Paris

We made it to Paris and are having a wonderful time. There has been a lovely rainy drizzle since we arrived which I think is perfect. You know I love to paint a rainy Paris scene. Here I am in front of the Arc de Triumph!

Everything is beautiful and so impressive. We did the whirlwind tour of Paris. Highlights were Notre Dame, the Louvre and of course the Eiffel Tower, where I attemped to ride to the top but chickened out and only went half way up. My favorite part of Paris is MontMartre and I'll definitely be painting some very inspired paintings when I get back in a week!

Sailing High Seas

Title: Sailing High Seas
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

SOLD

I painted this dynamic piece with movement and energy. Thick and vibrant oils with palette knife....four different shades of blues and greens and thick whitecaps loaded with power and emotion. I hope you enjoy!

Title: Echinacea Flowers
Size: 9 x 12
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
This painting is SOLD

Painted thick and chunky...a bit of summer color on canvas. One of my favorite perenialls because of their big beautiful coneflowers that bloom almost all summer and they seem to get bigger each year! The butterflies love them too!

New Orleans French Quarter Color

SOLD

Title: New Orleans French Quarter Color

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

THE PAINTING:

Many layers with a palette knife, sculpted and scraped giving this painting rich textural color that only can be achieved with palette knife and oils of the best quality. New Orleans to me needs to be painted colorful and whimsical and memories of this unique, charismatic place just make me smile while I paint away. Cad reds and indian yellows play against the teal blues and add strong notes of color, while subtle details add character and interest to this piece. I hope you enjoy!

Going on eBay auction tonight.

Paris City of Light

SOLD

Title: Paris City of Light

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Size: 16 x 20

ABOUT THE PAINTING:

In this painting I focused on color and the feeling of light. Beautiful color notes and dappled warm and cool light on the street and buildings appeal to me. I used yellow ochre, Ultramarine blue, Alizarin Crimson and Manganese blue and white to obtain a full spectrum of harmonious colors.

This painting is all about Paris and the way this unique city captivates the imagination of world travelers for centuries. Friday we will be flying straight to Paris so my blogs next week will become sporatic at best. But when I get a chance, I'll post some of my new Paris snapshots from Paris!

Provence Sunflower Panorama

SOLD

Title: Provence Sunflower Panorama

Size: 12 x 24

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

Going on eBay auction tonight for a great low price!

ABOUT THE PAINTING:

This is my new favorite canvas size. I really like an elongated landscape and this one used brush and palette knife, and is very painterly and expressive. I captured the feel of the warm sun and light in the distance with the warm sunflowers in the forground and the colors get cooler and cooler as you move into the distance from greens to lavenders and blues. It looks fantastic in one of my black or gold plein air frames or even an ornate gold. It too has a 3-D effect because of the thick, chunky paint I love to apply like rich butter.

I'm getting ready to go to France and the Cottwalds (England) where I hope to see some beautiful gardens! I'm also ready for warm weather so I think I was just in the mood for a Sunflower landscape!

Little Rooster with Big Attitude

Title: Little Rooster with Big Attitude
Size: 9x12
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

This painting will go on eBay auction tonight! Painted one more little rooster in extra thick paint with bold colors to match his little personality! I used permanent rose and cadmium reds on him so he's extra brilliant!

Santa Barbara Coast

Title: Santa Barbara Coast

Size: 24 x 36

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This is available for purchase and is one of my favorites. The California coast is so beautiful and one of my favorite things both to look at and paint! This painting has been hanging in my home for awhile now because I didn't want to part with it. I am getting ready for a big move across the country so am downsizing quite a bit. I will be happy to sell it to the right person so it gets a great new home! It is offered unframed. Click to enlarge...it has lots of gorgeous brushwork and deep layers of color. Contact me and make me an offer...I'll consider it carefully!

It's raining and I still haven't packed but am mentally prepared for my vacation. I painted a lovely landscape today that I will post in April....it needs plenty of time to dry.

