"Concord Grapes and Swan" Oil on 8x10 inch board

 

Available on ebay,

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This painting was inspired by the beautiful concord grapes I had bought at a nearby farm market.  The swan is a thrift store find, and the rudbeckia flowers are from my garden. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful autumn season! Thank you for taking the time to view my artwork today.

"The Last Peony" Oil on 5x7 hardboard

 sold

This is a study made of the last fading peony in my garden, in the spring of this year.  I had wanted to try to paint these beautiful flowers, and when finally there was only one last flower left that hadn't completely wilted, I was compelled to do it.   I wasn't immediately successful, I had to scrape and rework, but I was satisfied with the result in the end.  

Thank you for visiting and looking at my artwork today, I appreciate it very much!

"Three Zinnias" Oil on 5x7 inch canvas panel

 

sold

This is a study I did of three different colored zinnias from my garden.  The white ones are always a favorite of mine. 

"End of Summer, A Change of Seasons"

 

sold

I began this painting last year at this time, and I always meant to add to it.  I finally got the chance as the seasons changed, and autumn rolled around again.  Pictured are some small wild asters, rose hips and wild grapes that I've picked up from along my walks and bike rides.  The little white pumpkin I bought from a farm market.   What inspired this painting was my sadness as summer ends, but how quickly I realize how beautiful autumn can be! 

"Cherry Basket" Oil on 6x8 Linen panel

 

sold

"June Roses" Oil on 6x6 inch board

sold

I haven't been painting at all in the last few weeks, I had been more interested in working in my garden, and taking up sewing again.... but, now I'm ready to get back to doing more artwork.

I've always wanted to paint flowers in oil, but I hesitate to do it.   I have done it, but it seems that it's a lot of trial and error for me, and I'm disappointed with the results most of the time.  I love my garden, and I enjoy drawing flowers, and using colored pencils, watercolor or pastels to color in.  But, when it comes to oil, I feel like I'm not sure where to start.  I want to draw lines, but painting is different, it's shapes and value and color.  I go back and forth between wanting to put in all the details, and keeping it loose.  

Recently, I had the chance to join an online rose painting workshop given by Artist Elizabeth Floyd.  I've admired her paintings for years, and love her flower and still life paintings.  Her workshops are offered thru Zoom this year, since the covid pandemic cancelled her in person workshops.  

She set up either a full participation, or view only version, so I chose the view only, since I'm new to the whole video conferencing thing and not sure just how that all works.  So, three days of watching her paint and teach! It was wonderful, and inspiring.    The workshop is also recorded, so it's available (for the participants only) to watch over again any time afterward. 

This is my painting of roses I did, and I am really happy with it.  Encouraged by this painting, I tried painting a peony!  It was the last one on the bush, and wilting, so I didn't do well with painting that, but I tried! And I'm still working on it.  

"Fruit Bowl" Oil on 6x6 inch board

A sweet little bowl of fruit for you.  I hope everyone is staying home, safe and sound during these uncertain times. 

New Paintings

"Study of Light and Shade"  Oil on 8x6 inch canvas board

 Available on ebay,

                                                                   Click Here to Bid

"Peeled Lemon and Grapes"  Oil on 6x8 inch board

"Blackberries and Kumquats" Oil on 8x10 inch canvas

Available 

I love the darkness of the blackberries next to the brighter orange kumquats in this one.  The blue of the background compliments it nicely too.  

This is painted on an 8x10 inch stretched canvas.  

"Snow Day" Oil on 5x7 inch board

Available on ebay, 

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Happy New Year All!  It's been a wonderful 2019, and I want to thank all of my collectors, and followers for all of their support over the years.  God Bless you!  I truly appreciate it so much, and I wish you all the best in the new year. 

Here is my first painting this year, inspired by all of the snowy days we've had lately.  I'm calling it "Snow Day"!  It's actually a cup of pumpkin spice coffee and Italian anise cookies.  Yum!!

(note: I had painted this just before the holidays, and had signed it, 2019.  I had still wanted to touch up a few things, and finally did just this week.  Even tho it is now 2020, I left the signature as is)

"Grapes with Cups and Lemon" Oil on 8x8 canvas panel

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This playful painting is unframed, oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches.  It is varnished and signed with initials on the front, and full name on the back.  

Thanks for looking at my artwork today!!

"Blueberries and Grapes" Oil on 6x8 inch board

Available on ebay,

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This painting pictures blueberries and green grapes with a family heirloom white milk glass cup. It is an original unframed oil painting, varnished and ready for you to put into your own frame.

Click the link to view the auction. 

Thank you for viewing my artwork today!

"Red Grapes with Leaves" Oil on 6x8 board

sold

This is an original unframed oil painting on 1/8 inch thick Ampersand board.  

"Candle and Gold Ribbon" Oil on 7x5 board

sold

I love the challenge of painting a candle flame.  Especially around the holidays!

"Cherries in a Bowl" Oil on 6x6 board, Framed

This painting is framed and ready to hang!  

" Lemon with Cherries and Water" oil on 6x8 linen panel

This painting is already framed.  It is wired and ready to hang!  Perfect for a Christmas gift!

