It all began with a lost Christmas present. It's tradition that all presents (that aren't for me, obviously) are kept in my studio, specifically my studio storage closet. However, this past crazy year it became a pile of "This sort of fits here, and I don't have time/brain power to think of a ...
2026-01-01 13:00:20 +0000 UTC View PostUPDATE: Autocorrect did me dirty regarding the spelling of artist Graye Muir-Lewis' name. My sincerest apologies for not catching it before publishing, but it's corrected now!
It wasn't a bad year, per say; nor was it a good year. More than anything, it w...
2025-12-31 15:05:20 +0000 UTC View PostWhew! What a week. First there was Nerdmas with its crazy schedule--6 AM set up, 10 AM - 6 pm hours, then tear down--then the holidays! I say holidays, plural, because my husband's birthday was also this weekend. Given his medical history and the fact he's still here, we tend to make it a big...
2025-12-01 12:38:32 +0000 UTC View PostIt's hard to believe it's new calendar time again, but here we somehow are!
I've spent the month juggling commissions, my hands, and finalizing the designs and month order for my 2026 calendars. This/next year's theme is "Arden Nouveau." This calendar includes many pieces that seldom see ...
2025-10-30 13:18:20 +0000 UTC View PostJust because my hands couldn't do detail work this summer doesn't mean I wasn't busy! The culmination of several side projects will take place this coming weekend, when the tub/shower area of our bathroom is redone. Our household doesn't want anything fancy, just a tub that actually fits an adult...
2025-09-29 14:11:04 +0000 UTC View PostIt's that time of year again! Lincoln's own independent radio station KZUM is offering shirts in exchange for donations--contact Deb Andersen https://www.facebook.com/dandersen16 if interested!
This year's design i...
2025-09-07 14:01:40 +0000 UTC View PostGuess what?!
MY HANDS WORKED YESTERDAY!!!
ALL THE CAPS!!!!
I had SO MUCH painting time blocked off in my planner. My hands felt better, and I was desperate to catch up on, well, everything!
Then came August 9th.
A severe thunderstorm with 86 mph winds ripped through our town. Cue nearly two days without power, an intense initial clean up, and...
2025-08-30 00:08:06 +0000 UTC View PostMy hands won't work.
For weeks now, it's felt like I've had glass shards in my joints. Making a full fist has been right out. Pain patches, compression gloves, over the counter medications and balms, all my regular tricks, are barely touching the pain. House projects have been knocked ...
2025-07-30 13:23:02 +0000 UTC View PostFriends and family visited consecutive weeks; my husband's car went out on the side of the road with a plume of smoke from the engine (he's fine!!! Just understandably sad about his ride); related, we're car shopping; and I'm waiting to hear back from a client re: their approval of my sketch ...
2025-07-10 14:13:30 +0000 UTC View PostEr, I mean, "Carpe Diem." I'm allowed to refer to my own paintings by their first names where applicable, right? :P
$2 Goodwill frame, ahoy!
I've had this beauty in my stash for a few years n...
2025-06-25 13:04:56 +0000 UTC View PostApologies for being such a ghost, friends, but someone (ahem) did something deeply dumb regarding her hands...
2025-06-18 23:08:32 +0000 UTC
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During the pandemic, I essentially lived at the largest cemetery nearby, enjoying long daily hikes. It was honestly a magical time. The animal residents rejoiced in the lack of people and were at their most playful and fearless--the foxes grew outright dismissive of the rare human presence!
Believe it or not, I actually PAINTED something that wasn't/isn't a secret!
Last time, I shared with you the start of a 5 x 7"-ish papyrus painting meant to fit an unusual frame size. I realized I had never painted a fox skull, so I figured why not?
2025-05-28 15:13:44 +0000 UTC
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SECRET
I recently took part in a project involving a community building. Since said project will be completed with the assistance of highschool art students, I don't feel comfortable sharing the piece in question. I don't want to doxx minors, and this was always a volunteer...
