In my last email newsletter, I mentioned I'd be announcing an intriguing theme soon for my upcoming annual show in north Idaho. Here's the fun idea I promised! ...Do I hear a drum roll?....

New Gems, Large & Small

by Diana Moses Botkin

Please Join Us at the Exhibit

Opening on Friday June 6

4~9 p.m. at Naples Gallery

(Pirate Costumes Optional!)

Show runs June 6~July 6, 2008

Naples Gallery is located north of

Sandpoint ID, on Highway 95,at Mile 495 1/2

I'll be hanging my annual show in less than two weeks in Naples Idaho. This exhibit is always a fun event and a unique opportunity for local collectors to see my framed originals in person. I've been busy this past year painting lots of treasures large and small. I can't wait to share them with everyone! If you'll be in north Idaho, please mark your calendar and save Friday evening June 6, to drop by. Suzanne will have grog and grub for you to enjoy while you peruse the paintings!

I may wear a pirate outfit or at least some big earrings and eyeliner, ala Johnny Depp! How about you?

Here's some useful pirate lingo so you'll be shipshape for a treasure hunt!

Ahoy -- "Hello!"
Blimey! -- Exclamation of surprise. "Blimey! Look at all that art!"
Booty -- Loot, gold. Useful for buying art.
Chest -- Treasure container. We'll have a chest full of art for you!
Deadlights -- Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, Matey! That's art!"
Grog -- Generically, any alcoholic drink. Specifically, rum with water.
Grub -- Food. We'll have some!
Handsomely -- Quickly. "Handsomely now, Suzanne, wrap that up for me!"
Jollyboat -- A small but happy craft.

Lad, lass, lassie -- A way to address someone younger than you.
Me hearties -- Typical address for a pirate leader.
Matey -- Cheerful, if not friendly, address.
Rum -- Traditional pirate drink.
Shipshape -- Well-organized, under control, finished.
Shiver me timbers! -- An expression of surprise or strong emotion.
Smartly -- Quickly. "Smartly there, men!" = "Hurry up with the grog!"
Splice the mainbrace -- To have a drink. Or, perhaps, several drinks.
Swag -- Loot. (see Booty)
Yo-ho-ho -- Useful pirate lingo, whether it actually means anything or not.

Ahoy, Mateys! Blimey!... you aren't on my mailing list!? Contact me smartly and I'll add your email to the list for sending out my newsletters.

"Iris Glow" Floral/Still Life
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 3.25"x2.25" unframed $55.
Purchase includes free mini display easel.

Our bearded irises aren't blooming just yet, but they were when we visited 200 miles south of us last weekend, in Moscow Idaho.

"Pink Tulip" Floral/Still Life
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 3"x3" in Decorative Gold Frame $55.

This past weekend I went to see the kids in Moscow, Idaho, which is in the Palouse. Spring is ahead of us there by a couple of weeks. Here at the edge of the earth we've had rain and some warm days and now there are flowers (plus lots of weeds). The fruit trees are even starting to bloom.

"Studebaker Self-Portrait" Figurative/Automobile
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 5"x5" Unframed $100.

A fellow artist wrote me today and dissed my car. He obviously doesn't have any idea about my relationship with my Hawk. Granted, she's a lot of trouble and gets terrible mileage. But she's beautiful; she even sports lines and chrome. And she goes fast.

Yesterday I was giving blood for a local blood drive in town. I was lying there with a big needle in the crook of my arm and my blood going into a bag when I heard the word "Studebaker". Like Pavlov's driver, I leaned forward to turn around and see who was mentioning the word that will always get me salivating. The attending nurse rushed over to me and yelled at me to lie back down and not bend my arm. After all, I guess that sharp needle might go in deeper and she'd have a big mess to clean up. So I had to wait until she had a pint of blood in the bag and would let me get up so I could find out who else in that small room even knew about Studebakers.

Turns out it was a fairly new owner of another vintage Hawk. She's headed to "Lost in the 50's" tomorrow in Sandpoint, Idaho to drive her beauty in the parade. It's always fun to see the old cars show up, but there are rarely any Studebakers.

Mine looks pretty good for her age. And it's a lot of fun to drive the car when it doesn't have something wrong with it.

I usually have it out of our garage, washed, oil added, and all gassed up by the time we have our Sandpoint Plein Air PaintOut in June. Two years ago the brakes went out during that trip. Last year the alternator quit. Those kind of problems do make me wonder if the old girl is trying to kill me off. So this year I'm taking her to my mechanic beforehand. The transmission needs work and I don't want that going out this summer when I'm trying to get somewhere, or back home out here on the edge of the earth. And Bill, if you're in the area you could join us at the PaintOut. I'll even take you for a ride in the Studebaker if you promise to wear your Depends.

"By the Lake" Landscape
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 3"x3" in Gold Frame $55.

Crooked tree against a turquoise sky

"Red and Blue Hat" Mini Portrait Sketch
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 3"x3" in Gold Frame $55.

Bright colors on a spring day

"Bonding" Portrait/Figurative
(c)1992 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 8"x10" SOLD

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a portrait I did years ago that I thought appropriate for this weekend. Motherhood is such a wonderful gift from God. I myself am a reluctant convert but am so blessed that the Lord gave me my 5 children.

Mothers and babies are the most lovely subjects to paint. I am accepting a few commissions, so please contact me if you'd like me to paint something special for you.

You can also order this image as a giclee reproduction at my online LifeImages Gallery.

It is the nation of Israel's 60th birthday. Today's painting is of a Jewish mother and children, whom I met recently.

"Pow Wow Purchase" Figurative
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 5"x7" Decorative Gold Frame $155.

This colorful family had been to a Native American Dance Demonstration and bought a souvenir, an arrow. We talked a little and it came out that I am an artist. "Are you good?", the young girl wanted to know. I gave them my card and said perhaps they'd like to visit my website and see if I was.

Then the boy wanted me to take his picture with the arrow posed behind his head like it had been shot through his cranium. When I was a kid, we had an arrow that bent around the skull to make it look like it went through the head. My brother liked it a lot... a boy thing. I guess some things never change.

"Couple at the Museum" Figurative
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 7"x5" Decorative Gold Frame $155.

I've been out of town visiting my son in Oregon. I also took some time to go to the museum in Portland, where I saw this couple moving through the galleries looking at paintings. This woman is obviously young. Who else wears high heels to walk around a museum for hours?

"Violet, Green and Turquoise" Landscape
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Framed Miniature Oil SOLD

Spring colors at the wildlife refuge in north Idaho.

"Spring by the Pond" Landscape
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Oil, 7"x5" Gold Frame $155.

I really piled the paint on this one, both with palette knife and brush. I hope you can get a feel for the texture.

"Turquoise Window" Landscape/Skyscape
(c)2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Framed Miniature Oil $55.

I hope you enjoy skies as much as I do! This one was especially fascinating and dramatic.