Hello everyone

Looking a little miserable here, in Fribourg, Switzerland. But actually, that's not so! My mind has been artistically elsewhere. It's true, I haven't painted for a while. I finished the first draft of my book not so long ago. I know I haven't told you that, but we can't share all our secrets you know, you might lose interest, and dump me!! In fact I will be offering it for sale in the distant future. It's written in the same style as I write this blog, so if you like this, odds are you'll like my wierdy mystery-adventure book. I've also been busy singing and writing some songs (blues of course), which again, babies, you will be able to purchase in the future  . So anyway, my point being, this is why I've put my painting on hold, just a little at the moment. And you haven't seen a lot of fresh paintings. But it has hurt. I've had kind of cravings for color! Wierd, really. Needing to buy flowery dresses to compensate. Our son has been looking at my very colorful frocks with a more and more worried expression on his face, I'm sure.

But I'm back, from outer-space! Isn't that a song? Anyway, since allowing myself to do a few paintings, my artistic juices have been flowing like a mad-woman after a very long diet, denied chocolate!

So; I showed you my poodle last week (don't be personal) which will be up for bidding soon on ebay for only $22.50 (see previous blog) Then, I've knocked off two other oil paintings this week alone. So, can't wait to show you them.........

Original Cocker Spaniel Painting by Laurel Moore.

This is a cute Cocker Spaniel. Such busy little dogs. But with such soft "pelage" that's French for coat. Here she is, enjoying a swim. You'll be a be able to purchase this on my website www.MooreThanArt.com soon, I'm sure I don't need to tell you my site name, I'm sure you know it by heart by now It's not a great photo of the original painting, I'll try to do better next time, I promise .......

Oh; here's my other painting of a gorgeous Yorkshire Terrier, too. I just managed to sneak it in. See; I told you I'd been busy, didn't It? Surely, it's got to be a she. With all that beautiful hair! I'm especially pleased with the eyes. The eyes are essential for the painting to come alive. Again, an unbelievably low starting-price on ebay in a couple of weeks. Don't miss an TRULY ORIGINAL bargain.

Original Yorkshire Terrier Oil Painting by Laurel Moore.

 CUsoon

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com or questions@moorethanart anytime.

Hello everyone

"What are you looking at woman, we're over here!"

"I'm looking at the tree, remember that tree I was telling you about? The one that was blasted over in the recent storms here in Fribourg, Switzerland?".

"Oh, ok. Can I stop talking to myself now?"

Tree After The Storm.

See; shocking isn't it? Though with usual Swiss organization, all evidence of such mischief was well and truly removed by the afternoon.

So, as promised a sneak thumbprint of my NEW ORIGINAL oil painting. He's a sweetie, too. "Just poodling around" is the title. Up for bids in a couple of weeks for only $22.50 that's dollars to all you non-Americans. You should find me on ebay under Laurel Moore, if you click the worldwide sellers box on the left. I'm sure you can work it out. You look bright enough to me...........

Poodle Painting In Oil by Self-Taught Artist Laurel Moore.

He's 25x 30 centimeters and because he's canvas wrapped, you don't need a frame, do you? Why must you wait a couple of weeks? It's still wet, dummy. Do you want me to send a sticky-oily blob of color to you through the post? Aren't poodles great though? So bouncy and floppy and nosy all at the same. time.

Update: This painting is now in Iowa, America.

Talking of dogs, this was a great photo I got of ours. See the giant dangerous python?

Dog And The Slug.

This was actually a speckled slug! A big bugger though! It's such fun to play with size and perspective with my new phone camera. It really makes me laugh to make some things so giant. Does Axle look scared? No, I think bemused is probably a better description. Or "what on earth are you doing now mummy?" I'm sure he thinks that thought alot. This slug was at least four inches long though. Surely that's too big for a slug??

You tell me See you soooooooon

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com or questions@moorethanart anytime.

Hello folks and fans

Big Foot.

So say hello to my elephant leg. Did I mention I got bitten? Only by an insect though. I hope it doesn't put you off your sunday lunch. Actually, it wasn't really that big. It did swell quite a bit (Hmmmm sexy) but I deliberately took the photo at this angle because it was so funny. Am I lying, are these my legs? You'll never know will you!

Terrible storms have swept through Fribourg, Switzerland while you've been snoozing. Tipping up cars and ripping out trees. Here's a photo of one of my regular dog walks.

Whoops, having a dippy moment again. Obviousy, this is not a tree, but it is fascinating anyway. Look at those nodes? This whole bush was speckled with these growths on the leaves. Me thinks something is growing inside! What could it be? How freaky! I hope there's not something growing in my big leg. I'll keep you posted. I'll try and keep you posted on the lost storm-tree, too. If I can remember to find it for the next blog.

