Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 8x10 oil on canvas. Okay, it was a REALLY nice day. Maybe not very wintery but I'm more inclined towards sun than snow anyway. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

White Nectarines #3

White Nectarines #3, 6x6 oil on canvas. I've been working on my technique to increase the radiance effect. By that, I mean that I want it to appear as though a light is shining on it even if the lights in the room are turned off. It's really cool to see the gallery wall in my studio with paintings that, to some degree glow even before I turn my lights on! Anyway, this is one of those paintings but it is already sold and shipped so I only have the digital image now. :)

Warming up a Cold Day

Warming up a Cold Day, 8x10 oil on canvas. Yesterday I started creating a mosiac top for my old coffee table. It was either that or pitch it and buy a new one. After 20 years of little boys, teenagers and young adults, the wear and tear was just to much and I'm a bit embarrassed by it.
So yesterday I spent an hour and a half breaking up plates I found at Goodwill. :) After my painting session today I'll begin applying the little shards to the top. Then Thursday I can grout it and post the results of my endeavors! Wish me luck - the only instruction I have is YouTube!

Winter Break

Winter Break, 8x10 oil on canvas. It never ceases to amaze me. I'm watching the grapes ripen, slowly. And I'm watching the temps drop. I'm trying to keep them on the vine as long as possible before freezing weather. One weekend goes by, very full weekend. Monday I check the grapes and the birds have picked them clean. :( CLEAN! Next year I'm netting.

Autumn Break Time

Autumn Break Time 8x10 oil on canvas. Another beautiful day, pumpkins washed off and piled up on the front porch. I'm not looking forward to the gutting process but the seeds are fab so worth the effort.

Mixed Company

Mixed Company 8x10 oil on canvas. Painting on an 8x10 feels like painting a house after painting on minis all summer! Sooooo muuuuuch caaaannnvas! But it's all good.

The weather has been so incredibly beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest the last few days it's almost sinful to be inside painting! I finally forced myself pull my pumpkins BEFORE heading out to the studio and just in time as some were starting to get soft stems! :( No prob though. I grow Snack Jacks for the naked seeds. I have 2 (TWO) LARGE wheelbarrows full sprawled out in my back yard where I sprayed them all off with the hose and let the sunshine and soft breeze dry them. Next step is painting them then harvesting the seeds! :)

And The Winner Is...

And The Winner Is... 4x6 Oil on Canvas. These brightly colored apples were not as easy as they first appeared. Bright red and bright green make a dull mud if mixed so care was taken not to mix them.

Orange & Red Grapes With Cream

Orange & Red Grapes With Cream 6x6 oil on canvas. I bought these grapes but I have a rather robust crop growing right next to my studio this year. It's getting pretty cold in the mornings but hopefully, they'll ripen before it freezes and I lose them all. Ironically, after I pick them I throw them into my freezer and enjoy frozen grapes this winter. Nice, huh? Of course, some will become props, and so will end up out in the field for the goats and geese to finish off.

Early Apples

Early Apples 4x6 oil on canvas. A few weeks ago I pulled my juicer back out in order to reclaim my commitment to good health. Or at least that's how I've justified filling the fridge with produce. Much of it ends up in my studio until it's a bit past prime and no one is the wiser save the horse and goats who reap the benefits of mushy apples and dried wrinkly grapes.
I'm am using the juicer though. You havent seen any grapefruit paintings because I'm on a grapefruit juice kick right now so they havent made their way to the studio. And late mornings I may juice up a tomato, carrot and celery -- and that is in the interest of good health! :)

Clementine Fest

Clementine Fest 4x6 oil on canvas. Ahhh, Fall. Autumn. October. It's raining and dreary which makes for a super cozy retreat in the studio. I love my fort. And apparently so do the local insects. I find a few here and there now that the cold weather is setting in. Heard some wind and thunder today but was far to engrossed to know if there was lightening first. Who cares? All I need now is one of those fake fireplaces to really cozy up the joint.... Hmmm.

