OK! So I have got the camera problem figured out!! AND I have got a new Canon camera on it's way to me thanks to my wonderful man.... and Air Miles! This pat week has been a whirlwind - as we have been going through the process of buying our first house!! We got the final approval from the mortgage company yesterday! The house is great! It is very unique.... and it is "artsy". I love it. i am so excited!! The master bedroom is a loft up in the house... and THAT is going to be my studio!! I will post picture when it is all set up! It is a great little space... and it is bigger than what I have now.

Now - I have started a commision. Here it is. Titled "Chip". He is a pony belonging to the cousin of a friend. I started it - and have to take a break from it - as I have to pack my studio up... and the rest of my house! We are trying to get possesion early - like three weeks from now. So I am going to be BUSY for the next few weeks!!

So - my computer crashed! I lost all my photos!! I have them all backed up on discs.... but the discs aren't labelled or in the same spot. Haha. ALSO - I can't find my Kodak program disc for my camea. Oh the frustration. I have no pictures to post right now - but I am working on a clydesdale piece that someone wanted me to do for them. It's a paying job - and that makes me happy!! I also have another commision coming up!! Right now we are house hunting. I went to look at a place yesterday and it has the PERFECT space for me to have a studio! My other half is away and he doesn't think the house feels right! He hasn't even looked at it!! I didn't think it did either.... until I saw it!! It needs some renos - that's what we want! The shop on the property is amazing! PLUS there is a hot tub and a koi pond!!! I want it. I have to take him there when he is back for 2 days next week. I want him to love the house too!!! I am gonna have to try and sell it to him. Haha - never mind the realitor!! Sudio space is soooo important to me! This place is exactly what I am looking for!

I have been doing some little 3"x5" acrylic paintings as of late. Keep the creativity flowing - but not getting too deep into projects that I don't finish! These are the two I have finished. 'Pouting' and 'L'il Itch'. Both are for sale for $10 each!!

Recently, some friends of ours had to put their dog down. She had lived her life - and while you could still see the spirit and life in her eyes, her body was giving up on her. So - the heartbreaking decision to let her go was made. Now - I thought it would be nice to draw her for them for a surprise. I am not too experienced with drawing dogs... so it is slow going! I have been working on the rough sketch for the last week - trying to capture her to a tee. It is coming along slowly. I want everyone who sees it to go "Hey! That's Boo!". S0 - anyways, I just thought I would drop in and let you all know what was up since I hadn't written in a while! A picture of the progress should be posted soon!!

I am having rant.

There is nothing more frustrating to me than having the urge to be creative - but no ambition to do it sometimes. I am sitting here feeling it on the inside... but on the outside, I am just like all "I wanna sit around in my jammies, drink wine and watch cartoons... and eat stuff." GEEZ!! It is like battling DEMONS within!! Hungry alcoholic LAZY demons... or teenage children! Hahaha! Seriously though - I think and I hope that once the sun starts shining more that I can get back my energy and ambition and can find the urge to spend more time USING my vast amount of art supplies rather than buying an additional vast amount to go with the existing vast amount that I already have... and have to PACK when we move! We are looking at a house this weekend that seems to have an fabulous spot for a studio in it!!! It also is a piece of land where I could eventually build a studio separate from the house!! Yay yay yay!! So excited to look - not TOO excited yet tough! Gotta go look at it first!! We will see I guess! Woo! Life is goooood and getting better!! I wish, however that I was able to draw full time. That is the other part. I work all day and sometimes just don't have the energy to do much after work. :( It sucks sometimes!! All I have ever wanted to do with myself was draw. it is so impractical to me though. I seriously could never imagine EVER being able to make a living at it!! I have SOOOOOO much respect for my peers who do though! Respect and envy! I know what I want to be when I grow up FINALLY - but I know I have to work at a dead-end job that I like - but don't think it will ever get me anywhere just to support my drawing habit. I hope to find a way to get my butt out there - but it is tough!! Especially with the economy in the state that is in! Do I think that people will have the extra cash to buy doodles that some day dreamin' transplanted to Vancouver Island Alberta girl did when she had an urge??? NO! Do I HOPE that someone will go 'Hey!! That's cool!!' and buy it?? hell yeah I do!! I sometimes wonder WHY I wasn't good at math or science or whatever it is that got people into good paying jobs... or CAREERS. Nope! I had to be good at drawing. Hahaha - If it hadn't been for the special projects program I took in grade 12 for art, odds are good I would STILL be in high school now!! So what do I do with this gift/curse?? Gift in the sense that I can create - curse in the sense that I have no clue how to use it to it's full potential!! I am so very fortunate - and humbled to have made so many AWESOME and extraordinarily talented artist friends on Facebook and here. I only hope to be able to learn from them all and find my way to success as they all have. I'm sure everyone has had their struggles and yet they have all managed to find the light at the end of the tunnel. I am just feeling my way through the dark right now!! I am a VERY stubborn and determined gal. ask my boyfriend!! :P When I put my mind to something - and want it bad enough, there is little that can stop me from getting it. I have just come to realize over the years that sometimes you have to be patient. Don't give up when it won't happen over night. If you have to put it on the back burner and let it simmer for a bit til it's good to go - then that's just how it is. Patience is a virtue - and I don't think I spelled patience right. Hmmmm.... will have too look at that more. Blame it on the wine!! A wonderful Australian Red. McWilliams - Cab Sav... I think. the bottle is empty and downstairs! Gee whiz - it is long past this Island Cowgirl's bedtime. I have to work at my unfufilling boring job tomorrow. Living for the weekend I am these days!! I wish you all a good night - and I thank you if you have made it to the end of my stressed out rant thing that just happened here!!

This is what I have been working on lately, 'Jack & Ginger'. It is a watercolor painting of the quarter horse colt my boyfriend had when he worked on a ranch and his mother. I had originally started to draw it as a pencil piece but it just didn't feel right. I pondered it for a while and decided that watercolor was what it needed to be done in. It is a bit of a mess right now - but I hope to have it done and looking good for him soon - as it was part of his Christmas present!! Hehehe!

I love art supply stores. The one here in town isn't the greatest, BUT it has it's high points. They also frame - so I can purchase mat pieces to draw on there - something that I have recently discovered. I have tried drawing on suede mat - which I LOVE - thanks to Kenna, of Sorrel Studios. She is an incredible artist. I have to admilt, I "stole" the idea from her, and I think she created a monster!!! Wonderful stuff to work on the suede mat is, but it takes some getting used to!!! I have also found other types of mat wonderful to draw on! Like today, I came across this mat that has a denim look to it - and an incredible texture, though it was on the green side. I drew this palomino appy youngster, 7.5"x9.5" on it. I am offering it for sale at $25.00. If you are interested, e-mail me at islandponyartstudio@hotmail.com ! He is unframed... so you can do anything you want with him!