Category Archives: 2026

2026, Whimsical

Mystical Forest

February 18, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

Please welcome the next 4×4 painting in my 2026 collection. This little piece will be living at The Maker’s Mall in Veneta, Oregon, until it finds its forever home.

For this painting, I returned to the forest path I love so dearly. There’s something about that winding trail that keeps calling me back. I brought along the familiar wishing well and, this time, added a hidden spiral portal tucked among the trees. While these elements may feel like they belong in a fairytale, I truly believe our Oregon forests hold a quiet magic of their own — the kind that gently eases the stress of everyday life.

The spiral portal represents change and growth. It’s an invitation to step forward, even when the path feels mysterious. The small child walking the trail is a reminder to hold tightly to the wonder of our inner child — to stay curious, open, and willing to believe in something just beyond what we can see. And the cottontail rabbit has made another appearance. She was first spotted in Forest Bunny in 2025, and apparently she isn’t finished guiding us just yet.

This piece carries more detail than Forest Bunny, especially with the addition of the child. In fact, this is only the third time I’ve attempted a human figure. Each time feels like a quiet act of bravery. One day, I may even turn my characters around so we can see their faces. For now, I love the mystery of walking alongside them rather than looking directly at them.

I also added soft rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. They partially veil the portal, inviting you to pause and look twice. I enjoy that subtle concealment — it mirrors how magic often works in real life. It doesn’t shout. It whispers.

I’m certain I’ll wander this forest path again in another variation. Who knows what we might discover as we travel deeper into the trees?

This little painting is the third in a growing collection of locally inspired works I plan to share at The Maker’s Mall in the coming months. I’m excited to see where this path — both on canvas and in life — leads next.

Price: For Sale at The Maker’s Mall, Veneta OR

2026, Water Study, Whimsical

Ladybug Magic

February 15, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

My second 4×4-inch painting is complete. Lately, I’ve been painting with extra intention as I prepare for the opening of The Maker’s Mall in Veneta, Oregon, where I’ve secured my very first vendor booth. Watching this new chapter take shape feels both exhilarating and deeply affirming.

For this piece, I returned to my ladybug series for inspiration, creating a smaller version of a familiar and beloved scene. There’s something about this composition that feels especially serene to me. The greens are calming, the flowers inviting, and the still water carries a quiet sense of safety.

I was genuinely delighted with how this version came together. I included the mystical floating bubbles once again. Their soft presence adds another layer of calm and wonder. Where are they coming from? Where are they drifting to? What do bubbles have to do with ladybugs? Absolutely nothing — except that they are two of my favorite things to paint. Sometimes that is reason enough.

This piece also became a thoughtful study in reflection. Painting reflections can be deceptively challenging. You aren’t just painting a flower — you’re painting a flower transformed by water, softened and turned upside down. I’ve found that physically turning my canvas upside down helps me see the reflection more clearly and paint it more convincingly.

This little work is the second in a growing collection of locally inspired pieces I plan to display at The Maker’s Mall in the coming months. In Veneta, the appearance of ladybugs feels like a gentle announcement of spring — a promise that summer is just around the corner.

Price: For Sale at The Maker’s Mall, Veneta OR

2026, Sold, Water Study

Fern Ridge Reservoir Sunrise, Veneta OR

February 13, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

I’m excited to share that I’ve been given the opportunity to consign a wall in our new local collective, The Maker’s Mall, here in Veneta, OR. Being part of this creative community has inspired a new direction in my work — capturing moments on canvas that celebrate the beauty and spirit of the place we call home.

If you live in Veneta, or find yourself visiting our charming town, I hope these pieces will feel both familiar and meaningful.

One of the first locations I chose to paint is Fern Ridge Reservoir Sunrise, our local boating lake. Kayaking is one of my favorite summertime rituals. In this piece, a lone kayaker greets the sunrise — a quiet, peaceful moment that so many of us who cherish this lake can recognize.

This painting also marks a few personal firsts. It’s the first time I’ve included a dock in one of my landscapes. Perspective can be challenging, but I embraced it — and I’m especially pleased with how it anchors the composition and invites the viewer into the scene.

And then there’s the sky. I’ve shied away from bold orange sunsets, unsure of how to handle their intensity. This time, I decided to lean in. The result surprised me. The orange feels radiant rather than overpowering — and I’ve officially made peace with orange skies.

This little painting is the first of many local-inspired works I plan to display at The Maker’s Mall in the coming months. If you’re nearby, I would love for you to stop in, experience the collection in person, and perhaps take a small piece of Veneta home with you.

Below, you can see the stages this piece went through as it came to life.

Price: SOLD $40.00

2026, Bird Study, Sold, Water Study

King Tides

February 9, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

This expanded version of Jan’s Windy Beach surprised me. Though inspired by the original, it quickly developed its own voice. The intensity of the king tides became the heart of the composition — strong, untamed, and alive.

Including multiple figures for the first time allowed me to explore movement in a new way. The sweep of their skirts carries the wind across the canvas, echoing the energy of the Pacific Northwest coast where I live. Seagulls dot the shoreline, aligning with my bird-focused theme this year and adding a quiet moment beyond the crashing waves.

At one point, the large clouds began competing with the waves for attention. I realized the true drama belonged to the ocean, so I softened and lightened the clouds considerably. That shift allowed the power of the water to remain the focus, where it felt most honest.

I’ve truly fallen in love with this piece. It feels less like a painting and more like an experience.

Price: SOLD $120.00

2026

Jan’s Windy Beach

February 7, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

It doesn’t take much to distract me from my bird-painting goals this year. Over dinner recently, a friend mentioned how much she would love a painting of the ocean—and just like that, a new idea took root. A few days later, I found myself back in the studio, beginning the creative process once again.

Whenever I create a painting for someone, I like to spend time quietly reflecting on that person as I work. This time, Jan was on my mind. As the ocean scene began to come to life on the canvas, I felt inspired to include her in the painting itself. This is only the second time I’ve ever painted a person into one of my pieces, which made the process feel especially meaningful.

What truly sets Jan’s Windy Beach apart from my previous ocean paintings is the sense of movement. The waves feel alive, full of energy and motion in a way I haven’t captured before.

This little painting has sparked inspiration for my next project. I plan to recreate the composition on a larger 9×11 inch canvas board, expanding on the idea by adding a child and seagulls along the shoreline. I’m excited to see where this new direction leads.

Below, you can see the stages this piece went through during its creation. It is a 3×3 inch miniature on stretched canvas, and I’m looking forward to gifting it to Jan as soon as I can part with this treasure.

Price: Not For Sale

Exploring Creatively… One Art Piece at a Time