Tammy's Art Blog

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

All That And More

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.”

~ Gilda Radner ~

"You Swam Right Into My Heart"

9" x 12" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

My dog is truly my heart. He brings sparkle to my life.

"Aiming For My Heart"

12" x 9" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

He makes me laugh out loud. He exhausts me.

"King of Hearts"

9" x 12" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

He brings an ear-to-ear smile to my face. He makes me happy.

"Remember When We Were Young"

9" x 12" soft pastel on UArt 500

*This painting is not available.*

He keeps me active and exercising outdoors.

"An Adventurous Heart"

9" x 12" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

He makes me want to be a better person.

"Arrival"

6" x 8" soft pastel on Pastel Premier

*This painting is not available.*

He gives me a sense of purpose. He comforts me by snuggling next to me when I'm sad.

"Creekhound"

6.25" x 9.5" soft pastel on Sennelier La Carte Pastel Card

*This painting is not available.*

He annoys me by barking every time a leaf blows by the window. He cheers me up when I'm feeling down.

"Playing Catch With My Heart"

12" x 9" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

He's always happy to see me and wags his tail like crazy at the sound of my voice.

"Splashing Joy"

9" x 12" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

He gives me a reason to keep going.

"The Prince of Joy"

10" x 8" soft pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Smooth

*This painting is not available.*

He's my protector, my guardian, my buddy, my faithful companion.

"Free Spirit"

4" x 4" oil pastel on Da Vinci Pro Medium Textured Cradled Gesso Panel

*This painting is not available.*

He's my dog and my heart, and I can only hope he knows how grateful I am for all the goodness he brings to my life.

"Frolic"

6" x 8" soft pastel on Pastel Premier

*This painting is not available.*

"Dogs are our link to paradise."

~ Milan Kundera ~

The Magic of Trees

"It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning."

~ Vincent van Gogh ~

soft pastels on Pastelmat

Trees. I love them. I feel a kinship with them. In the forest, I discover a wondrous sense of peace and calm that I rarely find anywhere else. By reading and studying author Peter Wohlleben's amazing book, "The Hidden Life of Trees", I'm also learning about the support and care they provide one another in the forest. As part of my therapy, I'm now working on connecting with that sense of unity and support described in Mr. Wohlleben's book via my own tree and forest paintings. The series of small paintings pictured above was inspired by a single view of the same forest over many months, and it was remarkable to me how much joy I found in painting these trees through the seasons. So I'm sure I'll be doing something similar again.

Monday, November 26, 2018

A Life To Outlive Me

"The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it."

~ William James ~

As a result of my current mental health challenges (as well as my growing disdain for the rampant excessive consumerism everywhere lately it seems), I am transitioning away from actively marketing most of my framed works for sale. I believe we all want to leave our personal mark on the world in some way, and I'm increasingly finding myself drawn away from the noise of the marketplace in order to focus on discovering a quieter and more personally meaningful purpose for my life as an artist that will outlive me.

"Live Like You Mean It"

11" x 14" soft pastel on Pastelmat

*This painting is not available.*

I continue steadfast in my belief that the true meaning of life is measured not in what possessions we have, but in what actions we take to support, encourage and protect the more vulnerable among us. Working to save our environment and animals in need remains particularly dear to my heart and an important part of who I am. Therefore, a limited number of my available unframed works are now offered for free as a thank you for donating to my supported charities, and I welcome inquiries about this (this offer is limited to those who can pick up the paintings in the local Wake Forest area, as I simply cannot afford to pay for shipping costs in addition to giving the works away as free gifts).

"Bee Honest and True"

9" x 6" soft pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes

My paintings are inspired by nature, and my hope is that receiving them as a free thank you gift for donating to my preferred charities will serve as a perpetual reminder of the support you've given to our natural world and the beautiful creatures who inhabit it.

"Pursuing Impossibilities"

6" x 8" soft pastel on Pastel Premier

The charities I support generally list on their websites suggested donation amounts specific to their needs, but any amount to these very worthy organizations is much appreciated.

Natural Resources Defense Council

Earthjustice

Environmental Defense Fund

350 Dot Org Environmental

Southern Environmental Law Center

Environment North Carolina

SPCA of Wake County

Saving Grace NC

American Wild Horse Campaign

Sierra Club

Animal Legal Defense Fund

Wildlife Conservation Network

Paws For Life NC (Formerly Franklin County Humane Society of North Carolina)

Beyond Fences (Formerly Coalition to Unchain Dogs)

NC CLAWS Inc. Wildlife Rescue and Rehab

Best Friends Animal Society

Born Free USA

Soi Dog Foundation

Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation

"Sonata in Scarlet"

9.5" x 6.25" soft pastel on Sennelier La Carte Pastel Card
*This painting has already found a home.*

All my works may be viewed online here or may be seen in person at my home studio on a limited basis by appointment. Disclaimer - Please note not all works in the online galleries are available; I welcome your inquiry if there is a specific painting in which you are interested for the charity initiative.

"Treasure Island Dreaming"

5" x 7" soft pastel on UArt 320

*This painting has already found a home.*

I do still also have several framed paintings available for sale at the Main Gallery of the Kirby Cultural Arts Complex, 213 North Main Street in Roxboro, in the back room of the Main Gallery. Hours are Tuesday - Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Woodland Gleaming"

9" x 12" soft pastel on Strathmore Artagain

I will continue to offer many of my unframed works available for sale, with profits donated to the charities I support as noted above. Please contact me to see these paintings in person, or they may be viewed via my online galleries. Please note, not all paintings in these galleries are available, and I make every effort to note those in their descriptions. Also, I try to photograph my paintings as accurately as possible but I cannot guarantee exact color match as monitors vary, and keep in mind there may be backlighting on your monitor that is not present in the actual painting, depending on the device you use to view the images.

"A Life Imagined"

6.25" x 9.5" soft pastel on Sennelier La Carte Pastel Card

I am pleased to report that every single charity on my list has already received significant donations this year. I'm forever grateful to everyone who has enabled me to use my artwork as a means of financially supporting these worthy causes, and look forward to continuing to support them for years to come.

"Beelieve in the Rhythms of Nature"

6" x 6" alcohol ink on tile
*This painting has already found a home.*

"Because when you get down to it, what we do has actual substance and meaning in a way that most people never engage with. So for that alone, be proud of yourself - that despite the overwhelming tide of life -- you are still creating. You are literally doing the impossible."

~ Jessica Prior ~