Posts

Granny Smith Apple

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Granny Smith , oil, 7x5", SOLD I try to eat an apple a day. Fuji apples are my favorite for eating. Crisp, juicy and sweet. I love the form and color of this granny, especially with the purple drape. I am going to slice her up and eat her on my salad...yum.

Heading Home

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Heading Home , oil, 4.25 x 6.25",  Available The view along the side of the road as I am going to my studio.

Number 2 Cow

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Number 2 Cow , oil, 6x6",  Available I created this painting from a photo I took in CA. I think she is one of those 'California happy cows'. She sure looks happy enough chewing on that grass that I gave her! Available on Etsy

Orange Maine Coon Cat

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Orange Maine Coon Cat , oil, 7x5", Sold I love this kitty! I got his photo off of Paint My Photo.

Summer Breeze

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Summer Breeze , oil, 8x6"  Available When I saw this lovely lady's photo I just thought of a summer breeze. I love the way the light plays on her face and the sweet expression of her face. I often listen to music when taking my morning walk, riding my bike or painting. Here's the tune: See the curtains hangin' in the window In the evenin' on a Friday night Little light is shinin' through the window Lets me know everything's alright Summer breeze, makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind Summer breeze, makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind See the paper layin' on the sidewalk A little music from the house next door So I walked on up to the doorstep Through the screen and across the floor Summer breeze, makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind Summer breeze, makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind Sweet days of summer, the jasmine's in bloom July is d

Number 1 Cow

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Number 1 Cow , oil, 6x6", SOLD I have always been fascinated by cows. I used to love to pick tall grass and feed them through the fence as a child and even as an adult. This is my first closeup 'portrait' of a cow and I didn't notice until I was painting her that her tag read '1'. How apropos! She is also so beautiful, that she is number one in my book!

Red Tea Pot, Mug and Apple

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Red Tea Pot, Mug & Apple , oil, 6x8"  Available Thank you,  Jill Rae Martin-Golden for your comment on my cupcake #3 expressing interest in my three color palette for that painting. I replied that I can't really take credit for my palette as it was sort of based on Zorn's, comprised of Ivory Black, Cadmium Red Deep, and Yellow Ochre. Well, that got me to thinking. I have never really tried Anders Zorn's palette for a painting until today. It's pretty easy to focus on the values and play of cools vs warms. Forget about making intense colors, other than red. However, I found it to be a great exercise and I am glad to have done it and learned from it. Click on the link here to see an earlier version of the same subject that was painted with a full palette.

Lyssandra

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Lyssandra , oil, 14x11", available Today, was an 'All-Day Portrait Studio' at the Granite Reef Community Center sponsored by Portrait Artists of Arizona. Lyssandra was our beautiful young model and she is as sweet as she looks. It was hilarious how the men in the group went ga-ga over her and most were old enough to be her grandfather if not her great grandpa! Nothing inappropriate, as we all appreciate beauty, and had a great time getting together and painting.

Cupcake #3

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Cupcake #3 , oil, 7x5",  $109 I used a limited palette of only three colors plus black and white. They are: titanium white, ivory black, azo yellow, utrecht red and alizarin crimson. The black mixed with white reads blue, and when the alizarin is added, it reads purple. This cupcake almost painted itself, it went so fast!

Water Lily

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Water Lily , oil, 5x7", Sold This is from a photo I came across on Paint my Photo . It reminds me of going out in the rowboat to find and pick water lilies to bring home to my mom.

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