The painting itself is 6x8 inches.  The mahogany frame compliments the warm colors of the painting, it's  outside dimensions are 10 3/4 x 12 1/2 inches.   

"Honeycrisp" Oil on 6x8 inch board

I love apple season, and one of my favorite varieties is the honeycrisp.  (to eat and to paint!)

"Vase and Lemon" oil on linen board 8x6

This is painted on a linen panel, which was a nice change to paint on.  I had painted the background a lighter color, but I never was pleased with it.  I finally tried the dark background and liked it much better!

"Game Pieces" Oil on 6x6 inch board

sold

I painted this one a few months ago, and it's become one of my favorites.  It's for sale now on ebay. 

Below are a couple of work in progress photos that I hadn't posted previously, so I thought I would share those.  Thanks for looking at my artwork today!

"Crab Apples and White Pumpkin" Oil on 6x8 inch board

sold

Autumn is here, and I love to paint these little crab apples.  They grow along the path where I ride my bike.  The path is a few miles long and I never remember exactly where they are, so I keep my eyes open for them.  I am always excited when I spot them.  

Also, I have been reading a book of poems by Mary Oliver, and I'd like to share one of them... how wonderful and beautiful our imaginations can be...and the last part of it made me think of artists, and how they might see the world.

How Would You Live Then?

What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaks

flew in circles around your head? What if

the mockingbird came into the house with you and

became your advisor? What if

the bees filled your walls with honey and all

you needed to do was ask them and they would fill

the bowl? What if the brook slid downhill just

past your bedroom window so you could listen

to its slow prayers as you fell asleep? What if

the stars began to shout their names, or to run

this way and that way above the clouds? what if

you painted a picture of a tree, and the leaves

began to rustle, and a bird cheerfully sang

from its painted branches? What if you suddenly saw

that the silver of water was brighter than the silver

of money? What if you finally saw

that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day

and everyday-- who knows how, but they do it-- were

more precious, more meaningful than gold?

-Mary Oliver

I am always painting, or thinking about painting, but not always posting....

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
I just thought I would show what I am currently working on.   The summer has kept me busy, with beautiful weather, yard and garden work, but I do make time to paint.  This is a larger painting, 11x14 inches. 

I've been wanting to paint these artist models, the skull and the little mannikin, together with some game pieces.  My set up looked like this (photos below)... and I made a black and white sketch of it on toned paper.
 I started the painting on a gessobord, with a drawing and a thin wash of raw umber.  Then, each day, I worked for 3-4 hours on it, and so far so good!  I'm happy with it.  I will post the finished painting when it's done. 

 I left out the pansy in his hand.  It seemed like a fun idea, but it felt a bit distracting, and looked better without it. 

 This is the first stage, with the drawing done, and washes with thinned raw umber oil paint.

I painted the background, candle, and flowers first, even tho I had the lily in a tube of water, the day lilies only last a day, and it wilted quickly.  I also had the photo of the set up to refer to.

 This is the where I have left off, I still need to paint the marble, playing card, scrabble tiles and puzzle piece...   

Thank you so much for stopping to take a look at my artwork today!

"Cherries, Grapes and Oranges" Oil on 6x8 inch board

sold

This piece began as a demonstration for our art group.  I finished it the next day at home, making some small changes.   Below is the painting as it looked at the end of the hour and a half demo.

"Game Pieces" Oil on 6x6 inch board

Available on ebay,

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This was a fun painting to do, I love the graphic elements, and bright colors.  The background had been a plain color, but I added the floral doodles in the end.  I liked it much better. 

Below is a simulated picture of how this painting might look framed. It is sold unframed.

"Strawberries and Orange Half" Oil on 6x8 inch board

More strawberries!  They are one of my favorite things to paint.  Thank you for looking at my artwork today!!  

"Lemon with Berries" Oil on 6x6 inch board

This painting is a combination of the three primary colors, red yellow and blue.  It makes a very nice color scheme.  It is painted on Ampersand board, 1/8 inch thick.  It is varnished and ready to be shipped (unframed) to the winning bidder as soon as payment is received.

Below are some pictures taken during the painting process.  

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

"Orange Half and Strawberry" Oil on 5x5 inch board

sold

I had fun with this sweet little painting. Strawberries are one of my favorite things to paint.

 This is on a small 5x5 inch hardboard panel,

 3/8 inch thick.  

"Strawberry Kisses" Oil on 5x7 board

                                                                         

sold

Below is a photo of work in progress.  I had started the painting with a sprig of pine in the cup, which I ended up not including.

"Christmas Candle 2018" Oil on 5x7 board

sold

"Spice Tea with Peppermint and Gingerbread" Oil on 6x6 board

sold

Christmas time is approaching and I love to do a few holiday themed paintings during this season.  

Here is the first one, hopefully I can get a couple more done in the coming weeks.

Thanks for visiting my blog and looking at my artwork today! 

 Below are a couple of in progress photos...

"Red Grapes" Oil on linen board 8x6

sold

This is an original unframed painting on linen panel.  Below is an image of what it might look like framed... ( it is sold unframed)