More Sunflowers

"Fence Line Flowers"

10x8 Oil on Panel

$175

                                                              

Thanks to a dear friend who shared a photo of his lovely sunflowers. Finished just in time for today's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Now off to the LA County Fair, hopefully, with some fun ideas for more paintings.  Always thinking like an artist.

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!!!!

Summer Table

"Where's the Lobster"

7x5  Oil on Linen Panel

$95

Love the colors of summer and tried to capture them in this tablescape.  Hope everyone had a Happy 4th.

Among the Blooms - SOLD

"Among the Blooms

8x8  Oil on Linen Panel

Just Outside - SOLD

"Just Outside the Window"

7x5 Oil on Linen Panel

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

Just Indicating - SOLD

"Mountainside Lupine"

12x12 Oil on Linen Panel

$595

Had fun trying to just "indicate" the beautiful lupine. There's always that line 

that you don't want to cross & hopefully I've stopped just short of it.  

After the Rain - SOLD

"After the Rain"

8x8 Oil on Linen Panel

$135 - SOLD

Love how everything is softened after the rain.  Certainly getting 

inspiration daily with all the rain this summer.

Sally's Cottage - SOLD

"Turquoise Door"

8x8  Oil on Linen Panel

 

This was today's demo for a student (hence the title).  I lost a lot of information from the photo to help highlight the door.  Students want to include much more than is necessary to make a good painting.  Remember less is more.  Therefore, no cobblestone walkway, no fence line, no bizillion plants in the yard.  Deciding what your painting is about makes the editing so much easier. 

Is this Summer? - SOLD

"Bountiful Roses"

8x8  Oil on Linen Panel

I can't remember a summer less hot & more wet.  Summer in the south is hot, humid & sticky but not this summer.  Not complaining, like the cooler weather but a little less rain would be nice.  But the flowers seem to have benefited.  

Abstracted - SOLD

"Splash of Hollyhocks"

12x12 Oil on Linen Panel

$325 

After many years of contemplating painting some abstracts, I finally took the plunge.  It was a blast!  I struggled for a starting point but found that inspiration from my last painting "Garden Shed II".  

Keeping some basic rules in my sight, I let color drive this work.  Color harmony, shape variety, calm & chaos were floating through my mind.  Stopping before I overworked was a challenge.  In the end, I was pleased.  I think it successful because I started with a sound foundation & hopefully, never lost sight of it.   Check out my Art Tip Blog post for Tuesday, it will be about what makes a good abstract & a few other thoughts.  

Back to Back - SOLD

Garden Shed II - SOLD

8x8 Oil on Linen Panel

I guess I wasn't quite finished painting hollyhocks & sheds.  So some
 back to back garden shed paintings.

No Green Thumb

"Garden Shed"

6x6 Oil on Panel

$95 + s/h

You'd think with as many flowers as I paint, that I would have a garden full of flowers.  Not so much.  In fact, I can't keep anything alive.  I killed a cactus once.  So I just rely on those more talented gardeners to supply me with the gorgeous subject matter.  

Go visit my Art Tips blog to see the latest post.

Go with the Flow - SOLD

"Abundant Peonies" - SOLD

6x6  Oil on Panel

$95

It appears that I'm firmly on a path of painting florals again.  I guess I'll just go with the flow.

Red Geraniums, Again? - SOLD

"Red"

8x8 Oil on Canvas Panel

It's been 6 months since my last post but that doesn't mean I haven't been painting.  As artists, we go through changes in our lives and direction of our work.   That's where I've been.  While I tend to share my struggles and successes at the easel, this time around, I've remained quiet.  The process is painful and exhilarating at the same time.  Not ready to share the new larger works yet but I decided to go back to painting smaller works and the comfort zone in which the paint just flows off the brush.   Enjoy!

Contact me, if you are interested in this piece.

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!

Snowbound, Stir Crazy

"Sunshine"

6x12  Oil in museum quality panel

$175

The consequences of snow & ice are that I'm forced to do some of the things that I don't like to do.  Such as straighten up my home studio, however, I did discover a painting I did a few months back & never got posted.  Given the gray skies, snow & ice & the fact I'm going a bit stir crazy, happy to post something cheerful.  Hope there is sunshine in our near future. 

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. 

Gray Day

"In the Red"

12x12  Oil on Linen

$900

It's a gray day today so I'm happy to have something "sunny" to share.  This is one of a few pieces that will be part of the "Hip to Be Square" show at Providence Gallery opening Dec. 3rd.  Give me red paint and I'll paint forever.  I think this should be my motto. 

Brain Freeze

"In the Orange"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Nothing, nada, zilch.  I have brain freeze.  Can't think of one thing interesting to say...except have a fabulous weekend. 

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.