Hello from Droushia Cyprus!

Hello from the wonderful mountain village of Droushia in Cyprus! Just finished the first wonderful day and it was spectacular. The local people are so wonderful and friendly. We sat at a little cafe and shared time with the owner. She shared so much about her life and family. It was wonderful. 

we sketched a bit today, but mostly wandered and talked about painting theory and the scenes around us. Tomorrow is painting at a couple of locations... the adventure begins! 

The walls have these beautiful mosaics. Most of the stone work has a hand chiseled surface. 

An Afternoon at Slipper Rock

Another beautiful day on the NW coast and I wandered along to Slipper Rock. This unusual stack resembles a slipper (or boot). The tid was very high so I had a distant view. With a pair of Bald Eagles watching, I did a couple a quick paintings. One celebrating Slipper Rock, and the other the silhouette of the hillside beyond the stack.

A glorious afternoon! 

Treasures of the Sea

A magical afternoon wandering on the beach with the waves rolling in. Today was a venture to a beach that has sand dollars! There are not many beaches here where they are found. Lots of quick note-sketches for future paintings and a number of reference photos. So exciting!! 

Remember to believe in the magic of life, even when it is hard to see. 

Sea Star

I absolutely love starfish. I find them facinating and beautiful. Over the last few years there has been a virus that has devastated the stea star population along the pacific coast. Even a mere 4 years ago, the tidal zone had many in plain sight. Now you have to hunt for them. The population is coming back but very slowly.

Yesterday I found this one and it is thriving. I couldn't help but paint it. The arms were strong and full of color as it waited for the incoming tide. It is easy to forget how fragile the balance in nature is. As the ocean temperature changes--in recent years the pacific coastal waters and warmed--even the small creatures are impacted. I am very happy to see our sea star friends making a comeback.

Redesigned website!

My website  (Denise-Miller.com) has been redesigned and includes all new galleries, an about page where I also share some of my favorite techniques,  links to my fb, twitter, instagram and Artfinder accounts and a contact form to receive a quarterly newsletter with the latest news and tips!

Stay-tuned in the months to come as new paintings are added and a new gallery section is in the planning stage.