It’s Caitlin’s turn to say good morning! This cute little short outfit brought to you by none other than the Easter bunny.

I had mentioned starting work on Mark’s second portrait. Well here are a couple of shots of what’s going on with it. First, we have the full painting, which is an accurate color representation, even tho you can’t see him. The piece is 24×36 on 1-1/2″ deep gallery wrapped canvas, and the sides are gradated to match. Then there’s the close up of his face where you can see his profile outlined. And this is the photo I’m working from here. You like? He’s a handsome fella. I will work on this one soon. Gotta finish up that Daisy, which I plan on working on today. 🙂

Back later with more! Have a great day!

xoxo
-me!

Hey Lolo, when you read this can you confirm this is a Gerber? I’m pretty sure it is, but of course I’m more knowledgeable about animals than flowers.

Well, it’s not quite fuschia yet, but it will be. I spent a couple hours yesterday trying to mix it from primaries and got close, but frustrated. So now by george I think I’ve got it! This is a reeeeealy deep pink right now, not as red as it may look to you, and my next stages will be lightening it up and adding the details. The background color is very cool, it’s not black, it’s like a midnight cobalt blue. I’m thinking about painting the sides of the canvas another color, maybe green? Pale pink? Not sure yet. We shall see.

So there! I’ve been painting! Happy Happy!

Oh yes, ok, I can do a weight loss progress update too, since I’ve been sick and it’s assisted my goals for the month. (iew! but ok.) Ok just counted on the calendar (man I’m behind!)

75 days, down 25.5 lbs., 4.5 lbs to go for goal for the month of April!>Mark called Tuesday night. Once again, thank you guys for keeping him and the guys in your thoughts and prayers. They’ve successfully made their way through some of the tougher times to be had over there. He’s anxious to get the care packages that are on their way, there are a few coming to him from different directions – thank you guys for that, too! You’re the best!

The weather here has been beautiful, my stomach flu is about gone (I couldn’t take it anymore after lastnight and got some quick-stop medicine in my system finally), Lolo thanks for the bag! 😉

So there you have it, on the upswing once again, the pits are the pits are they not? I can do without them!! I hope you are all staying virus and bug-free so far this spring.

Ooh yes I will post a WIP of Mark’s second portrait that I started soon too. Now that the daisy is drying for the day/afternoon I may start working on filling him in and might have something identifiable to show you. My in-laws LOVE it so far… but I think they’re biased, you know? Maybe? A little? Eh that’s ok, doesn’t make ’em wrong, hehe! ::wink-wink::

Feels good to be sorta almost normal. Phew. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! I’ll be back!
xoxoxo

Woah can you see the possum? No? Hm.. I’ll have to fix that! 😉

Seriously, This is my progress for the day. Oils. Gotta let ’em dry. So today, the base coat for the bowl. Tomorrow, the bowl design. Thursday, the possum. Then on to the auction block!

I spent a good portion of the day making very cool labels for the CD’s I mixed for Mark! They’re so cool! Have a look! It took me hours to put them together. I love the one on the top left, that was taken on our (second) wedding day. It really shows how much I love him. Yep. It does. And I do. That much. He called today too. In the middle of the day even! There was a little skirmish today. They’re all ok. Thank God.

No Weight Loss progress to report today! Same same, a day later. I guess you’ll have days like that! Foo on days like that though! Foo I say!

I shipped out my Macaw study today, as well as a print of Possy 2 to the very wonderful owner of the reference photo. Of course all of my reference photo providers and copyrighter-givver-uppers get a free print of the painting if I use their photo. How fun is that! Almost like a free portrait, eh? It’s the least I can do. 🙂

I think I’ll be getting back on the treadmill in a bit. Gotsta stay motivated!

Happy Tuesday all!
xoxoxo

Looks like a table, yea? It better! 😉

This is the beginning of what I’m working on now. There will be a baby possum sitting in a dish on this table. It’ll be so cute! (it’s actually 6×6 – 1 1/2″ gallery wrapped canvas, hehe!)

Not much to report yet today. The weather is gorgeous, nearly 60 degrees, bright bright sun, green green grass – I love spring & summer! I’ve got to get some yardwork done, too! My father in law has a rototiller that I need to borrow to break up some ground and get our patio blocks back in place from the studio construction upheaval.

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRESS: still 20.5 lbs., 59 days! already walked a mile this morning, shy of 30 minutes but my leggies were rubber from yesterday’s near 3-mile walking!

