Second Place Award!! and more...

"Vashon Time"

oil on board,

14" x 18"

SOLD

My clock painting is finally finished with it's glazed colors and ready for delivery

AND

"Tiny Ballerina"

oil on board,

"3 1/2 x 8"

This is my small ( I should say SO tiny for me!!) painting for the day. Love the colorful tutu.

AND my big news...

"The Stare"

oil on canvas, 24" x 36"

Winner!

SOLD

This piece, I just found out, won Second Place at the Sequim International Juried Art Show, right behind best of show (which was a beautiful wire sculpture.) I am so excited to have this piece recognized, especially as it took considerable time this year to complete and I was painting in the old world technique which is relatively new to me. Thank you to the Juror and all the people involved in the show up there!! I am deeply honored.

"Full Bloom"

"Full Bloom"

oil on board, 10" x 8"

SOLD

My neighbor brought over the largest bunch of fresh lilacs from his 80 year old lilac bushes today. It is not my usual subject matter but they were begging to be painted. I'm not sure I did them justice as they are stunning in person!

"Happy Buddha" and "Tilly II" and THANKS

"Happy Buddha"

oil on board, 10" x 8"

SOLD

I have this really wide ornate gold frame that I found not too long ago and I've had it in my mind to paint a happy or laughing Buddha that would poke a bit of fun at the seriousness of the frame. This little statue is just perfect! It was truly fun to paint with all the different colors and shine on the metal. I may try more versions...

"Tilly II"

oil on board, 8" x 8"

SOLD

My first version of my friend's dog Tilly sold before she got to see the painting so I painted another one for her. She was still smiling at me!

And THANKS to all the wonderful friends and patrons who came and my made open studio show a terrific success! I truly appreciate you all making the trip to Vashon and supporting the arts on our beautiful island!

Be sure to look for me at the Bellevue ArtsFair in Bellevue, WA on July 29, 30, 31.

Click here for more info.!

Chickens on the Porch

"Chickens on the Porch"

oil on board, 12"x 6"

SOLD

Sold most of my chicken paintings this weekend so I am back at it! Yeah for chickens!

Stewart Kershaw Study 2

Stewart Kershaw Study 2

Working on some different poses. Not an exact likeness but I'm wanting gesture!! More to come...

Studio Tour this weekend and Next!

Come on by! I'd love to see you!

Vashon Tour Info- click here

Study 1 of Stewart Kershaw

Study 1 of Stewart Kershaw

oil on board, 8"x 8"

I am going to be working on a portrait of my friend and very well known and beloved conductor Stewart Kershaw. His list of accomplishments is incredible and I had the great opportunity to play under him for many years during his tenure with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and the Auburn Symphony. He graciously has allowed me to photograph him conducting so my portrait could be in action and then will be sitting for me from life as I work on the piece. I'm starting the process with a few small studies to get the my ideas flowing for the perfect pose. It is a point of reference from the orchestra that I remember and this is how I want to paint him.

In this pose, he is conducting a most somber and quiet part of one of Mahler's songs for tenor and orchestra. I love the gesture of his hand and the weight of his expression. More to come.

"Perched"

"Perched"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Just sitting on the railing in the sun...

"Rooster Standoff"

"Rooster Standoff"

oil on board, 6"x 6"

SOLD

2 for the price of one in my series...I still can't make this happen everyday as I am very busy with a multitude of art projects right now. I will post some of the mosaic installation when it is finished! Still loving to paint the chickens.

"Flocked!"

"Flocked!"

oil on board, 6" x 12"

OK, I'm not sure which one of my friends sent the Flock of Flamingos over to my front yard BUT I figured- if you have lemons, you make lemonade...

This was one of the hardest color combos I've done in a while. Green and hot pink make for challenging edges! It was a blast though and I'd like to put all my friends on notice- You Could Be Next!

It's not exactly part of my chicken a day series, but close enough and maybe it will have to be a chicken every other day as I'm spending most of my days at one of the schools here working on big mosaic installations for the Vashon Artist in the Schools Program.

"Peep Peep"

"Peep Peep"

oil on board, 10"x 8"

SOLD

See how cute my chick is?? This is Caramel. It supposed to be a girl but I have a feeling I'm looking at a rooster.

"Barred Rock"

"Barred Rock"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I love the warm and cool light behind this fine fellow. I am contemplating "A Chicken A Day" challenge for myself. I have some busy weeks ahead so I'm still thinking but it sounds really fun and we have some beautiful chicks right now...

"Copper Roof" and Great News!

"Copper Roof"

oil on board, 6"x 6"

SOLD

Just a little painting today as I'm involved with a ton of projects this week from school auctions to mosaic installations. But I do have exciting news. I've been invited to join Women Painter's of Washington after two juried rounds (one live, one from photos of work) and I also had two paintings accepted into the Sequim International juried show coming up in May in Sequim, WA. Good news all around! I'll write some more about it all tomorrow...

"Cluck."

"Cluck."

oil on board, 6"x 6"

SOLD

This was a really fun little challenge by Carol Marine from Paintworks. Click here to see all the others and the Japan challenge. I'm still working on my entry for that!

"Last Light Rainier"

oil on board, 9" x 11 1/2"

SOLD

This is a view of Mount Rainier from my neighborhood on the island. It can be so beautiful with the last light on it. It never ceases to amaze me.

