SOLD! Works bought in 2023

From a small tattoo to a large canvas painting—meet the whole gamut of Original works I’ve sold this year (not including print reproductions)! Thank you to my new clients (and returning ones),you make my world go ‘round! 🤗

“A BEAR’S FAVORITE CANDY I” // Seward, Alaska

“A BEAR’S FAVORITE CANDY II” // Cleveland, OH

CUSTOM TATTOO // Victoria. BC., CAN

CUSTOM LOGO design for 2023 BBNC Culture Camp sweatshirt designs // Anchorage, AK

“MALACO CANDY FISH” (from the SWEDISH FISH Collections) // Denver, CO

“CHIP HEAD” // Denver, CO

“BUTTERFLY COLLAGE” for corporate client Chrysalis office headquarters in Colorado

“KING SALMON” // Anchorage, AK

“LINCOLN” (#3) // Leadville, CO

“BAXTER” // St. Simmons Island, GA

PURINA HORSE COLLAGE (Finished FAll 2022, comissioned by Purina for their ad campaign “Feed Greatness” in January 2023) SEE BLOG POST HERE // Minnesota

ART BASEL WEEK: MY EXHIBITION AT RED DOT | Dec 7-10

*** Please go to my CONTACT page for inquiries on any originals or limited smaller reproductions that I offer! ***

It was surreal to be back in the same area where I exhibited in several Wynwood First Artwalks from 2015 through 2016. I was living in West Palm Beach at the time as a freelance yacht stewardess/chef (which I still do from time to time) and trying to break in to the South Florida art scene. Now, fastforward 7 years and I am back in my old stomping grounds, showcasing during Art Basel Week—one of the most exciting art events of the year!

When you only have a 10x10' space to work with, it's hard to pick which art should be showed--especially for me, as I am so prolific in medium and subject matter. In general, if you ever go to an art trade show, just know that a lot of critical thinking went into the process: the artist wants to make sure all the pieces flow cohesively, yet are diverse enough to keep the exhibit interesting. These pieces made the cut into the public while the others are still in the studio waiting to be let out--someday soon, I hope. Check out this photo blog of my first Red Dot Exhibition during Art Basel Week 2023….

---

SETUP

---

SHOWTIME FIRST DAY! (and oh yes, my first time doing yellow on yellow)

---

CREATING NEW WLA FANS

SPECIAL THANKS TO…..My Assistant and bestie Isabella Mejia for being my right-hand lady all 5 days from set up to take down—your friendship/moral support, business acumen and can-do attitude made this experience much more seamless! Dr Bobby, thank you for hosting me and Isabelle in Miami and being such an encouragement to me. Art teacher Michael Morgan thank you for taking us under your wing and visiting my booth! Thank you Victoria Monell for inviting two of my pieces into your new Lake Worth gallery last minute—I’m so glad you have followed my journey all these years! Jerry Georgeff my mentor for always bing there when I need him. Last but not least the biggest fans: my mom and my sister Memry who have always believed in what I do! Thank you all and much love, Whitney

ONE SHARK'S JOURNEY

From Seattle where it was created, to California where it was discovered, to Park City where it now resides in an $11 million dollar estate just down the street from Michael Jordan’s —this is the 6yr journey of one of my shark collages. This parallels much of my art pieces: how they find their way from studio to their new home. Perhaps there are several exhibitions in between with no buyers: even beautiful artwork has to experience delayed gratification to get to the right buyer. Just because it could take years before a sale does not the mean the art is lacking in quality—it just takes the right person to buy it. People coo over it and express their lovely remarks—yet they don’t buy it. Kind of like romance: someone gets scooped up and married years before you—doesn’t mean you are less worthy or less attractive than they. No buyers, plenty of admirers and close calls, then—BOOM!—one day, you get that one special person. Fate plays so much into this art realm I have learned: you can situate yourself all day, but its going to come down to preparation meeting opportunity (AKA luck most times) and success follows. I wrote a poem years ago that reflects this very sentiment:

Some people are given kerosene and light their fire in a day. Others are given sticks and it takes a lifetime. No matter what, everyone will have the chance to light their fire.  Be steadfast in your faith and relentless in the pursuit.