2025-05-14 22:04:50 +0000 UTC View PostI've a looooong post written for tomorrow, but I'm short on a few images for it. While I take the necessary photos, enjoy this belated piece in the meanwhile!
Goodness me, life has been so everywhere that I'm behind on posting/celebrating paintings that have found their f...
2025-05-13 14:04:28 +0000 UTC View Post
The bad news: The cover was not accepted. Ah, well, I got paid for my time.
The good news: At least I can still share it with you fine folks!
The cover was to be for a book of poetry from an Indian author and thus features Nepalese bees, a Himalayan horse, and rhododendrons. One of th...
2025-05-01 12:28:33 +0000 UTC View PostTwo weeks ago, I was contacted by an old classmate who has become a professional writer. They were in a bind (ha!) for the cover of their new book--could I help? Cue multiple sketches back and forth and a monster painting marathon where I did unspeakable things to my hand to meet the tight deadli...
2025-04-16 12:23:00 +0000 UTC View Post
(Drafted last week, FYI!)
I started doing conventions over a decade (!!!!!) ago. In that time, I've constantly tweaked and refined my routine; made and corrected mistakes; and am dead-set on certain pre-con rituals. An exhaustive list of my habits would be nigh impossible, but these are the...
2025-04-01 11:48:29 +0000 UTC View Post
The previous post was supposed to be schedule for AFTER all my cons, in April, when I'd actually have a chance to work on the painting project discussed therein. Apparently my con-addled brain confused May for March when scheduling it! Since I was busy with ConStellation, I only jus...
2025-03-17 12:28:01 +0000 UTC View Post... make it!
I present to you: Our future medicine cabinet!
I know it looks like a humble shadow box from Michael's, but soon it will attain its true form!
Part of my distracting myself from the world includes working on bits and pieces of our fall bathroom ...
2025-03-07 23:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostTA DAAAAAAAAA!!!!
Those of you who have been following along since the first of the year will know that I accidentally tore my thumbnail off halfway down in a freak snow shovel accid...
2025-02-28 14:28:05 +0000 UTC View Post
I've assembled a few charity shows through the years. Some required little to no framing for other people; some cleaned out my secondhand stash; and still others fell in between. The frames and my time comprise my donation (along with a print or two), all in the name of throwing some good back in...
2025-02-13 01:20:32 +0000 UTC View Post
As mentioned in a previous post, I'm helping ConStellation 14 with Artist Guest of Honor Graye Muir-Lewis' show. Graye passed away from cancer on December 1st, so it's with the help of their family and friends that this is possible.
Graye was with Constellation from the start, designing the...
2025-02-04 14:06:38 +0000 UTC View PostThis painting's last two hours took two weeks thanks to my maimed thumb, but the moment is finally here!
"Serenity"
10 x 8"
Acrylic on canvas board
The title isn't meant to...
2025-01-30 18:05:14 +0000 UTC View PostFriends, if ever you need to downgrade or suspend your membership, know that you have my complete support and understanding. You never need to apologize to anyone, let alone me, for taking care of yourself. The world is *random, confused gestures* and the sense of "WTF?!" and ...
2025-01-30 13:12:38 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm a bit behind in the studio, thanks to a slight mishap....
... in which I tore my right thumbnail off.* Funny how that keeps me from holding a brush for a few days! I'm right-handed, so of cours...
2025-01-17 18:52:49 +0000 UTC View PostThe unofficial studio theme for 2025 may well be "Abandoned Backgrounds Reborn." My first piece for the year, "Found Family," was painted over an abandoned background wash; my second and current piece is being painted on the same; and I've at least one more canvas in background purgatory that I p...
2025-01-14 01:28:00 +0000 UTC View Post2025 is starting off well in the studio, at least!
"Found Family"
12 x 9"
Acrylic on canvas
RESERVED
I love this piece so much. Everything materialized even bet...
2025-01-08 13:25:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Or at least a teaser, anyway. ;)
I had the need to paint something both beautiful and meaningful. I also had a canvas with a background wash already complete from a previous painting idea that I decided against. Let their forces combine!
2025-01-01 22:46:20 +0000 UTC
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