"Chocolate Birthday Cake"

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$125 plus $10 domestic s/h

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This little painting is inspired by my great niece and her Dad as he was feeding her at a birthday party. It was a challenge! I may try it again just to work on skin tones--but it won't be right away! I am still very involved in an illustration job, which is why I haven't been posting lately. I miss painting!!

"Cloud Shadows on the High Desert"

6"x6"

Acrylic on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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The high desert gets its green on this time of year, especially when we have had such a rainy spring! This is a scene from southest Oregon, close to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Lots of white clouds going back to the horizon and deep, deep shadows where they block the sun.

"Hot-Air Balloon Rising"

6"x5"

OIl on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic shipping/handling

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My little dog woke me up at 4:40 this morning and as I was trying to go back to sleep I remembered the "Balloons Over Bend" (hot air balloon festival) that was happening this morning. Every year I think I'm going to get up and go watch them take off, but never quite make it! No excuses today! It was a gorgeous sunny morning and such a joy to watch the gigantic colorful forms fill up with air and begin to rise. I have to thank my pup for getting me up!

"Model With a Blue Tattoo"

Watercolor on 300# Watercolor Paper

22"X11"

$125 includes domestic s/h

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We had our last life-drawing lab for the term today and this was my best effort. I loved the pose--she had attitude! I decided to "play" with watercolor today to loosen up a little. I really enjoyed it!

Guest Artist--Susan Luckey Higdon

"Mirror Pond Idyll"

8"x8", Acrylic

$195 framed

for purchase information contact Susan Luckey Higdon

Fellow artist and friend, Susan has been a huge inspiration to me with my own work for the past 10-15 years. First off, she is passionate about her subjects which range from the Central Oregon landscape to fly fishermen to red-winged blackbirds to vibrant steelhead--and so much else that shows the richness of the region we live in. She does beautiful work with both pastels and acrylics. Too, Susan is a founding member and partner of Tumalo Art Company, a collective gallery here in Bend that brings the idea of a "c0-0p" to a high level. Visit Susan's website for more of her work and the site of Tumalo Art Company to see more of the fine work that comes from our small area.

"At the Carnival"

12"x16"

OIl on Board

I did a 16x20 painting of this subject a couple of years ago and just was never quite happy with it, so decided to try it again. This time, I feel like it really works. It is a more cohesive piece than the previous one. Here's a link to it if you'd like to compare and see what you think: "Carnival Time". The scene is from our county fair and I am saving this painting for a show in August.

"At My Kitchen Sink" (sold)

Oil on Board

8"x12"

Every so often, an artist's work comes to my attention and it feels as if it was "supposed" to. Recently, Ken Howard's paintings caught my eye in a book on painting interiors that my husband brought home from a used book store, and just last week I stumbled upon a book focusing on his philosophy and techniques. He reminds me of how important drawing and painting from life is. I'm not going to be giving up my photo references anytime soon, but am really trying to get out and draw and sketch daily from life. Since I wasn't able to set my paints up in my kitchen for the day, I first did a watercolor sketch and then used that and a photo reference. Doing the watercolor really helped me to study the subject and see color, value and composition before I started in with oils.

"Lit From Behind--Santa Monica Pier"

5"x6"

Oil on Board

$115 plus $10 domestic s/h

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I really wasn't sure what would happen when I decided to try a subject with so much information in such a small format, but I'm pretty pleased and amazed, too! What amazes me is that you CAN put the idea down of what it was like that sunny afternoon in that tiny space! I look forward to doing a larger version of this subject!

"Erika" and teaching art classes

Wow! I can't believe it's been two weeks since I've posted anything! My time has been full working hard on an illustration job, teaching and catching up on commissioned work. I hope to start my "daily painting" again next week.

