Running Wild

I didn't have a functioning laptop in New York this weekend so here is my first post from the long weekend! I'm exhausted but had a blast in the city. Here are a couple snapshots of my favorite carriages and one of Times Square. So much fun and so much to see!

We saw Jersey Boys which I highly recommend and my whole family loved and road bikes all over Central Park so I have so many great photos and wonderful memories. We were lucky and the weather was perfect! How often does that happen?

Title: Bellagio Italy Twilight

Size: 16 x 20

Medium: oil on canvas One of my favorite Bellagio oil paintings and it's on eBay now for a steal and no reserve. I love this place so it's another one that is fun to paint with lots of texture and color. It's painterly, romantic and wonderful!

SOLD
Title: Running Wild

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Energy, movement and the power of these great animals. My palette knife was the driving force behind this one and a lot of thick paint. Strong color and strength in this piece!

Birch Tree Splendor

Here are a few photos of two of my favorite landscape paintings that were recently purchased from a great couple, (Thank you Ann and Vic!) and I love how they look in their home so I wanted to share. She chose a gold frame for each with linen liner and hung them at eye level and not only do the frames enhance the artwork beautifully but they look great with her decor as well!

Title: Birch Tree Splendor
Size: 9 x 12
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD

THE PAINTING:
I realize not everybody has huge walls and sweet little paintings like this one fit just about anywhere, turning a plain boring little space into a focal point. Teals, blues, greens and golds in the background and the black and white textured trunks in the foreground will want to make you reach out and touch them! Click to enlarge to see!
Storms:
We had a big thunder storm last night and I just love when the skies open up and make that amazing noise. Maggie the dog hides under the bed.

Large Vineyard Commission and Provence Sunflowers

Title: Provence Summer Sunflowers
Size: 12x24
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD

PAINTING: Painted in my brush and palette knife technique with many layers of broken color and great textures. Click on the image to enlarge for close-ups. A sunny, vibrant painting overflowing with flowers!


This is the first layer of paint on this very large 36 x48 commission I've been busy working on. I started by laying in rather abstract shapes of vines, hills and trees in a wash of red and green undertones.

Next I mass in the trees and shapes with thin paint. The mass colors are a warmer green and I try to cover all the canvas in color at this point,leaving little white showing.

I work all over the canvas at once, painting cooler colors in the background and warmer in the front to bring depth. I use a lot of palette knife in this stage in order to keep my colors clean and to generate texture so the painting will be bright and sunny. The dark trees contrast with the airy quality of light on the background.
After this paint sets for awhile, at least a week, I will come back with lots of glazing, adding golds, yellows and warm reds in the forground and some details by carving into the vines with negative shapes. I also have more glazing to do in the background with my cooler colors and the building to finish. More to come in about a week!

London Rainy Memories

Title: Jazzy New Orleans Glow
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
Available for purchase....click to enlarge image and see great detail!!
Many layers of palette knife and brush work make this piece a unique, stand out work of art.
My thoughts are with the people of this great place everyday!!

Another one you might enjoy.......

Title: London Rainy Memories

Size: 16 x 20

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

See tonights auction for more details! Contact me for purchase or purchase through eBay.

PAINTING: I reworked this oil, painted from some of my snapshots on my last London trip. One more layer of color and a bit more detail and now it really glows. Click to enlarge and see the fantastic broken color, texture and vibrant glow of this London memory.

Summer Flowers Garden Series

Blue Hydrangeas painted from my garden to the canvas!

SOLD!!!
Title: Roses Overflow

Sizes: 9 x 12 on gallery wrapped stretched canvas

Both of these are available for purchase from me and are part of my new garden series. I am working on many smaller flower paintings available for purchase on my blog.

Inspired by all the flowers in my garden which is a labor of love, and painted in thick chunky palette knife for a unique 3-D effect!

Birch Tree Lovers

Title: Birch Tree Lovers
Size: 12 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
THE PAINTING:
I love these trees and they look like they belong together hence the title. I once again pushed my color and texture on this one and it has great presence and energy because of it. This will go on auction tonight!
The Day:
Today, imbetween painting, I had lunch with a friend in old town Alexandria and it is so beautiful there. I went by the Torpedo Factory and talked to some artists friends of mine in their studios. It's always fun and inspiring to talk to other artists about their work and see their spaces. I'm getting ready for a big move....about a month to go. Everything will go with me and the first thing I will unpack will be my paint!!!!

Magestic Ancient Tree

Title: Magestic Ancient Tree

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THE PAINTING:

Real thick paint dragged, layered and pulled across the canvas, carving out the shape of the old tree like a sculpture on the canvas. I wanted a modern, extra textured look on this piece, giving the old tree the rich character it deserves in deep colors and vibrant oils. Click on image to enlarge for a better look at the amazing textures.

