Hoping you had a Happy Christmas! Maybe even a white one if you're in Europe. Scary pictures those were though! Reminds me of living in Switzerland and getting snowed in sometimes..........sometimes you have to just give up trying to get anywhere!

Here's a little photo of me dolled up for our christmas meal. Doing a 'posh spice' pose! I like the way the phone flashed and makes me look like I am holding a star in my hand? Cool effect...................

Quite a few painting commitments this year, with the World Art Foundation American Gallery Exhibition coming up in the new year - so no time to 'rest on my Laurels' (hee hee) So I have a few works to share with you.

This one is 'Wind In The Sand' which has more of a Contemporary feel to it.

This is a really huge oil painting and destined for Dubai Mall hopefully in the new year. I've really tried to capture the feel of standing in a desert. The way the sand is ever moving. Indeed everytime we revisit an area of desert the sand dunes have completely moved, not just changed shape. And you don't see many life-forms apart from the odd large beetle bumbling around, or a lizard or too scampering off to find some shade. It's really a landscape like no other. And I think you have to really experience the desert to feel it keenly.....................

Talking of stars..........I had the most amazing experience of seeing a shooting start this morning on my walk! It shot low across the sky and it was so wonderful. In fact there were two, but I missed the first and only saw it out of the corner of my eye. A very special experience! Not that the dogs noticed of course. I had a little jog this morning ( I nearly put job!) They love it when I run, they get all excited and I notice I tell them off far less for wandering off when I'm running. They seem to like the sense of purpose and of course love to run anytime. It's been a real challenge getting to the stage when I can let a dog like Suki off the lead, since she's the fastest thing on four legs! And with a real wanderlust. Bucket-fulls of treats have helped!

Talking of dogs again, Caroline and her husband were very happy with their new portrait of their two dogs 'Charlie and Cassie'. Rather touchingly, Cassie, the mad one on the left is the daughter of our Suki. So, by definition I am the mummy of the mummy of their dog Cassie.

Don't forget you can contact me (questions@moorethanart.com) for a portrait wherever you are in the world. An oil on canvas can be rolled in a postal tube, then you can get it put back onto wooden boards easily at most local framers. Visit my website www.moorethanart.com to view my portfolio.

I would like to commend these two dogs for staying so still during their portrait (yeah right!)

Just wanted to answer Sheila all the way in Bury-St-Edmunds about my peppers. The ants didn't get them at all! Sadly my gardening skills did. They grew and grew then stopped growing at about the size of a pound coin! They reddened up beautifully too, just were tiny! What did I do wrong? I fed them well too. They were in a pot, maybe they didn't take to that. I'm sure Sheila knows. And glad you enjoy my blog Peterson. Can't seem to reply on my blog, but you can usually catch me at my email above if you've any questions.

Wishing you all a very Happy and prosperous New Year! And big thanks to the guys and girls at band practise, I had a lovely time singing all those songs!!

Hello again.......

Forgot to post this cute little 'The Art Of Laurel Moore' video I made. I'm getting quite good these days on the computer for a ham-fisted IT person. That's a good description - ham-fisted, isn't it? I get a nice picture from that phrase.

Hope you enjoy my current Art Porfolio, or Folio as they seem to call it now..........     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OBfkk3yF0

View me Jazz Singing and playing my Saxophone at my Tedx performance this April in Abu Dhabi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_YF_Qocfw  

My Art at www.moorethanart.com

For your Art enquires questions@moorethanart.com (All art sent with tracking and insurance via TNT in a postal tube).

What did I say about last month being exciting? Well this month is already coming close

THE ART OF LAUREL MOORE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OBfkk3yF0

Just been chosen by the World Art Foundation to represent Abu Dhabi! Every year from their database of hundreds of thousands of artists they choose the hundred best, from all over the world - for their new gallery season. http://www.worldartfoundation.org/ There are some very talented artists there............

This year, I've made their hundred pick of Fine Artists. This means I will be given the opportunity to exhibit at some of the best galleries in America: Las Vegas, California, Santa Fe and many more. It's a wonderful opportunity. On one street in Santa Fe, there are some hundred galleries back to back. So it's a place where the world's collectors come to browse............................

I'd better get that paintbrush flying. Since I've also have been offered to exhibit in Dubai Mall this December.

Anyway, back to reality with a happy bump. It's getting chilly here. This morning, walking the dogs I had a hoody on! Well, for ten whole minutes of the walk anyway! As usual, I always seem to end up getting up a bit of a sweat (lovely). The dogs love to wind me up by chewing on dead sticks at the moment. When one starts and I go to stop them, the other begins the chew game. I'm sure it's some little game of tag they have going.

Still lovely and warm here in the day though - like a cool summer day. And my peppers are growing a couple of centimeters now, nearly good enough to eat. That's if I can get to them before the ants. Ants seem more aggressive here. They jump on any poor insect who seems to be having an off day. Before you know it, they're tucking in to the insecty goodness  

Bonnie and Suki

Bonnie (on the right) loves the car. Whenever that boot opens, even accidentally, she's straight in, sat there waiting. She doesn't care where it's going...............even if it's going nowhere! Sweet really. Suki is as mad as ever, but just seems to always want to play on a walk now. And she only barks when that tail of hers starts flashing! And my goodness they both love their food. Specials are 'Shepperd's Pie', 'Meat Balls' and 'Chicken Curry' nights. ......(can't spell shepperd at all today, I know that's not right!)

You have to be quite careful driving here in the thick fogs in the morning here and doubly so if there's any other cars on the road! Drivers seem to drive impulsively here......''Oh I fancy going over there now!'' so they just GO. Immediately! Cutting across you and all traffic to get there! And they're really wet. Meant to say the fogs are really wet! I mean you can feel the water on your face. And when I sit on my chair outside it's sopping wet, after a foggy night.

We've also discovered the secret to Suki sleeping through the night. She likes it to be warm, really warm! And prefers it quite light too. So, there's us lying in bed wide eyed and panting then!! Anything for a good night's sleep.

Is there time to add some Shiny December Sandals?

Always! Can't resist sharing the joy of wearing sandals in December! In fact, I don't really have normal shoes except sandals anymore. My boots are stored away feeling neglected as are my hats.

Just time to share a little beautiful Abu Dhabi December sky before I paint.................

bye for now.........and keep warm if you are snowing........if you know what I mean............