Spring Has Sprung!

On the road to visit my mom and sister in Lompoc for Easter.









Then we went to La Purisima Misssion. It was a nice place to spend the day walking around the grounds, playing with the animals and checking out mission life from the 1700's.












I felt like we spent the day living in an impressionist painting, colorful and bold, nature at her finest.




If you'd like to see pictures that Vince took of the mission go to his blog at: vinphoto.blogspot.com
They're really gorgeous pictures!

Solstice Canyon Hike

I felt like we were hiking in the garden of Eden. There were flowers everywhere. I love spring! Check out the handy work of this wood pecker.

The Day After the Chile Earthquake

We were in Santa Barbara the day after the Chile earthquake and the water was so violent that it tore this boat in half. The ocean had eaten the entire beach so we had to take our walk on the bluffs.

On the bluffs with Vinnie, Lorie and Gug

Flat Alexandra and Art From The Ashes

My cousin Flat Alexandra is visiting me so I brought her along to a film shoot we did in the mountains one rainy Saturday. Alexandra thought it never rained in sunny California but she soon found out it could storm just like it does where she lives in New Jersey.

Mad Hatters

Cookies

The cold days inspire me to turn on the oven. I'll make cookies at the drop of a hat - any excuse!

Snow Day!

Who says we don't get snow? I've been enjoying our snow covered mountains all winter. The best time of day is at sunset when the low sun turns the entire mountains pink. Breathtaking beauty.

Saturday night

What a great way to spend a Saturday night. Vinnie set this shot up. I sat in for him while he lit it and got the camera angles right. Then he stepped in front of the camera and lit up. We shot about fifty photographs and by the time we were done Vince was green..zombie green. It was quite a ghoulish sight. But before that he looked awesome!

Birthday Moon

On this exact date, many years ago, I woke up to the most amazing view over the San Jacinto mountains in Palm Springs- a bright rainbow that looked as if it was springing forth from the mountain peaks. Vince took a picture of it and it's on our refrigerator to remind me of the first sight I saw on my 40th birthday.

Today my first sight was this fat moon descending behind Mt. San Jacinto. If we had slept a few minutes more we would of missed it. I think this will be another reminder of my birthday happiness - our days spent in the desert taking in fresh air and views for miles. God I love this place! Today we're going to Joshua Tree and I'm brining my sketching pads and pencils. Maybe I'll find the perfect view to draw and possibly make a print from.

Our Room with a View

It wouldn't be my birthday unless I spent it with my fellow desert rat Vince in beautiful Palm Springs. After the holiday rush it sure felt good to lay by the pool and chill out. Yes, January 2nd, poolside. Loving California!

Laura Stickney Interview

Untitled from Donna Grillo on Vimeo.

Rainy Day

I'm just sitting here watching the world go round and round...
Poor little Zuri has to stay in the house today.

L.A. Printmaking Society

I recently joined the L.A. Printmaking Society and the first event I went to we heard June Wayne speak about printmaking, along with other old time printmakers who are credited with making Los Angeles the premiere town for the creation of lithography. Most of the prints shown were from the 60's so there was a lot of social comment - war, women's rights, racial equality...
I found myself thinking that all of these people are in their 80's and 90's and will soon pass on, leaving only their beautiful art work as a reminder of their time on earth. I felt honored to be in a room with so many great talents. Very inspiring!

A Bunch of Stooges

One of the things I look forward to on Thanksgiving weekend is going to the Three Stooges Festival. All those belly laughs have to help burn a few calories off, don't they? Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk...

My favorite quote from today's movies..."Let's go places and eat things"




One of the movies was a 3-D extravaganza!

Bette!

I first saw Bette Midler perform at the Universal Amphitheater in 1993 with my friend Mark. All these years later we found ourselves celebrating Mark's big 5-0 by seeing Bette perform in Las Vegas. What a hoot!

Oh Great Pumpkin!

VInce got extra creative this Halloween. It was a blast to hear the kids look at the pumpkin and shout out, "Domo!" Then I'd point out the pineapple and they'd yell "Spongebob's house" So cute! Our neighbors up the street erected a stage and put on a Michael Jackson dance performance. I heard some one in the audience say, "this is why I live in L.A." I couldn't agree more!

Puss and Paw

Meet Zuri. Writer of "Cat People," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" and "The Cat in the Hat." Her true masterpiece, "Faster Pussycat," was ghost written with Russ Meyer.

Omnia Vincit Amor

As Maro Vergilius said, "Love Conquers All"
Vince and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary with presents and a fabulous dinner at Roy's in Pasadena. I couldn't let the day end without taking a picture of our "fake" tattoos that we wore. I kinda liked Vince's fakie and have warmed up to the idea of him getting a real one :)

Fire Bad

This is a view of the Station fire taken from my dining room. It's been an intense 11 days of smoke and heat, just friggen brutal on everyone in L.A.

All In A Day

Just another day in L.A.? We started off by going to the reception party for the Open Call L.A. show at the Municipal Gallery, where our friend Eiko Battle and I are both exhibiting pieces.







Straight from the party we went to an industrial location downtown to photograph actress Kikey Castillo. I snapped a few pictures of her as she transformed into her alter ego - the kick-ass sword wielding super hero, The Blue Lynxx.



Vince later took this awesome picture of her in full gear. I wouldn't mess with this chick!

HAIL CENTURION!

After two recent visits to the Getty Villa I felt inspired to make a print of this Greco-Roman hard body. Who needs arms with abs like that?!

William Wendt's Garden #1 & #2

I was so inspired by the William Wendt exhibit that we saw at the Laguna Beach Museum a few months ago that I had to buy the book to the show which has in turn made me want to live in William Wendt land, a place of open fields and fresh air before the masses arrived and trampled it all asunder.

A Day With Nile

Every year VInce takes photographs of our dear friends Nile, Christopher (and their son Kostya) to celebrate their anniversary. This year we went downtown for our photo adventure and after a few hours we started getting silly and of course those are my favorite pictures.