It’s December 2023 and that shark is now hanging in the living room of one of the poshest houses in Utah. In a way I live vicariously through my art; this piece and I have come a long way. I have a whole collection on sharks titled “Outliers” and here is the premise behind that:

“I CHOSE THE NAME "OUTLIERS" NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT DENOTES THIS COOL ALOOFNESS TO SOCIETY WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF THE TERM BUT ITS PRODUCTIVITY IS UNDERSTATED: ME AS THE ARTIST ON A PERSONAL LEVEL (WE HAVE TO SPEND ALOT OF TIME IN SOLITUDE CREATING AND BUILDING UP OUR BRANDS) AND MY SHARKS AS THE SUBJECTS (BECAUSE THEY ROAM SOLO IN THE OCEAN AND NOTHING HAS THEIR BACK) ON THE MAINSTAGE . THE SHARKS REFLECT THE ARTIST AND VISA VERSA. COME TO THINK OF IT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS THE NAME OF THE GAME THESE DAYS AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN THING GOING ON. WE ALL HAVE THAT INDEPENDENT SPIRIT--THAT LITTLE OUTLIER IN US. AS AN ARTIST TODAY, I USE SHARKS TO DENOTE THAT REFRACTION FROM THE STATUS QUO "9 TO 5 JOB." THIS SENTIMENT REFLECTS THOSE PEOPLE DIVERTING FROM THE PROVERBIAL SALMON SCHOOL/HOMOGENOUS INDUSTRIES AND DOING GREAT THINGS WITH THEIR INNOVATIVE MINDSETS. 

DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER INTO MY MINDSET, I THINK THAT ON A MORE SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL WHAT INTRIGUES ME ABOUT SHARKS IS THAT I GREW UP WITH ONE: MY FISHERMAN CAPTAIN DAD. HE DIDN’T STAY WITH THE REST OF THE FLEET—HE WAS MORE THAN EAGER TO DISAPPEAR MILES AWAY FROM THE NORMAL FISHING GROUNDS. HE WAS A ROGUE ONE, A LONE WOLF—AN ENIGMA OF SORTS—AND THAT’S WHAT MADE HIM THE FIRST OUTLIER I KNEW IN LIFE.”

-WHITNEY

——> Click here to see see my full shark collection called “Outliers” ! <——-

The creation, late 2016

At the 2017 La Jolla Art & Wine Festival

At Art San Diego November 2023

December 2023 in Glenwild Estates, Park City, Utah—just down from Michael Jordan’s home he recently sold.

Led Zeppelin: My parents rediscover the music of their youth

…No, they weren’t groupies.

I actually didn’t know about my mom’s secret penchant for Led Zeppelin until ripe into my mid 30s. It was like a revival for her and and a new awakening for me. I thought she’d never open up—heck, I remember just a few years ago (well into my adulthood) asking her if she ever smoked a blunt growing up in the 70s. “Whitneyyy, that is not an appropriate question!” was her prudish response. I get it, she still wanted me to view her as the soccer mom she was at the time of my coming into the world. It’s amazing the things that your parents stow away in the backs of their minds when they start having babies and raising a family: they forgot where they came from—probably, to some degree, on purpose. I figure you just can’t invite LZ into a young family setting. Not to say it’s like heavy metal or Blacksabbath, but it did have more of an edge than what I remember mom and dad playing on the stereo: Fleetwood Mac, Neil Diamond, Kenny G and Christian oldschool worship music. I think the most rock ‘n roll I was exposed to was on my drives home from school with my dad—Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel were regulars to my fresh ears. So I thought my dad was the only cool one about music—I didn't get the same feeling from my mom. One could call it indifference. She was so protective of us, too—that’s right, no Scooby Doo, The Simpsons or Beetle Juice for you!