Orange & Gold

Orange & Gold 6x6 oil on canvas. Hmmm. I found this little gold tin at a garage sale and picked it up just for this very purpose - a prop. I've been contemplating the idea of painting reflective surfaces and have done some but not like this one. Really, the gold color was not gold at all but ochre, ultramarine and some yellow. In fact, it's more green than gold on my palette. I find that interesting. Often the colors on my palette are nothing what you'd expect for the subject matter. At any rate, I was happy with the result... and ate the orange. :)

Pear and Red Grapes again

Pear & Red Grapes again. There's alot to be said for subtle color transitions and all the little nuances in a mosiac like painting. This is almost a one stroke per color painting but not quite. I did this one when a friend joined me in my studio to paint with me. My style changes somewhat when I paint alongside others. It seems I need complete and intense concentration when I'm at my easel. I've been known to paint for hours not realizing I forgot to turn the radio on!

Six Pears

Six Pears 8x10 oil on canvas. Actually this is one pear painted 6 times. It turns out there's a lot to be gained by painting the same thing over and over. I think I'm going to do this with lemons because they continue to give me a lot of grief. Eventually, I think we will come to an understanding -- like the pears and I have.
Incidentally, I couldnt get the colors to come out quite right on my monitor. The background is really more yellow than green.

Plums & Blackberries

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Plums & Blackberries 6x6 oil on canvas. This painting is sold but I wanted it in my blog sooo... here it is. Likely the only painting of blackberries this year unless I get out there and do one today. The berries are all but dried up or eaten by the birds. Sadly, I never got out to pick this year for this winters indulgence. Clearly a case of procrastination. That said, I'm taking bites out of my 'to do' list and feeling rather good about it! :) I encourage you to take bites if you suffer from the afore mentioned affliction. It's like my sister said to me when we were teenagers, " How do you eat an elephant? One bit at a time." I never forgot that. Thanks Jennie. Your little pearls of wisdom got me over some tough mountains but then it also gave me permission to dally a bit.
Today: I shall chip away at my daily assignments. What gets done, gets done. As long as I'm chipping, it's all good. :)

Pear and Red Grapes #2

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Pear and Red Grapes #2 - 5x7 oil on canvas. I'm waaay behind on posting. I've begun listing on Ebay and there is quite a learning curve there. I listed my first few paintings with the wrong shipping (!?!) which I was sure was going to cost me an arm and a leg. But it all worked out as several buyers purchased more than one painting and that gave me the opportunity to offer different shipping options. I'm starting to get a feel for it now. It was a rough couple of weeks but it's all good! :)

Cup O Blueberries

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Cup O Blueberries 6x6 oil on canvas. I've been debating high key vs. low key and I think for the minis - high key wins. I think. For now anyway. Nothing is written stone.

Thistles 5 Gone to Seed

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Thistles 5 - Gone to Seed. 6x6 oil on canvas. Well, here we are, at the end of the thistle rage. I found one more thistle bush with unbloomed blossoms but it appears the goats are now eating all the blooms so I doubt I'll have anymore for this year. Maybe that's a good thing.

I spent much of the day re arranging my studio in the almost 90 degree weather only to realize I think I liked it better the old way. So I'm going back out after dinner to put it back. Oh well, you dont know if you dont try, right? Has to be in working order tomorrow because I have a few ideas I'd like to explore next week.

Thistles 4 Going to Seed

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Thistles 4 - Going to Seed 6x6 oil on canvas. We moved our steer into my thistle field so I've lost my really good source for plump, fluffy thistles. The steer was bottle fed as a calf and behaves like a bad mannered puppy. The last time he chased me around the wheelbarrow was the last time he was going to chase me period! I no longer go into his field and so will have to find a new source for my little florals. He will only be a problem for a couple more weeks. After that....well, he goes where all fat steers are destined.

Thistles 2

Thistles 2 - 4x6 oil on canvas. Yep. Another thistle painting. Can you blame me? I get to use both my permanent violet AND my thalo green. These are cool weeds.