I've been working on a new painting! Which I'll be selling on ebay in the next couple of weeks. It's a doggy ORIGINAL too, with a very low starting bid ($22.50) I'll take a photo of it for you as soon as I've finished. So don't forget to look me up  (Laurel Moore) and you might snap up a bargain. Trust me, it'll look lovely on your wall.

Come for a visit at www.moorethanart.com or www.boundlessgallery.com or ask a questions questions@moorethanart anytime.

Hello folks hope you are well

We've had some fearsome storms here in Fribourg, Switzerland. Did you think I'd been washed away? It would take more than a few storms to wash me away! My weeds are growing veraciously after every rainfall though. It's a job to keep up with them.

Our baby Sparrows have fledged now. It's funny to watch their antics. Though mine are probably even funnier, at the sight of a cat in the garden: since I do run out barking. I'm not sure why. But they have such lovely tufty baby feathers on their back and their mouths still have that yellowy-baby-bird look. They sit on the bird-table in front of a lump of leftover bread and cheep demandingly. Until their parent hops over, takes a lump of bread, then feeds the cheeky baby-bird. It makes me laugh to see them just cheeping over the bread, yet not touching it themselves.  

Foxes still come at night and bash the metal bird-table over, depending on their mood. They leave their droppings all over the garden, I guess they're eating alot of Wild Cherries at the moment, too: if you know what I mean!

I saw three adolescent foxes on the dog walk yesterday, ambling just  twenty feet ahead. They were very confident. Obviously the ambling speed of myself and Axle convinced them that we were not a threat. Axle can sometimes chase a cat, if he's feeling very energetic. Just for fun. It doesn't happen often though, only when they wind him up by being too confident and not remotely afraid of him. He thinks they should be a little shy........

Christmas Dog Painting by Laurel Moore. Exclusive to MooreThanArt.com

Of course he doesn't do anything when he actually catches up with the cat. They both just seem to bounce around together. There are a lot of cats here. Hence, I do a lot of barking.

I got two horrible bites on my legs the other day. They swelled up quite badly, like odd shaped balloons. They are only just going down now, or should I say deflating? The skin went all wierd when you prodded it, too. Kind of hard and leathery. Hmmmm nice! I would take a photo, but I don't want to put you off your snack. Gardening, is one of my favourite things, but unfortunately a lot of it takes place on your knees, or in some other uncomfortable position. Where any number of beasies can bite, nibble, or generally worry your exposed flesh. On our family walk the other day (unfortunately wearing a skirt, that's me, not my husband) I got attacked by Soldier Ants. They're really big buggers here in Switzerland, too. Honestly; at least a centimeter long. That's pretty big for an ant you know! Anyway, I think I was what they would call an easy target, in my espidrilles (that's soft-canvas-shoes to all you non-females)  Their bites really hurt, too. I did try to take some photos of them for this blog, but they appeared camera shy and decided to look really tiny when you tried to photograph them. Evil critters..........................

This is a funny photo. Does it look like a forest? Those great tree trunks and giant flowers. Did I fool you? It's actually the stems of the Rape Seed plant with flowers underneath. But the perspective looks ambiguous. Like a miniature, giant forest. Oh well, I'm wasted on you, aren't I...........

Don't get bitten, bark like a dog. At least we would all speak the same language then...............

www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com or questions@moorethanart anytime.

Hello folks

Me And My Dog

Ear to ear sunshine has now become rainy againy. I've been testing out my new Sony phone that my husband bought me, it's really good, too.  The photos for my blog have come our really clear, although the close-up isn't quite as good as my other phone. I've been taking lots of really dull photos and trying to make them interesting : how very "modern art". Here's one of a water bottle, which I think is really nice, though I can't really explain why............

Modern Art? Or Just Pants?

Do you like it? It also has this great feature that you can make any photo a cartoon. So I've cartooned my son. Some might say that's a little harsh. But at the moment he's driving us nuts with his floppy attitute to learning!! If you're a parent you'll know what I mean, I'm sure. Don't tell anyone, but he's failed his first theory driving test for his scooter. We said: if you fail, you pay; if you pass, we'll pay. He was gutted, since it cost about f180, that's about 250 pounds (I would add a pound sign here, but I'm damned if I can find it) So, if he takes the test again it will cost another f35 each time.  All money down the drain........

The problem is, in this exam you are allowed to make fourteen mistakes. So; he is adament he only got one wrong: by making only fifteen mistakes! He will not see it any other way. Surely that's twisted logic, since a mistake is a mistake? Doesn't it make sense to aim for the full count?

So, anyway, I've cartooned him. Perhaps he will be forever more locked into a cartoon story: forever studying for his driving exam. Wouldn't he be word-perfect by then though? At least he couldn't complain he didn't have enough time to revise!

Cartooning My Son.

Hee hee, he'll never know I've blogged him (is that a word?) since he never reads this blog. I'm sure he'd give me one of his disdainful looks if he ever did.............

