"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.