The Grumpy Painter

Ya know, we artists are sometimes considered moody people. We are said to feel things deeply and we are our own worst critics. I think this video sums it up perfectly!

New eBay Listing

Just listed! My latest Halloween creation is now available on eBay.

Don't miss her! She's a One of a Kind, Peach*Street*Primitives Original creation!
Please click here to visit my auction!

~*Inspirations & New Paper Doll Collection*~

Some of the best inspiration comes from childhood. Above is a video of one of my very favorite childhood toys. I don't remember how long I've had it. It has Cap'n Crunch stickers on the back and I've written my name and the names of my parents on the sides but I've always cherished it. I love the way this simple little clown dances around like an animated paper doll.

Even though I grew up in the 80s, the age of excess, I did not miss out on simple pleasures like paper dolls. Most of mine came in little paper dolls books, perforated, with all the paper dolls clothes you could imagine. But none compared to this little clown with his jaunty dance.

Recently, I was inspired to make my own paper dolls. Part of my inspiration was this little clown, though none of my dolls can dance on their own.....yet. But the other part was an angel I made for a friend using a cut out print of one of my paintings. I was very pleased with the results. So much so that I have created my very own Paper Doll Collection. The first three pieces of which are currently available exclusively on the TDIPT Mercantile. They are special one of a kind collector's pieces and once they are gone, they're gone. Here's a sneak peek below:

Available exclusively on the TDIPT Mercantile now!

Happy Friday the 13th!

Vintage Black Cat is available exclusively through my website. Get him just in time for Halloween! Click here to visit my website!

New eBay Listings

I have some fun new pieces available on eBay! Both are one of a kind and won't be recreated. One of which is my first Halloween Collection piece for 2008! Bid now so you don't miss out!

Lightning, Blackberries & Hummingbirds ~ Oh my!

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in the studio when I thought I heard the faint rumbles of thunder. As promised the afternoon thunderstorm that would bring rain to my garden and hopefully relief from the heat had arrived. My son and I quickly rain downstairs and outside to get the dogs in. Our dogs are pampered dogs and are not expected to stay out in the rain any more than we would. Plus, my little Min Pin is afraid of thunder. We barely made it into the house before the downpour began. The rumbles of thunder grew louder, the wind picked up, it started to rain sideways and down came the penny sized hail - also, as promised! Before I had a chance to collect the dogs and the little one, a clap of thunder crashed so hard I nearly wet my pants. I ran, the Min Pin ran and my child ran. Somehow we all met in the middle. I swear that was the loudest clap of thunder I've ever heard in my life. It shook the ground and rattled the whole house. The storm didn't last too long and the monstrous clap of thunder was the worst of it.

I hadn't thought about that clap of thunder again until this morning when the whole family went out on an impromptu blackberry hunt having been notified by the dh that the wild blackberries we'd recently discovered were ready to pick. I was making my way over to the blackberry bushes when I saw this:



A beautiful oak tree, formerly perfectly healthy with all of it's bark blown off. Then I thought of the thunder....it hadn't been thunder at all. We could see where the lightning had struck and blown the bark from the very tip top to the very bottom to kingdom come. The bark is scattered over 150ft from that tree in every direction. I just been letting my dogs in maybe 10 minutes earlier in the same back yard!
After this disturbing image, I was compelled to check the weather station to see what would be promised for today. But so far, we have blue skies, lots of sunshine with 94 degree temps and all the humidity the south has to offer. Before it got too hot we did manage to collect enough blackberries to make a superb blackberry cobbler for desert tonight. And while I was taking their picture, some friendly hummingbirds were busy buzzing my head. No doubt politely asking me to move from beneath their feeder. They were kind enough to pose for a few pics. Thought I would share. Have a great day!