide down together, side by side, "swim" under water in that tub and, then, safely stop before we, in our imagination, were taken under by the "waterfall" coming from the faucet! When my parents sold that house and moved to the SF Valley, then to Simi, the mermaids got packed away. My mom can't remember what she did with them. Over the years, My sister periodically looked for them in boxes in the garage. They were important to her. 

So….you can see why this is such a sweet birthday present! The mermaids are now in their 50s, but we are still as close as those two little girls were. We still have our alter egos — My sister having a wicked sense of humor and still being cute and perky. Me, I guess I have to admit I'm a belly-button gazer, always analyzing myself, much more self-centered than my sister, just like that mermaid looking in her mirror. Ha ha ha!

I think this gift will set the tone nicely for the 6 days I will spend with my sister this week!

I loved hearing this story. This is what my art is all about, childhood and imagination, pretending you are a mermaid with your sister, what a great memory. And they are still good friends. I love that my art can be relevant to both young girls imaginations as well as older girls and women, maybe finding and regaining a piece of their own childhood.

Ride the Waves

My brand new surfer girl. : ) This was a fun one to create. I've included the quote from John Kabat-Zinn on Surfing. Love this quote. It applies to life as well as surfing.
She's up for grabs in my Etsy Shop!

Find your words

Find your voice, express yourself. Create. Find your spark. Be bold, be true. Always be true to who you are.
That's the message behind my newest art. : )

Why I do what I do

Sometimes we are all filled with self doubt. Am I right?
When I'm being negative, I think, why am I creating all this art? It just hangs on walls or collects dust.... sometimes I really do think that.
But then, I hear the stories from the people who buy my art and hang it on their walls. The father who is away overseas fighting for our country who buys my book and art for his little girl to show her how much he loves and misses her, the women who need a reminder to start living their dreams so they buy my art that has inspirational quotes, the little girls who just love unicorns and love to look at them on their walls....
Then I know why I'm doing this everyday.
To quote one of my favorite artists again
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."
~ Pablo Picasso

Be True to YOU

Be who you are. Have the courage to accept yourself as you really are, not as as someone else thinks you should be. 

To be true to yourself takes courage.It means that you will not let others define you or make decisions for you that you should make for yourself. 

That's what this new piece is about. I think it's so important for all of us to be mindful of this, but especially for young teenage girls who are figuring themselves out and can fall into peer pressure so easily.

Be honest with yourself and how YOU feel, Be true to the very best that is in you.

New work! Sparkle Girls

I'm finally getting some work done! ; ) I've been trying some new techniques, and creating some girls. They have a more illustrated feel and I'm having fun with that.

These are about finding your inner sparkle and letting it shine.

Moonbeams and Fairy Kisses is Published!!

Drumroll.....after years in the making, our book is finally published!!! Whoo hoo!

Moonbeams and Fairy Kisses is a book of poetry for girls that my talented writer hubby, Jesse, started writing before our first daughter was born. The first poem's inspiration was for our niece, Maegan. Then we had our little girls, and the poems kept coming. Jesse really has  captured the innocence, imagination and wonder of being a child in his poems.

Jesse would always ask- "WHEN are you ever going to illustrate my poems so we can publish our book?" Well, it took me a few years, but I DID it! First I had to find my style which took some time, and then the rest came naturally.

Most of the artwork I already sell as prints in my Etsy shop are in this book. I've basically been selling them as I slowly grew the collection of art for this project.

So finally, with the help of my super-talented mom,Gina, who is amazing with type and layout we got this book together and self published it! Yeah!!!

Now it's going to be available for purchase in my Etsy shop. (And everywhere else too if I have my way! : )))

Giveaway Alert!!!

 The Surfer Wife is hosting a giveaway of my art and jewelry! Why, might you ask? Because she is a groovy chick and she digs my art so much she wants to share it with the world!! : )
If you want the details on this awesome giveaway, hop over to her highly entertaining and oh-so-readable- blog at The Surfer Wife

The deadline to enter is this Thursday Dec.6th so watcha waitin' for??

