A Modern Day Mr Darcy?

Fans of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have always known that Mr. Darcy is a fine man. Now scientists have proof.  In scientific lingo:

The pheromone that attracts female mice to the odour of a particular male has been identified. Named ‘darcin’ by researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Biology(after Darcy, the attractive hero in Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice”), this unusual protein in a male’s urine attracts females and is responsible for learned preference for specific males. – Science Daily

But seriously, even though we can only imagine what he might have smelt like ... Mr Darcy has been a perennial fave with the ladies both because he said many romantic things as well as being able to work a wet shirt while emerging from a lake.

But hang on one ticketyboo moment, while Mr Darcy may encapsulate romance to so many, unfortunately....he isn't real.

SIGH

So it was wonderful for me, who is somewhat cynical about love, romance and all that jazz, to hear that a blogging buddy called Charlotte Harborne, who after getting divorced met a lovely well mannered gent who she calls Mr Darcy. She told me all about the witty little exchanges she and he have and before I knew it I had cast my cynicism aside and penned the pictures to her adventures. This is one soap opera I will enjoy following ......watch this space and read all about it on her blog.

Would love to know what you think about my first cartoon for this series. And what about you ...do you ever wonder what your fella is talking about down the pub?

Linking up to #AllAboutYou and #PoCoLo!

5th Annual Bark! Exhibition at John Natsoulas Gallery

As a dog artist myself I am absolutely thrilled that dog art is becoming more and more popular. The 5th annual "Bark!" exhibition at John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis, California, is a tribute to human's best friend and seminal NorCal dog artist, UC Davis professor, and founder of the Funk movement, 
Roy De Forest (1930 - 2007).  This fabulous show includes larger than life depictions of two and three-dimensional dogs in every medium, making the show the most diverse exhibition of dog imagery in the country. Pieces created out of glass, clay, wood, oil paint, ceramic, assemblage, multi-medium, wax, metal, bronze, and integrated art forms are all included within the show.
 
Best of all, doggies are always welcome at the gallery.  

John Natsaoulas Gallery
521 First St.
Davis, CA 95618

"Bark! A Tribute to Human's Best Friend" runs until March 1, 2014.

Check out the John Natsoulas Gallery website for more information.

Here are some of my top picks of doggie art:

Kanna Aoki: “50/50 Red”

Lori Holland "Sirloin Tip"

Erika Sandana "Newborns"

Larry Clark "Best Friends"

Do any of you live in California and have you been to see this exhibition? I've got to get some of my dog art in here next year.

This week we had 15 inches of snow in Baltimore. I am so sick of it!! Today I found this snow heart on my doorstep. So sweet. But my husband also said the snow preventing him from driving to get me chocolates for Valentine's Day! Well maybe I can get some chocs on sale tomorrow!

Sugar and Ice and All Things Nice

Just about the time when all the shops are full of Valentines and my head is full of visions of sugarplum fairies....and large heart shaped boxes of chocolates and romance and champagne, we were hit by a massive ice storm which very prettily coated the trees and bicycles and everything.

So while the power was out (yes we have a generator thank God!) I was stuck inside thinking about Love and Rain and I had hundreds of those little colored bits of paper you get inside a hole puncher lying about. So I created this collage called Love In the Rain and quite like the swirly nature of it all. Makes me think of the fleeting nature of love .... and ice storms.

Do you have anything special planned for Valentine's Day?

Linking up to #AboutAboutYou

Illustration Friday .... Exotic

Feeling pretty wild again this week. It finally stopped snowing/freezing. Dare we hope for a change in the weather? Painted a watercolor of a tiger and started dreaming I was in the tiger's warmer habitat, or maybe me reclining by the pool in sweltering weather  ....... pass the cocktails!

Listen to this great tune.....and roar for warm weather.

This Wildcat is my entry for Illustration Friday.

Hear the Leopard Roar!

 Happy PPF Everybody!


What a wild week it's been! Moving outside my comfort zone I am trying my hand at wild animals. Hey watch out this kitty's got claws! Had a lot of fun dripping the watercolor and then overlaying it with chalk pastel. The result is somewhat scary but it's nice to be heading in a new slightly wild direction.

I feel just like this leopard this week. As Katy Perry so memorably sang in her song ROAR:

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
 
What do you feel like roaring about this week?

Murdock the Blind Cat

Hi Folks!

I am having a wonderful week. I did a portrait of a lovely blind cat called Murdock. Murdock is a real character and I found him on facebook where he has a page. He had a chronic infection in both eyes that had caused them to rupture. He was adopted by a Vetinary Technician who took him home who says "I didn't plan on keeping him while I was fostering him, but we went through so much and we were very attached to each other by the time he was finally fully recovered. He was really sick for a long time and almost didn't survive his first surgery. He had to have a blood transfusion and was hospitalized in an oxygen chamber.

Even while going through his trials, Magical Murdock has been a very loving and happy kitten. His positive attitude and sweet disposition steal the hearts of many. He continues to thrive and doesn't let his disability slow him down. He's a true inspiration, not to mention the most amazing, handsome cat I've ever known!"

He is a bit of a star and you can learn more about him here and vote for him over at Modern Cat Magazine. I hope Murdock is paw-sitively beaming about his paw-trait.

All right all right enough with the cat puns....

Owl in the Snow, watercolor, 12 x 18"

Brrr we are at 13 degrees and when I went outside my face froze so I am staying inside. I hope the animals are okay - the squirrels and owls and bunnies. I hope they're all snuggled together having a party in some hollow tree! Here's my latest pic 'Owl in the Snow' which can be bought as a print over at Redbubble.

And here's some tips to help the birds in your neighborhood survive the winter.

Stay warm! 

Linking up with Moo Mania: 

Teddy in the Snow

Well last night we on the East Coast got hammered by snow. So I have been snug as a bug in a rug crocheting up a storm. I crocheted this little teddy who looked so cold I decided he needed a sweater. You can make your own sweater toting bear by getting the pattern here.

Was it snowing in your neck of the woods? We only got about a foot of snow in Baltimore. How much did you get?

Do any of you sell prints of your work online? I live in the USA so I use Imagekind and they really produce gorgeous prints and prints on canvas. The problem is if people in Europe order them because then the postage is high. So I decided to open a UK based print on demand shop and am now over at Redbubble so that peeps in Europe can get cheap postage when buying my prints. Check out my shop! Let me know if you have used Redbubble and whether you think its a great company.

I'm also joining in with the Hookin on Hump Day Blog Hop: