Bike Time

Click Here To Buy It Now - Sold, oil on gesso board, 6x6 inches

I was following this guy on one of my early morning walks in California last summer.  The light was so great, the colors, the dog; I couldn't have asked for better subject matter.  This is another painting where I've been experimenting with different size and styles of brushes and also that scribbly/scratchy technique which is very fun.

Lady In Blue

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, oil on gesso board, 8x10 inches

I photographed these ladies at a local art festival last summer.  I take a lot of photos in hopes of using a few for paintings, it always feels like Christmas when I load my photos and find one that inspires me like this one did.  These ladies were actually in the background and I cropped everything else out.  I also started experimenting with new painting techniques learned in a workshop this past winter and I'm having fun with scribbly scratchy brush work.

I need to note that the bright foreground sidewalk color is a tad more yellow than the photo shows but this was the best I could adjust the colors.

Back From Arizona

I just returned from Arizona where I attended a painting workshop with artist Derek Penix (check out his website).  He was teaching how to paint loose, I learned many valuable tips such as the use of complimentary colors but most important of all was learning not to be afraid, to try new things, different brushes and brush work and mess things up ON PURPOSE!  It was very freeing and I can't wait to get back to painting. I love watching other artist's work, how they hold their brush, mix paint, their thinking process, their fears or no fears....it's an education.

Top left photo is Derek during a demonstration, yours truly on the upper right and two of my paintings from the workshop on the bottom row.

Merry Little Christmas

Click Here To Buy It Now - $50, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

A view from under the Christmas tree!  Wishing everyone a Merry Little Christmas and a great new year.

Snow Day

Click Here To Buy It Now - $50, oil on canvas panel, 6x8 inches

A friend let me use her photo of the snowman she helped create with her grandchildren.  I love the unusual looking snowman, he really has his own personality don't you think?  The visual contrast of the light on the pristine snow in the background compared to the shadows and bootprints in the foreground make an interesting composition.

Angel's Song

NFS, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

I found these little angel ornaments a few years ago and thought it would be fun painting them and so I paired them up with the whimsical cupcake jar/container thingy.  I like a little whimsy now and then.

Mischievous Santa's

Click Here To Buy It Now - $75, oil on canvas panel, 6x8 inches

These Santa's are some ornaments I made years ago.  After setting them up to paint they looked so naughty as if they were getting ready to play with a forgotten Christmas ornament and watching to see if anyone was around.  Or maybe they knocked the ornament off the tree and were watching to see if they had been discovered.  Either way they look very mischievous.