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.  

Back to Provence

 

"Provence Time"

6x8  Oil on museum quality panel

At Auction on DPW, click here to bid

I recently completed a painting for a couple's wedding of their trip to Provence.  So enjoyed painting it that I decided to go back for another try.  Don't you just want to wander in the fields of lavender? Hope you enjoy the view.

Bees & Honey - SOLD

"Honeydew"

7x8  Canvas mounted on foam core

$185

Once again my friend, Julie Hill, is poking me about not being a sappy person.  So here's my final response, the above painting is as sweet as I get (get it "HONEY"dew).  While I can't quiet buy into the sappiness, I do treasure our friendship.  I just ask that we don't encourage her anymore.  I can only handle so much sweetness.  And remember that along with the "honey" comes the bees. So while she presents herself dripping in honey, the stinger is always poise to strike.  Now, I'm off to watch Dexter to remove any lingering sap!  Enjoy my palette knife painting.  Have a fab (non-sappy) week.

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.

Wedding Bells

"Provence with Love"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

NFS

This is wedding gift for a student's brother.   He and his fiancee visited Provence last summer and Carol shared some of his beautiful photos with me.  So I thought that I would paint them a memory from that trip.  Sentimental, I know.  As my friend, Julie Hill, will tell you I don't have a sentimental bone in my body.  Or it is just well hidden.  I just like to keep her guessing.  Best wishes to the happy couple on their very special day.

Painting Zone

"Peaceful View"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

At Auction on DPW

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Buy/Auction/16475

Peaceful mood, peaceful painting.   Nice to be in the painting zone again.

Paint & Pain

"Pathway"

6x6   oil on museum quality panel

$125

 

A few days ago I sliced my right index finger and thumb.  Bummer!  So I've been having a blast trying to do lots of things with limited mobility.  Never realized how many things require the use of your index finger & thumb together.  So, painting wasn't on my list today.  However, enter Julie Hill, my dear friend.  She was having none of me not painting despite my whining that my thumb was hurting.  So just to prove to her that I could still paint, I wrapped my thumb with 3 band-aids & off I went.  I have to say I choose a simple subject that would allow me to use only a big brush.  Glad I pushed through.  Thanks, Julie.  I'll call when my thumb stops throbbing!

Workshops & Life Gets In the Way

"Holly Hill House, Catalina"

9x11   Oil on Linen

Time is flying this summer & I can't seem to get control of my easel time.  Between a couple of workshops, teaching, family time & house guests, painting time was scarce.  Today's painting was a demo that I did yesterday during my "Simply Colorful" workshop.  We focused on simplifying subject matter and allowing color to "sing".  It was a great group and I thoroughly enjoying watching their progress.  A special thanks to Rusty for the home grown tomatoes!!!!  I will be offering this workshop again, so if you're interested email me to be notified for upcoming workshops or classes. 

From the Pantry Series, # 3

"Sardines, anyone?"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

$125

I've been a little behind in painting for my "From the Pantry" series.   After the first two paintings, I quickly discovered that I, in fact, have a very boring pantry!  Recently moved, I'm assuming that I just threw out all of my "inspirational" items.  So what is a girl to do, go shopping, of course.  Who knew, that Sardines came in such colorful tins.  I'm now changing how I stock my pantry.  By color, not content!  Might make for some interesting paintings, not so sure about the meals. 

"A" at Play, # 5

"Catching Frogs"

8x8  Oil on museum quality canvas

Reserved

Any bets on how many she caught?

"A" at Play, # 4

"Mudhead, Amanda"

12x12   Oil on museum quality canvas

Reserved

While I knew that I would enjoy doing this series, I didn't quite realize the challenges that I would come up against.  As I started to paint this piece, I quickly encountered the "mudhead".   Mudhead is term coined by the painter, Charles Hawthorne.  He had his students paint models in bright sunlight with their faces in shadow.  Hence the term, mudheads.  One of my favorite artists, Frank Gardner, set himself a challenge of 100 Mudheads and created a blog about it.   Check it out, it's fascinating and wonderful work.  I, myself, am exhausted on the very first one.  Thanks again to my wonderful model, Amanda.  

P.S.  I also recommend Charles Hawthorne's book  "Hawthorne On Painting".  It's a collection of notes taken by his students offering sage advise.   If I could only remember everything he said, I'd be a fabulous artist. 

