A Survivor

8x10"
pastel on archival sanded paper

Life is kind of like this old building.
You can survive the storms that
come your way. Just dig into the
foundation you were built on
and it will keep you strong.

Tomatoes, Basil and Garlic

4 x 10"
pastel on archival sanded paper

I want to give credit to Nicole Caulfield for

taking this photo and allowing members of

wet canvas to use it.
I loved working on this composition.The reflections on the colander and the bright red of the tomatoes are my favorite.

Great ingredients for spaghetti sauce. In fact, here is my recipe.

This painting is for sale, but my recipe is free. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pounds Italian sausage links, sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 6 to 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 3 cans (24 ounces total) tomato sauce
• 2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried leaf basil, crumbled
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried leaf oregano, crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 cup water
• grated parmesan cheese

In a Dutch oven or large kettle, brown sausage slices. Drain off grease and add olive oil to pan. Add onion, green bell pepper and mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are tender. Add remaining ingredients, except Parmesan cheese.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 2 to 3 hours.
Add more water and reduce heat if sauce becomes too thick.
Serve with hot cooked spaghetti and pass the Parmesan cheese.
Makes enough spaghetti sauce for 6 servings.

Tulips

5x7"
pastel on handmade sanded paper

I didn't have any of the manufactured
sand paper, so I made some myself. Today's
painting was painted on it. I like the store bought
stuff better because it is more uniform in texture.
This paper had a lot of grooves and bumps
making it difficult to get the clean edges
that I like. But, there is a place for this
type of ground too, depending on the subject.

Along the Pacific Coast Highway

5x7"
pastel on sanded paper

This was painted from a photo that I took
about three years ago. I don't recall
the exact area along the coast. Anyway,
I wanted to capture the serenity of the area.
No traffic, no people. Just surf and turf.

Silly Tillie

5x6"
pastel on sanded paper
This really captures her personality.
Bostons always look good in red.

This is my 3 year old Boston Terrier, Tillie.
She is very energetic, good natured and loves to eat.
This recipe is for one of her favorite homemade treats.

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup unsalted natural peanut butter
1 cup skim milk
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Grease cookie sheets. Stir together the flour and baking powder
Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter & milk.
Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Turn out dough onto
a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll out to
1/4 inch thickness and cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
Place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown.
Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Suga Dawg

5x7"
Mixed media on paper
This is a painting of my dog Sugar.
My daughter likes to dress her up occasionally.
She doesn't seem to mind.

The painting was made with acrylic tube paints,

watercolor, ink and acrylic "tulip" paint.

Grapes and Pears

8x10"
pastel on archival sanded paper

This was painted from a photo, however

the set up had one direct light and a foil

reflector to give the golden color in the background.

There is a glow to the pears and the grapes. And if

you will notice, reflective light in several areas.

Silhouette with Flare

8x10"
pastel on suede mat board
I was feeling somewhat bored with
the small fruits, veggies and plants.
Feeling uncreative. So, I needed to try something
really different. Today's painting has helped
the creative flow. This was fun!

The flares from this photo offered some

colorful, abstract forms that I wanted to

capture with pastel, plus the backlighting on

the figure, gave a nice effect. I will most likely

explore this type of subject again.

Succulent

5x6"
pastel on archival sand paper

Today's subject was not about color, but about light.

My goal for today's daily painting, was to

capture the contrast of the light and dark.

When any subject is in strong sunlight, the color

washes out, but the light remains.

Hibiscus

6x6"
pastel on archival sanded paper

When you look at a flower, as a whole, it is beautiful.

But have you ever stopped and just looked inside.

It's a whole nutha world in there!

Today's focus is on the beauty that is in within.

Dig deep. Look, and really see.

Purple Crocus

5x7"
pastel on archival sanded paper

Crocus are thefirst flowers that come up around my house.

A welcomed sight, after a cold, uncolorful winter.

For today's painting, I wanted to make the blooms really pop

with color, so I used a dark background to help with that. Notice

that it's not black either. Just an intensely dark purple.

Cherries

6x6"
pastel on archival sanded paper

Today's painting was about capturing

the shadows. Have you ever noticed that

any cast shadow will have a hard edge?

See the shadow cast down from the bowl.

Have you ever noticed that any form shadow

will have a soft edge? Look at the shadow

that forms the bowl.

Next time you're out, study some shadows.

