Sailboat 4 - Wind Song

Wind Song

6x6, oil

Wind Song, a windy sail along the shoreline.

Sailboat 3 - A Sailor’s Joy

A Sailor’s Joy

6x6, oil

A Sailor’s Joy, a beautiful sunset sail.

Sailboat 2 - Gray Dawn Breaking

Gray Dawn Breaking

6x6, oil

Gray Dawn Breaking is the second in a series of boats...this one, an early morning sail on a very foggy morning. I love the subtle lavender mist. The image is a bit speckled from light hitting the oil paint...I’m going to have to practice a little more taking photos of wet paint.

Brass Bird on a Pot

Brass Bird on a Pot

6x6, soft pastel

This little guy travelled with me to the local greenhouse for a bit of “Plein air” painting during January.  I placed him on an upside down flower pot in between a few other pots of bright pink flowers where he rested quietly until I was finished. Plein air isn’t necessarily my bag...but it was great fun and good practice painting outside the studio. 

Little Cutie

Little Cutie

9x12, soft pastel

I told myself there was no way I was going to do a 31 day challenge after my marathon month of painting in December...but, I’d already sketched this one, so what the heck.  Maybe I can achieve 15 in 31. This challenge is for the full 31 days of January sponsored by Strada Easel.  Here goes.

Work In Progress - part 2

Work In Progress - Part 2

I’m thankful for the winter months when I can typically paint all day long and not feel I’m missing out on anything. Although I must say, Benny can only handle so much painting until he gives me those pathetic looks.  At first, I only hear a ball drop...then silence for a good long time. So...I keep on painting.  It’s the second ball drop that gets my attention.  I slowly look up...into “those eyes” that say “ok ma, ENOUGH...let’s go play”.

Iron and Wool

Iron and Wool

12x12, soft pastel

This is a second still life painting of the old cast iron kettle and wool rug I recently purchased.  I just love all the textures and placed them on a wooden table in my living room against a textured wall.  I'm enjoying this little series.  It reminds me of the resilience of items from the past. These things weren't "throw away" household items but stood up to all kinds of use and abuse over the years. Resilient and strong...reminding me of the pioneering spirit of days gone by.

Eat Your Veggies

Eat Your Veggies

14x11, soft pastel

What can I say, when kids or grandkids go off to college we all want to impart cautionary wisdom. Don't party too much, don't drink and drive, study hard, make good decisions, keep an eye on your goals and your grades.  But in the end, all I can come up with is: "stay healthy and eat your veggies".

Late Summer Blooms

Summer Blooms

10x10, soft pastel

I don't paint a lot of plein air (outdoor) paintings but this little jar of late summer blooms were begging to be painted.  They were on my deck poised on top of a quilt my daughter made for me...a special little vignette.

Table For Two - The Gift

Table For Two

The Gift

12x12, soft pastel

This table for two is a familiar scene...previously painted in various sizes.  I always plan on keeping one painting for my dining room wall...but then it sells and I'm once again motivated to paint it again.  I changed it up a bit this time adding a bar and patrons in the background...a small gift on the table.   Hmmm, is someone about to propose?  One can only wonder. 

Sophie The Goldendoodle

Sophie The Goldendoodle

9x9, soft pastel

Sophie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge recently...so this is a piece for her "mom" to help ease the huge loss she's surely feeling. All I really know about Sophie is that she was constantly getting into the trees and shrubs in the yard (something our little Benny is very talented at doing too).  This is a favorite image of her mom's because she had that look that all little "kids" have when they know they may be in trouble...but they just couldn't help themselves.  A beautiful sweet Goldendoodle! Of course this means I will need to paint Bennington...maybe some day soon.

Variegated Poinsettia

Variegated Poinsettia

6x6, soft pastel

May your holidays be as bright as this wildly colored poinsettia!

