Let me introduce my dear friend Kelly. These are (a few) of the many reasons that I LOVE Kelly.

1. She is an AMAZING athlete. She ran track and field/cross country for ASU and is now a coach for the University of Washington. She still runs competitively and even made it to the Olympic Trials this summer. Like I said, AMAZING.

2. She may be my twin separated at birth. Not just because we’ve been mistaken for sisters a few times, but because we seem to have the same taste in just about everything. I know we’ve bought the same shirt (seperately) at least twice.

3. Chocolate Chip pudding cookies. Peach smoothies. Hogi Yogi. Jitters. Oatmeal. Jamoca Ice Cream. Starbucks. Enough said.

4. We experienced the ASU school of art together. Virginia Sardi and her meat exhibits. (Trying) to be sculptors in 3-D art. Gouache. Spray fixative. Wondering why everyone is so darn gloomy all the time. (ah, the brooding artist). It is really one of those things where you had to be there. (And I’m glad I was with her.)

5. She is one of the most, no I take that back, THE most genuinely KIND person I have ever met. And I mean that sincerely. I also think I know a lot of nice people, so that says a lot.

I could go on and on. So I was so excited when she asked me to do some paintings for her new home. I am also excited to say that the first two are finished. (I am going to make them some custom frames still, but the painting part is complete). I still have to start the third.

Here are the paintings:

She asked me to do something to go along with her wine painting, and I came up with this. I really like how they turned out. I hope that they will make a good fit.

Here I am painting. Hopefully the fumes are not being too harmful. (this set-up is in our bedroom)

They are done on wood panels that have been gessoed and sanded. I wanted them to have a rustic look, a France Chateau look, if you will. I think the frames will make them look even better.

I like to do custom art work. It does take me a long time, however. (It might be the 3 kids under 5 thing, but I’m not sure.) I will post the progress on her 3rd painting, a larger one as soon as I get it started. I then have another commission I am doing for my adopted sister-in-law from Germany that will be really neat to see. So stay tuned. And think of something you might like me to paint for you.

P.S. I MISS you, Kelly!