Thursday, December 31, 2009

"Illumination"

"Illumination"
oil on board, 8x8"
$150 plus $10 shipping

In the darkness of night on the last day of this year, I thought it appropriate to paint light. My representation is a nightlight. It may be small and  yet it can be so comforting to get through to the next day, a flicker that makes us feel safe in the darkness, hope that the morning will soon be upon us. Here's to an incredible New Year and all the hope it holds.

Monday, December 28, 2009

"Showing His Colors"

"Showing His Colors"
oil on board, 11x14"
$275 plus $10 shipping

I was given some iridescent oil colors for Christmas by my husband and I thought that a peacock was the perfect place to try them out. I'm not sure the sparkles make their way into the photo here but it was a lot of fun to have some new paint. I generally only paint with 7 standard colors.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

La Pavoni

"La Pavoni"
oil on board, 8x10"
commissioned work

I have been working on this for a friend of mine. It's one of those beautiful Italian hand pump espresso makers that I wish I owned... Maybe if I paint a few more of these, I'd have enough money to buy one... I love a latte. Perfect for an after Christmas coffee.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Louis Lane

"Watching from Above"
Louis Lane
for the VIPP shelter and all her fine friends
RIP

Sunday, December 20, 2009

"Little Wooden Santa"


"Little Wooden Santa"
oil on board, 5x5"
SOLD

I have been really busy lately with Christmas presents and packages and finishing up a few commissions I was working on. Finally today I took some time to paint. It was really nice. I bought this little figurine at a thrift store and thought it would make for a sweet little painting.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All
(And happy painting my dear painter friends...)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Fairy Tale Chairs


Fairy Tale Chairs
commissioned NFS
mostly finished...

Original Set


I've been working hard on these chairs for a few days. They are being added to a set I did a few years ago that had a table and 2 Fairy Tale chairs with it as well as hidden pictures all throughout the set for kids to search out. It's been fun to work on Humpty Dumpty and the Tortoise and the Hare to finish it up. These pieces are in acrylics and take quite a bit of time. They will be a special gift for Christmas.

Monday, December 14, 2009

"Gertrude"

"Gertrude"
oil on board, 5x5"
NFS
The smallest of all my chickens is Gertrude. She is super friendly and comfortable being held. I loved painting her backlit. It made for beautiful shadow colors...

Friday, December 11, 2009

Blue Eyes (again...)

Blue Eyes
oil on board, 8x8"
NFS

Still trying to capture Blue Eyes just right. Here is yet another attempt...

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

DSFDF Portrait-Bill Brauker

"The Artist"
Bill Brauker
DSFDF Portrait Study
oil on board, 5x5"

original photo


I just got my photo for the current challenge from Different Strokes From Different Folks.
I decided to try a small study before painting larger but I kind of like how this came out. Maybe this one will stick, but I will probably try a few more times...

Update- I added a few details on this and decided that I liked it as is. I wanted to try again but sometimes it just comes out the first time how you see it. I included the original because I think it's interesting to see the reference. This was a really fun challenge. Thank you to Karin Jurick for her wonderful blog and the chance to paint things I normally wouldn't. Check out Bill Brauker's Blog to see his lovely portrait of me and his other fine work. Also Karin put a video of the portrait swap on youtube with the original photos and the paintings that resulted. It's fun to watch photos morph into paintings...here is the link-

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

"Old Turquoise Beauty"

"Old Turquoise Beauty"
oil on board, 8x8"
$150 plus $10 shipping

This old car lived just down the street from when we lived in Seattle. I'm not sure how much it ever moved but the color drew me in again and again. Thought it was time for a little car portrait.

Thanks to all of you who came to my show last weekend and made it so successful! I'll have my studio open this weekend again and there are lots of other talented artists taking part in our annual Vashon Island Art Studio Tour. Come check it out from 10-4 Saturday and Sunday and see our beautiful island.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

"Checkered Lily"

"Checkered Lily"
oil on canvas, 8"x 16" x 1"
$200 plus $15 shipping

This little checkered lily is from Jacksonville, Oregon and is a member of an endangered species of Fritillaria known as Gentner's Fritillary. It only exists in 3 small pockets in Oregon and California. I happened to be there a few years ago during spring and found a few blooming in the wild. I thought it would be fun to put in paint with it's dusty outside and flaming interior...