Category Archives: Whimsical

2026, Bird Study, Commissioned Art, Sold, Whimsical

Kathy’s King Tide

April 22, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

King Tides *Original Artwork by DVD ©202*6

This is the third painting in my King Tide series, created as a special commission for my friend Kathy. The figures represent Kathy and her two children, and I’m especially pleased with how they emerged. They feel more naturally integrated and in scale with the landscape than in my earlier King Tides piece, which made this painting particularly rewarding to bring to life.

This work also marks a milestone for me—it’s the most figures I’ve included in a single painting. I’m still in my “figures from behind” phase, which feels true to where I am in my artistic journey. Someday, they may turn and face the viewer, but for now, there’s something meaningful about capturing these quiet, shared moments from this perspective.

I continued my 2026 bird study here by incorporating seagulls. While I’m not yet painting them from memory, I can feel that shift getting closer with each piece. It’s exciting to notice that growth unfolding.

The wave in this painting is intentionally large, inspired by the powerful King Tides along the Oregon coast. If you’ve ever witnessed them, you know how awe-inspiring they are. I wanted this painting to honor that sense of scale and movement. While the beach itself is more imagined—something that could belong to many places along the Oregon shoreline—the lighthouse was inspired by Yaquina Lighthouse in Newport, one of Kathy’s favorites.

As I painted, I held Kathy and her children close in my thoughts. Painting often becomes a meditative space for me, and this piece was no exception. It carries with it my wishes for their joy, connection, and happiness in the years ahead. This truly was a work of the heart.

If you’re interested in a King Tide–inspired painting of your own, feel free to reach out using the contact information below.

Price: SOLD $180.00

2026, Bird Study, Whimsical

Laurel’s Retreat

March 30, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

This painting took time to find its way into the world. It began as just another ocean scene, but slowly transformed into something much more personal—a tribute to my mother, Laurel.

The first canvas for this idea now sits tucked away in my closet. I resisted the urge to take scissors to it, choosing instead to set it aside for another day. What you see here is canvas number two. I often talk about the painting I want to create and the painting that wants to be created. There’s a delicate balance between the two. I set out to paint a realistic ocean, but a more whimsical version insisted on emerging. What resulted is a piece that lives somewhere between those worlds—and I’m truly happy with the dance between them.

I’m especially excited about my progress with seagulls. This year, I’ve set a goal to focus on birds, working toward painting common species from memory. This piece gave me a wonderful opportunity to practice that intention.

Another new element for me is the dune grass. This is the first time I’ve included it in a beach painting, and I love the texture and movement it brings. And of course, there’s my little bunny—quietly watching the surf and the seagulls. Here in Oregon, if you’re lucky, you might spot families of wild rabbits along the coast. They’re always a delightful surprise.

This painting is also deeply rooted in memory. It was inspired by a beach my mother took me to as a child, once known as Devil’s Elbow. In 1998, it was renamed Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. It’s not only a place of childhood joy, but also where we returned her ashes to the ocean. It remains a cherished place for my family.

My mother, Laurel, loved the beach—both for its peaceful solitude and the memories made there together. It feels only fitting that this piece, Laurel’s Retreat, honors that connection.

Price: TBA

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, Bird Study, Garden Art, Water Study, Whimsical

Gently Down the Stream

January 21, 2026 DVD's Creations Leave a comment

In 2026, I’m shifting my focus from forms of water to birds. My second painting of the year features my second hummingbird, my first attempt at a family of ducks, and a single blue butterfly. I may even expand this exploration to creatures of flight. It feels like a natural next step.

Below are the stages this piece evolved through during the creative process. My goal was to create a sky and mountain backdrop using colors that would accent the hibiscus flowers in the foreground. This painting feels like a turning point for me, especially in how I approached the mountains. Until now, I’ve mostly painted rolling hills, but here the mountains took on a more dramatic presence.

The river also feels more developed than in previous works, with added depth and reflections that mirror the surrounding landscape. The waterfalls remain more stylized—perhaps even a bit cartoonish—but I’m embracing that. I’m drawn to the fairytale quality they bring to the piece. There’s something whimsical and serene about it, and I’m enjoying allowing that feeling to exist in the work.

Price: For Sale at the Maker’s Market in Veneta, Oregon

Exploring Creatively… One Art Piece at a Time