Thursday, January 27, 2011

"Belly Dancer With Fan"

6"x5"
Oil on Board
$100 plus $10 domestic s/h
click here to ask to purchase this painting through Paypal

Another dancer today from the showcase I went to by the High Desert Belly Dancing Guild. . .I love the subject!  It's interesting to try to figure out how to use the color as at the showcase, the dancers were lit by different color spotlights.  One reason I like working with it is that it makes me see differently--wakes me up!  And we all know that any kind of representation art is all about waking up and really seeing!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

"High Desert Belly Dancers #1"

10"x8"
Oil on Board
$175 plus $10 domestic s/h
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This was a kick to paint, though intimidating for me!!  For one, I took my photos while the dancers were in motion, so obviously I didn't have the detail I was used to being able to look at, and, two, I haven't used these colors alot.  I found that the blur in the photos was to my advantage and allowed me to concentrate on the FEEL of the scene rather than trying to get everything exact.  Fun. 

Monday, January 24, 2011

"Celebration Kiss!" (sold)


10"x8"
Oil on Board
$225 plus $10 domestic s/h
click here to ask to purchase this painting through Paypal

The wedding ceremony was finished and the bride and groom were making their grand entrance to the reception hand in hand, started dancing around and turned and kissed!  Pretty sweet!  And a very fun subject to paint!  I think this would be a great gift for the bride and groom for their first anniversary  (and if it sells, a print will be nice!).

Sunday, January 23, 2011

JANUARY CLEARANCE ITEM "On a White Horse" (sold)

8"x6"
Oil on Board
In readying photos for the website I'm working on today, I came across this one and realized it's a good candidate for JANUARY CLEARANCE ITEM!!  It was done a year and a half ago, is a painting that I totally enjoyed creating and would love to have it find a new home.  I did the painting from going to the High Desert Classic, an equestrian event held in Central Oregon every summer. Though I have always been highly allergic to horses, I have loved to draw and paint them.  Their energy, power and beauty is wonderful to feel.  Too, I love the precision and care of the riders at these events.  Truly an art!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

"Trolley Stop at Balboa Park"

8"x12"
Oil on Board
$200 plus $10 domestic s/h
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I did a study of this subject last month and have been looking forward to creating a larger version of it.  This one's a bit different with the addition of another figure.  This painting brings back a beautiful November afternoon in San Diego.  The winter light where I live is cold and blue.  I'd love to be back in southern California!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

"Earthrowl's Blue Pond"

10"x8"
Oil on Canvas
$140 plus $10 domestic s/h
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This is an older painting I did a few years ago that was inspired by the first time I saw artwork by Kathleen Earthrowl.  Her work was so different from mine, much looser and more abstracted and I loved it--still do!  I just had to try something in that vein.  Though I haven't tried this approach since, I always really have liked ths little painting.  Could be I'm ready to let it go now that I am feeling a change in the way I am working with my own art--not that I'm envisioning going this direction, but who knows what might happen!

Monday, January 17, 2011

"Back to the Stables" (sold)


8"x8"
Oil on board
$140 plus $10 domestic s/h
click here to ask to purchase this painting through Paypal

I did this painting not long after I discovered Alizaron Yellow by Williamsburg Paints.  I love that color!  When mixed with white, it gets a warm, buttery look similar to cadmium yellow, but otherwise it is transparent and just glows.  On its own and mixed with other colors, it has a bit of an "acid-y" look. 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

"Close Approach"


6"x8"
Oil on Board
$100 plus $10 domestic s/h
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I haven't done a rodeo painting for awhile and enjoyed this.  One thing I really like about doing them is working with subjects in motion.  It's interesting to me how I can see my work changing in this, much looser.  For the past few years, brights have been my brush of choice, but now am branching out and adding rounds and filberts to my bag of tricks!.  Back in the 90's I went through a long period when only flats would do!

Friday, January 14, 2011

JANUARY INVENTORY CLEARANCE ITEM: "Purple Boots" (sold)

20"h x 10"w
Oil on prepared board

I love the swinging of her skirt and her purple boots in the middle of the summer. . .

Thursday, January 13, 2011

"Dressing the Bride" #2


8"x6"
Oil on Board
$125 plus $10 domestic s/h
click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Another painting of Becky on her wedding day. . .I'm enjoying the subject immensely!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

"Dressing the Bride" #1


6"x6"
Oil on Board
$100 plus $10 domestic s/h
Click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Trying to get the pieces of this subject to form a whole, as the way pieces of a puzzle fit together, was the thought in my mind as I painted this today.  It made me concentrate on seeing the value and color shapes and to be aware of how the modeling affected that whole idea.  It was fun to do!  I'm looking forward to working more like this.  What is funny thinking about it, though, is that that idea wouldn't even have crossed my mind a couple of years ago, maybe even a year ago.  It's one of those things that when you see it in another painting, it attracts you, but you can't even quite name it.  It feels good to realize that we constantly learn to see more and more. 

Monday, January 10, 2011

"Winter Walk Through Shevlin Park"


6"x6"
Oil on Board
$100 plus $10 domestic s/h
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It was SO COLD when we took our pup for a walk through Shevlin Park last weekend!  Cold, but beautiful--late afternoon sun casting the cool shadows on the snow. . .weloved it!

"At the Curiosity Shoppe"


10"x8"
Oil on Cradled Board
Ready to Hang, No Framing Necessary
$140 plus $10 domestic s/h
Click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

This painting's setting is in an independent little shop full of art, books and other "curiosities".  It's had a variety of locations in Bend here in the 20 years I've visited it, but has always been a place in town that people who are less conventional than others could find a home.  It's been much appreciated by those of us who need to feel that independent spirit in action.  I painted this about four years ago, just when I was beginning to get into "slice of life" paintings.  I was intrigued by the lighting and still find the subject compelling.  It will be available at this price through the end of January.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

"Study for Cropped Pants All Around"


6.5"x6.5"
Oil on Board
$125 plus $10 domestic s/h
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This gathering was at an art and quilt exhibit at Navigator News in Sisters, Oregon.  I have often looked at the photo I took of this scene wanting to paint it, but not quite sure what to do with it.  I think it's the collection of pants that got to me!  Anyway, it was good to do the study and I think I'll see what I can do on a larger scale.  It's a fun image to paint!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

"First Friday Gallery Walk at River Bend Fine Art Gallery"


12"x12"
Oil on Board
$400 plus $10 domestic s/h
click here to ask to purchase this painting through Paypal

This was so much fun to paint!  I worked to "mass" in the composition, but then because I've been wanting to explore the use of line more in my work, I started drawing with my brush.  After that, I played with filling out the form with color, leaving line where it seemed to work.  It was a good way to break out of the rut I feel I've been in, wanting to model everything so carefully.  I'm pleased with the freshness this painting kept and at the fact that I don't think I overworked it--an achievement!!
The color in the photo isn't great and I will be replacing it with a different photo tomorrow.