Can I just say how much I love the internet? I mean, look at this photo. You cannot be sad while looking at this photo. You cannot be angry looking at this photo. All you can really do is squee with delight and wonder at the cuteness that is in this photo. I don't know who's dog this is, or who took this photo or who knitted the little pot hat for that tiny dog, but I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

Anyway, I was feeling pretty bummed out about a lot of things, mostly money, this morning until I saw this photo and started to hysterically laugh to the point that I forgot what I was sad about until just this minute.

I started this painting yesterday and I think it's almost done. 

I want to go work on the sky a bit more and the bridge still needs some work, but I have to wait for the paint to dry first. Waiting for paint to dry is the story of my life.

It's been an okay week so far. Still very rainy. Still very grey. I know I'm going to miss this weather when it's 100 degrees outside, but a little sunshine and warmth would feel really good right now. 

Hello Tuesday. Had another great weekend this past weekend. I headed to my local art supply store, Muse on Hawthorne, but was really sad to see that it had closed. After a little research we found a new art supply store on 21st and Powell called Artist and Craftsman Supply. It's employee owned and occupies quite a large space. I'm really sad that Muse closed, but I'm happy to find a new art supply store. 

I do like Dick Blick, but it's located in Downtown Portland and sometimes heading down there is overwhelming. I also like Columbia Art Supply on Burnside, but they're closed on Sundays and sometimes I find their prices a little high. 

Yesterday we checked out a movie and the Academy Theater called 20th Century Women. It stars  Annette Benning, Elle Fanning, Billy Crudup and a Greta Gerwig. I loved it. It had feminism, love, punk rock, new wave and a really cool old house. Just about all of my favorite things. The acting was great and I really enjoyed the story line. 

Today is my Monday so I'm trying to get into the groove of the new work week. Hopefully  I find that groove soon because right now I just want to curl up in bed with a book.

Maybe a little more coffee is in order?

Anyway, here's to a new work week! Hope it's a good one!

I did some printing on Thursday.

I printed a couple of plates that I made way back from 2007.

I know I need to make some new ones, but I just love these so much.

They remind me of old Portland and I've been feeling very nostalgic for old Portland these days.

The water tower in this print is most likely going to be torn down and replaced with over priced condos. Over priced condos in a city where people are struggling to pay rent and homelessness is at an all time high. It makes me sad. It makes me dislike the city that's been my home for 20 years. It makes me miss friends that have had to move away because they can't afford to live here. 

So, yeah, missing old Portland as well as friends the past few days. 

Anyway, it's the weekend. Hope it's a good one! 

We had ourselves a little mini road trip to Eastern Oregon this past weekend and it was truly great.

It was so nice to head out of Portland and see some big open skies. We headed to La Grande where our friends live. It's a small town,nestled in a valley, with a small university.  It's got a cute downtown area and they just opened a nice brewery there called Side A Brewing.

On day two of our adventure, we took a little day trip with them to Joseph, Oregon. The Wallowa Mountains peek up from behind its cute little down town area. A lot of artists and musicians are finding their way here and making this place their home. It's far less expensive than Portland and there is a fantastic artist community developing here. I think it's absolutely beautiful and can see why people would love living here. 

We also drove to Wallowa Lake which isn't far from Joseph. You can't see the mountains in this photo because they're behind me. There is a great campground here and there are lots of hiking trails. We didn't go hiking because it's still snowy and very muddy on the trails. There's also a gondola that takes you up the side of one of the mountains, but it doesn't open until the end of May.

Wallowa Mountains on the Wallowa Lake. 

I'd love to go back in the summer to hike and swim in the lake. Maybe take that gondola ride. It's just so beautiful and inspiring. It was great to be there with Nate and my friends.

Chloe had a really great time too. Our friends have to two cats and Chloe loves cats. We didn't realize how much she loves cats until this weekend. They mostly hid from her and she mostly just stared at them. Sometimes they'd make a run for it and Chloe would be close behind trying to lick their heads, trying to get them to play with her.

