"Girl in the Park"

6"x6"

Oil on 1" cradled board--doesn't need a frame

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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This is a painting of a girl I saw in the park the other day. I was intrigued by the challenge of trying to figure out how to paint her skin tones. She was so fair and in the shade, everything had a cool cast. I may try this again!! It's kind of funny, this has such a 70's feel to me--maybe it's the long blond hair. . .

"Contemplating the Painting" (sold)

8"x6"

oil on board
$125 plus $10 domestic s/h
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This little painting caps a great week for me! I began it as a demo today in the workshop on daily painting I've been leading all week. The workshop was great--the first one I've given about daily painting and I look forward to doing it again. There was a wonderful group of people in the class. Their enthusiasm and openness fueled my own. I am grateful!

"In the Fullness of Summer" NA

6"x8"

Oil on Board

This little painting comes out of the archives as I had a day full of art, but just not producing any of it! The scene here is from a drive back down from Canada into central Oregon on a summer day. It was evening, the sky and clouds so beautiful. . . I can still feel the relief of cooler air after a hot, hot day. And if I really use my imagination, I can still smell the hay that's been cut!

"Three Ripe Cherries" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

I'm leading a mini-workshop this week on doing the daily paintings, so I didn't really think I'd be getting any painting done myself, but today it worked out! I won't even go into how much trouble I had with this little guy. . .you don't want to know! However. I painted. That's the point, right? It's been a kick, though. A great group of very interested and talented people who really love to do their art. Doing this has made me go back and review what we covered nearly two years ago at Carol Marine's workshop and THAT has been invaluable! Since that blessed time in Santa Fe, I've really gotten into doing the figurative work and working from photos. Going back to all these notes--and remembering why I took Carol's workshop in the first place--has been like coming home and makes me excited to approach my painting in a different way again.

"Morning Commute"

8"x4"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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On her way to work on a summer morning, coffee in hand. . .

It's time for a break! I am taking a couple of weeks off from my "daily painting" to teach a workshop and to paint at my leisure! I hope to get a few projects done around the house I've been wanting to do forever. Funny how painting always takes priority over all that! Anyway, I need to focus on some other things for a bit. I'll be posting whatever I paint in the next two weeks, just not sure how often that will be! Here's to painting houses and recovering furniture!

"No. 1215" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

This little girl was talking to her horse before they went into their round of competition. It's inspiring to watch the youngsters do this--they are so focused and try so hard. Too, the sport is one of precision and attention to detail--reminds me of watching a ballet.

"Cathedral Rock--Technicolor Landscape" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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Well, first of all, I am NOT in Sedona--darn, I think, but it's probably hotter there than it is here and it's nearly 100 today! I wanted to work with something I could get done in less time than usual and came across pics I took from a visit there. It's a hot painting, but it's just how I remember it! The amazingly intense colors of the sky, the rocks and the turquoise tone to the plants growing in the rock. The water is Oak Creek and a great relief on a hot day!

Painting in Process

10"x8"

Oil on Board

NFS

This is the start of a commission I'm doing. It's got its challenges! The photos I'm working from were taken on a cloudy day--which is greatin a sense, but I do want add a little pizazz to the color and work with contrasts, etc. Anyway, it's good to have begun! I'm also doing another kind of painting--the walls of my bathroom!

"Through a Golden Door" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

This is another painting from Union Station in Portland. I was attracted by the lines and colors of this subject. I love how working with reflections so easily brings me to the place where I am just seeing color shapes and I can let go for awhile of the subject matter.

"Waiting For the Train"

8"x10"

oil over acrylic on 1.5" cradled board (see 2nd photo)
Ready to Hang

$200 plus $10 domestic s/h

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I've been trying to give myself a chance to do a little experimenting this past week, so I decided to paint this in acrylic, just to see how it would go. There were definitely things I liked about it, but in the end decided to bring out the oils for over-painting. I liked having the acrylic underpainting to work on top with. It encouraged me in working with simple shapes.

"Hosmer Lake Reflections #2" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

Well, today I did another painting with the palette knives from my trip to Hosmer Lake. It's such a breath of fresh air to paint this way after spending so much time on the figurative work, trying so hard to "get it right"! This is a welcome change for me! A nice break. I really enjoy the looseness that knife painting makes you have and I found myself just more concerned with the composition and color shapes than I normally am--this is a good thing! I want to point out two artists who work primarily with palette knives whose work is amazing: Leslie Saeta and Sally Shisler. Check them out!

"Hosmer Lake Reflections" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

Today was a day for doing something different! A few weeks ago we went up to Hosmer Lake, in the Cascades not far from here and got to kayak for the first time, little dog and all! A beautiful hot day with great company including birds I'd never heard before. This painting is taken from a photo I took that evening as the reflected trees were illuminated by the setting sun. It was truly spectacular. As for this painting, after awhile I got out my palette knives when I saw how wrapped up in detail I was getting. I really enjoyed working with them!

"On a White Horse" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$120 plus $10 domestic s/h

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The morning light, the posture of the rider and the energy of the horse attracted me to this subject. The horses are so beautiful to watch and likewise the riders. I admire their discipline!

"Waiting For Her Friend"

7"x5"

Oil on Gessoboard

$100 plus $10 s/h

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This is one of those little paintings that I had to scrape off, start again, scrape off, start again. . .and on and on. I has a tough time with the color and tried many different things, but am very happy with this. I have started a larger version--I just love her pose and her look!

"To Buy or Not to Buy!"

image size: 7.25"x7.25"

graphite on bristol board

$175 includes s/h

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I'm still taken with this image and enjoyed focusing on the woman and chair. It's been a challenge to finish anything for my blog the past few days. The show I'm in opened Friday night. It went very well. It is so encouraging and affirming--something we all need, I'm sure! Anyway, I've just had to slow down a little and take it easy. . .time to regroup and think about where I'm headed with my work.

"Water Dance" (sold)

7"x5"

Oil on Gessoboard

Doing this little painting was a welcome reminder of the hot hot weather we had until just a few days ago--now it must be no warmer than the high 60's! This little girl was playing in a fountain at the waterfront park in Portland, OR and loving it. It was a kick watching the kids run in and out of the spray, and then there were those who were barely getting their feet wet and feeling pretty daring about that!

"Faster, Faster!" (sold)

6"x6"

Here's a barrel-racer from a rodeo I went to this summer. I really liked the sense of motion that she and her horse conveyed and I tried to keep this loose so it didn't look so frozen in time.

"Walking a Fine Line"

actual image size: 6.6"x5"

graphite on bristol board

$150 includes s/h

this drawing is available through Tumalo Art Company

I saw this fellow practicing his "tightrope walking" one morning in the park and he generously let me take pics of him to paint from.

I really enjoy doing these pencil drawings as they give me a chance to focus on the subject without being concerned so much about the background/setting as I am with the paintings. Maybe I don't have to be!! Anyway, though, they give me a different way of looking at the subject. I have such a tendency to have to put everything in (context, background) and I like the way space and shape play off each other in these simpler drawings. It would be a challenge to paint that way! I suppose I could try it. . . .?

"High Heeled Sneakers"

Actual image size: 6.5"x4/5"

Graphite on Bristol Board

$250 includes s/h

this drawing is available through Tumalo Art Company

She was standing outside of an art supply store, looking as if she was waiting for someone and I loved her clothes, her posture and her bags! I've started a painting of her, too, but really enjoyed doing this drawing as I could just focus in on her!