Naomi and Sarah

Boy oh Boy, have the garden and chickens taken up all my spare time these days.  Don’t get me wrong, I love gardening and the hard work that goes into it. The best part is the benefits with fresh fruits and veggies to last us threw the summer and into winter…crossing my fingers:)  I still need my quiet creative time…

Christmas Morning

I have a watercolor portrait I’m working on and I needed some inspiration. So, I headed to my filed paintings, from years past, and I found one of my favorites.  Golly, I can’t remember what year it was. It was the winter of the ice storm in Columbus, Ohio.  Naomi, Sarah and their whole Family  (The Saum’s), along with their grandmother who was visiting from Kansas during Christmas break, were all staying at our house.  All because they did not have electricity at their place.  We were, eleven in all, able to enjoy our friendship for cozy eight days.  I had a houseful on Christmas morning and I loved it.  This shot was taken Christmas Morning:)  Later that year, Sarah had graduated from college and I wanted to celebrate her life!  I hope you like it.

I’m inspired!  🙂

Happy Creating!

Canal Winchester Art Guild Art Stroll TODAY

Canal Winchester is having an Art Stroll this afternoon. May 11, 2013  2-8pm.

Hey everyone in Central Ohio Today is a great day to get out and go for a stroll.  

I’m selling all of my Dogs,  Honey Bee and Chickens Watercolors.  A portion of my sales will be going to missions. Please, come on out!

I was really OK with just showing my stuff (artwork), but as soon as I put a price tag on the artwork I’ve gotten anxious, irritable and somewhat reserve. UUGH”!  I just need to find my happy place and everything will be OK!  These Painting were the handy work of God!  I hope you can see him in them.  I love getting out there and meeting people and watching them enjoy the beauty and amazement of what some colored water can become.  So, when I see you today, give me a hug and tell me your enjoying the stroll.  Don’t forget to step into Fantasy Cupcake and look at the art and buy something delicious:)  Hugs to all my favorite people!  That includes YOU!

Art Stroll in Canal Winchester Ohio 2113

Laurie Dotson Showing At Fantasy Cupcake Come on out

Painting outside is not that easy!

Painting outside is for the birds

Today, I thought I would take my watercolors and go out into the beautiful May weather.   As you can tell in the the photo above, I did make it out:).  But the wind is far to wicked, and decided that it would play a game with me. By the time, I had everything in place and held down, I found my hands were not available to paint with. haha    This sweet chicken painting almost found its way to the coop!

Beautiful Bird – Wonderful Dreams

Last week, a girlfriend came over for our monthly painting session.  We have grown to love these times together and the creative calibration. I cherish these times with her.  Here is what I painted with her:)

A couple years ago, I wanted to start a monthly artist challenge group. The Group would consistent of artist in all ages, passions and mediums: paintings, photography, sculpting, glass, metel, etc…    The Group would gather for wine and cheese, the new challenge of the month, brainstorming, and a show, tell and critique time.  I’m one of those artist who love to absorb the creative vibe from other creative minds. It helps me to see the world differently and stretch my love of story telling and art.   Maybe this will come to pass one day:)  I can dream a dream

Dogs are in full color today!

Today I’m painting for the Art walk in Canal Winchester on May 12, 2013!  I will be in Fantasy Cupcake bakery.  My Daughter-in-law is the owner and she is hosting me for the show.  There are many artist and businesses working together to promote our love of art and of our businesses.

Here are a few Dogs I’v painted in the last few months.

This is our dog, Rowdy! He is very regal! We found Rowdy in the hills of southern Ohio.

This is Onyx, Our son’s dog!
She is a miniature poodle and cocker spaniel mix.

This is Turnip, my Mother and father-in-law’s Dog. She grew up with my kids. She was a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Bee’s are the stars today

Today, I went out to our Honeybee Hives to check on  the bees and empties my pollen traps.  We have pollen traps on two of our hive to collect and eat the pollen.  Did you know that Bee pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be sued directly by the body. Such highly assimilable protein can contribute significantly to one’s protein needs.  Once a honeybee arrives at a flower, she settles herself in and nimbly scrapes off the powdery loose pollen from the stamen with her jaws and front legs, moistening it with a dab of the honey she brought with her from the hive. The enlarged and broadened tarsal segments of her legs have a thick trimming of bristles, called pollen combs. The bee uses these combs to brush the gold powder from her coat and legs in mid-flight. With a skillful pressing movement of her auricle, which is used as a hammer, she pushes the gathered gold into her baskets. Her pollen baskets, surrounded by a fringe of long hairs, are simply concave areas located on the outside of her tibias. When the bee’s baskets are fully loaded, the microscopic golden dust has been tamped down into a single golden grain, or granule. Gathering pollen is not as easy as it sounds, but for us the trap makes it easy. The bees enter the hive and have to go through a number of screens. By the time they have arrived within the warmth of the bee cluster it has dropped 60% of its pollen from scraping the screens. I then collect that in a drawer at the bottom of the hive.  One of the most interesting facts about bee pollen is that it cannot be synthesized in a laboratory

My  paintings the last few days have been the HoneyBees

a Bee going in for the necter

This is a beautiful honey bee forging for nectar and pollen

Isn’t she beautiful?

A Beautiful Honeybee
#2

Simple painting. I tried to paint this one in 15 minutes:)

She looks vicious but she’s not! Hug a Bee today

Chickens

I’ve been having a lot of fun just painting these days.  I seem to get quit stressed over the littlest of thing.

So I have gone back to my comfort zone of dipping a brush into water and color and letting the spirit move in me.  They are very sweet birds and this has helped me relax and enjoy Life and the beauty that is around me.

Fun in the garden with a paintbrush

She is a proud egg layer

Rooster fun