  Don't forget to be childish, too..............

Find me www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com or ask a questions at questions@moorethanart anytime.

Hello everyone

Yes, I'm Axle, in case we haven't met before. Yes, I am quite adorable. And yes, I am quite clearly posing for the photograph. My left side is always my best side as you can see. And I try to get some power into my eyes, whilst allowing the body to look relaxed yet aware (someone's been watching too much "Top Model" with mummy, I think.......)

Maybe he's been taking it all in, from the snooze position..........

Don't ask me about my slugs. I don't WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! I try to be kind, but it's driving me nuts. "Please stop eating my new, best shoots, I'll pay you......" Actually I have found the solution now. Though I have lost rather a few too many casualties of war along the way. Copper tape, seems to be the answer. And what a fabulous invention! As their sluggy bodies move along the tape, they receive a mild electric shock, which is the obvious deterrent, causing them to retreat. So, I repeat, what a fabulous invention!  Nothing like electrocuting your wildlife, is there?

So; if you see a garden, not looking so much green, as copper, with loads of copper grids running around and around the garden, it's probably mine.  

Summer Sunshine.

Thought I'd add a nice shot I took of the Rape Seed plant, with the sun behind. Just to be arty. Well, I am an artist after all. These sorts of arty shots must be expected of me. Watch out, I might start photographing cement stairs soon. Naaaaaaaaaaaa!

Ate our first cabbage from my veg patch yesterday. I made a lovely meat pie for the family with ready-made pastry on top (which is surprisingly nice, as a matter of fact) I wonder why we all felt sweaty afterwards, in the 80 degree heat? But I didn't expect to feel like a murderer for pulling it out at the root! My God it was delicious though. Good timing too, because when I pealed back a leaf, there sat a lovely grey fat slug, next to a hundred of its little round eggs! I suppose that's like a drive-through diner for the slug, without the drive-through bit, so more like a sit-in diner really.

Dog Under The Christmas Tree. Exclusive Print by Laurel Moore. MooreThanArt.com

p.s. Never forget how gorgeous I am.

Buy my fine art prints at my website anytime www.moorethanart.com and www.boundlessgallery.com  All under $40 at print and unique to my site. Find my original there too! What madness!! Or ask a questions at questions@moorethanart anytime.

Hello fans!

Me And My Snail by Laurel Moore.

Can you guess what this is? Well, I'll tell you at the bottom of this blog. If, I remember, of course. Sometimes, I have the memory span of a gold-fish......

What; June already? I wasn't ready for it yet. So; finally the rain has faded to leave us with 80 degree heat again. Gorgeous. I've been eating lovely strawberries from my veg. patch and some lovely sweet peas: no, I mean peas, which were sweet. I know you can't eat Sweet Peas.

 Our son, up to now has always been a bit scathing about the smelly compost heap, lugging ugly bags of rotting veg. etc, moaning at the digging, the effort. Until today, when I handed him his first organic pea pod. The moodiness of his teenage face was washed away momentarily, when he tasted that sweet pea. "Wow, that's nice" he'd said. I know he understands now............................

Here's a lovely bag full of my sweet Wild Cherries. Have a taste. They're not that wild at all. Quite well-behaved actually. There's a touch of bitterness to them, which gives them an "edge". And they're smaller of course, though probably more rebellious.

Red Cherries by Laurel Moore.

Go on, have a nibble. You may find the odd bug or two, but that just adds to the adventure, doesn't it?

Talking of bugs, what the hell is this below? The noise of this buzzing thing sounded like an aircraft landing. And land it did, on my Sweet Peas. Well, you must know how small the sweet pea flower is, it's about 2 or 3 centimetres. So what the hell is this? It sounded like a bee. Axle and I were funny to watch: suddenly ducking at the same time to avoid the landing path of this one. I told you all the bugs were different here  in Switzerland, didn't I? I bet you didn't believe me.

Flower Bee by Laurel Moore.

Now; that leads me nicely on to my first photograph. Yes; I remembered. It's a funny word remember, isn't it? You just want to keep on doing remememember, don't you? So; did you guess? It's me, kissing a snail! I couldn't resist the urge, when I found possibly the largest snail I've ever seen ambling along a wooden rail. Isn't he\she fabulous? It's apparently a Roman Snail (in case you were wondering) so called, because they were a diet of the Romans. I guess, because you could always find one of these big buggers to eat, even if you were short-sighted! And just to add a gruesome garden fact for your bad-taste: the snail likes to stun it's partner, before mating. And I don't mean stun, as is impress, either! Surely that must be impossible?

Apologies for  the noise of my blog when it downloads, I know it sounds like it's churning milk into cheese. It's just, as you may have noticed, I do have quite a few photos. And they are the downfall of an efficient and speedy blog. Well; you can't have everything can you.

Don't forget to kiss a snail too    Nice cheese...............