"A" at Play, #3

"Ice Cream Break"

6x6   Oil on museum quality canvas

$125

Don't you remember those summer days of our youth, playing hard, sun beating down and then looking forward to getting ice cream?   Living vicariously through Amanda's summer and wishing for those carefree days once again.  I've heard through the grapevine that Amanda's summer is not totally carefree, some work might be involved.  Anxiously awaiting the next set of photos from her Mom. 

"A" at Play, New Series

"At Rest"

8x8  Oil on museum quality panel

Well, I'm back painting from my crime partner Julie Hill's photos.  This started with Julie going out to paint "en plein aire" and it ended with her having a new summertime job...taking photos of her daughter to supply my next summer series.   To make things a little more interesting, fellow blogger & wonderful artist, Dana Cooper, threw me an Amanda Paint Off Challenge.  So Julie is feeling the pressure to supply her "best" friend  photos, Amanda's making her list of what would she would accept in payment for her modeling, Dana is working on getting her own set of shots and I'm happily painting away. Stay tuned...it could get very interesting.  Have a Happy 4th!!!!!!!!!

From the Pantry Series, #2

"Olive Oil Bottle"

6x8   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

This is 2nd in my series "From the Pantry".   However, I have to say in all honesty, that the olive oil bottle wasn't from my pantry.  It was sitting on the counter next to my pantry.  I had something else pulled from the pantry to paint and couldn't remember where I put it.  Does that count?  I'm going to enjoy this series if I can only remember to bring my pantry items to the studio.  My bad memory may be the downfall of this series.

En Plein Air

"Frolicking"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

My partner in crime, Julie Hill, has been trying her hand at plein air painting the last few days.  While painting from some lovely sites, she's been "kind" enough to share her photos with me.  Living in California with beautiful scenery and wonderful weather has made me a little envious given that I'm currently landlocked and hot!  So while she paints the scenery, I've to decided to join in by painting her daughter playing in the stream.  Thanks for sharing Julie and tell Amanda that she is the perfect model. 

"From the Pantry" - New Summertime Series

"Spicy"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

With summer comes my desire to find good, fun, easy on the brain kind of books.  So in that vain, here's my new series of fun, easy on the brain kind of paintings.  In cooking they say if you can hit the salty, sweet, sour, spicy & crunchy notes in a dish it's a good thing.  So I hope to hit all the right notes in this series.   Not so sure about the crunchy but I'll give it a try.  Happy Summer!

Knock at the Door

"Penny's Flower"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

I recently moved & have been unpacking, getting organized & trying to "decorate".  All things that I love to do, NOT!  It was so nice to take a break from 'house duties" to get back to my studio.  Last Friday, a knock at the door brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers from a friend & fellow artist, Penny.  I was surprised that she had sent flowers since our last conversation was about how I wasn't inspired to paint flowers at all.   I'm sure she knew that if I sat and looked at these gorgeous flowers all weekend  that I'd be painting them again.  Penny is one smart cookie.  Thanks Penny!

Never Painted That Before

"Looking for Dinner"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Chicken & cows are subjects that a lot of beginning artists paint.  So, I'm not sure how I missed out on painting them when I first started.  But since picking up the paintbrush again, I seem to be searching for new subject matter.  It's kind of like, as an adult, trying to do the things that you wish you had done as a kid.  Unsure whether I'll attempt another chicken but glad to cross it off my list.  The good news is that it's much easier than climbing that giant oak tree that I always thought I should attempt and now I get to have a stiff drink when I'm finished.  Cheers!

P.S.  I have added a couple of new workshops for this summer now listed on the left side of my blog.

Balancing Act

"Precariously Balanced"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

This is for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  The title so describes my day in the studio.  Balancing the tubes of paint, balancing my thoughts as I get back into painting & balancing the panel which did not seem to want to stay on the easel.  It always seems to work out but some days it just shouldn't be this hard. 

Rumors of My Demise - SOLD!!!!!!!

"From the Flower Shop"

6x8   Oil on museum on panel

I can't believe it has been 2 months since I've painted.  Frustrating doesn't even begin to explain how my day at the easel went.  Wiped one but was determined not to leave without a completed painting.  If I hadn't pushed through today, tomorrow would probably have been a bigger disaster.  I think I set my expectations too high.  Wanted to try out a different color palette, work on my edge quality & anticipated painting flowers that weren't available at the florist.  In the end, I was just happy that I remembered how to mix colors and which end of the brush to use.  Getting that first piece behind me is a good feeling.  I'll be back at the easel tomorrow with slightly less ambitious goals. 

P.S.  Thanks to all who emailed or called me during my absence to make sure that I was still alive and hadn't given up painting.