Water Lillies

Title: Water Lillies
Size: 18 x 24
Medium: oil on canvas....offered framed in antiqued frame shown.
ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
This painting is offered to my blog readers only....I won't be putting it on eBay just yet. I've been working on this one for quite awhile and is one of my favorites because of all the great layers of color and interesting texture creating the water reflections. It does have staples in the sides of the canvas rather than the back so it needs to be framed and this frame I hand painted in an antique gold on black base. It's for sale through my blog for $199 framed and delivered....just email to pay by check or paypal! (It's a steal)
Below are some close-up zooms so you can see the detail and you can click any image to enlarge.

I'm offering some of my favorite paintings on my blog only! I hope to hear from you.

We are getting ready for our European vacation for Spring break. Five days to go until we are up in the air and I still need to pack!

My Red Shoes

Title: My Red Shoes
Size: 9 x 12
Medium: oil on canvas

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Every girl has a favorite pair of shoes and there's just something about sexy red heels. I'm not always a fan of wearing high shoes like these (pain) but there is something sculpural and beautiful about them. I used a brush and a palette knife so there's lots of lovely texture and broken color, cool on warm and deep cad reds make is a stand out piece. This one my seventeen year old wants and does not wish to part with; it is about to hang in her room in a modern black frame. I don't think I'll list it on eBay yet. You're welcome to contact me for purchase information.

We had a fantastic Spring day today and I hope you all are enjoying nice weather as well! tomorrow I pack for Paris!

Cafe au Lait

SOLD
Title: Cafe au Lait
Size: Framed 11 x 14
Medium: oil on canvas
This painting sold this month in Cassatt's after hanging for 2 days! Contact me for a commission like this one. I LOVE my coffee!!!

Tuscany Villa

click on images to enlarge...

Tuscany Villa Morning Light

12 x 16 on archival quality raymar panel (offered framed as is or unframed)

Medium: Oil

Contact me for purchase information

Tuscany Villa Afternoon Light

12 x 16 Oil painted on archival quality raymar panel

Offered framed or unframed.

Contact me for purchase information

These are two of my favorite paintings. I've been using them as business card images and are now offered for sale through my blog!

Donation and Red Tulips

Tuscany Villa
Oil on raymar panel framed in ornate gold and linen liner
12 x 16 sized painting
ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
Tuscany Villa is one of the paintings that will be auctioned off at a charity live art auction in DC called PawCasso......for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. I'm thrilled to be a part of this great event.
The painting was painted plein air, on location, and finished in the studio. It is a beautiful piece with both brush and palette knife work. I have several others since this was part of a series and actually love it so much, I use it on my business cards....check back tomorrow for images of more Tuscany villa paintings that will be for sale from my blog!

Red Tulips for Spring
oil
9 x 12

This painting is sold.....it sold on before I could even list it! I guess Spring is in the air!

Recent Commissions

30 x 40
Painted on Commission
Oil


24 x 30

Painted on Commission

Oil

Feel free to contact me for a commission I can paint for you!

I am leaving in less than 10 days for Europe so I have no auction listings to post. Instead this week I will post some commissions I've recently completed and some past works that will be for sale on my blog!

I'm getting ready to fly to Paris and then off to England. You can expect many fantastic paintings inspired by my trip when I return. A couple times a year I need fresh inspirations and traveling is one of my other passions. I'm very excited about this trip! More details to come.

Italy Vineyard Glow

This painting was an inpiration from my last trip to Italy. Sort of a culmination of many images of this vineyard in my mind. I took hundreds of photos.....here are a couple.....and the vineyard was beautiful. We stayed at Musella vineyard for 3 nights so I could photograph, do some pochades (small on site painting studies) and of course do some wine tasting!!!!

Title: Italy Vineyard Glow

Size: 24 x 30

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

available on eBay auction starting tonight!

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

I look for awhile at my photos and draw out the composition, then I put the photos away and paint. I paint from my memory, which is much more colorful than my photos. I don't look at photos for color; they tend to be greyed down and flat, but they capture the perspective of the vines, the rolling hills and form of buildings and trees. Once the sketch is done, the fun begins with layers of rich oil color, working dark to light and lean to fat as in my plein air style. I love a great vineyard a glass of a great red wine...devine.

