She called this one Desert Blooms.

It’s spring here in the Yuma desert. Every day there is a bit more color, not a lot like in moister climates, but there are changes. I think that’s what this one is all about.

I think it’s time to come up with new headline for posts about her art. If it wasn’t for the picture the title would be bigger than the whole post. I think 44 is enough. What do you think? Do we say good bye to roman numerals?

This painting has it’s real beginning about a year ago when goood friend Cindy is touring South America and snaps a picture of this fruit and vegetable stand in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is taken by the stong colors and thinks Marilyn might like to paint something like this. When we all get together in May Cindy shows Mar the picture and tells her the story behind it. Fast forward to December, when we were in Jojoba Hills she prints a couple of copies of the picture, attaches them to her easel and begins her creation
One day in early january she tells me that this one is a real challenge and she is building the store and then will stock the shelves and the baskets with the produce.
The project got put away for a couple of weeks while we were at Quartzite but yesterday it came back out and was completed in the gorgeous Arizona sunshine.

We have a new painting drying in our basement. What you are seeing is Marilyn’s take on the Snoopy on the dog house thing that we all grew up with. Here he’s out on the lawn and maybe weathered a bit from the original but it still gets my memory machine going. How about you?

Told Ya So!

I could tell by the look in her eyes that this would be a painting some day soon.

I know you’ll think I’m biased but I think she nailed this one.

I know, I know, you want to be an artist too. Marilyn started with a fascination with jigsaw puzzles. She used to blow these things away in seconds. Here’s a picture of a  banna split we enjoyed last summer.  Now it’s a jig saw puzzle for you.
Let’s see who has the stuff to become a world famous artist. Post your time on Comments if you want.

This is Marilyn’s latest creation. She calls the picture “Mom” To get the whole story you’ll want to go to MarilynVanstone.com and read her story.

I can only add that I watched that butterfly for probably five minutes as she hovered around Marilyn and her paintings.  I remember thinking at the time that there was more to this then just a random act. Only later was I told about the “visit.”

Marilyn is already picking out the spot where this picture will reside in our coach.

Read her story. I bet you have one just like it. If you would like to share your story with us go to comments or if you would prefer, send me an email.

Blue skies, now Butterflies; Where the hell is this blog going?

Yesterday was the much awaited Grimsby Art Festival and I’m happy to say Marilyn and more than a hundred other other exhibitors had a great day. Gorgeous weather, perfect for an art show or most any thing else, lots of positive comments, and good sales.

Probably what’s most important is that we learned a lot. There are a lot of things we will do different next time.

So all in all, fun day, big education, and a small profit.

Another painting completed and just in time for the Grimsby Testival of Art it’s on this Saturday and if you are in the area, come on down, both Mar and I will be there, showing off her finest. This will an important day for Marilyn, it has been her goal for years to be accepted in this art festival.

Wish her luck.

Remember way back in February 2009? We were on the east coast of Mexico, up near Progresso and went to a little town called Celestun on the Yucatan peninsula

This town is famous for it’s Flamingos.

Since that date more than 2 years ago, Marilyn has always wanted to paint a flamingo. So here finally another “mission accomplished”

You’ll be able to see this painting, and may others at the  Grimsby Festival of the Arts. click here  September 10 in Grimsby.

From bird poop to fine art, my interests are many and varied.

Marilyn is doing an art show in early September here in Grimsby and felt she should have something a little “fall-ish” for her display.

This painting is unique in two ways: Usually she paints what she has seen, this was inspired by a photo, and usually she begins her work by laying the picture all out with a pencil and then follows with a brush. No pencil here though, it’s all  her brush.

You can see more of  Mar’s stuff here at www.MarilynVanstone.com

That’s “37″ for those of us who don’t “do” Roman numerals, For all of us it’s a painting of a Sunflower, the “official flower of Altona Manitoba”.

You may recall we stopped in Altona to visit Glen and Myrna  last October on our way west. Yeah, I know,  we visited them again in San Antonio,  Texas. So sorry, they like to party and on occasion Mar & I don’t mind joining in ourselves. They are fun folk  Myrna, in her “summer job”works for Friesens. While taking us on a tour of  her workplace Myrna gave Mar a book that their company had produced about Altona. For my sweetheart the highlight of that book was pictures of sunflowers; hence this painting.

See the honey bee in the top right corner of the painting;  see how she’s ready to do what the  birds and bees do?

Who knew my wife painted that kind of stuff?