Merry Christmas to all

 

Merry Christmas to all my Family and Friends, May we all find Comfort and Joy.

 

Our Christmas tree for 2012

 

 

 

Twinkle lights just seem to appear in my yard this time of year.

 

MY LOVE TO ALL.......

Life takes me on all types of journeys.  As one of my favorite saying goes.......
..........LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR!..........But I always come back to the art.  Still selling coffee though.
WELL to update you, I have a new online store at ZAZZLE.COM.  www.zazzle.com/linsartwork   Go check it out.  Products for everyone.  T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Greeting cards,electronic covers, and a whole lot more....Go and see. tap on the Mother's Day Box and see.

Well my life has taken a different turn than I had anticipated.  A good one though.  I am now an Organo Gold Coffee Distributor and loving it.  My art is still there as I do still take commissions. BUT I am creating a new business and hopefully a new life.  It is exciting to go to the meetings and meet new poeple who are also excited about their lives. This organization has changed many lives for the better.  But you have to remember you get back what you put in.

I am leaning towards the fundraising avenue that Organo Gold has available.  It is simple to use. And has the potential to be a huge success for any church, schoool, foundation etc. that uses it.

100% of the retail profits can be given to the organization or church that holds a fundraising event.  No other opportunity is out there that can do that.  Most fundraisers give back approx. 35%.  NOT US!!

The Purpose of the Organo Gold Fundraising Vehicle is to help generate funds for teams, groups, non-profit organizations, and any other cause you need money for



 How to Get Started

1. Choose a Campaign Organizer
2. Determine Your Financial Goals
3. Date of Campaign
4. Number of Participants
5. Secure your OG Fundraising Forms
6. Complete and Review the Non-Profit Free Sign-Up Form  (Place initial order)
7. Promote Fundraiser
8. Get Started!
9. GTC-Get the Cash, Check or Credit Card !

email me at linsartwork01@gmail.com when you are ready to have a fun FUNDRAISING EVENT.

remember when OG is in you....You are in OG!!!!!!

Gift for Susan and Mark

My sister in law has been after me for quite a few years, hinting here and there that she would like a painting of mine.  Well I surprised her the other Sunday and gave her a 4'x6' painting.  She said she had always admired the painting I gave Bill and Dawn - John's brother and wife- of a street in Key West and my painting of Key West Lighthouse, so I combined the 2 essentially and painted one of Whitehead Street, Key West with the lighthouse in the background. ( FYI: Key West Lighthouse and Ernest Hemingways house is on Whitehead St)  She loves it.  Thank god, because I get nervous doing paintings as gifts, I always think, what would I do if they say, 'Oh thats nice."  I would be so upset if someone didnt like my painting I did for them. It was a great moment. I do love what I do.

Whitehead Street, Key West.  4'x6' Acrylic

Chicken Coop

John and I want to have chickens running around our acreage, so we decided to build a coop. We bought all kinds of books and read up on the chickens.  We would like to have about a dozen (or more) of 4 varieties: Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks and Leghorns. NO Rooster --my neighbor said he'd shoot it-- they are noisy and you dont need one to get eggs, only if you want chicks.  All our breed choices are prolific layers, so we should expect quite a lot of eggs. Then when they stop laying, they become dinner!  I cannot wait. but we are having a hard time trying  to find the time to finish the chicken coop.

We built the coop from scratch with 2x4's and reclaimed wood from an old fence

John's quite clever and talented at this. He had the whole thing designed in his head. Although its taking longer than he had thought it would.



Its coming along quite nicely!!





  This is the coop all painted .  looks good.  but it still needs the enclosed area for our feathered friends to play in and the roosting bars inside.



These boxes on the outside are nesting boxes that John designed so that we can get the eggs out easily and not disturb to chickens. We're so thoughtful :)





So as of today.... This is as far as we have gotten. 

