How Sweet It Is ~ Be Here Now ~ SOLD

"All the things that truly matter - 

beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace - 

arise from beyond the mind."

"You cannot be both unhappy

and fully present in the Now."

~ Eckhart Tolle

How Sweet it is  • Sold

How Sweet it is

 • Sold 

Limited Supply of Solid Burl-wood Frames

I am now offering this painting framed in a burl-wood frame.

This is the painting I was debating on cropping, but decided to leave it as is.

(And of course, all my paintings come signed by me, with extras!)

The hummingbirds have started to flock in!

Their presence reminds me to "be here now". 

Perhaps that is one of the ways they spread so much joy!

The kittens, Opie and Cutie Pye,

are amazed with the little fellas.

Look how big they've gotten!

I can't believe they will be one year old on May 1st!

My husband Jerry - Ever-Ready Bunny

Since the scare with his high blood pressure and loss of the sight in his right eye, my husband's work schedule has been cut way down. I can't slow him down though. He seems to be working harder than ever getting the place in tip top shape for my parents' visit in about a week.

Alice's Tea Party by Jerry Farley

Jerry got inspired by my YARD ART board on Pinterest

and has been frantically clearing the woods

and adding to his Sculpture Garden.

A Good Day For Fishing by Jerry Farley

He's not done with this one, but I really like it so far.

Mr. McChicken by Jerry Farley

This rooster is another new creation.

Horseshoe Horse by Jerry Farley

This piece stands about 5 ft. high

and weighs over 100 lbs.

Of course, this is my favorite! 

"Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life 

and see how life suddenly starts working for you 

rather than against you."

~ Eckhart Tolle

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a GREAT DAY!!

X ♥ O

Sunflower Symphony

"True friends are like bright sunflowers

that never fade away,

even over distance and time."

~ Marie Williams Johnstone

Sunflower Symphony 5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" See more information about this painting here.

Sunflower Symphony

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10"

See more information about this painting here.

The cheerful sunflower is one of the best flowers that you can gift to someone who is in need of a friendly pick-me-up. Put a smile on a loved one's face and brighten up their life with this permanent bunch of lively sunflowers that will never fade away.

"Keep your face to the sunshine

and you cannot see the shadow.

It's what sunflowers do."

~ Helen Keller

Flea Bitten Grey Horse Portrait ~ SOLD ~

"The wind of heaven is that which blows
between a horse's ears."
~ Arabian Proverb

Flea Bitten Grey

SOLD

I started this painting yesterday morning and thought I had it finished by dinner time. Then I fussed around with it again today. It started out being a chestnut color Morgan but kept changing and evolving until it turned into this flea bitten (a horsey color term) grey Arabian. Go figure! I'm blaming it on the Yupo paper and on my inquisitive "what if?" attitude. More often than not lately, my paintings seem to have a mind of their own. I just try to go with the flow and give it what it needs and wants. Does that make any sense? Does it ever happen to you?

 I hope you are enjoying nice weather in your neck of the woods. I'll be going into Philadelphia tomorrow to meet with a couple of friends, do lunch and visit the art museum. I can almost feel the much needed cultural enrichment already! Thanks for coming by. Happy Spring to you and have a great weekend.

Hugs and Nickers,

and the horses

"In my opinion, a horse is the animal to have.

Eleven-hundred pounds of raw muscle,

power, grace, and sweat between your legs.

It's something you just can't get from a pet hamster."

~ Unknown

Gypsy Gold Neighs In The Dark ~ Sold

"Gypsy gold does not clink or glitter. 

It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."

~ Irish Proverb

Gypsy Gold

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SOLD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Today's horse painting is the Yin, negative (black) female of yesterday's Yang, the positive (white) male. In these pieces, with expressive brushstrokes, I've tried to interpret the flow of chi within the equine's body. The Yin Yang symbol, with a dot of the other color in each, suggests that there is always a trace of the other present in any situation and nothing is ever entirely Yin or completely Yang. To me, this relates perfectly to living with and caring for horses and without a doubt, to the art of riding them.

