Girl On Fire

Girl On Fire

9x12, soft pastel

This morning I had beautiful music playing from an old CD called "Siesta"..relaxing guitar music filled the studio.  So, it was natural to select this subject for my painting.   A young girl dancing with all the attitude, poise and vitality of a professional.  I had so much fun painting her I was dancing too.  The lighting in the scene was remarkable...she actually glowed as though her skin was on fire.  Oh, to be young again!!! 

Bedtime Buddies

Bedtime Buddies

6x6, soft pastel

This little one is named Macy and she's seen here snuggling in with her little bedtime buddy.  Whenever I get to missing my Westie boys too much, I just have to paint a Westie! 

Fetch!

Fetch!

8x10, soft pastel

It's time to return to dogs...maybe the whole week...but then, I have a few more walls to paint in the house so we'll see.   In the meantime, I couldn't resist painting this guy, who sees to love both swimming and fetching. 

My Pal Jack

My Pal Jack

10x8, soft pastel

This is Jack...a good buddy of Scooter and Tubby's.  They met briefly in Florida when we were rv'ing one winter...they all became fast friends in the dog park...a popular place to hang out for dogs and humans alike!  Jack has a very special "mom and dad too"! 

Spilling Over

Spilling Over
8x6, soft pastel

This is a painting I started this summer while visiting my mom and sister (and her husband Al) but I didn't get to finish it. So, here's the finished piece.  The photo's a bit dark...but otherwise accurate.  This was a big pot of flowers outside the facility mom lived in.  I loved painting it especially because the flowers were spilling over the edge...love when that happens! 

Jack and Lucy

Jack and Lucy
9x12, soft pastel

This is Jack and Lucy.  Both have recently crossed over the proverbial "rainbow bridge" and are once again reunited.   I imagine they are running free on the beach together as they were on this particular day.  They hold a very special place in the heart of their human "mom".  I hope you like it Deb! 

I'm always torn between painting realistically (as in photo-realism) vs a more impressionistic style ....so I end up landing somewhere in the middle.  I don't want to paint each and every detail of a subject making it look too much like a photograph but I strive to add an artistic twist to the painting.  It's an ever challenging process!  

Morning Walk

Morning Walk

6x12, soft pastel 

The thing I like most about this scene is how the sky reflects the colors present in the waters.  Of course I had to throw in a couple dogs walking (which really weren't there when I took this shot). I'm a sucker for a dog walking (or romping) on the beach.  I think it's their favorite place to go.