We are 95% complete. IF we could just find 1 more day of no interruptions we could get the %$^& thing finished :)  Life gets in the way of all the fun sometimes. We have their screened lanai up but not completely screened yet.  We have to finish the roosting bars,the little ramps to get inside coop, finish screening and then put a 18" barrier underground so that the other critters cant get in and eat the chickens. When thats done we can go get the little buggers and make them work for their supper, cause I want eggs.!!!!   All this fuss so I can get fresh eggs.  But I think it will be worth it.

Next after this I think I will start raising RABBITS!!!!! 



Spinach, Bean Potato Soup

I am a lazy cook, but as my sweet mother in law tells everyone -" Its not that Linda can't cook, its that she doesn't like to cook."  She loves me! :)
I am constantly trying new recipe ideas and I come up with some tasty ones. I love one pot meals and I mix and match ingredients til it works - Im glad my husband likes soup!!!  This one was pretty good.  I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy.

You can use any canned bean that you like, I just happened to have these on hand.

Spinach, Bean, Potato Soup

Ingredients:

5lb Potatoes- peeled and cut into pieces
2 bags Spinach
1 can Black Bean with juice
1 can Northern Bean with juice
1/2 cup marg
1/2 cup of half and half
1/2 milk
garlic powder
salt to taste
1 tbsp  pepper

Boil  potatoes 20-25 mins in large pot. use enough water to cover potatoes 2 inches or so.

Drain approx 1/2 the liquid off. You can throw it away you will not be using it.

Fold  the rest of the ingredients into the pot of boiled potatoes gently. you can break up the potatoes if they are still too big or leave them if you want a more chunky soup.

Let simmer for 1 hour.

Serve.

add extra salt and pepper to taste.

this makes approx 12 - 1 cup servings.  approx 365 calories per cup.

Anything can be painted

     Anything can be painted. Don't throw your favorite items out just because you don't like the color or the condition of the piece.  Friends of ours, bought a sculpture online that they didnt really like when they got it.  But don't fret... they asked if there was anything that I could do.  I said I can paint practically anything. Let me try.  And here we are a few days later.. A beautiful red tailed hawk emerged from a rusty old bird sculpture.


 

Newly emerged Red-Tail Hawk from rusty old sculpture

Anything can be painted as long as you prepare the surface correctly.  I painted my pots from red to blue because I wanted the blue color and didn't want to buy new pots. Because the pots are on display, I didnt primer them, I just painted over them and then finished them with a coat of poly.  This was intentional, as it allows me to take the paint off if I ever decide to go back to the red pot again. Most of the time I use a primer that will permanently bond the paint to the surface.


Red pot




Same pot painted blue with an antique finish.




Painted Trunk

This trunk is over 40 years old.  It was a regular blue color with no legs.  I painted it to look like wood with a leopard skin thrown over it.  I did this 15 years ago and it still looks great today.  As a matter of fact I'm still using it for storage.

 

I found an old night table at a consignment shop.  It was too short for our bedroom and, of course, I didnt like the color. So I added legs made out of PVC pipe and............

......Painted it to fit my decor in our bedroom. 
 It looks great and is still functioning quite nicely.


Remember......Anything can be painted!!!!
If you have something you'd like painted email me for either instructions on DIY
or hire me to paint it for you.

HAVE FUN!







Seascapes

       I do like a variety of  work.  Although portraits are my favorite subject to paint or draw, I create them in a tight controlling style.  With my landscapes and seascapes I enjoy the release of that control and free myself  to be impressionistic.  I hope you enjoy them.

"Seashore"



"Golden Shores"




"Gone Fishing"



"Sunrise over the Gulf"



"Sunset through the Trees"




"Thunderstorm"



"Waves"



"Waves through the trees"




"The Cove"



Marylin Monroe

My daughter and her family moved into their own home last year.  In the heat of decorating I said I would paint her some paintings for her room.  Well I didnt know that it was going to be a portrait of Marylin Monroe.  But I think it turned out pretty darn good if you ask me.



This is a photo of the portrait in the studio




and this is a photo of where it will call home.



Portraits in Black and White

I put together a collection of my pen and ink drawings of pets and people.  One of my favorite artworks to create are portraits. 

Check out my Etsy shop to see more. You can purchase your favorite or have a commission done just for you..