This dog, who normally just sleeps all day, was up and running around for 3 days. We'd try to get her to relax, but she really wanted to be with the cats and wanted to know what they were doing at all times. By the end of the trip she was exhausted. She slept the whole way home, and when we got home she snuggled up under the covers and didn't get up until this morning. Such a silly dog.

We had a great time too. Seeing our friends was so much fun. It was exactly what I needed. Seeing them and the beauty of Eastern Oregon really helped lift my spirits and made me feel energized to get to work this morning. It's incredible how taking just a few days off for a mini road trip can make a huge difference in my productivity and mindset. 

I needed some cheering up yesterday so I drew this. Three chihuahuas in a totem. Does it make sense? No. Is it a little ridiculous? Yes. Does it make me smile? Most definitely. 

It's currently listed in my Etsy shop but I'm also thinking of making it into a birthday card?

I like it.

These two originals are now available in prints too. They're listed in my Etsy shop as well. Needless to say, it's been a busy "listing stuff on Etsy and listening to Neko Case day."

I hear about a juried show that I submitted work for in a few days. I've done a few submissions to galleries before and I've never gotten in one. I'm crossing my fingers for this one. It's in San Francisco,  the theme is Sweet and Low, and focuses on the creepy and cute.  

If I don't get in, then I really need to find a place to show my paintings. Even if it's a coffee shop. I've got a lot of paintings, and they're starting to pile up. I'm running out of space and some are literally falling on me. I almost hurt my self while moving things around in my studio last week.

It's been so long since I've even had a show. I honestly don't remember the last time I had one. I really don't know why that is either. I used to get approached by galleries a lot. Not so much these days. I'm not really sure why that is, but  it's time for me to start researching and submitting my work to places. 

Wish me luck and a thick skin. 

I worked on this illustration Saturday. It's of the "Witch House" located on the Lower Macleay Trail in Forest Park. I did a little process photo shoot while I worked on it. The 

Google Photo ap strings all the photos together to create this little animated photo collage.

I think I need to work on taking a few more in between shots but I thought it looked pretty cool.

I left my copy of The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami at the vet's office last week. I didn't realize that I had left it there until I got home, and it's a 45 minute drive, so I didn't go back to get it. I have to go back in 2 weeks for Chloe's eye check up so I figured I'd just wait until then to get it. I'm really mad that I forgot it there because I really enjoy it so far.

In the mean time, I've been reading Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi. It's SO GOOD. I started it on Friday and I only have a few pages left. It's about family, race and identity. I love it. So, if you're looking for a new good book to read, I recommend this one! 

I also got a Sellwood Bridge postcard done and listed in my shop. I can't say that I'm a big fan of this bridge, but I kept getting requests to make postcards/prints of it, so I did. It's not nearly has dramatic, or inspiring for me, but I know a lot of people have sentimental attachment to it. Especially since it's been replaced with a brand new bridge. The old Sellwood bridge was literally crumbling into the Willamette. Not to mention, you would surely die if you were stuck on in during an earthquake. Now it's one of the safest bridges, besides Tilikum. If there ever is an earthquake, I hope I'm on one of those two bridges...

Yesterday was so beautiful.

We headed up to Forest Park for a hike. We weren't planning to go very far, because we had Chloe. But, that little dog kept wanting to go further. We ended up taking an almost 9 mile hike with her. 

She might be 9, and only weigh 16 lbs, but that little dog is a trooper. She even wanted to play ball in the backyard when we got home.

We saw tons of blooming Trillium.

And the ferns were slowly unfurling new fern arms.

I've hiked Forest Park many times and every time I am in disbelief that this massive hiking spot is located a mere 15 minute drive from my house. I'm also in disbelief that it is almost literally located in Downtown Portland. How lucky were are to have this. I sincerely hope that it stays a protected park and people get to enjoy it forever. 

Needless to say, I really needed that hike. It was quiet. I was with my two favorite beings. The sun was shinning. It was just perfect. I also got one of the best nights sleep I've gotten in a very long time last night. Chloe and I had a very hard time waking up this morning. 

I'm hoping we can get many more hikes in before the hot summer heat settles in.