"Reflected"

"Reflected"  oil on board,  18x24"

These koi were fun to paint as there were so many reflections around them. It might have been a little softer if I had some canvas, so I did quite a bit of dry brush to soften the highlights.

"Centered"

I have been working hard on some mosaic projects this week and spent many hours today with glass. The birdbath is finished and shown down below. I'll post the other mosaics as I finish. The 2 paintings are from earlier this year and will be for sale in my upcoming shows or by inquiry.

"Centered"  oil on canvas,  24x30"

"Snow Day"  oil on board, 16x20"

"Red Fish, Blue Fish", recycled glass on metal

"Unwrapped"

This the next installment of my lollipop series.

"Unwrapped"  oil on board, 6x8"

"Heirloom Key"

Just a small study of this old key on my cherry floor.  I've been working a lot on more mosaic projects for some local auctions. This picture isn't the best as my light at night isn't great for photos. I'll update it tomorrow. (Updated 3/28)

"Heirloom Key" oil on board,  5x7"

"Apples"

"Apples" oil on board,  6x12"

I actually painted these apples some months ago but didn't get them right so today I'm practicing reworking an older painting with new knowledge. I like the cooler colors of the subject on the warm background.

For Kurt

"Ears in the Wind"  oil on board,  9x12" NFS

Painted Furniture

Today was a day of framing and putting things together so I am going to post some of the furniture that I painted before I started oils. These are done in acrylics on wood and top coated many times for wear and tear. I occasionally still paint a few pieces and will have some for sale in my studio for the Vashon Island Studio Tour. It runs the first 2 weekends in May. I will also have some photos, jewelry, and of course oil paintings for sale. My big show is the whole month of June at The Blue Heron Gallery on Vashon with two other fabulous island artists, watercolorist Donna Botten and metal and glass sculptor Mike Urban.

"Waiting"

I had a lot of trouble photographing this tonight so I will post a better picture tomorrow in the daylight. It is really a pink lollipop and my camera just couldn't adjust in indoor light. Maybe it's waiting for me. I love a good lollipop...

(Updated photo 3/26/09)

"Waiting"  oil on board, 8x10"

"Daisy Friends"

"Daisy Friends" oil on canvas  30x40"

I loved these daisies in the vase and decided to work in an extra large format today. I'll probably add a few more details and work on some edges tomorrow.

"Daisy"

Just a small project today as I'm finishing some bigger works as well. I love these Gerbera daisies...

"Daisy" oil on board,  5x7"

"Spring Green"

This is a large painting influenced by Georgia OKeefe that will be part of my upcoming show. 

"Spring Green" oil on canvas,  24x30"

"Looking Away"

The last light on this day was so warm and yellow orange, I couldn't help but paint this. I'm working on looseness this week in my paintings.

"Looking Away"  oil on board,  11x14"

"Koi Pond"

Here is my project for today. I love how peaceful these beautiful fish are and I like to look at the lovely patterns each individual can have. Very fun to paint.

"Koi Pond"  oil on board, 12x16"

"On the Edge"

"On the Edge" oil on board, 12x16"

SOLD

I can't keep myself from painting one of my soft orange cats every once in a while.  It amazes me how comfortable they can be anywhere, even in the most precarious positions. Bob the cat, as you might be able to surmise from the name, has a very short tail.

"Shine"

I love to paint the shine on strawberries. There are so many colors in the leaves too.

oil on board, 8x10"

"Sunlit Grapes"

I love these dark purple grapes with the sun washing over them.

oil on board, 8x10"

"Red Pear"

I'm working on some bigger works right now and am not quite ready to post them yet. Here is my little study of a red pear with reflections from 2 sides. 

oil on board,  6x6"

"Red Fish, Blue Fish"

Here is a photo of the auction project birdbath. It has taken all of my energy today... It still needs to be grouted. I think it will be gorgeous when finished.

I will do my painting later tonight.

"Sunlit"

I spent most of my day in a kindergarten classroom helping with an auction project. I will post pictures when it's all finished. We made a beautiful mosaic birdbath with recycled glass. I did get a little time to paint. Bright light coming through a tulip- always an eyeful of color...

"Sunlit" oil on board  6x6"

"Lemon Study #2"

I wanted to do a study of my lemon in complementary colors. Small but sweet.

oil on board  6x6"

"In the Kitchen Window"

Today I painted tulips in the window with the brightness coming through the petals. I decided to paint this bigger as I had a little more time than usual.

  oil on board 16x20"

"Study- Piccolo Trumpet Mute"

It was fun to paint this mute with the top silver and the bottom brass. Somehow it was harder than it looks.

oil on board 5x7"

"Honey Bear"

My project for today was the honey bear. I painted it from the back because I loved the reflections in his tail.

"Honey Bear" oil on board 8x10"  SOLD

"Piggy bank" is from last month. oil on board 9x12"

"Finished Practicing"

Today I am posting a painting I did about a month ago that will be in my upcoming show. The day I decided to put my horn down permanently after 29 years, I took a picture. I've been waiting to paint it until I thought my skills could do it justice. I will probably paint it again on a larger scale but I love the looseness of this small one. 

 "Finished Practicing" oil on board 9x12"  SOLD


 This is a larger painting from a few months ago as well. It will be in my upcoming show. It is entitled "Garden Fresh" oil on board 18x24" .    I did a small painting today but can't get a photo of it just yet due to glare. I will post it as soon as I get a good shot.

"Lemon Half"

Here is my offering for today. I love the way light shines on the pulp. I am working towards a 3 person show I am involved in at the Blue Heron Gallery on Vashon Island this coming June. The next few months will be a mix of larger works and small studies.

oil on board  5x7"

"Cosmos"

Here is a painting I've been working on for a few days. I will probably work on it a little tomorrow and adjust a few small details. 

"Cosmos"  oil on canvas,  18x24" SOLD

Here are 5 more from last month. I'll put a few more in tomorrow after I photograph some more. Check back to see sizes on everything as I will go through and add those too. Some of the first paintings I posted are quite large. Most of the more recent paintings are smaller and 90% are oil on board. Just a few are oil on canvas.

                          "Pears" SOLD

Today is going to be a 3 post day.  Two of favorites from last month and then the painting from today. The "Kisses" painting is from last December but I wanted to add it.    

"Cupcake" SOLD
"Tulip" sold
" Onions"Sold

I'm going to post a few more paintings from last year and then I will look at my paintings from last month. 

 

"On the Beach"  oil on board  9x12" sold

"Reflections" oil on canvas 11x14"

"In the Deep Window" oil on board 6x12" sold

"Bath Interrupted" oil on board 8x10"

"Catnap" oil on canvas 11x14"

"Portrait of the General" oil on board 16x20"

SOLD

"Bursting" oil on canvas 18x24"

SOLD

"The Forest Within" oil on canvas 18x24"

SOLD

"Last Wishes" oil and mixed

media on board 30x48"

SOLD

"Rest" oil on canvas 18x24"

One year ago I began my adventure with oil paint. For many years prior I was a professional French Horn player. Many life circumstances made me choose to put down my instrument and and pick up brushes. Many thanks go out to Pam Ingalls for getting me started and guiding me well. And so I have come to a place, one year later, to embark on the ritual of daily painting. I will first post my favorite paintings looking back over the year before. I have been trying to keep up a schedule of one painting a day for the past month and loved the work ethic. The next post will show the best of these and then I will post as closely as I can to one per day. Coming from the field of classical music performance, daily practice is essential to growth. And so I start...