"Candied" Large

"Candied"

oil on canvas, 24" x 36"

SOLD

I finally finished this piece (large version). I might do just a few teeny, tiny touch-ups now that I have it photographed, but I really like how it came out... These apples are so red and shiny, two of my absolute favorite things to paint!

"Marshmallow"

"Marshmallow"

oil on board, 8" x 10"

SOLD

I love these kind of moments in the middle of summer. It sure takes a lot of effort to go camping but then it's always worth it for the perfect toasted marshmallow.

"AJ"

"AJ"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

For Amy... Happy Birthday! (AJ is a very lovely Bouvier des Flandres)

"Vashon Clouds"

"Vashon Clouds"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I don't often paint landscapes but I couldn't help myself when the evening clouds are this beautiful. 

"Candied Apples"

"Candied Apples"

oil on board, 8" x 10"

SOLD

I've been wanting to paint these for a while but it was a challenge just getting my hands on some. Eventually I spent the time to learn to make them from scratch at home. They came out terrific! Now, it will only be okay if we don't pull our teeth out consuming them.

"Couple of Pints"

"Couple of Pints"

oil on board, 11" x 14"

SOLD

A hefeweizen and an amber go to a bar... There is a joke in here somewhere. A toast to summer!

"Samson" a study in whites

"Samson"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I love the challenge of this all white stunning creature. It was a workout for my brain and I was painting late into the night. I usually don't do that as I can lose my sense of color after dark. I like how this turn out though... Maybe a big painting to come??

Article!

This is me in the local paper, The Beachcomber, in a photo by Liz Sheperd. I don't usually toot my own horn, but Liz wrote a really nice article about me in her Artful Life series this past week. I am truly grateful for kind words from Liz and Pam Ingalls as well. I don't love the limelight in general but this is terrific exposure for my work and my upcoming show in September on the island. Here is a link if you are interested! 

http://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/entertainment/160445735.html

"Bill"

"Bill"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

This is another try, in a different style of painting. Impressionistic suits this pup better.

How Now Brown Cow ?

"How Now Brown Cow?"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

This one was just for fun. I love these soft nosy brown cows. They were so friendly and curious.

"Toasty"

"Toasty"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

His name is not Toasty, but his fur sure is. He loves a warm summer day.  This is Saturn, one of my large orange kitties.

"Twisted"

"Twisted"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

We've been traveling and are back to work. Kisses are always a favorite. The foil is so fun. I'm working on a huge one as well but I thought I'd toss in a small piece too.

Lots of Paintings!

"Blue Chucks", oil on board, 6" x 6"

"First Egg", oil on board, 6" x 6"
SOLD

"Rainbow Hen", oil on board, 6" x 6"
SOLD

"Bill", oil on board, 6" x 6"
SOLD

Ok, I have been painting... like a mad woman, every single day. Huge projects at school with children and lots of others at home. A few are commissions for people and a few just because, all the while I've been also working on huge pieces for my show in September. I will post those as I finish. One is 95% done but I ran out of white yesterday... Hopefully the school paintings will go up today and I will post some pics when that happens. The kids did an incredible job. There are six 5' x 7' paintings for the lunch room of healthy food!! Whew. I'm a bit tired! Now I will focus all my attentions even more intently on my upcoming show.

"Frosted"

"Frosted"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I realize this is quite out of season... but gingerbread houses have been requested. This felt as if the paint was frosting. It's very squishy and thick. There might be others coming.

"Last Light KVI Beach"

"Last Light KVI Beach"

oil on board, 4" x 4"

SOLD

Getting ready for my Open Studio next weekend from 10 to 5 Saturday and Sunday. The next weekend will be open as well. Come on over to Vashon and see all the terrific art on the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour!! 

Cafe Fiore

"Cafe Fiore"

oil on canvas, 12" x 12"

SOLD

This is a real departure for me but this is one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle. It's up on the hill behind Golden Gardens and is a delight for the quiet neighborhood. It's right up there with Lighthouse Roasters on Phinney Ridge. I love the warm lighting.

"Well Played"

"Well Played"

oil on wood, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I did a photo shoot for the cover of a local our local arts magazine a few months ago and was lucky enough to get some lovely shots of this very old cello. Fun to capture the aged wood, especially painting on wood. I think the instrument dated from the 1800's at least!

"Top Side"

oil on canvas, 4" x 6"

Peppers

"Peppers"

oil on canvas, 4" x 6"

Another tiny piece today and off I run to work with students...

Glow

"Glow"

oil on board, 4" x 4"

SOLD

A tiny painting of my cat Bob with his ears all lit up in the sun... I'm starting work on a really big piece as well and continuing my residency at the elementary school with a second set of huge paintings for the cafeteria. Busy, busy, busy.

Beach Cottages

"Beach Cottages"

oil on board, 4" x 4"

SOLD

This is really tiny for me but I loved the idea of painting the ocean spray on these little cottages on the north end of our island. Not sure if I want to be there in the middle of winter though... This is right near the north end ferry dock on Vashon.

Red Dog

"Red Dog"

oil on board. 6"x 6"

This is my puppy Zoey. She is adorable and growing up quickly. Thought I would catch her at 6 months. I've tried to paint her a couple of times and somehow it's pretty hard but I like this one!

Overflowing PBJ

"Overflowing PBJ"

oil on canvas, 24" x 48"

commissioned work

I'm so glad to finish this today. It seems like I've been working on it for months, which is probably the truth. Big works just take time. I love adding the labels and jars in the background for this piece. I always love a great PB and J painting and otherwise...Double click for a closer view.

(whew, big sigh of relief.)

On to other huge food pieces for my shows later in the year!!

Beach Walking

"Beach Walking"

oil on board, 6"x 6"

NFS

These are some of my friends taking a lovely walk in the sun. I don't often paint people but I loved the light so much. Could be worthy of a larger painting later!

Daffodils

"Daffodils"

oil on board, 6"x 6"

Hard to capture but so pretty. We have just a few bunches and they are so precious each year.

Salad

"Salad"

oil on board, 6"x 6"

I thought I would paint part of the big picture I have been working on with kids. I have been in residence at our local elementary school on Vashon for weeks now with the Vashon Artists in the Schools program (VAIS). We have had an incredible change in our lunch menu to really healthy food and the art grant is for creating huge healthy food murals to go along with this. There will be six 5 foot by 7 foot panels painted by three classes. The first set is of salad. The kids tossed out a millions of ideas for what should go into the salad. Below is the first mural finished. It was painted all by the kids and is 5' x 14' long!!!! I'm very proud of their hard work. I should add that they are all in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade. It is a composite photograph as I could only shoot it in 3 frames due to size. There will be 4 more panels to come.

kids working...

"The Big Salad"

5' x 14' mural 

by Mrs. Berliner's multiage class

(click to see it larger!)

French Doors

"French Doors"

oil on board, 6" x 6"
SOLD

I love the colors that show through windows and doors in the evening. It always looks so warm and inviting.

Bottoms Up

"Bottoms Up"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I'm loving the small chicken paintings right now...

Two Wishes

"Two Wishes"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

I love the idea of wishes just hanging out in the air on their way to a destination. Here's two for the day.

Sunny Day Pecking

"Sunny Day Pecking"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Hoping for more sunny days for my poor chickens who have been enduring the deluge of Northwest weather...

Just a Bit Muddy

"Just a Bit Muddy"

oil on board, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Here is a little piggy friend I met on Vashon last year. He lives at the same farm as all the cows I was painting last summer. He was so inquisitive yet shy. I love animals. They are so refreshing to be around. There is just no other agenda going on with them.