Wishing you a sweet 16--a 2016 that is

In a couple hours it will be a fresh, new year! Wishing my friends, family and clients a healthy and happy new year. Thank you for your love and support. I would not be painting and writing if it wasn't for your encouragement and interest. Peace.

Inspiration surrounds me. Chicago oozes subtle and quirky beauty from hydrangea gardens in the park at Lakeshore East to the Michigan Avenue bridge.  We have Grant and Millennium Parks, gardens, harbors, museums,  the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. And, the music doesn't stop whether it's a local lunch joint  or the House of Blues, Thalia Hall, City Winery, The Hideout...just to name a few.  Inspirational sounds support my vision.  My canvases are endless at this point. Below are my ten recent acrylic and oil paintings, followed my older pieces. Thank you for your interest and support.

Summer in the City Inspiration

I moved to the city of Chicago in the late spring, and I have been painting and creating nonstop ever since.  With my easel set up over looking the lake and music rumbling from Grant Park,  I can't help, but be inspired.  Feeling thankful.

ALMOST Spring 2015

Happy Spring. Seriously, happy sunshine, happy warm weather, happy no snow (unless I have a pair of skis on my feet), Happy St. Patrick's Day. I am wearing an olive green sweater and eating green mint M&Ms btw.

I am currently painting gifts, working on a collage, getting my blog back in order and writing chapters for the book that will be published 30 years from now when I am dead. I never was one to be the center of attention anyways--too stressful. But then again, I haven't been offered a million dollars to talk at a PTA meeting, so maybe there could be some financial incentive to being the center of attention in certain situations. I'll let you know if things change!

On the family front,  my mother in law, Diane Carlson passed away in January. She was one amazing mother, grandmother and mother-in-law, and she truly was a wonderful role model for me.  She will be sadly missed. Her favorite saying when situations were just okay, i.e. like finding a quarter... "well, it's better than a sharp stick in the eye."

 I am so proud of my kids...Madeline is at U of Denver studying psych/premed and enjoying Colorado. David is living and working in NYC and loving it. We have a new member of the family, Ellie,  Little Mischievous Cockapoo. She keeps me on my toes. And, I sold the house in La Grange by word of mouth. WOOT Woo. I am currently living in "Historical" Riverside. (that is what every sign around the area announces. It's a nice town, not sure if there needs to be a historical hype. Olmsted designed the area, which by the way is really screwy--everyone gets lost.)

So, sing the song "Happy" or "Let the Sunshine" because winter is almost over!