I think she forgot about her love for LZ because she was so busy in the new chapter of her life. I even recall her telling me she didn’t like listening to music that much because of the way it manipulates your emotions. Sometimes music acts as a much needed bandaid—other times it deceives (yep, cue the dramatic movies and mood-swaying commercials). So, I get it, I think she was talking about the latter point. Whenever she was listening to something it was usually Dr. Laura—to which, as I think about it, music would have been more a therapeutic bandaid to ease Dr. Laura’s brutal hard-hitting reality bites on life and love. Nonetheless, the dust has settled now, the kids are out of the house and she has time to rest in the nostalgia of yesteryear: the things and people that made an impression on her youth. I’ve discovered my mom to have been multi dimensional this whole time—all revealed in increments, those little morsels of her youth to be discovered. Come to find out, my mom is drawn to the softer acoustical side of LZ: songs such as Ramble On, Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven , Tangerine, Thank you, Over the Hills and Far away, That’s the way, etc . My Dad, on the other hand, while enjoying the acoustical songs, doesn’t mind listening to some of the heavier music  of LZ.

I have heard LZ music before but always outside the door, per se—I never got into their world—until my mom invited me in just last summer. “Watch this! Watch this! It was a Youtube link of Heart singing Stairway to Heaven magnificently and they were joined by Jason Bonham—son of the late Jon Bonham—and an orchestra at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012.  They were honoring Led Zeppelin’s achievements. As a family we later watched the incredible LZ celebration Day Concert in 2007 at the O2 arena in London. 

She started listening and reading up on all the LZ news and even went to a Robert Plant concert in Ohio earlier this year. Well versed on the group and their geriatric rockstar life today, the only thing left was for my mom to physically step back in time to their old stomping grounds: the U.K. Being that my mom was already a prolific traveler with 124 countries to her name—basically one of the most stamped passports in the world—she had no trouble hopping over the pond. My dad and she go abroad for their anniversary every year, anyways. They warmed up last year by traveling around London on a Beatles 2hour tour as well and saw the LZ sites in London in 2022. This year they drove around Wales and England to see the LZ sites including Headley Grange and Bron yr Aur. They even went to their second Robert Plant concert with his band Saving Grace (they said it was a lot more poignant than the one in Ohio—Plant’s home turf probably makes a difference!

“Hey Susan, take a picture of me next to this fern—maybe it inspired an LZ song.” -my dad (imagined)

“Now take a picture go me, Dean. This is one of the trails the band members walked on!” -my mom (imagined)

It’s interesting to see the juxtaposition of a famous musician: they present their vocal works of art on stage with lots of artificial lights and people screaming, yet the penning of these songs was on the opposite spectrum. Produced in the most introverted way—cottages in the middle of nowhere—these are the places where they wrote some of their most incredible albums, canonizing the group into rock ‘n roll history. Some people use Facebook as an informal blog because they don’t have a website, but I think my mom’s latest journalling post deserves to be preserved on a more solid website like mine rather than shallow platform like FB. All these memes posts are cheapening original thoughts and experiences like hers. The following are recent captions I grabbed from my mom’s Facebook along with accompanying photographs she took on those days….

Such a gorgeous walk in Wales to Bron yr Aur today ….where Led Zeppelin members Robert plant and Jimmy page came in the early 70s to be alone..get inspired and write their acoustical songs on LZ 3 and 4. They had just come off touring in America ( those huge crazy stadium concerts) and making studio albums 1 and 2 on the road in the US so they needed a break to create music for their next album LZ 3 which they wanted a softer sound…..

The songs tangerine, thank you, bron yr Aur stomp, friends, that’s the way, the battle of evermore, over the hills, …..etc were written there……..One of my photos is by the gate and is of Scott Roe who lives in Bron yr aur with his wife and daughter and he talked to us for over an hour.

Scotts father in law bought Bron yr Aur in the 70s after LZ left ….and his wife was raised there…actually before all that It was RP childhood holiday home ….

Scott said Jimmy Page came out of the blue to the gate one day last year with his younger daughter Zofia .. the first time in 50 years he had been back and it was pretty emotional for him …Scott said they came in for tea ……his daughter introduced them by saying “my dad was in a band”. Haha

Scott said Robert Plant has been there too but he and Jimmy are not that close…”it’s complicated” he said …Also Robert disagrees with the new music album Scott is producing on the property with all kinds of musical collaborators …..

I can see how RP was so drawn to Wales. I see “smoke through the trees”. It’s the wood burning fireplaces…that’s all a lot of houses have for heat….”bustle in your hedgerow” hedgerows are everywhere , leaves falling all around …..over the hills and far away …. It all makes sense…. This area of Wales is really magical…the Autumn colors and Celtic history….LZ misty mountain hop was inspired by the Welsh hills which are usually in a clock of mist.

