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Cupcake #2

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Cupcake #2 , oil, 7x5",  Available I don't know if painting cupcakes is a good idea for me. I almost convinced my husband to buy me some actual cupcakes for reference. I am not to be trusted! All kidding aside, cupcakes are not as easy as I thought they would be to paint. I think they are a great painting exercise for me, because I just focus on the shapes without any emotional attachment as I would have with a portrait or an animal.

Milk Break

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Milk Break , oil, 5x7",  $109 I took the reference photos for this painting a few years ago when I lived in the farming community of Manchester, Michigan. It was spring and this little one was adorable!

Canine Pet Portrait of Faithful Companion

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Portrait of Suzy , oil, 10x8" SOLD   Please say a prayer for Suzy's owner as she is very ill.

This Little Piggy

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This Little Piggy , oil 7x5"  SOLD I loved painting this porker! I used a photo from Paint my Photo . Cool site, cool pig!

Cupcake #1

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Cupcake #1 , oil, 7x5",  Available This is my first painting of a cupcake. Many more to follow. It was fun, but not easy! I worked from a photograph because I dare not have any in the house, or they will be inside me.

Dawn Breaks Over Mt Shasta

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Dawn Breaks Over Mt Shasta , oil, 5x7",  $109 I took the reference photos for this painting while on a trip up to Oregon over Thanksgiving week. It was a cold morning and the fog had lifted to this majestic scene.

White Maine Coon Cat

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White Maine Coon Cat, oil,  7x5"  Available I decided to participate in Leslie Saeta's " Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge ". I had fun painting this cat! I hope each and every piece I create will teach me something new.

Portrait of Margie

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Portrait of Margie , Oil, 24x30  SOLD I just recently finished this portrait and wanted to share with you my process. Margie is a wonderful person; sophisticated, charming, warm and vivacious! During the photo session, we took photos throughout the house and deck. Margie is photogenic and all the photos looked portrait worthy. Then we decided on a change of outfit and Margie invited me into the bedroom. I loved the warm lighting from her nightstand and the cooler lighting coming in from a window in which hanged a stained glass piece. Margie was all excited to put on her attire that she was taking on her cruise through the Panama Canal. We both giggled like a couple of girls playing 'dress up'. We both knew we had a winner! Well, while Margie and her husband left for the cruise, and I got started on the portrait. I began sketching with a brush and paint thinned with mineral spirits. I am most concerned with placement of the elements and not a lot of detail. N

Feline Repose II

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Feline Repose II , giclee, 7x5",  Available I scanned my original drawing before it was sold. I then colorized it in Photoshop to create a digital art piece. I am including a double mat suitable for an 8x10" frame.

Anticipation

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Anticipation , oil, 16x12" SOLD "Everyday is good, some days are better!" Yesterday, I met with my model, Mary Beth Hamilton, and she purchased her portrait for a gift. She's a beautiful woman and is now a full time model. I met with her at the Scottsdale Artists' School where I had to pick up my pastel paintings from the  Arizona Pastel Artists Association Fall Show. My hubby took our picture in front of the school. If that wasn't good enough, I was also there at the Scottsdale Artists' School for a demonstration by renown New York artist, Max Ginsburg. What a wonderful artist, teacher and a gentleman!

I Got My Head In The Clouds!

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Self Portrait , oil, 12x16" Ok, so I know having one's head in the clouds is saying that one is a little 'out of touch' with reality, but that is where I choose to be! I think you almost have to be if you want to be an artist. It's not an insult...just a creative compliment! I enjoyed painting this portrait because it reflects who I have become. I just had my 62nd birthday and I intend to show my brightest colors before giving way to the dark. I've had some storms in my life, too, and they ebb and flow. I chose to have a big smile because I had my husband take my photos and he is just the light of my light! He always put a smile on my face even when I am mad as hell. Like my friend Hope always tells me, "I got it good". I am grateful, thankful and proud to be an artist. I am proud to be me.

California Gold

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California Gold , Oil, 8x10", SOLD This painting reflects just about everything I love in the countryside; water, trees, tall grasses, hills, mountains, and a sunny day.

Morning Storm Clouds

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Morning Storm Clouds,  Oil, 9x12",  a vailable This is a plein air that I did yesterday morning. The sky was pretty stormy and I wasn't sure if I would catch any heavy rain or wind. Luckily, I did not encounter much, to speak of. As you can see in the photo below of my set up, it was clearing up nicely by the time I was wrapping up my gear. I like using my Guerrilla Painter® 9x12 Pochade Box out in the field even though it's a bit heavy. Actually, that bit of weight keeps it pretty stable when the wind kicks up a bit. I use my Best Brella religiously to keep the sun off of me and my artwork. It gets hot out in the sun and if you ever painted with the bright sun on your surface, you know your painting will look too dark inside. Best decision I made was to get my jeep. She gets me places even our truck can't get to.

Desert Rain At Sunset

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Desert Rain At Sunset, 8x10" , oil, $249 Oh my, I have been having a good ol' time. I have been so busy with hiking, biking, off roading and yes, painting! I have lost a ton of weight, had to replace my wardrobe 3 or 4 times and now I am ready to start anew! So, I apologize for neglecting my blog, but I promise to start posting my work from the last few months and new stuff as it comes along. Here is my hubby with my off road jeep to hit the trails with for plein air and fun with my guy: This is a trail in Sedona that the jeep tours take. It's only accessible with something that can climb rocks. Rich is teaching me to do just that. Whoa, is that a rush! Here's me from the same day:

Upcoming Portrait Workshop

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Upcoming Still Life Workshop

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Stop and Smell the Roses 2

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Stop and Smell the Roses 2, pastel, 12x9" SOLD I took the photo reference for this painting on a sunny evening as the light was low in Cambria, California. I love the dramatic lighting and how the use of complementary colors really pop in this piece.

