Wilting in the Heat

"Heat of the Day"

12x6  Oil on Linen

$175

On my walk home from church on Sunday, I passed a small community garden with these sunflowers.  It was already 90 degrees at 11 o'clock and like the sunflowers, I was wilting.  They were lovely nonetheless.  So grabbed a quick photo and here's the result.  BTW, I think the humidity followed me from the east coast.  Bad, bad, bad!!!!

Losing Details - SOLD

"Lunch at Lucky's" - SOLD

5 1/2 x 7 Oil on Paper

Lately I've been evaluating everything in my art.  Playing around with a different palette, drawing more and seeing how much detail I can eliminate.  A street scene is the perfect place to try.  With all the signage, cars, people and buildings it can be overwhelming.  But when I start with my 2 value notan, it makes it easier.  Still not reaching my goal yet but I'm further down the road.  Hope you enjoy it.

Chicken

"Look at Me"

8x8   Oil on Paper

$165  

Playing around with painting oil on paper.  It's fun. 

East vs. West or rather Southern vs. California

"Afternoon at Crystal Cove"

9x12

The difference between the southern coastline and California coastline are the beautiful cliffs and rocks.  What fun it is to paint the "splash" of the waves as they break against the rocks.  Still having fun and enjoying my new life.

Setting Sun

"Setting Sun"

8x12 Oil on Paper

$400

I've been wanting to try out the Arches Oil Paper for a while and have to say I love it.  It's always fun trying out new products, techniques, etc.  Good to stretch my brain and be surprised.  Also spent the afternoon with my bestie, Julie Hill (a watercolorist) as she is trying her hand at oils.  Always fun to spend an afternoon with another artist.  All in all, a good day.

Hazy Afternoon

"Hazy Afternoon"

6x4 Oil on Linen Panel

$75

Another beautiful view.  Coming from NC where I didn't enjoy painting our mountains, I've found an appreciation for the San Gabriel Mountains.  I see them out my front window and watch the sun as it sets across them.  Their colors range from gold to purple.  Can't be bored with that.  My last painting (see here) also had a view of the mountains, so don't be surprised to see them "slip" into a few more paintings.  Enjoy.

Low Country Revisited - SOLD

"Glow on the Marsh"

18x24  Oil on Linen Panel

There was a time when I painted marshes quite often.  Then I lost interest in the subject but when you come across a scene as beautiful as this...hard not to grab the brush and paint away.  

Just Outside - SOLD

"Just Outside the Window"

7x5 Oil on Linen Panel

Sometimes you don't have to travel far to find inspiration.

Oldie but Goodie SOLD

"Stand Tall, Study"

9x12  Oil on Panel

$250   NOW $200

Digging through some older pieces & discovered a favorite of mine.  I always have a stack of panels of unfinished or didn't quite make the cut" paintings to serve as underpaintings for new pieces.  Somehow this got buried in the wrong pile.  My discovery could turn into a good deal for someone.  

Well, that was different

"Stand Tall, Study"

9x12  Oil on Linen/Board

$250

As I started the demo in class this morning, my brush swept across the support & well, I thought that was different.   I'm so used to knowing how my brush & paint will react on my support that I was shocked when the brushstroke didn't look or feel the same.  Awhile back I ordered a couple of sample boards with not my regular canvas attached.  This one had the Belgian Linen (lovely) but single primed.  I love painting on linen but this one just didn't hold my brushwork like my other support.  I like this painting but it  has a very different feel about it.  Live & learn.   Stepping out of your comfort zone is good, I just now know that single primed Belgian Linen probably won't live in my toolbox.  It's so important to be as knowledgeable about your "tools" as your skills. 

Crunch Time

"The Bunch"

6x12  Oil on Linen

At auction on DPW, click to bid.

This is the finished piece that I did as a demo at the Charlotte Art League last week.  I'm never nervous about painting in public until I get to the end of painting time. It's then that I think "oh, I hope it turns out well".  There's always a little tweaking that is needed but I like how this turned out.  Thanks again to everyone who turned out, it was delightful.

