Flown the Coop

It was easy to envision a space for my wooden paintings, afterall, where else would my chickens belong - except inside The Coop?
But what do you do when there are predators inside your coop?  Ya either make it a fortress, or ya manage to integrate them as friends!

COMMISSIONS

"OPIE"

RECLAIMED

Besides utilizing 50+ year old barnwood, I often find vintage furniture pieces such as milk stools (as pictured below), tables and even some chairs to breathe new life into them with my vibrant color schemes and whimsical artwork.  While these are some of my favorite reclaimed items to paint, any piece of wood is open to my interpretation!  These pieces usually sell quickly and are only available at shows due to a high cost for shipping.  

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ARTIST FAVORITE

"Ursula Day Drinking"
Original Watercolors & Archival Ink
​16x20 | UNframed but matted (black)
$445   - PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE

5X7 & 8X10 Glossy PRINTS SOON available

From the very first time I drew Ursula, I knew she was destined to have her own series!  She makes people smile and laugh and is a customer favorite as well as my own.
Ursula Day Drinking is my personal long term goal: To retire to Clearwater Beach.  
Perched in her chair, with her toes in the water, she's waiting for one of the famous CWB sunsets.  Then she can head to The Bait House for some Drunken Shrimp, Tuna Nachos and ice cold draft beer.

Be on the lookout for more in the Ursula Series in the future!

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

I often tell my daughter the key to success is simple: Never say you can't until you try and keep trying until you succeed.
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The photo below is an example of my humble beginnings. While all of these were painted by hand, 99% of them were transferred images from my computer, not hand drawn. Except for a few, none were original. With overwhelming support from family, friends and my strong rural community, I sat down over the winter and started drawing.  I never knew I could draw...

Less than 6 months later, I had a respectable portfolio of chicken art, all hand drawn and painted.

Now in my 4th year, I am still in awe of the fascination and appreciation for my artwork. I am honored and humbled to find myself on this journey and I owe it all to you.

​Thank you.

2017 First year of art/craft shows with my Signature Hens & Roosters
2018 2nd year of art/craft shows - added Crazy Chicken Ladies & my funny sayings
2019 First year actually drawing and offering watercolors, prints & greeting cards
2020 CAN SUCK IT (oh you read that?  My bad, you LIKED 2020?  Ok, then!)
2021 Custom dog portraits - Upgraded booth - Higher end Art shows
2022 - WHAT is coming up next?  JOIN THE CHICKEN COOP & FIND OUT!

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ARTIST CORNER

EVERYTHING YA WANTED TO KNOW
And maybe some ya didn't!

Our house (inhabited by my incredibly supportive husband, musical daughter, our 4 dogs, 4 cats (inside) is covered in paint. From our coffee table to our makeshift kitchen counters (we're remodeling) to the floors where the dogs knocked over a gallon of RED paint, to my shirt - and of course, my hands.

I could give you my life story on how I morphed from writer to web/graphic designer to sign painter to artist, but are you really that interested in me? You are? Then come to a show and talk to me!

One of my favorite ever photos.

FAQs

Q:  DO YOU HAVE CHICKENS?
A:  Off and on.  We live in a rural area of Indiana and while we do have a small coop, prefer to free range our chickens and ducks.  Unfortunately, this leads to an influx of predators who seem to think our farm is a buffet.  We recently adopted 2 Barred Rocked beauties who were no longer laying.  Jade & Opal will hopefully keep some of the bugs under control this Spring!

Q:  WHY CHICKENS?
A:  First - why not?  :-)   In all seriousness, I started my painting venture a few years ago but it was just painting traced words and images onto wood.  Nothing fancy.  Except for ONE free hand painting - a chicken.  One day, I decided to see if I could create a more whimsical chicken, to create my own unique style and set out over the long winter doing just that.    I never knew I could draw more than a stick figure at that point so it was quite a daunting task!  But, over the last 5 years, I have created what I set out to do - a unique, memorable style that brings a smile to everyone!

Q:  DO YOU PAINT ALL THESE YOURSELF?
A:  YES!  You should see my clothes, coffee table and wood floor - they're a hazardous mess of paint splatters.  Watercolors seem to be a bit safer for our floors and furniture!  :-)
**we now have a new coffee table that is paint free!!

Q:  WHAT IS A FLUCKER?
A:   If you have to ask.......

Q:  ARE YOUR *WOODEN* PAINTINGS OK TO GO OUTSIDE?
A:  Yes, the Barnwood is - but you'll need to give them a couple coats of SPRAY Polyurethane to protect them from rain and the elements.  If they are under the cover of a porch, they'll be ok.  You can also coat them with a brush on poly.  Both of these protect the PAINT.  The wood has been exposed to the elements for 50+ years already.  
The pine (light colored wood) is a soft wood and not suitable for long time exposure to the elements.   They can be set out on the porch if it is covered but not on a coop, even if coated with poly.  The wood will eventually soak up too much moisture.

WATERCOLORS:
ALL WATERCOLORS SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT.  They should be hung on a side wall, not across from a window.

When I'm not painting, I'm either playing cornhole, Uno or Greedy with the hubby and/or kiddo or, if I'm really lucky, riding my horse.