Cat King

Title: The Lure of Fly Fishing
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
SOLD

Title: Cat King
Size: 9 x 12
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
SOLD

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
If you want to be a happy artist, just paint a cat! They are so much fun to paint. This one has quite an inspiration. I had a wonderful black cat and he was just regal. He knew we were just here to serve him and that we adored him. He was a large feral cat eating rabbits out of my yard in Florida when we adopted him. He was one of the greats!
Thanks for checking in!

La Femme juried art show.

SOLD at gallery reception!
Here are my three latest musically inspired creations....I listen to my baroque classical music while I paint! Click to enlarge and you will see this first one has actual music varnished into the piece!

Title: Violin Inspiration
Size: 12 x 16
Medium: oil and mixed media on canvas
Contact me for purchase or see painting at the Arlington Arts Gallery next week!

THIS NEXT PAINTING JUST WON AN AWARD!
SOLD
Title: Rhapsody
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: oil on canvas
This painting just won 3rd place in juried art show titled: La Femme as part of the Minds Wide Open competition. The show will hang in Cassatt's next month in Arlington where this painting will be available for purchase! Let me know if you would like an invitation to the reception!


And last but not least is listed for my blog viewers and eBay collectors exclusively......
SOLD

Title: Violin Seduction
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
It's all about romance in this passionate painting and you can practically hear the music when viewing this peice. I enjoy painting with strong movement and color and I hope you check out my auction for more details on this painting!

Southern Light

Title: Southern Light
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched linen

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
This painting is actually right now hanging on the showroom floor of the Arlington Art Gallery, but I will pull it if it gets a bid and will be going on eBay auction tonight! Painted with great textures and subtle yet expressive brushwork, it captures the feeling of southern charm. When we lived in Alabama, it was part of series of church paintings and is one of my favorites! I painted it plein air, on location, and then finished it up in the studio.
Hope you enjoy......it will be a 7 day auction and then hopefully find a deserving home!

Vibrant Roses

Title: Vibrant Roses
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
This richly textured oil painting uses lots of red and warm burnt umber and orange color values. The very cool blue glass vase against all the warmth makes the colors appear even brighter and I just love this juxtaposition of color. I've been gardening for days and pruning my roses for spring bloom which inspired this palette knife piece.
Will go on eBay tonight. I'm finishing up several commissions right now and I always welcome more!

Fall Forest Splendor

Title: Fall Forest Splendor
Size: 24 x 30
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Another beautiful spring-like day! My passion for nature and the outdoors often makes me want to try to capture the beauty as in this painting. Here I try to convey a sense of peace and tranquility and the quiet strength of the forest. I love to paint with both brushes and knives because both techniques are required to generate the textures and details that make my unique style. My favorite painting is the one that is currently on the easel. Whatever it happens to be I am working on, the joy comes from creation.
Thanks for checking my post and you can find this painting on eBay tonight at a ridiculously low price!

Unruly Pony

Title: Unruly Pony
Size: 11 x 14
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD

THE PAINTING:
I just got this one back from a fauvism juried show! Lots of gorgeous buttery oils laid thick with a palette knife in vibrant colors. Lots of movement and energy from this painting!

My definitive style of expressionism-impressionism evolved from my experience, passion, love of life and art and the beauty is offers. My art is my means of communication with the world in an exaggerated style that often focuses on the intensity of color, like in this painting.
I would love to keep painting forever, or at least as long as I can! I hope you enjoy and thanks for checking in!

Royal Rooster

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD

Title: Royal Rooster

Size: 16 x 20

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

See eBay for purchase!

THE PAINTING:

A few collectors have asked for larger roosters so here is a beauty! This one has great close ups of unbelievable textures and multiple layers of brush and knife color. Like each rooster I paint, he seems to have his own proud personality and charm.

We had another beautiful spring like day today and after I finished painting I layed a mountain of mulch in all my beds (about 45 wheel barrel loads) and now it all the daylillies and buds on my perenials are looking fresh and happy to see the sun....me too....but exhausted! Tommorrow I think I'll paint a pony!