Enjoy!

"Jonathan"

"Goldie"



 



"Jessica"


  

"Molly"





"Canada Goose"




"Champ"




"Goldie and Chloe at Christmas"



"Jazzy on Beach"





Pen and Ink Drawings

I have been drawing in pen and ink for over 30 years or more now. I love to draw. It is my meditation. One of the best days I covert is to sit on the couch with my drawing on my lap,watching reruns of movies while I doodle -half the time the movie is just for background. I have been known to sit there for 6 or more hours at a time. love it!

This is a sample collection of my pen and ink drawings of scenery and houses. All are available at my Etsy shop for purchase as prints, notecards or originals. visit Linsartwork.Etsy.com and see more.
Enjoy

'Ellington  Ct Farmhouse"



"Palm Cottage Naples FL"   




"Naples Pier"




"Cottage in the Tropics"




"Coki Cay, St Thomas"




"Key West house, Key West Fl"




"Going Home, Haiti"




"Victorian Window in New England"



Chalk Drawings

         On January 28th 2012 I entered my first chalk drawing event in Naples. It was so much fun!!! If I could do that for a living and make money I'd be there!!  I did an anamorphic illusion in honor of the big chalk drawing artist around the world. Ive been watching them for years and love what they do.  Do not fret... I will be doing this again.

                                                              

Portraits

 Portraits in Color.

My favorite artworks to create are portraits.



"Chloe" 18"x24" Acylic on canvas

Here is a portrait of my Cocker Spanial, Chloe painted with acrylic on canvas.
She is not with us anymore. This portrait is a unique memory of her that I will always cherish.

     

"Curiosity"  18"x24" Acrylic on canvas

My daughter and granddaughter enjoying their backyard on a sunny day.
 Capturing a moment in time will always be cherished



"Max" 16"x20" Watercolor on Hot press paper

Max is a German Shepard who passed away just before this portrait was completed.
 He was a beautiful tender hearted companion.



"Jazmine Sleeping' 18"x36" Acrylic on canvas

Our granddaughter resting after a big Thanskgiving dinner.

She looked so peaceful  I knew I had to put it down on canvas.

  





"Yacht on Intercoastal" 10"x14" watercolor on hot press paper

Living near the water I always get asked if I can create a portrait of  a boat.
 Usually I get a photo or see the boat tied up at the dock, but this time I got to
 see it underway.  It was wonderful to see the boat on the water.

 



"Goldie" 18"x24" watercolor on hot press paper.

Goldie is Chloe's sister. they were from the same litter. But their personalities
could not have been any different. Goldie hated to go outside and get her feet wet.
Chloe loved it!  Goldie was a girly girly dog, Chloe was a tomboy! Amazing !





"John Relaxing" 24"x30" Acrylic on canvas

This is the 1st portrait I have done of my husband.  Every stroke went perfectly.

Not many paintings happen that way, so I was loving it. It captures him in a

quiet moment while sitting on the dock by our house.

He never sits still, so this was a joy to do.



"Antigua" 18"x36" Acrylic on canvas

Went on a cruise in the Carribbean. Had such a blast. Love cruising.
  I took many photos along the way because I knew I would have to create at least a
half a dozen paintings from my trip. This is a shot of the island of Antigua as the ship was coming
into port.  The water was so clear I wanted to capture the feel of looking through it to the depths below.



"First Landing" 12"x30" Acrylic on canvas

Flying has always been a dream of my husbands. When we were younger we both
took a flight in a glider. Now, 30 years later, he has his pilots licence in both sailplanes
and small power planes.  Never say never, you never know! 
This is a commerative portrait of his first landing as a student in the glider.  



"Paradox" 18"x24" watercolor on hot press paper

Custom Portrait of a house that was given to the new homeowner
 as a house warming gift. It was wonderful to be a part of creating
a special moment for someone.



"Rent Me!" 30"x30" Acrylic on canvas

Our friends were at an outdoor event and, as they are older now, they found
 that they cannot walk all day without aid.  They found these electric chairs to be a great
way to get  around, I found them hysterical!!