In my pictures there is a grassy green hill above Bron yr Aur and Scott said the guys would climb up and write their music up there. There is a small river below the house. It’s off the grid still and when RP and JP were there there was no electricity or running water

We climbed up part way on the hill you can see it in the photos and the views are so beautiful.. ….”Over the hills and far away”…

Scott said people come from all over the world several times a week to Bron Yr Aur …It’s a long walk from the road …up the single narrow track….

---

Visited Headley Grange in Berkshire England and some other Led zep sites…..the Mill House in Windsor and the “boathouse in Pangbourne.

Headley Grange is where Robert Plant wrote Stairway to Heaven. They recorded “When the Levee Breaks” in the front hallway where the acoustics were echoing …..

Genesis, Fleetwood Mac , Rolling Stones, and others also stayed and recorded there …it’s been called the 5th member of Led Zeppelin…

it was the most beautiful drive to Headley through rural England at its best….. Country roads lined with hedges ( a bustle in your hedgerow!) and so many “leaves falling all around”….…..

The staircase in Headley Grange supposedly inspired Robert Plant as he sat in a chair by the fireplace and wrote the lyrics to Stairway .

We were taking photos outside the house and the owner came out and let us drive inside the gate and chatted with us. Her mother was the one who rented the house to the groups in the late 60s 70s. She said Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have both been back various times to reminisce and jimmy filmed there for a short documentary. Jo grew up in the house …..Her husband John also came outside to visit with us….. a very special time and they even have a “ black dog!” Haha What a day! ( :

ART SAN DIEGO 2023 | NOV. 3-5

Thank you for everyone who showed up! >>>Check out whAt this one lady had to SAY!<<< My next exhibition will be THIS DECEMBER in Miami during Art Basel Week—more details TO COME! 🤍 Whitney

WHEN FASHION ACCENTS ART

Yes, I brought Totem! Ocean Beach—her first time on the coast!

TOTEM'S TALE: GETTING MY FIRST DOG

My first day as a dog owner: Totem was born July 31st in Utah and I picked her up on September 24th. She loves belly rubs, will walk up to any stranger and want to make friends (not sure if this is always a good thing) and is excellent with children as most newfies are.

I was on a long walk two weeks ago when I started tearing up, thinking, “This is probably the last walk that I’m going to take alone.” I was slated to pick up my first puppy in two days and, what was 3 months of preparation for her, was finally about to be brought to reality. I told very few people of my decision to get a dog, because opinions, opinons, OPINIONS. I had to shield myself from what masquaraded as “concern” from others—for fear I would back out of this decision being slightly more anxious as a first-time dog owner. My first rebuttel came from my mom of course:

“Honey I’m not against you getting a dog but could you get a smaller one at least?”

I had other subsequent calls with from relatives on both sides of my mom and dad telling me similar things. In doing small talk with people at my work, their first question was always “So what breed are you going to pick?” In jest, I told them to hold their breath before saying the word “Newfoundland.” They always replied—either laughing or aghast—“Oh my gosh Whitney, do you know how big those things get!?” I’ve worked hard in life up until this point and I did a ton of homework on this breed. So, instead of having to explain/defend myself every time I told someone, I just stopped talking altogether and kept this new chapter in my life—the first time I’ve had complete ownership over a living breathing thing—a secret.

DISCOVERING TOTEM’S BREEDER

Above: saying goodbye to Titan and Scarlett, Totem’s parents // Eagle Mountain, UT

I discovered Wasatch Newfoundlands in Utah 2 months before the litter was born. Amy the owner and breeder. was very accommodating: our handful of phone conversations during that time were long and informative as she bestowed on me her 16 years of knowledge of this magnificent breed. The more I learned the more I knew it was going to be one of the most exciting, challenging, yet rewarding journeys of my life to have the privilege of owning this dog. I was ready for the hair, the drool, the larger-than-life poop, and any travel inconveniences. The pros would outweigh the cons as most great undertakings in life would not be great without such inconveniences. Remember that famous Tom Hanks quote, “There’s no crying in baseball”? Well, there’s no crying in puppy potty training (as I am speaking right now), grinning n’ baring it, all for the jubilation Totem brings me outside of the struggle.

