First Friday at Deschutes Brewery Pub House - October 2017

I loved hanging out at Deschutes Brewery Public House this past First Friday in downtown Bend. It was so great to see so many friends and supporters that stopped by my booth. I'm showing a few new pieces at the pub for the month of October as their artist this month. It's the preview leading up to the launch/reveal of my artwork on October 16th for this year's Jubelale Beer Label.

Adorable happy customer with one of my NEW LOVE Wins Tote bags!

It was such an honor to create a piece of artwork for the permanent gallery collection at Deschutes Brewery. It was also really neat because it's the 30th anniversary of Jubelale this year and I'm the first artist that has been asked to create more than one piece of artwork for the label - Hooray! I actually painted 4 different snowflake paintings from the same series for the commission this year!

I brought a batch of my new original art tote bags to the show - they're perfect holiday gifts!

Happy Customers make my HeART Happy!

If you're in town, stop by the downtown pub house next Monday (October 16th) I'll be there signing posters and we'll have a free tasting of this year's beer!

First Friday Art Walk Show at Bend Premier Realty - June 2, 2017

I'm was excited to show my work at First Friday Art Walk night downtown this month at Bend Premier Realty. My good friend, Bren Menzel, of Living the Bend Life fame is hosting me for this event. We had a great turn out and it was nice to meet so many locals. 

Artwork up at North Soles in Downtown Bend

I'm showing a few pieces at the North Soles shop in downtown Bend March - May 2017. Stop by if you're in the area and check them out. "Art" our local statue was checking his wallet to see if he could support some other local artists. 

HeART of the Matter - February 2017 First Friday Art Walk

First Friday was another chilly whirlwind this month with a great political first friday art show at Franklin Crossing curated and hosted by Billye Turner. Local artists expressed our heartfelt concerns about the United States and it was a very powerful evening. I also got a chance to make it over the see my friend Valerie Winterholler's new show at the Peterson Roth Gallery downtown. 

L-R MaryLea Harris, Valerie Winterholler, Karen Ruane

Was also super excited to see the February issue of Cascade A&E magazine with my Love Wins hearts on the cover! What a night! 

New Year, New Art.

Very excited to be showing my work with JM Brodrick and Kelly Thiel at Franklin Crossing for the January First Friday Art Walk hosted by Billye Turner. It was icy, snowy and chilly but we had a great turnout and really apprecaited everyone who braved the cold weather and stopped by to support our show. I even sold two of my paintings "A Beautiful Mess" went to a collector here in Bend and my painting "The Color of Joy" went to a collector in Georgia. 

L-R MaryLea Harris, JM Brodrick, Kelly Thiel, Billye Turner

A few of my paintings in the show!

Love Wins

These hearts are from my LOVE Wins Series. As many of you know, I find a lot of inspiration in  the teachings and writings of Brene Brown. It was a rough couple of weeks with the election and a rude woman who came to my last art show and made a game of insulting my work, my titles, and encouraged her young daughter to do the same. It was so sad to watch and my heart broke for her as I wondered who had done so much damage to her to make her so broken as a human being.

I've taken comfort more than ever lately in Brene's words and hope they help you too.

“We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

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This little green heart is the last one left in my shop. You can find it for sale here.

November First Friday Show at Sotheby's Realty Downtown Bend

Super excited to be showing my work at Cascade Sotheby's Realty this month. I had a great opening reception and met a lot of really nice people and only one heckling troll woman who heckled me and my art. She was just a sad, broken, angry human. Oh well... Minus her, the whole thing was super fun and we went out for a great dinner after my reception with two old friends at our favorite, The Blacksmith (get the Manhattan Flight and the Brussel Sprouts and Fried Polenta appetizers!) That was the icing on the cake!

Our friend Caleb, sampling the wine!

Good turn out for first friday -- troll not pictured here!

First Friday September 2016!

It was a beautiful First Friday art walk in downtown Bend this month. I was a busy bee visiting my art in three different locations downtown and making the rounds to see the work of all of my local artist friends! Geoff and I started with my First Friday show at Sage Gallery and Framing downtown by the Tower Theater. I was part of a group show there with the High Desert Art League. Then we made it over to see my big painting hanging up at Franklin Crossing for Art in the Atrium hosted by Billye Turner a local Bend art manager and legend. I just adore her!

We had a nice turn out at Sage! 

Hanging with my High Desert Art League lady friends at our reception! L-R Joren Traveller, Vivian Olsen, Pat Clark, Barbara Slater, JM Brodrick, MaryLea Harris 

A few of my paintings up at Feather's Edge Finery on Minnesota Avenue in Bend. 

Then we made it over to Feather's Edge Finery a locally owned business that my friend Stephanie owns - her shop is so cute and loaded with awesome PNW goodies. It's my go-to spot to find unique, local gifts for birthdays and holidays. After visiting other shows we went to our regular, favorite date spot, The Blacksmith restaurant and ended the evening at the grocery store picking up a few necessities for the weekend with our kids and really what date night is complete without a stop at Fred Meyer?! 

First Friday date conclusion at Fred Meyer! 

Group Show at Sage Custom Framing and Gallery

Was honored to show my work with the High Desert Art League ladies for September First Friday at Sage Custom Framing and Gallery in downtown Bend by Tower Theater this month. It was a nice space and I sold one of my happy little trees to an out of town visitor!