The Bright Lights

Bountiful on the Cover of

Journal of Emergency Nursing April 2008

A big congratulations to Ann Hardy for winning third place in the Oil Painters of America annual show. For those of you who know Ann, you won't be a bit surprised to hear about this. She is one of the most talented artists you will ever meet. One of the bright spots about taking a workshop from Ann is to get one of her trademark hugs. She is a bundle of energy and always has a kind word for everyone.

I also received some exciting mail yesterday - the April issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing with my painting, "Bountiful" on the cover. I'm happy to report this painting found a permanent home with a nurse in Buford, Georgia, shortly after the issue was published. Bountiful was a small work done entirely with the palette knife. Winnifred Wigglepants was my primary assistant for this creation, and I recall she insisted on early lunch to celebrate its completion.

Bountiful - Cover Art

Bountiful, Palette Knife/Oil, 11X14

Feature Art for the April 2008 Cover of

the Journal of Emergency Nursing

Great Pug Connections

Winnie Wiggles gets kisses from Aunty Sharon

It's true, we pug people are certifiable. We're the ones who will stop on a busy street and roll down the car window for a chance to exclaim undying love for pugs we've never met before if we spot a total stranger walking one or two. When I spotted an absolutely wonderful pug painting through FineArtStudioOnline, I did basically the same thing. I stopped everything and immediately posted a note to the gifted artist who had masterfully rendered a snorfley smoosh-nosed little puggy named Spike.

Sheri Bartholow's web site has paintings and drawings of her pug, Spike, as well as her figurative and botanical work. Sheri has been drawing and painting since childhood and has her MFA from American University in Washington, DC. Don't tell Howie I said this, but her pug Spike is one of the most photogenic specimens I've ever seen.