"Framed"

oil on canvas, 5" x 7"

I have never done a self portrait because it is just plain scary but I have committed myself to a local self portrait show in June. Here is my first attempt. I should add that this is tiny and the edges are painted in lime green which bring out the unusual colors I added to my face. I felt in an expressionist mood when I did this. Double click for a closer look at colors...

"The Good Eggs"

"The Good Eggs"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I guess I'm tired of seeing all the "bad eggs" in the news. So I painted some good eggs, from my friend's organic farm. They are so yummy.

Behind the Branches

"Behind the Branches"

oil on board, 9 1/2" x 11"

SOLD

This lone swan was showing off for me when I came close to his pond. What a beauty!

I may paint another version larger as I took some beautiful photos this day when it was actually sunny in the Pacific Northwest. It was one of those days I was so glad to have my camera with me and was thrilled to catch some moments with this magnificent bird.

"Vashon Time" phase one finished

SOLD

Phase one, a black and white grisaille layer, is complete on "Vashon Time". This has taken me a week and still has a few tiny touch-ups but I'm pretty happy. I can't believe how hard clock faces are, let alone three. This clock belongs to some friends of mine and I just had to paint it. I love that Vashon is in the middle of New York and Paris, as it should be... This will be drying for a while and then I will glaze color on when it's ready.

Small Works

"Soaking Up Sunshine"

oil on board, 9 1/2 " x 11"

SOLD

"Last Crow"

oil on board, 5" x 7"

SOLD

Working on some small pieces for my upcoming show in May. I guess I'm getting the hang of smaller for the moment. I'm still drawn to large but I'm out of big canvas. Maybe tomorrow...

"Escape Artists"

"Escape Artists"

oil on canvas, 36" x 18"

SOLD

Once again, I think I'm finished but undoubtedly there are a few more details to add as I look on it in the coming days. This is all my brain can do for the moment without a break. I'll be moving on to something new... What do you think? Double click for a closer look!

In progress "Escape Artists" Large

Here is about half of this painting that I've been working on for days. The further I go, the more details I see and I haven't even begun the gumballs in the jar. I could be working on this for some time but I think it will be really nice when finished.

Free Range

"Free Range"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I had three beautiful brown eggs left and had to paint them. They are so pretty...

I am in the middle of a large work as well and will try to post it in progress in a day or so. I am trying to finish 3 paintings in a week for a few months, one large and 2 small, in order to keep up for my upcoming shows.

"Escape Artists" study

"Escape Artists" study

oil on board, 7"x 5"

This is a small study for the possibility of a large work. I love the colors in gumballs and the details of this machine, although at this size, quite a bit is left out. I'm dreaming of a 24" x 36" canvas, maybe bigger...

Smooch! and Bellevue Fair!!

Smooch!

oil on board, 8"x 8"
SOLD

Haven't had time to work large again so I'm continuing to work on small things here and there until I can get a big hunk of time to myself...

The great news is that I just got accepted to the Bellevue Arts Fair, Bellevue Washington, in July and also got accepted in to the Ex-West Juried Show at the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay Oregon. Lots of excitement for me and more details to come in the following days...

"Last Gasp" DPW Challenge

"Last Gasp"

oil on board, 5" x 7"

$100.

This is a challenge from the Daily Paintworks Site started by Carol Marine. I'm so glad they have started up challenges as there is such a need and it is so much fun to see what others paint. This shot is from the great painter Michael Naples. He is one of my favorites.

Big Grin

"Big Grin"

(Tilly)

oil on board, 6"x 6"

SOLD

I keep finding things I want to try small and in a more impressionist style. Tilly is the sweetest lab. I see her at the beach sometimes and this day she smiled at me... nothing like a faithful and gentle pup.

"Dipped"

"Dipped"

oil on board, 6"x 6"

SOLD

Maybe I will paint some small works after all. This looked so yummy and I loved the red reflecting from the other berry.

Roses

"Roses"

oil on board, 8"x 8"

SOLD

I had some beautiful roses left from Valentines Day and they beckoned me for painting. I am not so sure how successful this is... The whites got more difficult as I went but I really liked the composition. Painting large feels sooo comfortable to me now that when I choose something little, I feel truly challenged. It is good for me to practice. If I had only had a 30" x 30" canvas hanging around...

I was, at one point, really wanting to join the world of daily painters and I admire the community surrounding them online. But alas, I have realized over the last year that painting large format oils is definitely my thing. Sorry to disappoint those who knew me in my A Painting a Day phase. I will promise to post progress shots on my large pieces in an effort to remain in the online art world. I do still paint everyday, it's just that now my works take weeks, not days. Thanks for hanging in with me through my journey.

Finished?

SOLD

I think I'm done or at least almost. I will touch up tomorrow and soften some things just a wee bit, but I have to call it quits after that and move on. I decided to darken the background a whole lot to make this more striking. I hope it worked... and again, photographing this was quite a challenge. The feathers toward the bottom aren't as blue as they are here but I will post the final photo when I get a great one with the light in the room really even. It's dark out today and my studio gets a lot of light from windows, hence the blue tinge here and there.

Rooster update WIP

He's still on the easel and still unfinished... working hard but it feels like slow going. More to come. I hope to finish this week.