Change

Change....it comes to all of us sooner or later.  I know, I know....change can be a big ole pain!  Sometimes though change is needed to make something better or easier or just more fun.  I hope you will agree that is the case here.  I'm changing my blog.  I'm moving on to the Wordpress platform and I'm hoping you will come and see all the new and exciting things I will be offering.   So, please...take a chance and click on the link below....

Goode Studio

Thank You!

Kansas to Texas

Life has just been crazy of late.  We have been back in Lafayette for about 2 weeks, but we will be heading out to Kansas on Sunday.  We have been invited to a wedding reception there and decided....what the hey....why not!  From there we are going to head down to Texas.  My hubby's Mom is in the final stages of Alzheimer's and we decided we would go down for one last visit.  She no longer remembers who we are, but we remember and we love her and that is all that matters now.  "Mama" is such a sweetie, but don't get her riled or you might find a hoe handle across your back side...LOL!  She raised three rowdy boys, one of which I was lucky enough to marry.  You did a great job, Mama.....you loved unconditionally, you gave everything you could, and you asked for nothing in return.  You always seemed to have a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face and never...never at a loss for words.  You made your little corner of the world a happier place....

New Projects

Hey y'all, I finally had some time to work on a few projects.  The first is a completed painting of an Indigo Bunting.  Such a beautiful bird, rich in color.  I'm playing with a new surface, this is painted on 160lb hot press watercolor paper.  I do like the smooth surface, but I think I'm going to try a heavier weight next time around.  I'm using DecoArt Traditions Acrylic as my medium.  I also sealed this painting with Satin varnish.  I felt the watercolor paper was "dulling" my colors a bit and the varnish brings them back to life!

8 inch by 8 inch

Here is a work in progress of a cute little chipmunk.  He played peak-a-boo with me for about 15 minutes in and out of a freshly fallen tree.  I'm finding the textures of the tree great fun to paint and experiment with.......

 8 inch by about 7 inch

Same surface and medium.  Probably will not be able to get back to this til we land in Indiana.  Right now we are moving every couple of days so there is just no time to paint.

Custer State Park

Oh give me a home........where the Buffalo roam........

My darling husband and I took a drive through Custer State Park here in South Dakota.  I was hoping to see some wildlife and boy, oh boy did I ever.......

Buffalo, beautiful buffalo!

Baby Buffalo!

This little guy was still a wee bit on the wobbly side!

Isn't that beard awesome....whata face!

A little further down the road, we spotted this graceful Pronghorn.  I just love the markings on the fur!

It was just a spectacular day and now I have this overwhelming urge to paint a buffalo!  LOL!

One of My Heroes

Jane Goodall is one of my heroes.  Not only because of what she has done for the Chimpanzees, but also her dedication and determination to the cause.  She is truly an amazing and inspiring woman.  I have been enjoying the many interviews she has given promoting the new Disney documentary, Chimpanzee.  It is all about a little baby Chimpanzee who lost it's mother.  I have not seen the movie yet, but the previews look fabulous.

I have been to many zoos and always enjoy seeing the Chimps.  I can only image what it must be like living among them in the wild.  What strength and courage it must have taken!  So thank-you Jane Goodall....thank you for reaching out, for shouting from the roof tops, for making us STOP and LISTEN and LEARN.  All God's creatures are such precious gifts, they need our love, our compassion, and above all our respect. 

Here is a few photos I captured of a little baby chimpanzee.....

How can you not love that sweet face!

Travel Time

Just a quick post to let you all know we are on the move.  Heading north, slowly making our way toward South Dakota.  My husband needs to have his license renewed by April 6th.  Thank goodness the spring weather has come early to the midwest!  Hopefully the warmth will continue so we won't freeze to death....LOL!  I'll post here when I can, but you can also check out our travel blog if you are curious about our journey.

Seagulls Part 3

I'm afraid it is getting a bit crazy around here as we prepare to leave Florida and start our journey North.  We are leaving a bit earlier than usual, but we need to get our driver's license renewed.  South Dakota makes you do this in person....sure hope the above normal temps continue! 

Here is the latest on my Seagull painting.....

I'm pretty happy so far!  My palette consist of White, Black, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Medium Grey, Raw Sienna, Hansa Yellow Medium, Glazing Medium.  These are all DecoArt Traditions acrylics.  I'm working on an 11x14 gessoboard.  Yes, I did start out on illustration board and absolutely hated it.  Nothing really wrong with it....it just behaves so differently from the gessoboard.  It really drinks in the paint...which translates to less working time...which translates into way to much frustration..for me anyway! Questions and comments are always welcome here!

"Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."
Albert Einstein