Stop and Smell the Roses

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Stop and Smell the Roses , pastel, 9x12", SOLD I took the photo reference for this painting on a overcast day at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. I love the soft lighting and the complementary colors that glow, but still convey a sense of peacefulness.

Upcoming Portrait Workshop

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Portrait of a Young Lady , watercolor, 14x10" available I am pleased to announce that I will be giving a two day portrait workshop in Jackson, MI, June 5-6. Please click here to download the flyer.

Portrait Studio, Saturday, April 6, 2013

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Myself painting our model, John Today's Portrait Studio in Scottsdale Portrait Studio Come paint or draw with us!!!  Portrait Studios are a benefit of PAOA (Portrait Artists Of Arizona) membership and there is no additional cost for the model.  Portrait Studios are a great way to get to know other members, observe, and improve your portrait skills by working from life! It is also an opportunity for non-members to "check us out" before joining.  Members may invite artist friends to drop in and observe and find out more about our organization. John was our model and he was fantastic and very professional. 2013 - Portrait Studios Upcoming - MAY, JULY, AND AUGUST! MAY Saturday, May 11, 1:30pm - 5pm Granite Reef Community Center - Room 6, Art Room Map/Directions Just North of McDowell on Granite Reef JULY Saturday, July 27, 1:30pm - 5pm Granite Reef Community Center - Room 6, Art Room Map/Directions Just North of McDowell on Granite Reef AUGU

Oak Creek Plein Air

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Oak Creek , oil, 6x8",  a vailable I set up my gear on shore and had this far off view from me, where the creek took a bend. I liked that it was distant enough that I wouldn't get caught up in details. It was a most pleasant day and although I had a couple of minor mishaps when the wind picked up before I could get my umbrella down, it was still a most enjoyable experience. I did this study in about two hours on sight.

Light of Hope

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Light of Hope , oil, 36x24" Sold I received notice that this painting and two others were accepted into the Portrait Artists of Arizona 3rd Annual Members Juried Fine Art Portrait Exhibition and Sale . There are some excellent artists in the group, including many professionals. I am honored to be included! If this painting looks familiar, my earlier blog post of "Sheer Light of Hope" is the pastel study for this piece. Ironically, it did not make it into the Arizona Pastel Artists Association  Spring 2013 Juried Show, however three other pieces did. I am very proud and honored.

Spring Creek

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Spring Creek , pastel, 9x12" SOLD Yesterday, after taking a walk, I couldn't help but go home, get my gear and go back and set up to capture this view. I spent two hours on site and then came home and finished.

Bust of Benjamin Franklin

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Bust of Benjamin Franklin , oil, 7x5" SOLD Jean-Antoine Houdon French, 1741-1828 Tinted plaster after 1778 Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH Benjamin Franklin (1705-1790) went to Europe in 1776 to negotiate a treaty of alliance between France and the United States, and remained as the new nation's Minister to France until 1785. Through their fraternal and social activities, he became acquainted with the sculptor Houdon, who recorded in this portrait the statesman's thinning hair, sagging chin, and expression of wisdom and humor. Eight years later, on Franklin's recommendation, Houdon came to the United States to model a sculpture of George Washington.

Headed For The Light

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Headed for the Light , Oil on RayMar panel, 6x6", SOLD My entry into this week's Daily Paintworks "the Bright Path Challenge".

Broken Angel

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Broken Angel , 10x8 on linen paper,  Available This little broken angel is part of a roadside memorial that brought tears to my eyes when I came upon it. It is decorated with beads and plastic flowers and the area is strewn with the rubble of decaying remembrance of things past. It seems to embody the dashed hopes and dreams of loved ones tragically lost. The original pencil study has been sold.

Woman Bathing

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Woman Bathing , acrylic, 10x8" SOLD I gave all of my heavy body acrylic paints to a good friend who is making wonderful art with them. I kept only my Golden fluid acrylics that I mostly use thin and transparent like watercolor. This is for a DPW Challenge and I enjoyed doing this piece.

Still Life with Squash, Lemon and Bottle

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Still Life with Squash, Lemon and Bottle , oil, 10x8 available  I am very happy with this low key painting. Capturing the light was my goal. I just finished the painting this afternoon and the background is picking up some glare.

Struck by Heaven's Light

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Struck by Heaven's Light , oil, 18x24" available Some friends of ours took us on the Verde Canyon Railroad  where I took hundreds of photos. It was threatening to rain during most of the trip , but gave us dramatic sky and light. I hope to do a series of paintings, including some plein air. Do take this train ride if you are ever in the area...you will not be disappointed.

Evening Falls On General Williams

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Evening Falls On General Williams , watercolor, 8x10" available My favorite statue at Belle Isle, Detroit, MI is of Major Gen. Alpheus Starkey Williams as he sits atop his horse, checking a map as his steed bows his head. Williams, a Detroiter, was a congressman, a judge, a lawyer, a postmaster, a newspaper publisher and a failed gubernatorial candidate, and was appointed a Brigadier General for the Union Army in the Civil War.