Some Furry Friends

 Squirrels are some of my favorite little characters.

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Our lovebird Rainbow died.Friday July 15th 2011

It's surprising how much it hurts to loose the little bird who lived with us for twelve years. She was just a bird you say? Yes, yet for such a small creature she had a lot of personality. She would not allow anyone to mess with her cage. It was her territory. She loved to fly around and land on your head or shoulders. She would take a shower in the sink while sitting in my cupped hands and would open her wings to let the water run over her back. After a bath she would preen her feathers with happiness. Poe, the cat, had long conversations with her: meow, tweet, meow, tweet, back and forth. Rainbow loved to sleep in a small green bivvy bag. She would cuddle up next to a feathered cat toy as if were her mate. As I write this post "Somewhere over the Rainbow" started to play on  Jango - a touching tribute.

Honeybees and Poppies

 










Spring is here after months of grey and cold.
Poppies sway in the breeze.
The bees dance while gathering purple pollen.

Clouds

"Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
and feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way"

I am always moved by clouds. They begin as a whisper and build to a crescendo of thunder and lightning.

The Beauty of Black and White

The White Horse

I love color: paint chips, flowers, and rainbows. Yet there is something about black and white that has gravitas. I stopped by a country road to say hello to an albino horse. He was so friendly and allowed me to photograph him. Although I liked the color photos it was the black and white photos that seem to capture the subject best and to transcend time.

Final Fantasy

This poster was inspired by Henri Rousseau. The egret, leopard, Macaw,  koi, turtle, and blue morpho butterflies are all exotic creatures brought together by the little fairy on the lily pad.

Robins in the cherry tree

Last spring the robins were eating cherries in the cherry tree. I was charmed by how lovely they looked with their red breasts and brown coats. In just a week or two the cherries were all eaten and the robins dispersed.

Taking in the beauty

Flowers bloom in infinite variety. I am drawn in like a bee.
Intoxicating! The fragrance, the color, the form. Perfection.

The falling leaves

This is my first blog post.

"The falling leaves drift past my window, the falling leaves of red and gold."- Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Modern Geisha

The Modern Geisha poster was created in Adobe Illustrator. The fan was modeled after a Chinese brush painting given to me by Mrs. Kao. The model is peeking from behind her fan, the palm fronds and the black border to add to the mystery of the scene.

The Blue-jay and the Pine

The sketch is done with a ballpoint pen. The tree is as alive as the blue jay. It's branches have rhythm. They are reminiscent of human limbs and hands. The bird and tree sing together in the breeze.

The Bridge at CU Boulder

The campus at CU Boulder is so beautiful. This watercolor was done en plein air.The water mirrors the beauty above it. The reflections represent our emotions or spirit. It represents a bridge between ephemeral and physical.

A Few of My Favorite Things

This is an unfinished watercolor of some jam jars, candles, chocolate bars, spices, cake decorating topping, tea, an enamel heart box, and an iron antelope sculpture. The heart box was a gift from my mother. The sculpture was a gift from my brother John. Most of these were bought at the World Market In Boulder, Colorado. I love the beautifully designed labels and packaging.

Watercolor Brushes

Watercolor Brushes
Brushes are are an extension of your hand.
They glide across the page, distributing the paint.
Color blooms in the water.

The Art of Joseph Archer

My grandfather, Joseph Alexander Archer studied art at the Sorbonne in France around 1917. He lived for a while in California, where he met my grandmother. He married her and moved to a farm in Raleigh, Indiana. He raised five children.They are from oldest to youngest: Rozza, Joseph, Arabella, Jacquelin and Dorcas (Duckie). He moved to Rushville, Indiana and worked as a sign painter and artist for the rest of his life. He was a talented artist and a superb draftsman. He painted in oil, watercolor, and gauche. He also carved in wood, sculpted in clay and created mosaics. He died in 1968. The farm is still in the family. It is owned and run by his son Joseph Graves Archer.