Going on auction tonight. Some of my paintings have reserves, and the reserve price is always somewhere at the end of the title. I hope all of them end up in a good home.

My Favorite Red Shoes

SOLD

Title : My Favorite Red Shoes

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Size: 9x12

A sweet, whimsical oil. A portrait of shoes, just for fun. I have a bit of a shoe "thing", like many women. It's really hard to pass up an adorable pair. Like a work of sculpture, a new pair that fit just right, is a beautiful thing. Have a great weekend!

Venice Reflections

If you are an artist and you've been to Venice....you have to paint it. It is irresistable! Fantastic old buildings and reflective canals. Unbelievable really.

Title: Venice Reflections SOLD

Size: 16 x20

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Painted thick and chunky with my favorite knife and LOTS of rich buttery oils. Venice has charm and unique character in every little canal and every part of the very small city. It's just a joy to walk around and get lost in all the little alley ways or sip some chianti at a quaint vino bar and watch the gondolas go by.
One of my favorite Venice paintings to date!

Faces of the City, Manhattan Reflections

Title: Faces of the City

Size: 16 x 20

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Going on auction tonight!

PAINTING: Inspired of course by my frequent visits to the "city"...I love it and am getting psyched about going back in a few weeks for a little visit. There is no place like it and I love to paint it in bright colors and rich textures with the rich buttery oils and my knife. The thick paint captures the energy and buzz of Manhattan.

Abstract Grizzly Bear

This is an extremely large: 36 x 48 commission I just started about a week ago of an Italian Vineyard. Tomorrow I will continue adding my cooler greys to the background mountain area and warm up my forground with golds and warmer greens. I have about three layers of paint to go! Today I blocked in the darker colors using mostly brush and a bit of knife.

This painting is SOLD

12 x 16

Title: Abstract Grizzly

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Having a blast with bold fauvism color and my favorite palette knife. This painting is exploding with passionate powerful color and the strong aura of the Bear!

Vineyard Beginning to Turn

Musella vineyard Italy...so pretty and a constant inspiration for my Italy vineyard paintings. This photo shows the silvery olive orchard. I love Italy!

This paining is SOLD

Title: Beginning to Turn

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

I painted it lean to fat with the texture and dark to light with the color. It's got lots of painterly texture and color and I love it in a black or gold frame although it hangs without just fine. I 'm working on a very large Italy vineyard commission right now, 36 x 48. I'll attach some photos next time. I only have about a month until we move so I hope to get it finished in the next few weeks. It might be fun for some of you to see the progression of it.

Forest and Stream Tapestry of Color

Title: Forest and Stream Tapestry of Color

Size: large 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched gallery wrapped canvas

PAINTING:

Click to enlarge if you would like to see why I call this "tapestry of color". True to impressionism, up close, my work is a like a weaving of many colors, like intricate threads they come together and from far away you see the image. I have to like the painting both up close, including the texture, and from far away, so I developed this method of layering wet upon dry paint and then wet upon wet to get a real impressionistic, painterly look. I hope you enjoy it's rich color and texture as much as I enjoyed painting it!

Goes on auction tonight...don't miss it!

New Orleans French Quarter Evening

Title: New Orleans French Quarter Evening

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

PAINTING:

Love this one, partly because I am heartsick about the oil spill in the gulf and so worried about the effects on New Orleans and elsewhere. This painting has great whimsy and bright color and of course lots of texture. You can click to enlarge to see some detail and it will be on auction tonight.

Painted in honor of all my great New Orleans collectors and friends....I wish you well.

Venice Summer Light

Title: Venice Summer Light
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
THE PAINTING:
A blend of abstract expressionism and realism and of course the play of light and color make this a stand out piece! If you haven't been to Venice...it is a must see. There is no place quite like it in the world and I could paint it over and over and never get tired of painting this lovely place. This is one of my favorite ones to date because of the colors and great textures....lovely morning light. Reflections in water are always a challenge to paint and you know I love a challenge!
On auction tonight!

Elegance of Summer Roses

Title: Elegance of Summer Roses
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
Inspired by the blooming roses in my garden. One of my favorite things to do is go select flowers to cut and arrange in a vase to paint. Roses are one of my favorites, especially if they are fragrant. This oil painting is deep with color and texture and has both fine brush work and impasto palette knife work. I love to layer the colors to create bolder blooms and a bit of brush work adds a softer quality rich in color and depth.
See my auction tonight for purchase!

Rocking Rooster

SOLD

Title: Rocking Rooster

Size: 9 x 12

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

PAINTING: Expressive palette knife and character to this bird. I love to try to see the individual personality of each animal and bring it to life on the canvas. A bit of teal and gold in his feathers and he is rocking! This painting is small enough to fit just about anywhere and sides are painted so it looks great as is!

