Snips, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

Snips, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails 8x8" oil on museum quality Gessobord

"Older people sit down and ask, 'What is it?' but the boy asks, 'What can I do with it? — Steve Jobs

Boys will be boys! The look on this little guys face, speaks volumes. For this portrait, the photo I was working from included a lot more dried dirt streaked across his face from an obvious recent adventure in the mud. I left most of his well-achieved war paint off, but had to keep enough so the viewer would appreciate the am-I-in-trouble-now expression in his eyes. Obviously his mom saw this as a priceless moment when she snapped the photo. According to English poet Robert Southey (1774–1843) 

 What are little boys made of   

Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails 

And such are little boys made of.

I am reminded of my own young children years ago, while on a hike through the woods, and having to dutifully instruct them by example, the fine art of taking the full measure of a high-high mud pond. What great mucky fun and a wonderful memory we still talk about to this day. Who says girls don't have a little snip and snail in their souls? "Sugar, spice and everything nice" is just plain boring.

This one is a commissioned painting so not for sale, but thank you for viewing.

nancy 

To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery •  Fine Art America

CAL Fall Art Show - 1st & 2nd Place Ribbons

I was truly honored that two of my paintings received awards in the Conroe Art League's Fall Show on Saturday. "Silent Repose" received 1st Place Professional Oil Painting Division, and "A Touch of Spring" received 2nd Place.

The show was judged by Houston artist Arielle Masson, her biography states, "Although born in Mexico in 1961, I grew up in Brussels, Belgium, and then went on to the University in Paris to complete a Master of Literature and postgraduate studies in Linguistics at La Sorbonne. After moving to Houston in 1986, I studied Fine Arts/Painting at the University of Houston, I have extensively exhibited in Museums and Galleries throughout Texas." 

Arielle currently teaches at The Glassell School of Art and The University of St. Thomas. 
 
To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery •  Fine Art America

Simple Pleasures

"Simple Pleasures", 8x8", oil on museum quality Gessobord

​"That man is rich whose pleasures are the cheapest."  

                          — Henry David Thoreau

This painting was a commissioned piece, so not for sale. However, I wanted to share the memory of a simple childhood moment that brought such great pleasure and refreshment on a hot, steamy summer afternoon growing up in St. Louis.

I think I derived as much pleasure painting this as I did as a child partaking of a cherry popsicle...that is, as long as it didn't stick to my tongue. When it's all said and done, it really is the simple things in life that provide the greatest joy.​


Thanks to all who stopped by my booth last Sunday at the Bentwater Fine Arts Fair. I had a great time and sold four paintings! I was delighted to meet a couple of followers of this blog, who drove out just to meet me. Wow, that was an honor! 

The winner of the drawing for a set of my Songbird Note Cards was Belinda Faulkner. Congratulations, Belinda!


To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery •  Fine Art America