Ok, enough of the art lesson, check out my recipe

for cherry pie.

INGREDIENTS
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

(I use the Crisco shortening recipe)
4 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
4 cups pitted cherries
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).

Place bottom crust in piepan.

Cover the top crust and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl combine tapioca, salt,

sugar, cherries and extracts.

Let stand 15 minutes.

Pour fruit mixture onto the bottom crust and dot with butter.

Cover with top crust, flute edges and cut vents in top.

Place pie on a foil lined cookie sheet --- in case of drips!
Bake for 50 minutes, until golden brown.

Pastel Weave

5X7"
pastel and colored pencil on paper
Today was an experimental day. I cut
two sketches and wove them together.
Interesting effects I think. Can you
find the Degas blue dancer?

American Goldfinch

8x10"
pastel on suede mat board
I am trying out this new ground to work on.
It's very soft and it accepts the pastel well, but it
is not very forgiving in that any misplaced marks
cannot be erased. It works well for the texture
of the soft feathers.

Pine Cone Treat

4 1/2 cups rendered suet
1 cup dried and crumbled whole wheat bread
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1/4 cup millet
1/4 cup raisins or chopped dried apples

Melt suet in a saucepan over low heat.
Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
Allow the suet to cool until slightly thickened,
then stir it into the mixture in the bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Stuff the mixture in between the "petals" of a pine cone.
Hang onto an tree and watch your birds devour it!

Cardinals

8x10"
Colored pencil on paper

Raccoons

16x20"
Colored pencil on board
This was a commissioned piece
for a lady who loves raccoons.
Such expressive eyes they have!

Gold Pears

5x7"
pastel on archival sanded paper

Crushed Velvet

16x20"
pastel on suede matboard

Strawberry

5x5"
pastel on archival sanded paper

Mirror Pond

9x12"
pastel on archival sandpaper

Fruiting Cactus

5x8"
pastel on archival sanded paper
I always thought that cacti were
found west of here, but low and behold
Arkansas has cacti in Devil's Den State Park.

Lemon on Gray

5x5"
pastel on arhival sanded paper
This was painted from life right before
I made my lemon mousse for tonight's dessert.
It's so good! Here is the recipe.

Lemon Mousse
serves 4

4 egg yolks
2 grated lemons, zest
1/2 cup lemon juice, strained
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 envelope gelatin
4 tablespoons white rum
2 cups heavy whipping cream
whipped cream

Combine egg yolks, grated zest, juice, and sugar in a mixing bowl.
Place over gently simmering water, and whisk until thickened.
Remove from heat.
Beat with whip on medium speed until cold and thick.
Combine gelatin and rum in a small heatproof bowl and allow to soak 5 minutes.
Place bowl over a pan of simmering water until melted.
Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Whip cream on medium speed until it just holds its shape.
Whisk the gelatin into the yolk mixture.
Fold in the whipped cream.
Pour the mousse into a bowl or individual glasses.
Garnish with whipped cream and berries.

Filberts

5x5"
pastel on archival sanded paper
Another painting that I wanted
to achieve more texture . I really
like the way this turned out. The
softness of the background and the
wood table helps the hardness of
the nuts stand out.

Ground Hog Day

Well, of course this is not a groundhog.
It's my dog Buster! But if you'll notice,
he has a shadow beside him, which
means we'll have six more weeks of winter.

Pink Ladies

6x6"
pastel on archival sanded paper
Today's painting goal was to not overwork,
overdo or overstate. Paint quickly yet achieve a likeness.
I had fun with this and am pleased with the outcome.

This was the 3rd place winner of the miniature category
at the Ozark Pastel Society -Passion for Pastels
Competition 2008.

The following recipe is a great snack.
Apple Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients for Cinnamon Chips

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 8-inch flour tortillas

Ingredients for Harvest Apple Salsa

• 2 medium tart apples, chopped
• 1 medium pear chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped red seedless grapes
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 teaspoons grated orange rind

Directions for cinnamon chips

Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl
(I put this mixture in a spice bottle with holes so I could just sprinkle it on).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Brush tortillas with water.
Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly over both sides of tortillas.
Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges; arrange on baking sheet.
Bake 5- 7 minutes or until golden brown/crisp.
Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Directions for the Harvest Apple Salsa

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Add walnuts just before serving as it will turn the mixture brown.
Chill overnight to create more juice.