Thistles 3

I did remember to grab my gloves this time before picking these little buggers. It definitely made the set up easier too. I feel like I really have to indulge in these awesome weeds before they go to seed and are gone. Seriously, I used to think thistles were just a pain in the keester before I started to paint them. Really lovin' them now.

Thistles

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The next time I decide to do thistles I will remember to grab my gloves even if I DO have to hike all the way back up to the house to get them. By the time I got around to painting I had thistle pokes on both hands and I was ranting a bit. However, I did get to use my new tube of permanent violet which was way cool. A new color for me and I LOVE it! I listed this one for auction and will do more of these little thistle paintings (using gloves for setting up ). I never really appreciated thistles before I painted them.

Radiant Tomato, Grapes and Tea Kettle

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What to paint..? So I explored the fridge as usual and found an overripe tomato just hours from death. Then, turning around, I discovered the remaining grapes from my lunch the day before sitting on the counter collecting fruit flies. I stashed them both in my basket, headed for the studio and painted this little slice of drama.

Purple Somber 2

Purple Somber 2, 6x6 oil on canvas. This is Purple Somber. When I originally named it I defined somber as calm, quiet, a moment of peace. Unfortunately, Dictionary.com has something else to say about it:

som·ber

adjective

1.

gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted: a somber passageway.

2.

dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color: a somber dress.

3.

gloomy, depressing, or dismal: a somber mood.

4.

extremely serious; grave: a somber expression on his face.

Still, it is what it is. You decide.

Art in the Garden

Today is the final day for Art in the Garden! Anyone looking for a unique, affordable gift might want to get out here and check it out. This event is free to the public and is tightly jurried so that no two artists are directly competing with each other. In other words, there may be two watercolorists but with very different styles. This makes for an interesting event for our public.
This is the first time I wont be participating in this event as a vendor but will be a volunteer instead. I spent yesterday getting the full scope of what it's like to be a visitor - so overwhelming - so much art!
So if you are an artist, get out here for inspiration if nothing else! If you are NOT an artist but enjoy artsty events, GET OUT HERE! :)
PS - We have FOOD! Hot Dogs, Mocha Motion and Kettle Korn. Now, what are you waiting for??

Landscape 2

Landscape 2 - 6x6 oil on canvas. I happened onto this view a couple of years back and painted it on a 16x20 canvas. This loosely painted mini is a bit brighter but I think it works on the smaller scale.

Landscape 1 ~ Flowers For Sale

Flowers For Sale - 6x6 oil on canvas. This little scene is about mile from home. I did a much larger painting of it several years back when the owner had it full of dahlias and again when she was selling eggs. This is a loose interpretation of the two as the ivy had grown substantially over the stand and she had added bird houses. Love this little scene. Think I'll head out there soon to see what she has going this year.

Pepper Line Up

SOLD

Pepper Line Up, 4x6 oil on canvas. Whew! Onto something else. I bought a HUGE bag of these little guys so before I chopped them up for my morning omelets I thought about doing their colorful little portraits.

Cherry Latte ~ Cherries 6

Cherry Latte - 4x6 oil on canvas. A little reflective set up. Most of my paintings are for sale for those interested. I'm omitting the click to bid or buy link for the next week because I have a show coming up in which I will be taking whatever I have for display and for sale there. However, if by chance, you find one you cant live without, please contact me by clicking on 'view my complete profile' in the right column then click on 'email'. I'll be happy to sell you a painting before the show! :)

Cherries 5

Cherries 5 - 4x6 oil on canvas. AKA Life is a... This painting is posted in Daily Paintworks like the others.
I've committed to a show in Silverdale, WA the last weekend of the month so I'll be preparing for that for the next week and a half. Cards to make and prints. Not to mention a few fast drying paintings!

The Line up

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This is Cherries 4 otherwise referred to as "The Line up". 4x6 oil on canvas. I also have this painting posted on my page at Daily Paintworks where if you click it you will get a zoom in view. A neat feature of this web site.