I'm teaming up with Pachis an art studio for kids

Pachis is a great little art studio for kids ages 4-12 in San Diego. Their owner has a unique and fun curriculum. You can visit their website here       http://www.mypachis.com/

Pachis also has a gallery and sells art and handmade items for kids and adults! Local artists from San Diego and Mexico are featured. My art is now being featured and is up for sale there with other local artists. : )

If you're in the area, visit Pachis . It's fun and inspiring!

Vacation is good for the soul

Aloha, I'm back from our family vacation. It was amazing, and now I'm renewed.:) One thing I took away from this experience is to remember to get out and enjoy natural beauty everyday, no matter where you live. There's beauty everywhere if you look for it.heres a little scenic beauty for you...

I've been featured on Loving the Bike's website!

My print of "Follow Your Own Path" has been featured on a cool website called Loving The Bike 
I wanted to shout out a big thank you to them. They have a lot of nice things to say about me and my art. : )
They also have a great site if you are a bike lover, like me. I just love riding my beach cruiser.
Pay them a little visit at   http://lovingthebike.com/

Summer Surfer Girl

Summertime is in full swing on the coast where I live and I was inspired to paint this surfer girl. I love how she turned out and I plan on making a few more.
Happy summer to everyone ,and if you surf, happy surfing.

Boot art to help Stomp out Breast Cancer

I took an old cowboy boot , painted it  and used my mixed media to turn it into an art piece. I wanted this piece to be about inner strength, hope, friendship and support from sisters, girlfriends, family and women.
It's now going to be auctioned off at a  Boobs On the Move charity auction to raise money for breast cancer research and prevention.  Painting on a cowboy boot was fun and a challenge, and it feels good to think my art might really help such a worthy cause. I hope it raises lots of money!

Pink Girl is going on the Road

My new Pink Girl is going on a traveling exhibition with other works of art to help people with cancer and to raise awareness about prevention with the Cancer On Canvas Art Competition and the Giving hArts Charity. I'm honored to be helping people going through something so difficult with my art.
The inspiration for her came from one of Audrey Hepburn's famous quotes " I believe in Pink". She was truly an amazing woman who also battled cancer. To me, "I Believe in Pink" means a lot of things. It means being in touch with your femininity and being proud of it. Its ok to be girly, you can be girly and still be a strong empowered woman. It also has come to symbolize breast cancer awareness and hope for a cure. It symbolizes strength and sisterhood when girlfriends support  each other through tough times.

I'm thrilled to be helping those in need through my art. Thats what it's all about.

My new Pink Girl

I love this quote from Audrey Hepburn. And I'm happy with my newest girl. She's a little bit shabby, a little grungy, but she's also pink and sparkly, deep down.
I played with lots of layers and really enjoyed creating this one - learned some new techniques in layering. Thanks to Suzie Blu. Love you girl!♥
I've realized that if I don't create at least once a week I get pretty grumpy. It's just something I have to do and it keeps me sane. : )

Pink girl is now available in my etsy shop

Follow Your Own Path

So - yay another painting finished!! This one is called Follow Your Own Path. It's an image thats been in my head for a while so I'm glad to have it finally on canvas.

It's about how everyone needs to be on their own path in life, learning what they need to learn, and respecting that we are each on our own path - not interfering with or judging others too much and just being true to yourself.

Oh yes, and she is now available as a print in my etsy shop

Peace Out everyone. : )

New Aloha Girl Art

Yay! I'm creating new work. Our book is finally finished and coming together (more on that later) , leaving me more free to create new things! So excited! So here is my latest....

The inspiration for her came while I was drinking my favorite beer- Longboard Lager - ;-)
And I also wanted to create a more ethnic darker skinned girl. I'm really happy with how she turned out.
Mahalo!
You can purchase her as a print in my etsy shop