Art by Mary Rochelle Burnham

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 , 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.

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.

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

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 , 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 , 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 , 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 , 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.

Sheer Light of Hope , pastel, 22x16", SOLD I am proud of the way this turned out.

Path To Fay Canyon, 6x8", oil, SOLD I recently went out with a "meetup" group to Fay Canyon for plein air painting in the Sedona and Verde Valley area that was organized by Michael Chesley Johnson . This is the painting I worked on outside and completed in the studio.

Path to Oak Creek , oil, 12x16" SOLD I recently went out with a "meetup" group for plein air painting in the Sedona and Verde Valley area that was organized by Michael Chesley Johnson . I will be taking a Plein Air Essentials class from him later this month. This painting was inspired by his demonstration of "Sycamore Shadows" at the Sedona Arts Center .

Red Tea Pot , Oil, 11x14" My gift to myself this year, is to immerse myself in as much learning as I can absorb. I am currently studying with Gretchen Lopez , a marvelous artist. Very sweet and generous.

Chapeau , Oil, 12x16" It feels good to work from a live model again. Yesterday, I joined the Portrait Artists of Arizona . I drove two hours to get there, but it was well worth it. We had a very lovely model and she was quite pleased with the likeness. I experimented with painting loosely and getting a heavier application of paint. As a follow up to  Fallen Firefighter , my January 5th blog, here is a photo from the Pensacola News Journal  (click to read the full story): Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com Velma Jones, center, the mother of Maurice Bartholemew, gets a better look at her son's portrait during the dedication of the new downtown library Friday morning while her grandchildren, Maurice's kids, Caleb, left, and Tiffany Bartholemew look on. A special wing of the library is dedicated in memory of Maurice Bartholemew.

Venus Nebula , 10x8", digital art print, available This week' Daily PaintWorks Challenge is as follows: The Something New Challenge , posted by Carol Marine on Saturday Jan 5, 2013 I challenge you to do something new for the new year. It can be anything - just as long as you've never done it before: a new medium, a new subject, a completely different style, etc. Stretch yourself. Get uncomfortable. If you don't like the result, try it again... I challenged myself to create something out of my mind, using no reference. That is something that I just don't do...and now I have and it felt pretty good. It's even scarier to post it and (quite literally) show the world. I'll survive and hopefully try it again and again.

Marvin Maurice Bartholomew , Oil, 30x24" SOLD I was honored to have been selected to paint a portrait of this young man who died tragically while fighting a house fire, November 25, 2000. The City Council of Pensacola, FL named the new wing of the Downtown Library in honor of Marvin Maurice Bartholomew and have a prominent location within the atrium, where his portrait will reside, designated for a First Responders Memorial honoring all fallen Firefighters and Police Officers. The Ribbon Cutting Firefighter Memorial Dedication Reception will be held this Friday at 10:00 AM at 239 North Spring Street. The public is welcome.