to the Universe...

Thank you!!!!

an artsy holiday...decking the walls

I think that it's much easier to walk into wal-mart, pick out a gift, drop it into the cart, head home, wrap it...and viola...let the gift giving commence.
Yet...as an artist it's joyous to have one of your paintings requested as a gift...especially when you can stray from the norm of what you normally paint in an effort to go the extra mile to make the gift receiver smile that much more!

This Christmas was no exception. I'd been wanting to paint something that was music related for some time...but this piece here on the left was for Chris' eldest daughter Hannah (she's a junior) who has played the trombone at Pike-Delta-York since at least the 8th grade maybe even longer. I've had the privilege of watching her play at home football game half-times and various local parades throughout the past year and a half. What an honor for me to create a piece in honor of her and her passion for playing the trombone! Painted with acrylic paint on wood with collaged lettering (also incorporating Hannah's favorite color of bright bright green) what fun is was to paint this piece and present it to her for Christmas 2012!

This little blue bird painting was the result of a special request. My mother-in-law had asked for a blue bird painting for Christmas...and what fun this guy was to create! Painted with acrylic on wood he emerged beautifully on the canvas.

There's just something very fulfilling about painting birds of the wild. They are so very beautiful and each one is different and unique in its own way.

These pieces here a but a sampling of the joy of holiday gift-giving and creating one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family for the holidays!  I am blessed beyond words to have the ability to create such smiles for others!

Merry Christmas to all!

to learn more about Rachel's art visit www.racheldickson.com

in the spirit of Christmas...winter...and frivolity

It may be difficult to tell from this photo what exactly is going on here. So I'll make it a bit easier and just tell you. Snow kayaking. Yep.

Crazy notion I know...but...I couldn't help myself. Here I was in Tennessee after a rare big snow...and no sled could be found ANYWHERE! (Not kidding...no sleds in stores, no ice-salt for sidewalks...although I did discover that Epsom salt worked well as a substitute...but I digress.)

So as not to miss a snowy-opportunity...as there was a rather larger, steep hill behind my house...I got to thinking. What might I use to enjoy this snow in the spirit of winter?

BING! Kayak of COURSE! So off I went into the garage...pulled my kayak down to the top of the hill...and OFF I went!! The fence at the bottom of the hill really wasn't enjoying the wintery fun as much as I was...and proceeded to try and kabash my fun...but I adapted and managed not to bleed in any way (the smile on my face can attest).

Now living in Ohio...we here are hoping for a white Christmas...which here isn't all that rare. The hills we have for sledding are designed specifically for sledding (so steep they're hard to get to the top)...so I won't be dragging my kayak to commit sledding suicide...but we are in the market for some big ole tractor tire tubes. Those are the BOMB for sledding here! (and sleds ABOUND in stores because sledding here in Ohio is a movement all its own!)

So here's to whatever weather strikes your fancy in which to enjoy your Christmas holidays! I'm hoping for some snow-ball chucking...and some life-size snow-sculpting among other things.

In the mean time, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
and a VERY Merry Christmas!

to learn more about Rachel Dickson and her sometimes not-so-artistic-adventures 
visit www.racheldickson.com