Just 44 days until we move!

Romance of Paris Spring Rain

Here are some great photos from my recent Paris trip. We loved stopping and looking at the flower stands that seemed to be more beautiful than they are anywhere else. We also took the metro everywhere to see the sights....

Here I am with Mike.....I loved Paris and we had a great time. I have a hundred images I want to paint but here is one of them.....

Title: Romance of Paris Spring Rain SOLD!!!

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

A creation from my many memories and my imagination. I hope it inspires you!

Summer Stroll

Title: Summer Stroll
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
Size: 20 x 24
ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
Beautiful strokes of rich thick Winsor Newton Artist Oils in swirls of chunky texture and luminous color. A free flowing expression of my joy of the outdoors and love of vibrant landscapes. Check it out on auction tonight.
Hope all the mother's have a great day today!!!

Morning Sunflowers and Early Bird

Title: Morning Sunflowers and Early Bird

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched gallery wrapped canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This is beauty and has loads of super thick, chunky paint with reach out and touch texture! Every inch of this painting was fun to paint, especially because of the excellent quality of my oil paints. I hope he finds a good home!

Going on auction tonight.

NEWS:

Tonight is my last local gallery reception! Just finished hanging the show and it looks great! I hope to meet some of my collectors tonight!

I just double checked on my calendar and it looks to me like I have 33 more days to paint in oils before the big move.

Tropical Paradise

Title: Tropical Paradise

Size: 16 x 20

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

I love warm sandy beaches and big surf. Lots of movement and you can almost feel the ocean breeze! There are many layers of broken colors and rich expressive brushwork in this piece.

SOLD

If you live near by, come by our local gallery...Arlington Arts Gallery is having a reception tomorrow 5 - 8. Hope to see some of you there!

Red Tulips

The Iris in my yard are in full Bloom! I promise to paint them soon!

Azaleas are just finishing their peak bloom near the door on my patio, surrounded by hostas....so beautiful. Our landscape in Las Vegas will look so bleak in comparison I'm sure! Maybe I will cultivate a great cactus garden, never can tell. I am going to miss this garden though!

We have about seven weeks until we move....50 days actually. I'm starting the count down now. Only one more month of painting, at least painting in oil. In the month of June I will probably just work in acrylic because the oils need many weeks to dry. After we move, I'll switch back to oil. I think I would have serious withdrawals if I stop painting totally!

SOLD at Arlington Arts Gallery

Title: Red Tulips

Size: 12 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

I love the rich colors in this Spring Painting! Thick cad reds and golds with just touches of teals and blues....my favorite.

Windswept Dancer

SOLD

Title: Windswept Dancer

Size 20 x 24

Medium: oil on streteched gallery wrapped canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

My goal here was movement and energy. I used extreme textures and many layers of oils to achieve the final result...an explosion of motion through color and form. I love dance and it's so much fun to paint movement in this uniquely impressionistic style. I used both brush and palette knife and lots of time! I hope you enjoy it.

New Orleans Corner Detail

Title: New Orleans Corner Detail
Size: 12 x 16
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
Sorry this post is so late....busy, busy day! This one goes on auction tonight and it has fantastic color, whimsical expression, and great texture. It is another one of my "a little bit tipsy" New Orleans perspectives and I think it is a lot of fun! Hope you enjoy it too. I love the cobalt teal against the cadmium red....it jumps out at you!

Wild Abstract Horses

Title: Wild Abstract Horses
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
I love the energy and colors in this dramatic abstract, and the way the horses emerge from the thick drags of my palette knife in rich buttery oils! Brilliant color and lots of movement in this spontanious original oil.
SOLD

Colors of Rain

Last Night we went out to dinner on the water in Georgetown and the weather was fantastic so we ate outside. Look at this spectacular sunset over the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It's hard to see because of the backlight, but this bridge, which I've painted dozens of times, is I believe, one of the most beautiful bridges in the world, and always an inspiration!

Title: Colors of Rain

Size: 16 x 20

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This is how my mind works when I paint....I merge many memories and experiences into one painting....free and expressive. This painting is explosive with color and energy and I love it as much as I loved to paint it. Lots of my new cobalt teal color and rich thick palette knife paint!

Going on auction tonight!

The Glow of City Rain

Title: The Glow of City Rain
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
Going on eBay auction tonight!
This painting to me really is not a specific place, but a cityscape from my imagination and from my memories of my recent trip to Paris and London. It rained a lot while we were there, but I didn't mind a bit because it made everything seem to glow that much more, especially at night. To emphasize these evening glow of the lights, I used heavy contrasts of light and dark colors, with both brush and palette knife, highlighting the reflective lights with heavier paint and pops of cobalt teal. Thanks so much for checking in and I hope you enjoy!