Meanwhile this is a little 10 minute watercolor and pencil sketch I did of Erika yesterday while she was working on a self portrait. One of the classes I get to teach right now is a portrait class for 8-12 year olds. It is a kick. They are a great group of kids. I'll have to post some of their work next week. I've also been teaching a beginning oil painting class for adults. Again, it was a great experience! I think I forget how much I love sharing information and teaching when I'm not doing it for awhile. That class ended yesterday.

The classes are through the Art Station here in Bend, OR, a part of Arts Central which is a one of the strong forces for education in the arts in our community and surrounding area. Check out their classes at their online catalog. I am leading a Daily Painting workshop through them from July 26-30, and working with watercolorist Mary Marquiss to co-lead classes combining drawing and watercolor skills in June and again in August.

"Rachel &Thomas & Their Wedding Cake"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

NFS

Though illustration work and teaching are taking up most of my time these days, I managed to get to work on this little painting of my niece and her new husband at their wedding reception as a gift for them. As always, it was so good to paint! Can't believe how much I miss it! Oh well, paychecks are good, too!

Guest Artist--Tracy Leagjeld "One Orange Square"

Monoprint

32"x26"

Oil-based printmaking ink on board

visit Tracy's blog for more information

Tracy Leagjeld's monoprint technique invariably produces texturally interesting work that is full of beautiful subtleties of color. She is a master at what she does. Much of her work has centered on the landscape of central Oregon and other places she has visited, but she is currently working more abstractly. She has been finding interesting compositions within her existing work and using those little bits to create full-size pieces that stand on their own. I hope you will visit her blog for a visual treat!

"The Luna Tuna" illustrations are now a book!

"The Luna Tuna"

written by Debra Burke Simpkins, illustrated by Vicki Shuck

available through http://www.amazon.com/

Here is the cover and two spreads from the little children's book I was illustrating this past winter that has just been published. It's a real joy to see it in print. I am grateful to Debra for the opportunity to share in this endeavor. Her story is touching and sweet--as is the author herself! The description on the back of the book reads: "This is the tale about Luna, a tuna fish and her best friend Twyla, a shark. Luna has an impossible dream that Twyla tries to fulfill. This book is the story of two childhood friends, one who shares a dream and the other who would do anything to make her "BFF" happy. Luna and Twyla are an example of what true friendship means."

Guest Artist--Janice Druian "Worker's Housing, Tule Lake"

8"x10"

Oil on linen canvas

$360 unframed

contact Janice Druian for more information

This painting of Janice's has a personal appeal to me. I grew up about 10 miles northwest of Tule Lake, CA, where she found these little houses. My dad grew up there, too, and for all I know he may have played with kids that lived in them! About this painting Janice says: "Worker's Housing, Tule Lake was started as a plein air, finished in the studio. It was started on our way back from a show in Ukiah, CA featuring paintings by Maynard Dixon. I said to myself, 'What would Maynard paint?'" I think she nailed it!! See more of Janice's work at www.druianstudios.com.

"Taking a Closer Look"

5"x6"

Oil on Board

$200 plus $10 domestic s/h

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I played hooky from my illustration job today and painted! I've been looking at this subject for some time now and was attracted by the story and the movement in the figures. The setting is a gallery I showed in--Tumalo Art Company--for five years. It is a great collective of painters, sculptors, photographers and more. As of May 1st, I am no longer a member as I am now represented locally by a new gallery opening this week: River Bend Fine Art Gallery. I am excited to show my work in the company of such wonderful artists!

Guest Artist--Janice Druian "The Storm Came In"

11"x14"

Oil on Canvas

$400 plus s/h

contact Janice Druian for purchase information

Janice Druian is a central Oregon artist that has a way of finding and capturing on canvas the drama of our region. The way she uses light in her paintings really stands out for me, as do her strong compositions. One of the things I love about this high desert country is the ever-changing sky (I know Montana is "big sky country", but I think eastern Oregon is, too)! Janice not only "gets" the feel of the clouds and the landscape, but also the rural feel of it. See more of her paintings at her website www.druianstudios.com.