Cherries 3

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Cherries 3 - 4x6 oil on canvas. Lovin' the cherries palette. And the little guys fit nicely on a 4x6 which is a plus. I'm also lovin' the little 4x6 canvas's which is good because I ordered a bulk pack! And 'the cherry on the top' is they also squeeze nicely into standard size frames.
It's all good.

Cherries 2

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Cherries 2 - 4x6, oil on canvas. Another pile o' cherries. In order to have the cherry with the bite in it, I had to bite several to get just the right look. Hence the cherry pits to the left. :)

Cherries 1

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Cherries 6x6 oil on canvas. Okay, so now I'm into cherries (cheeries!) . Or at least, WAS into cherries. It took so long for the crimson to dry that I'm now onto something else. I really like the way these turned out though and would probably still be painting them but other fruits are calling!

Green Olives 1

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Green Olives 1, 6x12 oil on canvas. I think I posted this one before but I just listed it as an auction piece on the Daily Paintworks site so I'm re-listing with the click to bid link.

A Dozen Roses for Mom

A Dozen Roses for Mom, 16x20 oil on canvas. I did this last month for moms Mother's Day gift. I think she liked it :)

Clementines 8

Clementines 8, 4x6 Oil on Canvas. Last one, I promise, I think. I have an idea for a new series anyway, so I guess it depends on how that goes :) This was a good experience and I gave myself room to experiement in a few areas which is always fun.

Clementines 7

Clementines 7, 5x7 oil on canvas. Clementines in a sundae boat. Should have poured chocolate syrup over it and whip cream. :)

Clementines 6

Clementines 6, oil on canvas 4x6. Sweet and sour, I suppose. I'm still not tired of the little orange globes and I just received my recent canvas order! So many blank canvases! Where do I start??

Clementines 5

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Clementines 5, 6x6 oil on canvas. More clementines. I've toyed and experimented with light and shadow in the last few paintings. I guess when you paint the same thing over and over, you begin to get a feel for it.

Clementines 4

I did this one over a gessoed over painting. I really liked the surface and clarity of colors. So much so that I am now re- gessoing my other canvases.

Clementines 3

More Clementines, or Smarties, whichever you prefer to call them. My display at the gallery will definitely have a theme. Not that that was my intention. I just get working on something and before you know it, I have a bit of a collection, or series, I suppose. Anyway, who can blame me? They're cute little colorful fellows that make great subjects. Notice the pink in these?

Clementines 2

4x6 oil on canvas. What can I say? I like oranges.

Clemtines 1

4x6 oil on canvas. Back in the saddle, or should I say office, and posting again. I've been plugging away in the studio but since it's no longer in my house, it's less convenient to post since my office is in my house. I've noticed my paintings dont dry nearly as fast in my new studio probably because I turn the heat way down when I leave so they rather pile up before I bring them up to scan and post.

Green Olives 2

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Green Olives 2 - Oil on canvas. This was a one stroke per color challenge. Interesting. I'm pretty sure I cheated on more than one occasion but it certainly does make every stroke count ~ which I'm sure is the point. I wont even post my second attempt at this technique. It was 3 strawberries. I struggle with those anyway in that the green tops always look cheesy and I havent concluded how to approach the little seeds in keeping with the integrity of impressionism.

Green Olives

I am sooo happy with the way these turned out! Working on looser, yet deliberate strokes is getting me where I want to be artistically.

This painting was done with less than usual directional overhead lighting. Sometimes, I just dont need all that drama.

Backlit Pears

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These little red pears were my original subjects but after I set up the lighting I found that the warm orange reds in the apple added was a nice contrast to the cool crimson in the pears. I like the drama and while the pears are in the foreground, the apple clearly plays the leading role here.

Conversation Hearts

Just for grins I thought it would be fun to do a few of these little guys for the Chocolate Festival this weekend. I had to search far and wide to find frames for these little 4x4's which is why I like to stick to standard sizes.