Originally I wanted a male (subcononciously due to the lack of male presence in my life living as a single gal, as I’m sure most women can attest) and the name Totem would be so befitting for him. I came up with it while running by a totem pole earlier this summer in Prince Rupert, B.C.—“What a delightful name for a boy dog!”, I thought—and it stuck with me. The ultra feminine name “Thumbelina” was my first choice if I got a girl, but my best friend said saying “thumbellina” would get tiring with all those syllables, and she thought Totem would also be befitting for girl, why not! And what do you know, when my turn came around (a couple weeks prior to pick up), there was just one female brown left in the litter and my eyes quickly snatched her up—Hello, little Totem. Yep, I’m still going to name you Totem!

It was dusk when I pulled into the driveway after 7 hours of driving from Colorado and I saw my little chocolate dumpling romping around the yard. Amy had the dad and mom present, too, which was so adorable. Totem had just been weened a week earlier so she was still trying to get to her mom’s belly area for a snack. She also frolicked around her dad who seemed unimpressed by his offspring’s enthusiasm towards him as he gazed stoically into the field. “Does he even know this is his?” I asked Amy. “Probably not”, she chuckled. Titan is a champion stud, and his lineage involved commercial tv and show dog work, so he has been siring litters for years. Scarlett the mother is just a few litters in and knows Totem is hers. I gave them both a head massage and silently communicated that I would take good care of their little girl. We drive off and she whimpered a little, the first time she was away from her parents and first night away from sleeping with all her litter mates—it made me tear up! What I’ve been reflecting on since that moment is how animals lack so many traits of our human exceptionalism in E.Q. and I.Q., but the commonalities we still share are loneliness and scaredness. I knew that’s what Totem experienced her first night.

I woke up 2 times with her that night and subsequent nights. I guess it will be like this for a few months until she can hold her bladder until the morning. Oddly, I look forward to our twilight potty outings. Instead of chasing a leak, she would sometimes chase a leaf—at 3am how could I not laugh that this dog woke me up just to chase foliage? Plus, I’ve never seen a tail wag faster—it’s like puppies get a second high in the middle of the night. Sometimes the presence of struggle is where we find forms of endearment for people—and our animals. Upon reflection, It’s almost like I yearned for an inconvenience, a disruption in my life—as my existence living as a single was becoming too comfortable, too selfish. I wanted some healthy tension competing for the time I had to myself (which I get plenty of because she takes like 6 naps a day).

THE NEWFIE CATALYSTS THAT PIQUED MY FASCINATION

There is a catalyst for every decision and I had a couple that would set in motion my path to Totem. Something spoke to my heart about this breed when I discovered an online news article back in 2021 about a family who owned 9 newfoundlands in England. I was immediately drawn to their teddy-bear looks and gentle-giant demeanor. The second catalyst was in 2022 when I came across a Condé Neste Traveler article by author Meghan Daum hilariously chronicling her options to get her 140lb newfoundland “Goose” from LA to NYC. What should have turned me off, further intrigued me on the challenges of owning this kind of dog and the kind of challenges I might personally run into.

I would also start running into more newfies in real life (or maybe my conscious was just more aware of them, even though they are a rarer breed on the street). “Lewis” and “Clark: were two Newfies I met in Breckenridge. I also had a major crush on a man in 2022 who later revealed to me (without awareness of my Newfie obsession at that point) that his family bred newfies while growing up—my heart melted. “Ok, we have to be together. I can be the dog mom and you can be the dog dad!”, I thought. That happy ending didn't come to fruition the way my imagination would have liked: I still went on to buy my newfie after my potential dog dad unfortunately left the scene I made up for us in my head.

WHAT GOT ME PREPARED

-A couple of audible books on dog obedience training

-For obedience training I discovered Will alterton videos in the summer of 2023 and they were a huge help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pptoq7avEKM

-My Brown Newfies Blogspot became an excellent go-to place for me to discover All Things Newfie in the early summer months of 2023 leading up to my decision to buy Totem:

-Sue Raney was so welcoming to me, I contacted her after joining the Newfoundland Club of America as she was on the list of Ambassadors in my area. After I picked up Totem, we visited Sue and her Newfie Bailey in Denver—my puppy’s first interaction with another large Newfie apart from her dad!

