Bold Sunflowers

Title: Bold Sunflowers

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Contact me for purchase or follow on auction.

THE PAINTING:

This is one my favorite Sunflower paintings to date and it took over a week to complete. I applied multiple layers with an underpainting thinned with turp so it would quickly dry in dark colors, even a deep prussian blue and then laid lights on the darks using a palette knife. When it was dry, I came back and glazed on more layers of oil color with a brush to create a luminous look.

THE INSPIRATION:

Summer is here in full force and it is hot! These bright bold colors just go with summer sun and I am always in the mood to paint a bunch of Sunflowers when it's hot. Sometimes feathery with a brush but usually thick with a knife, they always make me smile.

Cowboy Impression

Title: Cowboy Impression
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

PAINTING: This is one of my palette knife pieces with blended chunks of thick oil paint, dragged layer upon layer. I love this technique and I love how this one looks. If this one were to head to one of my galleries, I would hang it in a thick black frame, but it won't make it because it already has a bid on auction with some days yet to go!

Check out the eBay auction or contact me for purchase information.

INSPIRATION:

Everyone loves a cowboy. There's just something special about a man in jeans and a cowboy hat riding off on his horse that makes your heart beat a little faster. Many of my friends are horse lovers and I painted this one with them in mind. Hope you enjoy!

Calm Venice Canal

Title: Calm Venice Canal

Size: 12 x 16

Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Contact me for needed purchase information. This painting goes on auction tonight.

PAINTING:

Peaceful calm. That is the feeling of this painting. Layers of lovely thick rich buttery oil paints. I love the way the Winsor Artists oils move across the canvas. Painted in soft calming hues and tones, this painting captures the shadows and nooks of the old canal.

INSPIRATION:

In two weeks we are going to Italy and I will be in Venice for 3 days of the trip! I have these canals on my mind every day at this point because I'm so excited! No doubt I will take a zillion new photos to paint. We are also staying on a vineyard in Verona...so more vineyard painting are to be expected, and of course I have to go to Lake Como to get some new painting ideas!

New Orleans Sound

Title: New Orleans Sound

Size: 12 x 16

Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

PAINTING:

This original oil is painted in vibrant colors of reds and cadmium yellows to exaggerate the evening glow and bold personality of New Orleans and it's Jazz music. I use thick palette knife textures, applying dark paint colors first and white and yellow highlights last. Palette knife musicians are added and highlighted in quick knife movements.

This painting is available on auction or contact me for purchase.

INSPIRATION:

We've visited New Orleans several times. Whenever we move, which is practically everyother year since my husband is military, and drive across the country to our new temporary home, we make sure New Orleans is one of our places to visit. I always take lots of pictures. It's a unique place with a unique history and charm and one of my favorite places in the South.

Little Rooster

Title: The Little Rooster
Size: 9 x 12
Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

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THE PAINTING:

This original oil will go on auction tonight. This painting is a thickly textured, vibrant oil painting, in rich greens, blues and reds. I worked the animals shape first using a knife and leanly applied dark colors, then applied thicker red and cobalt blue and white highlight colors. I spent some extra time on his little face for interesting detail.
Finally, I worked the tail feathers with a palette knife in shades of blue.
This little gem will look great in a cozy kitchen.

THE INSPIRATION:

I was recently asked by a local restaurant that I hang in, to paint more barnyard animals. They are a joy to paint and I have many photos of roosters from farms that I visited over the years. I think roosters are my favorite animal and certainly my favorite bird to paint because of all the color and personality of each.

A Park Stroll with the Dog

Title: A Park Stroll with the Dog
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: Oil on canvas

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THE PAINTING:
This original oil is painted richly textured in so many layers of oil I lost count. It's a brand new one, and was painted with Winsor Newton Artists oils and palette knife. I think as an artist I would frame this painting in either silver or a wide black frame, but it will hang without a frame as well. The composition developed slowly with background colors of cool colors, blues and greens. Then came horizontal layers applied with a knife in oils of warm colors to create a reflective path. From this layer came multiple highlight layers of color with a palette knife. The photo does not do it justice.

THE INSPIRATION:
We love our little Maggie dog and my husband and I walk the beautiful parks here in Virginia with her almost every night. I feel like we don't all always spend enough time together appreciating eachother so a little walk with the dog is always a good way to do that, especially on a beautiful early evening my moonlight.

Where the Sea Meets the Sky

THE PAINTING:
This original oil painting is painted lean to fat with cool blues and frosty white highlights, using a brush and palette knife. Some would say this is a "spiritual" painting because it shows mostly sky and I like to think so too. I hope this painting brings a sense of joy and peace to the viewer; it certainly was a joy to paint. This painting may be scheduled for auction.

Contact artist for purchase information.



THE INSPIRATION:
Last week my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding aniversary in the Dominican Republic. It was a much needed vacation and very relaxing. Here is a photo I took of my husband staring out at the open sea and sky, which we did for hours each day and evening. I love the smell and sound of the ocean and the feel of the salty sea breeze in my hair. These memories will inspire me to paint more sea scenes I'm sure of it.

Summer Sunflowers

THE PAINTING:

I never tire of painting sunflowers. I could paint them everyday and never become bored. The beauty and power of the simple Sunflower is a thrill to capture, especially alla-prima. I love the expressive, stuctural quality of this flower and it calls to be painted in vibrant color and descriptive texture. Even a still life like this one requires color to be used as a dominant tool, and I always cut flowers from my garden to arrange so I can work directly from life.

THE INSPIRATION:

This morning I went to a cute little art gallery that recently opened down the street to see if the owner wanted to display some of my work. She chose several but especially liked the Sunflower paintings so this one may or may not make it to auction.

I also volunteer in the local rose garden park down the street and next to it is a butterfly garden. Everyday when I walk my dog, Maggie, to the park and see those flowers, they inspire a new floral painting of some sort.

Lake Tahoe, CA

I stood in front of my eisel today with my mind set on creating a placid and peaceful Dominican Republic beach scene. I recently stayed at the Sun Village Resort on the island, and had thought this is where the experience would take me in my work.

However, during my stay at this relaxing resort, my young teenage daughters had been on their second visit to California without me. They had been camping in the Sierras at a U.C. Alumni camp called "The Lair of the Bear" near Lake Tahoe. Thinking of their stay, my beach scene was slowly transformed into a common view in the area - Lake Tahoe.

I grew up in small town on the Truckee River called Floriston. It was about 10 minutes from Truckee and 20 minutes from Tahoe City. This drew my family to Lake Tahoe constantly, like the sun to the horizon. We would go boating, swimming, and fishing on the water; all the while burning under the California sun.

I remember swimming in the ice-cold water with my younger brother and friends until my lips were blue and my teeth were chattering! We would run to the hot sand and roll in it (corn-dogging) to get warm again.

This bright, summer lake scene will be available for auction in about one week.