"Drumming Man"

6"x8"

Oil on Board

$135 included US s/h

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I've posted this painting before, but chose to do so again today in honor of my first African drumming class that I went to this afternoon. Too much fun! However, my fingers are black and blue and my arms sore!

"High Flyin' Cowboy"

8"x6"
Oil on Board

$150 includes US s/h

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Yes, I'm on a cowboy and rodeo kick these days! I love drawing and painting subjects that feel full of energy. On this one, I particularly had fun with the palette knife as it accentuated the movement and the explosion of energy as the horse tries to get rid of that rider.

Bucking Bronc Shakes It Up!

Image size: 8"x7"

Graphite on Bristol Board

$150 included domestic s/h

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While working at the gallery today, I managed to sneak in this drawing. As I was doing it, the song, "Shake It Up" kept going through my mind, so that's the title!

"Indian Racer"

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

contact River Bend Fine Art Gallery for purchase information

Happy Thanksgiving to all! So many things to be thankful for--one of which is to paint!! Can't imagine life without it!

This little painting is from the Pendleton Round-up and features one of the riders in the Indian Relay Race. In each race, 4 tribes would race against each other. It was so fun to watch--everyone one of them just went as hard as it as they could, no holding back. The energy was amazing.

"Coffee and Conversation"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

contact River Bend Fine Art Gallery for purchase information

 

I was going through some unsold paintings and came across a 6"x6" one I did of this subject last spring. I looked at it and thought that maybe I could improve upon it so did it again. It IS definitely an improvement! Much better color, looser, better cropping and use of space. I love the subject. It seems like we rarely see much done about middle-aged people or that affirms commitment past the more romantic phase. This couple had the feel to me of being together through life's ups and downs and I am happy to celebrate that! The location was Sisters Coffee House in Sisters, OR.

Just a Pear Ornament (original sold)

3.5"x2.5"

Acrylic on Board

Just like the title: "just a pear"!

White Chocolate Cherry Ornament (sold)

5"x4"

Acrylic on Board

One more little ornament! Doing these ornaments brings me back to one of the things that really appealed to me a few years ago when I started learning about the daily painters--how anything could be a subject. It really opened up my ideas about painting.

Red Bell Pepper Ornament (sold)

5"x4"

Acrylic on Board

Here's another! And like the others, this, too, has a hanger on the back and a gold ribbon through it--which can be removed to hang the painting on the wall.

Lemon Tree Ornament (sold)

3 5/8 in. x 2 5/8 in.

Acrylic on Board

Here's another of the little Christmas tree ornaments I've been painting. They have hangers on the back which are threaded with a gold ribbon. The ribbon can be removed so they can hang on the wall, too. These are fun little things to do. I'm enjoying using acrylics for a change and also the freedom to just paint whatever sounds like fun to me--no big productions!

"Crooked River Through Smith Rock" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

It's amazing to me how this place changes throughout the year. The light is definitely getting "bluer" and everything looks softer. . .

Rooster Tree Ornament (sold)

4"x3"

Acrylic on Board

'Tis the season to be making even smaller paintings that will be ornaments for Christmas trees! The gallery I show at here in Bend has a tradition of its artists making these little creations. This little rooster will have a ribbon attached and a hanger, so it can also be hung on the wall.

"Antonia Against the Window"

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

$150 includes domestic s/h

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This young woman, Antonia, along with her husband visited the gallery yesterday as I was working. They said they're visiting and thinking of moving here. She paints and doesn't find much of an art community where she lives now and her husband has family here. Also, she's very pregnant! My plan was a painting that shows that, but I was really taken with her expression so did this first. I really enjoyed doing this painting ad felt good about NOT painting in the whole background!!

"Late Afternoon at Santa Monica Pier" (sold)

6"x6"

Acrylic on Board

This is another painting from our trip to southern Cal. It was great to remember being on that pier as the sun was getting low and it was WARM while it was snowing today! I was having a hard time with this painting, so pulled out my palette knives--seems like that's just what was needed! Also, this is acrylic, and I'm not used to it! It was good to not be in control (do I really mean that?)!

"With the Dogs at Solana Beach"

6"x8"

Oil on Board

unframed:  $150 plus $10 domestic s/h; contact me for framed price
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Our recent trip to Southern Cal took us to this great doggie beach at Solana Beach, CA. Though I simplified for this painting, the beach was absolutely full of two- and four-leggeds enjoying themselves and each other. Our little dog, Tobey, found some dogs his own size and went wild with running while we went wild with laughter.

"Precious Bundle" (sold)

8"x8"

Oil on Board

$175 includes domestic s/h

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One more version of this subject. . .I wanted to try something different with the color, bringing in more of the warm golden tones. I'm pleased with the warmth of this painting.

It's cold with a mix of snow and rain here today, so it seems like eons ago when we stopped and visited some galleries in Laguna Beach--and it was just barely a week ago and it was gorgeous weather! There were about five galleries we stopped in along the main street through town. The one that sticks with me the most is Studio 7. I'm not sure, but I kind of think it's a cooperative gallery. It has a high caliber of work. One of the artists showing there was tending the gallery--Janine Salzman, an impressionist-style painter of landscapes, still lifes and some figurative work as well. I enjoyed listening to her talk about the workshops she's attended. Her brushwork is very good, as is her color. Another artist at Studio 7 whose work I enjoyed was Jeff Yeomans. He had a restaurant kitchen scene hanging that I did my best to learn from--great use of neutrals, very subtle. I also really like his street scenes--they are just like California in that it's mostly TRAFFIC! But they are really beautifully done. Living in Oregon, it was SO refreshing to see paintings with palm trees and ocean and lots of light.

"Mother and Child" (sold)

8"x8"

Oil on Board

$175 includes domestic s/h

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For this first painting I've done in nearly two weeks, (!) I decided to go back to a subject I love and try to bypass the intimidation of a blank "canvas"! We've been in southern California for the past 9 days or so and have seen lots more artwork and galleries than I have for a long time. Lots of work inspired me and makes me want to try some new approaches to my painting. Alot of the paintings I was attracted to were very loose, so in this painting--and actually in others I've been doing, too--there's the attempt to not try to put in all the details, keep it soft, loose some edges. I'd appreciate any feedback on this! Truthfully, I really LIKE definition, I LIKE hard edges, I LIKE detail, I LIKE making it specific. Seems like "being loose" iswhat is "in favor". Really, though, it has to be a balance. There's a place for both. No matter, I most enjoy painting when the process flows. I think if there's the feeling of that flow, it shows whether the painting ends up looser or tighter. At any rate, it feels so good to paint again! I have started yet another painting of this image working with different tones which I hope to finish tomorrow.