"My horse's feet are as swift as rolling thunder
He carries me away from all my fears
And when the world threatens to fall asunder
His mane is there to wipe away my tears."
~ Bonnie Lewis

A Lovely Horse Is An Emotional Experience ~ SOLD

"A lovely horse is always an experience.

It is an emotional experience of the kind

that is spoiled by words."

~ Beryl Markham

A Lovely Horse SOLD •

A Lovely Horse

SOLD •

Here's one of today's paintings for all you horse lovers out there. Horses were never just a phase for me. I share a bond with them that I will never outgrow. I bought my first horse over forty years ago when I was fourteen. My parents told me that if I saved enough money to buy my own horse, and payed for all its expenses, I could get one. At the time, I don't think they knew just how serious I was. I saved two years of babysitting money and bought my first large pony, a 14.1 hand Arab cross, Cocoa. Since then, my love and obsession for them has just continued to grow stronger. They are, always have been and probably always will be a big part of my life. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Follow my new "Horse Crazy" board on Pinterest.

You know I'll be adding more to it frequently!

Wishing you all something to be passionate about!

Hugs and Nickers,

& Rudy & Rita 

“What these horses do for us is incredible.

They become part of our family.

They really change our lives.

It is a sport we choose because we love it

and it is a sport we choose because

we also love the animal."

~ Eric Lamaze

Today's Experiment ~ A Looser Direct Approach to Watercolor

"With experimentation

comes surprise and discovery."

~ Kim Lee Kho

Today's larger watercolor was painted directly on Yupo paper with transparent watercolor without any preliminary pencil lines or even a rough thumbnail sketch. For the past year, since I shattered my ankle last April Fool's Day, I have painted primarily smaller works while seated. Today, while standing and painting larger, I rediscovered a whole body, dance like rhythm that's more freeing and relaxing. I don't think I could have done this same painting while seated.

I'm fairly happy with it, but I have a dilemma.

Do I leave it as is?

11.5  x 14.5"  ~ 16" x 20" Matted size

SOLD

Or should I add a little more to it? (foliage and/or vase, more pink and blue flowers in the upper left and/or lower right, etc.?)  I could go back in. It's easy enough to do on Yupo, unlike traditional cotton rag watercolor paper. Sometimes it's hard to know when to stop though. I'm always hearing that little voice saying; "less is more".

Cropped to 12" x 16" matted size

Or do I just crop it and move on?

I'm seeking the help of some of you awesome artists out there! Lately the feeling of isolation from other creative types is starting to get me down. Your camaraderie and suggestions for improving this piece would go a long way in cheering me up. Thanks for your time and input in advance. I love you guys. You know who you are!

P.S. I hate to be a pain, but I'm also looking for suggestions for a title for this one. ☺

X ♥ O

Brave Little Survivor

"In wilderness, I sense the miracle of life

and behind it, our scientific accomplishments

fade to trivia."

~ Charles A. Lindbergh

Brave Little Survivor Rufous Hummingbird See more about this painting here.

Brave Little Survivor
Rufous Hummingbird
See more about this painting here.

Today's painting's reference photo was taken on March 26th at the Palmyra Cove Nature Center at the foot of the Tacony-Palmyra bridge on the Delaware River. There I witnessed a very rare occurrence - A young Rufous Hummingbird that wintered here in Southern NJ! She showed up at the nature center shortly after Superstorm Sandy and it was believed she may have been blown off course because of the storm. ( In the olden days, they weren't even seen east of the Mississippi.) I thought it was a hoax and had to go see for myself! So at the spur of the moment, I took a field trip over there. She hangs out around the center. I spent some time visiting and shooting her. What a ham! She is quite famous. She was very used to people and seemed to like my company. What fun! 

Yesterday I visited the nature center again, as I had an appointment with the gallery curator about having a solo show of my work there in April of 2014. After my meeting, I watched and waited, but was disappointed that I didn't see the little Rufous Hummingbird again. Perhaps she has moved on and will resume her 'normal' migration habits from here on in. I will keep her in my thoughts and wish her well on her arduous journeys.

