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My furbabies/muses/companions are two today :-). Well...we celebrate it today. They were both shelter cats so we didn't get exact birthdates.

I have several canvases in progress (got some underpainting done, then couldn't decide which one to work on next). Here's Sky, again hanging out with me. She's a studio cat (even if the studio is in the dining room):

One of those occasions where I was really glad I had my camera. We were walking through Santana Row, which is an outdoor mall in San Jose (across the street from the Winchester Mystery House). I looked up and saw this second story window with this enchanting scene. I was so taken with it. I grabbed some photos, then altered them:
The Fading Scent of Lavender:

A Window Lost in Time:

Waiting in the Window:

New photo from my walk today at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, Ancient Tree by a Stream:

Landscape in Purple and Gold:

An oak tree on a hill, beneath dramatic clouds. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph. The original photo was taken at Arastradero Open Space Preserve in Palo Alto. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

Oak Branches in Purple

Oak tree branches at Arastradero Open Space Preserve in Palo Alto. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph, in tones of purple. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

Green Shutters:

A historic house with green shutters. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph, in tones of sepia and green. The original photo was taken in Santa Clara. I cannot say why it appealed to me so much. The sunlight glinted a certain way and I liked the way it peaked through the pine branches. The border hearkens back to TTV (Through the Viewfinder) vintage photography. The scratches and imperfections give the piece a Victorian Gothic feel. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

Lost and Wandering:

A gnarled oak tree on a hill. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph, in tones of sepia and purple. The original photo was taken at Arastradero Open Space Preserve in Palo Alto. The border hearkens back to TTV (Through the Viewfinder) vintage photography. The scratches and imperfections give the piece a Victorian Gothic feel. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

Bayou Peace Tree

The full moon illuminates green Spanish moss hanging on gnarled tree branches. The tree branches have arc'd to form a peace sign. Blue dragonflies dance in the night sky, which is in shades of lavender, deepening to purple. This meditation piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a surreal Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

New dark art photo, Welcome Home:

A lighted mausoleum beckons, beneath a luminous full moon. This cemetery photograph is in gothic shades of purple. The original photo was taken in the historic Santa Clara Mission Catholic Cemetery. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically-enhanced photograph. The border hearkens back to TTV (Through the Viewfinder) vintage photography. The scratches and imperfections give the piece a Victorian Gothic feel.

New, from my original painting, Lenore in the Breaking Dawn

In her prettiest ballgown, the ghost of Lenore casts a final look at the raven, before the day breaks and she fades. The rising sun illuminates the haunted cemetery, casting light of pink, deepening to magenta. Cherry blossom petals dance among the tombstones. This Gothic fantasy landscape, inspired by the "The Raven" poem by Edgar Allan Poe, is offered as a pendant, hand crafted by the artist from my original painting. Made from polymer clay with the print baked into it, then sealed with resin, giving the image a glass-like quality and providing waterproof protection.

New peace tree, Blue Dragonflies in the Spring

The rising sun illuminates blue dragonflies and blossoming tree branches, covered in cherry blossoms. The tree branches have arc'd to form a peace sign. Some of the petals are dancing in the Spring morning sky, which is in shades of lime green, deepening to a rich emerald. This hope-filled piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a surreal Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

Stone Ghost and Cypress Trees fine art photograph:

Mysterious stone drapery covering this urn looked, to me, like a figure standing among the cypress trees. The original photo was taken in the historic Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

We thought it was about time to visit historic San Juan Bautista, a California Mission town. Many of the buildings remain as they were, taking you back in time.

The first thing you notice is the chickens & roosters. They run free all over the town:

I had carefully made a list of all the haunted sites in town for my Haunted California paintings, then forgot it, but, as I recall, most of the buildings claimed some ghost story. Here's the Plaza Hall:

And the Plaza Hotel:

And a shot of the bell tower of the mission church:

We finished up with a trip to the cemetery on the hill, as inspiration both for the Ghost Paintings and the Eternal Wanderings cemetery photos:

Seagull Cove is a painting I did several years ago. I always felt, at the back of my mind, that it needed a bit more pizazz. So, I added a mermaid:

Cypress trees stand on a bluff covered with magenta wildflowers on a Spring day at Pacific Grove (near Carmel and Monterey). Seagulls fly through the white, fluffy clouds, while one takes a rest on a rock, watching a mermaid trying on a necklace of white shells. This California fantasy ocean seascape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in blue acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

New commissioned painting, Abby and Caesar in the Spring:

Abby, a beautiful Calico cat, and Caesar, a handsome gray tabby, gaze at the luminous Springtime moon. Cherry blossom petals dance in the lime green sky, and a purple dragonfly flits in the upper corner. This visionary landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.
Being commission, this piece is sold, but prints are available.

This is a painting a did a couple years ago, Dandelion Wishes and Pine Trees. I had the sudden urge to add a cat in the tree:

The full moon illuminates a distant hill with three pine trees, and is reflected in the lake below. On a closer hill, a twisted pine tree stands over dandelion globes, a flame-point Siamese cat on one of the branches. Dandelion fairies dance in the night sky, which is in shades of blue. This visionary landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides have been finished off in black acrylic--no need to frame). It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

Sky helping me with a commissioned painting:

This is one of my favorite areas in the Santa Clara Mission cemetery, The Town Square:

Amazing architecture abounds in the historic Santa Clara Mission cemetery with its mausoleums like small cathedrals. A statue of Jesus watches over the city of the dead. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.