Views From My Artistic Vantage Point

Commissioned lighting is always a blend of form and function mixed with the specific needs of the clients and the space. After designing...

We are a special breed - artist mothers. I feel connected to those of whom I follow in their footsteps. It's not the easiest path we have...

Choosing a subject really is a matter of personal preference. But it is good to think through the "Why?" before you begin painting....

After watching (and videoing! - a previous post) a Great Grey Owl hunting this weekend in Yellowstone, I painted the Great Grey Owl in...

I guess I'm a 'nature geek'.... because I can't image too many things that I'd enjoy more than being near a heron rookery, painting and...

Out for a quick hike in Yellowstone, we had an amazing encounter with a great grey owl. With the opportunity to watch the owl hunting for...

Often called "an artist's artist", Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923) is one of the painters I most admire. He was born in Valencia Spain on...

If you've spent anytime around art, at art shows or museums, you've seen these words... "in the collection of the artist".... Pieces not...

It's Spring - and yes, I'm hooked on studying birds. How could you not, when you see the beauty and diversity among them! Owls are a...

Yesterday, I watched a Golden Eagle swooping down over some ducks on the Yellowstone River. Truly magnificent birds! Their shear size and...

For me, it starts with a small study. That's usually where I determine if my idea merits my time, energy and the expense to produce a...

Ahhh... Spring hiking in Yellowstone - LOVE IT! After a long hiatus, it felt particularly good to get out there. (I tweaked my knee...

I'm captivated by the rock shapes along the river. Really, any river. But this one happens to be a favorite - the Yellowstone River. The...

My photo of a Mountain Bluebird on our deck yesterday. I woke up and watched bison grazing out the windows this morning... These are some...

A favorite sculpture... Degas at the National Gallery Edgar Degas is an artist I admire for his painting, drawing AND sculpture... more...

Last year, I taught a children's art class to these inspiring young artists. And boy did we have a good time.... I'm currently...

Thomas Moran's Hat watercolor and ink by Shirl Ireland It was fun to sit with Thomas Moran's hat today at the Yellowstone Heritage...

Always good to stick my head out of Montana and see great art. This past weekend, I did that in LA. Both old and new.... For a fabulous...

It's been decades now that I've been at it and over the years I've accumulated some good plein air painting photos. To set up our new...

Have you ever been to Osprey Falls in Yellowstone? It’s one of my favorite waterfalls in the Park. A great place to hike… and paint!… OR...