The weather here has been totally crazy. It was almost 85 degrees here the past two days! Good thing my horse groomer came on Monday to give my wooly 33 yr. old horse, Rudy, a body clip! He's much cooler (in more ways than one) now. He looks and feels 20 years younger and it seems, just in the nick of time for summer!

Rembrandt, aka: Rudy - after his full body clip 4-8-13

In other news: On Saturday afternoon, I was enjoying a beautiful day here in the pines with my horses, Rita and  Rudy. They both got a grooming, lots of TLC and a ride. It was all really nice except for two old WWII biplanes that kept circling again and again directly overhead, zooming in really low. Amazingly, it bothered me more than the horses. The pilots had been at it for hours and it was really getting annoying. They fly real low, just above the tree line and those old things are so loud, everything seems to vibrate.

Come to find out later, the forest service was doing some controlled burning nearby and it got out of control! By the end of my second ride, a thick layer of smoke had settled over everything. Fortunately they finally managed to get it under control, but there was a short period of pre-panic when we realized that there was a possibility that we may have to evacuate. Geez, I really felt like a heel. There I was, getting aggravated about the planes and they were working hard to save the forest and our house!

Anyway, thanks for hanging in there and reading my newsy post.  I hope all is well in your world and you are enjoying this winter/spring/summer weather. As always, I really appreciate your comments.

X ♥  O

The Eagle ~ A Symbol of Power

“This life is yours.

Take the power to choose

what you want to do and do it well. 

Take the power to love what you want in life

and love it honestly.

Take the power to walk in the forest

and be a part of nature.

Take the power to control your own life.

No one else can do it for you.

Take the power to make your life happy.”

~ Susan Polis Schutz

The Bald Eagle - A symbol of Power 10.5 x 8.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted  to 16" x20" Signed and certified by the artist See painting information here.

The Bald Eagle - A symbol of Power

10.5 x 8.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted  to 16" x20"

Signed and certified by the artist
See painting information here.

“Power is of two kinds.

One is obtained by the fear of punishment

and the other by acts of love.

Power based on love is a thousand times

more effective and permanent

than the one derived from fear of punishment.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Today I'm wishing you the inspiration to take your power.

X ♥  O

Lilies in a Vase

"Remember that the most beautiful things in the world

are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance."

~ John Ruskin

Lilies in a Vase  ~ 7.5x 5.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" ~ See more about this painting here.

Lilies in a Vase

 ~ 7.5x 5.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" ~
See more about this painting here.

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

~ Confucius

"Beauty, in projection and perceiving,

is 99.9% attitude."

~ Grey Livingston

Nothing says "Have a Happy Spring" like flowers!

Wishing you a beautiful joyful season,

Plum Blossom ~ SOLD

"Life without love is like

a tree without blossoms or fruit."

~ Khalil Gibran

Plum Blossom

SOLD

"Blossoms are scattered by the wind

and the wind cares nothing

but the blossoms of the heart

no wind can touch."

~ Yoshida Kenko

Wishing you Much Love, Health and Happiness,

Daffodils ~ Fair Vernal Flowers

"Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers,

Laugh forth your ancient gladness!"

~ Thomas Blackburn

Daffodils ~ Fair Vernal Flowers 20" x16" watercolor on Yupo paper Signed and certified See purchase information here.

Daffodils ~ Fair Vernal Flowers

20" x16" watercolor on Yupo paper
Signed and certified
See purchase information here.

Today's painting was inspired by my daffodils which are all just starting to open. Last Monday, we had 5" of heavy wet snow. I put water buckets over the flowers to protect them and they escaped unharmed. It has gotten progressively warmer over the past week and we are now experiencing variable temperatures anywhere from the 20's to the 60's. It's true springtime weather, for sure. What's it like in your area? Has your spring sprung yet?

"In the spring I have counted

one hundred and thirty-six

different kinds of weather

inside of four and twenty hours."

~ Mark Twain