UNDER THE HOT SUN

Under the Hot Sun
Oil on c/b
9x12

This painting is the second time I have used this particular cactus. I have always
liked the strong shadow pattern and the many angles of both the cactus and the
shadow elements. This time I have tried to convey a very hot day, because it was
very much so at the time. The area is the White Tank Mountains in Surprise, AZ
close to where I live.

MAISY

MAISY

Pastel

This little Pomeranian is the previous little dog's buddy. Maisy and Daisy belong

to our good friends and it was fun to do some pastel work. Yes, Maisy likes to let 

her tongue hang out a bit.

DAISY

DAISY
pastel

Daisy is one of my friends lovely little dogs. She is a Chihuahua mix and very affectionate. One thing is for sure, when painting children and animals, be prepared to take a couple of billion (ha!) photos to end up with anything worth painting. Actually my friend wanted two dogs together but I just loved this short and did this as a practice for myself.

SHELL COLLECTION

SHELL COLLECTION
Pastel 16"x12.5"
NFS

This painting resulted from an art challenge at the AZ Pastel Artists Assoc.
that I am privileged to belong to in Phoenix, The challenge was to take a
small terra cotta pot and make a painting with it. I had a lot of fun turning
the pot into a pail and filling it with shells.

APPLES WITH SLICES

Apples with Slices
9x12
Oil on c/b

Couldn't get this simple still life to work so I went a little crazy and chopped
it up a bit. Ended up looking a little interesting. Different.

POTTERY WITH CITRUS

Pottery with Citrus
9x12 Oil on c/p
$100 US

Lastweek about this time I had fallen and sprained my wrist. I am doing very
well now and this is my first attempt at getting back to the easel. I tried to
put more texture into this still life and hopefully give it a glow factor. Seems
like I am a painter who enjoys a bit of orange in my work. Hope you like it.

SHADOWS

Shadows

9x12 Oil on c/p
$100 US

Went with some friends to the White tank mountains for a plein air study.
As we were leaving in the late afternoon I took a quick photo of the scene
as I thought the shadows were so interesting. It is a challenge for me to get
a nice composition and to play the cools against the warms.

WHITE TANKS

White Tanks
8x10 Oil on c/p
$75 US

Earlier this week I had a chance to go to a preserve with a couple of artist
friends and do some plein air work. It was such a nice day and I liked how
this little tree was back lit and throwing some cool shadows. The great
outdoors sure doesn't allow for tinkering around too much. For me that is
good, because it seems the more time I have the more my values all end up
in the middle. Sunshine, fresh air ... yummy :)

THE COUNT

30th Painting!!!

The Count
8x6 Oil on c/p
NFS


Not the Count of Montechristo ... ha ha. Hot off the presses and another
request from my husband. Having trouble with iphotos. Oh well. Will try

to update later.
I have had so much trouble trying to finalize this blog picture. Computer
just would not co-operate at all. Maybe just didn't think Dracula was a
good idea, who knows. Was only able to capture the head shot and not the
full painting.
I have had a great time in this challenge and I am spending the 1st of February
reorganizing my kitchen from the chaos. Time to get back to a more regular
routine but one that includes painting every day, EVERY DAY!

SCARY SISTER

29th Painting

Scary Sister
8x6 Oil on c/p
$65 US

Yesterday's bride had too much white on the face so I thought I'd try again.  Sure
took a long time, that is when you have to change the eyeballs around! Ugh. One
more painting to go. It is had to believe that the whole month is already gone.
Spent so much time at the easel I kept forgetting to eat, and lost about 6 pounds,
felt like it should have been a hundred :) Hope you like my new girl.

MORNING MIST

27th Painting

Morning Mist
6x8 Oil on c/p
$60 US

This view on the Puget Sound was always on of my favorites. The sun almost
breaking thru the mist. A whole low of those cold mornings in Olympia, WA.
Don't miss the rain, but sure miss the water. Only 3 more to go!

BUTTERFLY TEA POT

26th Painting

Butterfly Tea Pot
6x8 Oil on c/p
$45  US

Looks like I have a couple more of tea pots to paint.
I guess everyone will know it's me if there is at least a touch of orange somewhere.
Orange keeps sneaking back into my work. Ha ha. ONLY 4 days to go in Leslie
Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days! It's been work, it's been scary, it's been fun, it's
been worth it. I now have a desire to paint, actually paint, that I lacked before. Truly,
I am so excited.

THIRD of THREE

25th Painting

Third of Three
6x6 Oil on c/p
$40 US

This sure ended up traditional as requested by my husband. It is still so interesting
for me to try different styles and colors. Good, gooood practice for me who has
hardly painted before last October (just a few per year). Wow, 5 paintings to go!
I have sure been burning the midnight oil just to finish a painting and to get my
brushes cleaned up. This experience has done wonders for my desire to paint.
Thank you Julie Ford Oliver for the encouragement and thank you Leslie Saeta for
the opportunity.
By the way, still a little photo glare in the background above the red apple ... ugh.

AGAIN WITH THE APPLES

24th Painting

Again with the Apples
6x6 Oil on c/p
$40 US

It was an accomplishment to blur some edges, but the picture is so fuzzy. The
original is not that fuzzy. Frustrating. Will try again tomorrow with more palette
knife. All these experiments have been invaluable, just trying to remember the

basics sometimes is as hard as anything else.

THREE APPLES

23rd Painting

Three Apples
6x6 Oil on c/p
$40 US

This painting is by my husband's request. Well, not exactly.  I have another set
up he helped me put together but we had company until 7pm so I had to make
it a whole lot less complicated. So now I know what to paint tomorrow.

GARDEN SUNSHINE

20th Painting

Garden Sunshine
6x6 Oil on c/p
$45 US


Today I told myself, get loose and try to spend less time on the painting, just a hour or so.
Not. Oh well, I am enjoying the process and trying to experiment. Probably going in too
many directions at once. I'll think about it for awhile.

SURE IS GREEN

19th Painting

Sure is Green
8x6 Oil on c/p
$65 US

Today is the green I thought I was painting yesterday! And this painting is more neon
in real life than the picture, go figure. But, I am having fun painting ol' Frankenstein,
just as long as I don't start dreaming of him! Ha! Which one do you like the best?

FRANKIE

18th Painting

Frankie
8x6 Oil on c/p
$65 US

I was going for a green Frankenstein and ended up with blue and yellow.
How does that happen? Being way over there in the right brain has its
own ideas I guess. Had to laugh. Hope you like it. Trying for semi-graphic.

CRABAPPLES AGAIN

16th Painting

Crabapples Again
6x8 Oil on c/p
$35 US

These paintings have been quite a challenge for me. I am trying to break the mold
but when I see them on the web, they seem too similar. Oh well, I think I'll give
these poor little apples a rest.

CRABAPPLES THREE

15th Painting

Crabapples Three
6x8 Oil on c/p
$25 US

I am experimenting with different colors and values. I wondering if I know
where I'm headed? I can't seem to reach the vision I have for this still life. I
am going for it again before the apples rot out.