Kids being Kids

"Beach Bound"

8x10  Oil on Linen

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

Thanks to a Saturday morning cup of tea with a  friend & collector, I walked away with

some charming photos of kids being kids & some inspiration.  This was her favorite photo,

so this is where I begin.  Thanks, T.

TGIF

"Low Country Sundown"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

At Auction on DPW, click to bid here

I've painted so many marshes, that you'd think I'd be tired of them.  Nope!  There is always a surprise somewhere along the way.  Be it in the grasses (they change seasonally) or the beauty of the skies.  I just feel blessed to be close enough to the marshes to have ample inspiration.  Happy weekend.

Small Study, Big Idea

"Interlude"

6x8   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

In my classes this week, we're working on a landscape & this is demo from today's class. I'm  trying to work on some larger pieces for my favorite gallery at the coast.  These smaller pieces are letting me work out what I want to explore in larger formats.  I really like the high horizon in this one and playing up the color in the marsh grass.  Now the only question is...how big do I want to go? 

Weeds Be Gone

"Les Carottes"

6x12 Oil on Linen

Reserved

Ten minutes at Fresh Market, One bunch of carrots, Two hours at the easel.  If you've followed my blog, you are well aware of my passion for the produce section.  I ran into the store in hopes of finding inspiration and came out with the most beautiful carrots.  Too pretty to be called "carrots" so I decided that the french name "carotte" was more appropriate.  This painting is headed into a museum still life competition.  Eating carrots with fingers crossed.  I've included a photo of the carrots just to show how fresh & flawless my subject matter was. 

Figuratively Speaking SOLD!!!

"On the Beach"

12x9   Oil on Linen

$750 (unframed)

SOLD!

Having fun getting back into the figures.  Loving the blues in this piece, evidently I'm wishing for summertime instead of the gray, drizzly day that we have.  Enjoy your weekend. 

What's Your Name?

"Blueness"

12x12 Oil on museum quality panel

$900

Providence Gallery, "Hip to Be Square" Show, Dec. 3rd

My students are a gift.  Today in class, I called one of my students "Natalie"...not only is that not her name, I don't know anyone by that name and she actually knew that I was talking about her.  God love "Natalie" and all my students.  Despite my "lapses" they have suggested that I post snippets of  knowledge on a weekly basis.  So later this week, I will add a page to my blog where I will post a new teaching "snippet".  I look forward to hearing from you. 

Back to Blue - SOLD!!!!

"Hydrangeas in Blue"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

Available at Open Studio Sale

Brushes & paint are flying at the studio.  Just a few days left before my studio sale.  A friend installed some shelving in my studio for me to display my "Little Gems".  It's so satisfying to look up from my easel to see this paintings all lined up.  It's easy to feel like I haven't painted much while doing this small works.  However, when I see 5 shelves filled with paintings from the past few weeks, I think, who painted those? Hope to see you at the sale.

Is a full night sleep really necessary?

"Blue Flowers"

6x6  oil on museum quality panel

Available at Open Studio Sale

Click for Invitation

The first part of the week I got less than 4 hours sleep a night and was very productive in the painting department.  Example, today's painting was done yesterday.  Last night, I got a full 8 hours and couldn't paint $&((@# today.  So I guess I have a choice... Really reduced sleep =  Productive Painter OR  Full sleep = Productive person in every other aspect of my life.  Happy Wednesday. 

Last Night

"Pear in Thirds"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

This is the piece that I demonstrated last night at the Charlotte Artist Society.  I did a few tweaks today, cleaning up some edges and adding a few bits of color.  Doing the finishing touches is a little like, brushing your hair one last time & putting on your jewelry before dashing out the door.  You just hope that you're not wearing blue shoes when you meant to wear black.  Have a good weekend and thanks again to the CAS for inviting me.