Goodbye, Cliff.

Well, right now I am in a town on the other side of this island in Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland. Unfortunately for sad reasons. Thursday my father-in-law Cliff passed away due to cancer.


After being here for a few days we all sat and talked about Cliff and the love of his gardens. I have never seen a person (along with my mother) who loved gardening more than him. All around his house is covered with flower beds, and green houses, veined with pebble trails and hedges. Cliff's garden is truly a masterpiece and inspiration. It came up a lot on conversation these past few days, and it occurred to me that it really drew me in when I first met my husband. I stayed with his family here for a week or so when we first met, and within a few days, I painted this for him, of his favorite flowers from his garden: tiger lilies.
This was in the summer of 2004 when I painted this for Cliff. He was always so interested in my art, and often would watch me paint. I usually am shy when people watch me as I do something, but I never minded him. Probably cause he would make a wise-crack that would instantly make me laugh and feel comfortable with him. This painting has been on his wall since I did it 6 years ago, and I never had a copy of it. So I took a picture today in hopes of writing about it... and him. Maybe this is closure for me personally. We had falling outs and differences, but when something like this happens, it puts things in perspective, and allows your mind to focus on the good memories, like these few photos that I took of his garden. :-)

Enjoy. I did.

Lori

Out from beneath the rocks.

Whats that you're thinking? Well no, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, but it sure feels like it doesn't it?! Been keeping myself busy and of course with Christmas season coming up, and the fact that I have been sick for the last three months things have... piled up a little. But no worries, the extra stress can just take a backseat to everything else at the moment. I have bigger more important things to deal with, and unfortunate to say, they aren't happy things. :-(

On a brighter note however, I'll show you a few things I have done over the last month with my rock painting. Here are a few samples of different ones that I have painted. I really enjoy painting rocks I must say. Each one takes about 1 to 3 hours to do each, so I can paint them in between big projects or while my paint dries I can fiddle with them as well. My hubby and I also have made a website for ourselves and our "crafty" items, and will be having it up within the week for all to see AND purchase from. We are both very excited and proud of what we have created. I am such a lucky gal to have such a creative husband. :-D

Enjoy!

Lori

IF: Burning

Well I haven't posted in a week or so but I have been going BONKERS with so many different things, and dealing with a lot of important personal matters which doesn't help. But, I have been productive... I swear!!! :-P

Anyways, I took a lil' break this morning to do the new Illustration Friday theme: Burning. I was instantly inspired by my cousin and her love for her son, Avery, WHO turns 12 today! Happy Birthday Avery! :-D

Anyhoo, figured this would fit the theme, and also cheer me up. Nothing is happier than a cupcake. ;-D

Enjoy!

Lori

IF: Afterwards

Well we had our first snowfall here in Newfoundland this week. My husband woke up early, opened the shades, and said, "Huh... it's snowing." That immediately got me up, all groggy and my hair frazzled and out of place, and I stood there staring out the window, squinting, going, " OoooOooo." THEN what happens? Insta-Christmas THATS what! All it takes is snow! Which usually ruins my Halloweeny-ness if it snows BEFORE Halloween. I get confused; stuck between two completely different Holidays... like Jack Skellington in Nightmare before Christmas. :-P

Click for a larger view.

ANYHOO this was a Christmas card that I did. I draw a new one every year of something from my childhood to give to close friends and family. This one is of me and my bestfriend, and the times we had as kids playing in the ridiculous amounts of snow that we get back home. It shows afterwards, what we have created! :-)

Enjoy!
Lori

So. Many. OWLS.

Ok SO... I love owls, always have. Especially back home during the winter months at my parents winter cabin in the northern woods. There would always be little Boreal owls hanging out in the trees around the cabin, and they are ADORABLE. Just look! LOOK! LOOK AT IT!! ARGH! :-D


This photo is by Jean Chateauvert, a fellow Quebeccer, and a great bird photographer! (Check him out to see the wide variety of bird species we get back home. AMAZING.)

Anyhoo, last week I got back into painting rocks again. My hubby and I had decided to set up a table at the local flea market here so I decided to make some Owl fattie magnets to sell. I had made a few owl magnets this summer when I was home and thought they looked awfully cute. Also if any of you read my rock painting blog, I painted a bunch of owl rocks amongst other animals. So I decided to paint a bunch more as well. I painted one yesterday, showed it to my best bud who immediately wanted it. Good grief. :-P

Anyhoo, here are a few of the owl fattie magnets AND the Owl rock I painted yesterday. I really love making these, they are relatively quick to do, they are beautiful sea rocks from here in Newfoundland, and they make me happy painting them! I think thats worth pursuing don't you? Why not try it out yourself! My rock painting workshops were super fun this summer, kids and adults alike can really enjoy this. :-)

Enjoy!
Lori

IF: Spent.

Had to take a break from Halloween, I have been bombarded with work and personal bits so Halloween wasn't as fun this year. Too bad since I LOVE Halloween. Either way, the painting I did yesterday totally fits this weeks theme for Illustration Friday, which is: Spent.

A few weeks ago I found an image online of a 4th century Greek coin of Athena's owl. Since Greek art was my FAVORITE art history course in University, I decided to redo it Lori style. It was certainly spent long ago, and it's so fascinating how much detail they put into their coins, it's simply beautiful. :-)

Here is both the coin and my version! Enjoy!

Lori