Kay's Bird

Kay's Bird

10x8, soft pastel

A little tribute to my mother-in-law who left us far too soon.  I have fond memories of her picking out this little ceramic bird. She displayed three of them in her kitchen window for many years...a great reminder to me of the time we spent together.  The sunflowers certainly take center stage in this painting with the drama of the late evening sun highlighting their petals...but the tiny bird is there as my muse.  A sweet reminder of a wonderful lady.

Riding The Wave

Riding The Wave

16x20, soft pastel

Another boat/kayak piece that "missed the blogging boat" last spring.  This scene is a familiar one (in Cascade, Idaho) where there's always several kayakers to watch as they teach or compete at the Kelly Whitewater Park. If you're ever driving up Hwy. 55 be sure and stop by to watch...it's mesmerizing! 

Below The Foothills

Below The Foothills

6x6, oil on board

A second oil painting that somehow missed the Blog last spring....too many art shows and not enough time, ha!   

This piece is one of a handful of oil paintings I've done this year.  I'm really enjoying oil painting...but the cleanup, drying time and varnishing adds much more precious time to the process.  I will plan on doing more pieces though because I love the challenge of a new (to me) medium...oh, to be young again!  I wish I had a whole life ahead of me to explore...but then none of us know just how long we have here on earth, so I'm content to fit it into my life now while I have the passion to do so.  

Payne's Boats

Payne's Boats

6x6, soft pastel

Edgar Payne was born in Washburn, Missouri in 1882 and lived and worked as an artist until his death in 1947.  He is considered one of America's leading Impressionistic landscape artists painting in the plein air fashion (painting outdoors).  

Because I have such a challenge in controlling color, I was drawn to his colorful marine scenes packed full of vibrant colors and a very loose style...so, here is a small marine scene, not a copy but inspired by one of his pieces. I just love painting boats and water...is it because I grew up along the Mississippi River?  I don't know.  I would have to say though, my current passion is centered around boats, water and fishing flies.  Can't get enough!

Daybreak Dining

Daybreak Dining

10x8, soft pastel

This little vignette is from my mini-retreat to Cascade.  While there I found an interesting You Tube art video on Pierre Bonnard. Mr. Bonnard was a French painter and a founding member of the Post-Impressionsits group of avant-garde painters Les Nabis. His scenes were often colorful intimate scenes of interiors where empty spaces played a big part in his composition and the items appear to be randomly paced, yet work together.  

Pears On The Block

Pears On The Block

6x6, soft pastel

After so much time off this summer to train a new puppy (someday I'll paint him),  I went to Cascade for a couple days to just paint.  Being a fine art artist is like being a performing artist, if you don't use it...you lose it.  With that thought in mind and knowing I only painted a handful of pieces this past summer, I had low expectations.  It was simply to practice..but I must say, I had a blast. On this particular morning I simply painted what I would soon devour.  These two pears were super ripe...and super sweet.  The memory of their sweetness remains.  Yum!

English Roses

English Roses

8x6, oil on linen board

During October I took an online course from the ever talented Dennis Perin. Dennis is so very talented at capturing the light in oil and is an excellent instructor (check it out at www.theperrinmethod.com).  

One thing I really enjoy is to paint a piece in oil and then soft pastel or vice versa.  Above is my oil piece and below you'll find my soft pastel piece. Do you have a favorite?  I'm just not sure which one I like over the other. That's the funny thing about being the artist...it's tough to be objective. Also, we're typically super critical of our work. After three and a half years of painting, I'm getting better at quieting down that critical voice in my head and just letting things be. That said, I'm still very much in pursuit of my masterpiece.  Will it ever materialize?

English Roses

8x6, soft pastel

Fresh Bloom

Fresh Bloom

8x6, soft pastel

A lighter view of a poinsettia bloom than the previous "Holiday Reds". This one reminds me of springtime for some reason...I think it's the variety of greens.  The paper I'm using for both poinsettia paintings is Pastel Premier.  It's not the paper I typically use and I'm not sure how I feel about it...it doesn't alway want to grab onto the pastel which then requires stronger mark making...so, I went with it and just shot for a little more punch to my strokes.  I'm tempted to try this one again on a different paper.