3:15pm CST: I’ve got 3 paintings going at once now! 😀

Catch ya later, have a great day!!
xoxoxo

I painted late into the night lastnight, Timmy is coming along nicely! Here’s another progress photo. I need to finish up the lettering on the side of the book and then work on his layers. I will finish this piece today!

I’m in the process of burning several songs from CD’s to my hard drive so that I can mix and burn a few more for Mark. I’m waiting for 5 more CD’s that I picked up on eBay, and need to pick up a few more at the store that I jotted down in the truck while we were out yesterday. Do you guys keep pens/pencils and paper in the car with you? I have it sitting right in my dash so if I’m ever stopped and think of something or just want to doodle, I have supplies right in front of me. I need to get used to taking my camera along with me wherever I go, too. I am ALWAYS thinking “ug I wish I brought my camera!” when we go places. (Lolo, your photos inspire me to bring it along too! Do you ever forget it and beat yourself up about it?!)

I would love to know what each of your top 5 all-time favorite songs are!

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRESS: DOWN 19 LBS IN 56 DAYS!!!!>:D

Back later! Have a great day!!
xoxoxo

6:00 AM CST, 3:00 PM Baghdad time today, Mark called from his destination in/near Baghdad. It’s been a week since I’ve talked to him and was GREAT to hear his voice. He sounds so good! He said to tell everyone “don’t believe what you see on the news, it is nothing like they make it sound”. Thank God.

I will probably add to this entry later on today, I am going to paint!

Do you like the changes I made here lastnight? Just trying to spiff the place up a bit!

Weight loss progress: down 17.5 lbs. in 54 days.

3:14 PM CST UPDATE
I’ve been painting today, and BOY does it feel good to paint. Between hearing from Mark this morning, getting our first letters from him today, finding a place that might be able to capture a good image to make prints of Alex (the macaw), and diving into oils – It has been a most excellent day! And to top it off, it’s around 67 degrees! 😀

As usual, I will share my work in progress photos of what I’m painting. I love how this cat is coming along, and have spent quite a few hours on it already. View the work in progress: Catnipnap I haven’t decided on the title yet to this piece! That one I just made up to amuse Caitlin. She giggled. 😉

Back later with more!
Hope you’re having a great day, too!

I’ve decided to name this sweetie Alex. It’s a gender free name (since I am not sure of the gender), and it’s abbreviated for Alexandria, which is where I met him (her?). Remember that airplane sketch/study? I will probably include the study with the painting. 🙂 The first WIP shot is pretty funny, looks like blue feathers and a beak just floating around, this one is more grounded. I should have it finished tonight or tomorrow morning and will list it on eBay. (it’s 12×16 in oil)

I am so excited, my new dishwasher will be delivered and installed today!

Since Mark’s initial departure in November, we lost the stove, the furnace, and the dishwasher. I had the stove replaced before he came home for Christmas, the furnace went out shortly after he left again so we had that repaired, and then the dishwasher. I’ve been handwashing for over a month. blech. Yesterday morning, Jayden and I went and picked out the new one, and I am excited to test it immediately with the 4 days of dishes that I have refused to do. hehe!

I began working on my pet portrait commission yesterday, the Cockatiel. What a beautiful bird! I love their rosy cheeks. 🙂 It will be finished later today and go to my client for proof/approval. It felt good to paint yesterday (in india ink), I have to say I am in love with all of my chosen medium. Seems like each new thing I learn in a different medium I can apply to another, and it’s really cool!

I’ve also decided that I am going to rework Mark’s portrait in oils. This will happen between commissions and ebay pieces, either that or I’ll break for a couple of weeks to just paint him. I really want to push myself to do awesome figurative pieces in oil, I also want to feel closer to him by painting him and remembering little things about his appearance that seem to fade with so much time apart. It will be a good thing!

Lastnight I tried to play Dr. Doolittle, with no success. 🙁 I heard a cat crying outside so I went to look for him and saw him, a sweet black cat, near my fence. I approached slowly, and he seemed receptive, rubbing up against the bushes and yowling. I didn’t have any luck making contact though. He wanted to stay out in the cold and snow. fooey.

I spose I better get back to “work”, though it doesn’t seem like work to me!

Have a great day!!
xoxoxo

I’m creating this sweet Bernese Mountain Dog puppy painting for a raffle at the 2004 Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America National Specialty taking place in Mesquite, Texas in just a couple of weeks. It’s 8″x8″ on a canvas panel, in OILLLLLLLLSSSSS 🙂

Here it is now, I finished it up and it’s wet, hence the glare. It’ll be a couple of days before this one is dry enough to ship.

And the first wip shot: