Roses Are Red

8"x 8" oil on linen board

On what was an overcast gray day, these red roses from the garden filled the studio with such a sweet fragrance and looked lovely in the window's light.
I tried to come up with a poem that started "roses are red, skies are gray.." but they all sounded rather lame!

Click here to bid in the DPW auction.

$85

Lady In Red

8" x 8" oil on board

I am happy with the abstract nature of this piece.

Done from a photo it was very hard for me not to noodle her face in part because she was so beautiful.  I'm trying to just lay it down and not get too fussy!!

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$100

Caught In The Light

12" x 9", oil on board

While vacationing in Mexico, this artist friend was caught in the doorway surrounded by the warm light of the area.  I loved the tonal quality of the scene and tried to push that a bit.

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$125

One Spring Day

8" x 10", oil on board

I tend to be a wimpy fair weather plein air painter but on a beautiful spring day recently I went out painting in plein air with artist friend Lori Quarton. The weather was so ideal it does make me want to do more...thanks Lori! 

Real Moment

10" x 8" oil on board

Children as live models don't alway work out because they have a hard time sitting still but as models they are wonderful to photograph because they lose their focus.  This was done from a photograph of a child in a real moment.

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$100

Star Power

8" x 10", oil on board

sold

These iconic shoes are a size 13 and were very fun to paint!!

This piece is available through Chemer's gallery.

Three In One

6"x8" oil on linen board

For a number of years I have painted with brushes that are flat.  I liked the variety of strokes you can get with them and the control.  Yesterday I got some new Isabey bristle brushes.  They are filberts and a lot harder to control which is probably a good thing for my efforts to get looser.  This painting is the second that I have done of this subject, I wanted to compare this with the original.  I'm not sure this is much looser but I did like playing with the new brushes.

What type of brush do you use?

Wild Bunch

8" x 6" oil on board
sold

This painting came about as a request from a student to demo how I would paint these flowers.  They were set up across the room so I could not have added details if I wanted.  I'm happy with the more simplified version of this wild bunch.

Still Life In Complements

12" x 16" oil on board

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$200

Mr. C

8" x 8" oil on Ramar panel

It has been awhile since I have done a portrait but I reeeaaallly enjoy doing them!

The Gathering

16" x 20" oil on canvas
sold

I often paint studies for just the purpose of studying without doing anything more with them.  This painting however was done from a small study (posted below) done in class.  I wanted to see how it would translate to a larger canvas.  I used the study particularly for color and value reference, but I also enjoyed making decisions independent of the study.  

I do love being a student of art!

Mustard Fields

8" x 10" oil on Raymar panel

sold

On a train ride between Prague and Munich, we saw so many beautiful rolling hills of mustard grasses(?) growing with the occasional small herds of cows...very pastoral, very calming.

Study In Orange

9" x 12" oil on board

The class that I am taking with Tom Balderas is a little like running with scissors.  It is giving me the freedom to break some "rules" and it is also helping me to evaluate what is important to me in my own work.

I'm curious and excited about what will be!!

Signs Of Spring

8" x 6" oil on linen board

With our beautiful weather of late, signs of spring are everywhere.  I found bunches of daffodils for my class to paint tomorrow, this is my version.

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$75

Party Dress

12" x 9", oil on board
sold

Done from a photo, I'm very happy with the results...who knows I may get this loose thing down yet!  :)

Tom's Girl

12" x 9" oil on board

These figures I have been painting lately are going back to what I really love to paint most!

Click here to bid in the DPW auction.
$100

The Connection

11 x 14, oil on board
sold

I feel a real connection to this piece.  There was something about finding the nuance of color and temperature in the shadows of her blouse and the sand that I loved discovering.

The Bather

12 x 9 oil on board

This is my most recent submission for a DPW challenge.  In my efforts to get a bit looser, I am letting go of the idea that I have to be very accurate to the original photo. Instead I hope to create a painting that is more expressive in the brushwork.  I'm trying really hard to be okay with this but at times I find it so difficult to balance...I guess it's all a part of the evolution.

Click here to bid in the DPW auction.

$85

A Resting Place

12" x 12" oil on board

Most of this painting was done from life with these two young girls as models.  Needing to paint very fast because they never stayed in one place for very long my proportions are off but for some reason, with this painting anyway, I am okay with that. 

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$125 

Yellow Studies 1 & 2

Yellow Study 1

11"x 14" oil on board

sold

Yellow Study 2

11" x 14" oil on board

sold

These two studies were done to look at color/value relationships of yellow.  One took a little over an hour and the other took closer to two, both were fun in their own way and both offered at a special price.

Green Day

11" x 14" oil on board

sold

When I was first learning to paint I was asked by my instructor to write my intentions for the class.  Part of what I always said was that I wanted to use expressive brushwork.  All that is fine and dandy but my nature is to be more controlled, quiet and accurate so I have always found expressive painting to be hard.  I find it difficult for me to let go of what is not "right" in terms of shape or color (or anything else for that matter) for the sake of the painting.

So.  In an effort to shake things up a bit I am taking some classes from Tom Balderas, an artist I admire who paints with so much heart and expression. He states so much more than what he sees in front of him.

Our homework for this week was to do monochromatic color studies so for me today was green day.

Because these are studies, I am offering them at a greatly reduced rate through the DPW auction.

Slow Ride

8" x 8" oil on linen panel
sold

The reference for this scene in Cambodia was generously offered to me by a student and I gladly accepted!

Almost Black

6"x 6" oil on board

I have to admit that I am very happy with this painting.  Most of the time my paintings evolve over the process of painting but this time I visualized exactly how I wanted it to look, and it worked!  With the simple shape of cherries it was easy but I wonder how it would work with a more complicated set-up. 

Do you visualize your finished painting before you start?

Study In Green

6" x 6" oil on board
sold

I set up this little still life in class yesterday.  It gave me the opportunity to demo for a new student but also gave me a chance to study the relationship between the greens.

Sorry for the glare, I will photograph it again when it is dry.

The Eyes

8" x 8" oil on board

This is another piece done from one of the fabulous photos of Steve Evans.  It was the eyes of this young girl that attracted me to this piece originally but it is the hand that I really like now.  I had to keep counting fingers to conclude that she must have her index finger in her mouth.

Click here to bid in the DPW auction

$95