Honoring the Ancestors - Sugar Skull Greeting Cards

This summer, looking for a much-needed change of scenery, I traveled to Mexico for a brief vacation. Our self-designed tour comprised a nice mixture of cultural events, food exploration, and shopping. In Mexico City, we learned about the murals of Diego Rivera, and navigated craft markets. There was an explosion of color (and handmade sugar skulls) everywhere! Even the hand painted designs of the black and white sugar skulls have so much dimension in their contrast. Here are some of my favorites that I have converted into greeting cards for this season of skeletons. 

Sugar Skulls, Mexico - Set of 10 Handmade Greeting Cards

Sugar Skulls (Black and White) - handmade greeting card

Newly Inspired Book Artwork - By Books and From Books

Inspired by some of the books I have lying around, I've started painting again. I'm looking at abstract painting by women Aboriginal artists, old medical books, mathematics, and the writings of Stephen Hawking. I have always been fascinated by pattern, nature, astronomy, and some of the recent findings from within and outside our own galaxy. Here are a couple of my latest original works on paper.

Double Arch, Gouache on recycled book, 2022

Nerve Endings, Gouache on recycled book, 2022

Collecting: Queen Elizabeth II Stamps

Above: A rainbow of stamps of different denominations features the Queen for the Royal Post. Below, a variety of other countries also featured Queen Elizabeth's image: Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia, the Bahamas, and (perhaps) New Zealand. It will be interesting to see the re-branding of everything official under King Charles and the new Crown. Going forward, how many countries or territories will no longer wish to remain part of the British Commonwealth (as with the Bahamas recognized as its own sovereign, independent nation in 1973)? All stamps are from my own collection.

Christmas in July - New Greeting Card Designs

Here in the Northeast, we've survived this week's never-ending heatwave. I'm here in the studio celebrating Christmas in July with some new designs for the upcoming season. Stay cool!

Peppermints (also available as a Box of 10) - handmade greeting card

Winter Pine - handmade greeting card

Season of Joy - handmade greeting card