Italy Vineyard Blush

Title: Italy Vineyard Blush
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas
Size: 20 x 24

THIS PAINTING:
This original oil has lovely layers of warm color: ochers and red/oranges, deep greens and cool blue skies. What is more beautiful and alive than a vineyard and rolling hills of color?

I felt the sun on my face for the first time in months today so I'm in the mood for painting some colorful sunny landscapes! We are finally are feeling the Spring weather here in Virginia! My mulch is delivered tomorrow and I will finish getting my beds ready for Spring growth.

I hope you click in to enlarge this painting and check out my eBay auction for purchase and more details....thanks for looking!

Central Park New York Reflections

SOLD

Title: Central Park New York Reflections

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THE PAINTING: This is palette knife and oil and lots of it! I used Cad reds, winsor yellows and blues. I again played with the cool against the warm colors and it has great texture and detail. Brilliant colors spreading across the canvas bringing a sense of the powerful energy of New York.

Click to enlarge and check out my eBay auction tonight for more close-ups. Hope you visit again soon for more previews of what's to come!

Portofino Italy Views

SOLD

Title: Portofino Italy Views

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Will be available on eBay tonight!

THE PAINTING:

This painting is rich with deep oil colors and colorful memories. Italy is a very romantic and inspiring country and Porofino is gorgeous. I used both a brush and a knife so it is a textural painting but doesn't lack any detail. Impressionistic and painterly....I hope you enjoy it!

ART THOUGHTS:

I was recently talking with Gallerie Severn's owner, Fred, and he said some things I totally agree with. A person should choose a piece of art because they love it. He is right. Don't worry so much about if it's the right shade of red or the right shade of green for your wall color, if you love it, it will bring light and life to your space. Wall color can always be changed and it's actually fun to see how the art looks on different wall colors! Art is punctuation, defines and adds impact to a room, and can create a cozy sense of home! I hope you find a piece that becomes a part of your family collection!

Red Roses

SUMMER ECHINACEA

This is a sweet little 9x12
oil on stretched canvas
contact me for purchase by paypal or check



SOLD

RED ROSES

20 x 24 oil on canvas

Available on eBay auction tonight!

THIS PAINTING: I have a lovely new blue I'm in love with....it's a teal, tourquoise color and it contrasts beautifully with the red. If you like the Jpeg, you will really like it in person. The photo does not do justice. Lots of palette knife texture and expression in rich thick buttery oils. Click to enlarge!

Hopefully Spring is not far away.....I'm tired of cold and ready for some heat!!!!

Rocking Red Rooster

SOLD
Key Bridge Reflections
9 x 12 oil on linen

This was one of my favorite Key Bridge paintings
I hang art in a little restaurant in Arlington called Cassatt's and I try to paint
local scenes like the Key Bridge and roosters to hang there as often as
possible. They sell almost as fast as I hang them up.

This little rooster painting I reserved for eBay! I know it will fly off the wall in Cassatt's but I wanted to offer it to my eBay collectors first!

Title: Rocking Red Rooster
8 x 10 oil on stretched canvas

Very tactile and textural, as are all my roosters. I have a glowy red underpainting on this one, and he has lots of expressive palette knife and brushwork. He will look fabulous on a little kitchen wall!
I try to post a painting or two to my blog everyday and sometimes interesting travel photos. Please visit as often as you like to see what is on my easel for the day and remember to click on any image to see it larger!
Thanks for checking in!

Poppies in the Wind

A 24x30 commission that I recently finished
I was pleased to have another happy collector!


SOLD
Title: Poppies in the Wind
Size: 24 x 30
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THIS PAINTING:
Photo does not at all do justice to this one, it is so much more in person. I shipped one of my favorite poppy paintings, "Poppy Dance" off to the Galerie Severn today so of course I needed a replacement! It is larger and I used a bit more cadmium red and less bright red. Like my other poppy paintings, it has lots of texture and many layers of broken color. I used some teal colors toward the back which helps set off the reds. Rich, red poppies make a great focal point piece of art in a room, and this one is large enough to really impress! Thanks for checking in!