At Sue Raney’s house in Denver! She is a Newfie ambassador for NCA and gave me the sweetest little gift bag for Totem—I will always value her mentorship during my early days as a dog owner.

ATTRIBUTES I DISCOVERED I REALLY LIKED

Lower energy levels: At heart I have always been a cat girl. Having had 5 generations of them growing up and having posted about my preference for the more elusive feline class of animals in my blogpost “The Case for Cats”, I subconsciously picked the Newfie because it resembles the closest thing to a cat’s demeanor. The Newfoundland is similar to a cat’s demeanor in one profound way: elusiveness—not to be confused with the cat kingdom’s infamous trademark of aloofness. The newfie brings out its elusive nature through its quiet ease compared to that of other dogs. I can’t stand hyper energetic traits including yappiness and the barkaholic nature found in alot of dogs (mostly the smaller breeds). Are there drawbacks to elusiveness? YES! Totem is so elusive, I seldom get good “hints” that she needs to relieve herself outside of may normal taking her out—so we’ve had potty accidents because of the attribute I so love about her!lol

Spirit Animal (woo woo, I know): My subconcious affirmed to me, as I read more stories and factual information on the Newfoundland, that this was my latest spirit animal and one that I could at least atain—the other two have long been the orca and the horse. The orca being not feasable for purchase and the horse too expensive to manage, I get my fix by watching orcas in the wild and riding horses whenever I can.

Gentle giants: I think it relates to men on my life: I’ve always been attracted to more physical statuesque men in comparison to my frame. Since I don’t have a man in my life I want a similar physical presence and responsibility (beyond just watering my 10 house plants) to take the place of him: enter the 130 lb (on average) newfoundland.

Great with Children: going along with the gentle giant, these creatures are renown for their gentle disposition around little humans which complements my job as a children’s author doing reading events with kids—I’ll have her right by my side!

 Grooming: I actually find grooming cathartic and boy does this dog need it almost every day (once it sheds its puppy coat).

Water Lover: I love water, just like the newfoundland breed—famous in the canine world for their water rescue abilities! So, I have already proposed in my mind that I will go on a roadtrip with my fur gal and we’ll visit many lakes and go hiking. I can’t wait for what’s in store.

…..and so much more to discover down the road!

Introducing my newest children's book title: Elon the Muskox!

Did you know A Muskox can go to outer space?

 SAY HELLO TO MY NEWEST CHILDREN’S BOOK CHARACTER!!

PREMISE: Can you imagine how boring the life of a muskox must be? I sure do (among the random thoughts in my head).lol One day (about 8 months ago) as I was really pondering it, my imagination took hold and I started creating my latest book “Elon the Muskox”!

PLOT: The exploratory mindset of a certain muskox named Elon (with anthropomorphic qualities to the famous human innovator’s namesake) yearns to escape from his herd and discover a whole different world out there! At the end, is it real or all a dream!? You’ll find out …This book is inspired, in general, by people who use their imagination to create a more colorful life for themselves beyond the realm of what they were born into!

🧊 WANT TO SEE MORE WINTER TITLES? 🧊

BUY MY WINTER BOOK BUNDLE AND SAVE!

Check out all 4 of my COLD-THEME titles released in 2023! Save up to 20$ when you buy them as a bundle deal on my Etsy Shop!

Your Complimentary ticket to my FIRST ART FAIR in San Diego!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 📝 Hello to my friends, family and art enthusiasts! Join me and +80 other artists at my first Art fair in the San Diego Convention Center this Nov 3-5, view my originals in person and get the opportunity to meet me at my booth #615! If you know other people who live in the SoCal area who are art connoisseurs then please share this with them—it’s FREE when you sign up through me! Art San Diego and I welcome them!

Here are the links to my COMPLIMENTARY e-Invitation tickets for Art San Diego.

• Collector (general public) e-Invitation Link: https://bit.ly/ASD23-EXHIBITOR-COLLECTOR

• VIP e-Invitation Link:  https://bit.ly/ASD23-VIP-PASSPORT

• Trade, Press, & Media e-Invitation Link:
  https://bit.ly/ASD23-TRADE-PRESS-MEDIA-VIP