Art by Mary Rochelle Burnham

A Cry for Freedom , Oil 7x5", available Inspired by the Daily Paintworks Challenge, "A Cry for Freedom" is my small painting, that reflects my deeply held personal conviction. I thank God every day that I am blessed to have been born in our great nation, with our multitude of freedoms. I am proud to be an American.

Seaside Seagull , Oil, 5x7", available I took a loose impressionistic approach with my gull. I learn a little more with each painting I do. I have been busy with commission work lately, and its nice to find the time to try out ideas and new methods.

Broken Egg II , Oil, 5x7", SOLD I don't know why I decided to use a different technique to paint this egg. I tend to be an intuitive artist, allowing my unconscious to direct me. I was very happy with yesterday's direct approach and I am equally happy with today's result using layers. Following are photos I took of my process: Stage One: I toned the panel with a combination of cadmium red light and yellow ochre. I added a small amount of indian red to draw with and to add shadows. I lifted color using my brush and mineral spirits for the lights. Stage Two: Here I added darks with ultramarine blue, manganese violet and Van dyke brown Stage Three: I begin the mid-tones of the background scumbling with ultramarine blue, manganese violet, prussian blue, white, naples yellow and alizarin crimson. Stage Four: I add cadmium red light, cadmium yellow light and zinc yellow primarily in the yolk of the egg. I combined these colors with yellow

Broken Egg, Oil, 5x7", available It has been awhile since I have done a DPW Challenge. This was engaging for me on so many levels. I look forward to doing another.

Morning Over Oak Creek , Color pencil, 2.5 x 3.5", available The view out my front window at dawn.

A New World Opens , oil on wood panel, 25 x 27" available A new world opens for this toddler as he discovers the joys of reading. A new world opens for my husband and myself as we depart for Sedona, Arizona this Friday. Having lived in Michigan all of our lives, it will be the biggest move, yet and the most exciting! "Where one door closes, another opens".

Eggs , oil, 5x7" available This is my submission for the Shadow Challenge by Laurie Miller. The rules are simple;  Shadows can be really fun to paint. Find a subject with a dramatic shadow and be sure to make the shadow an important part of your composition.

Days Gone By , oil, 6x8" SOLD Another DPW challenge. I had fun with it and, for me, stepped out of the box.

The Bluest Eyes , oil, 7x5" SOLD This is my entry for Daily Paintworks, "The Up Close Animal Challenge". The challenge is to paint a close-up of an animal's face and to use the edges of the panel to crop or frame the face with a minimal amount of background space. Taryn Day is the challenge's author, a painter I adore.

Feline Repose , 10x8" Ebony pencil on paper, SOLD What can I say? I just love kitty cats and they will always have a special place in my heart.

There Is Love , Acrylic, 8x10" SOLD John 3:16 King James Version For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name There is Love, there is Love." Paul Stookey

Paper Peter Cottontail , Oil, 7x5" SOLD This week at Daily Paintworks is 'The Crumpled Paper Challenge' from Kim Rempel. "Take a piece of paper, crunch it up, put it in a well-lit setting and paint! It's a great exercise to study shapes and relative values." Well, I consider my entry as 'strategically' crumbled  paper and that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;)

Peek-a-Boo Farm, Oil, 5x7", available This scene from our living room window was on a humid and rather overcast afternoon, with no direct sunlight. We are situated on a very large hill of many acres and the farm is about a half mile away as the crow flies. Through the thick foliage, the farm is barely discernible as it peeks through the trees.

Evening Glow, Oil, 6x8" SOLD This big guy was all awash in the evening glow of light as my husband and I scoured the hills of northern California. I couldn't resist photographing him and using him in a painting, or two.

Grazing In The Grass, Oil, 6x8" SOLD As a child I was in love with horses. I drew them constantly and learned all that I could about them. That passion is how I learned to develop my skills as an artist.

I Have A Hammer, Oil, 8x6", available This was an interesting study for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. I almost did not submit, as I do not have a fondness for painting tools. However, I came up with a concept that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Mise En Place, Oil, 6x8" SOLD "Everything in place" is the definition of mise en place. I find it works well in the studio as well as the kitchen. I detest wasting time searching for something I cannot find readily!

Her Highness Holds Court , Oil, 7x5",  a vailable The Daily Paintworks Challenge is to paint man's best friend and his/her favorite things. This is Sasha and she looks so regal that she could be Queen!

Gar's Shoes , Oil, 5x7" available A simple still life that I set up for my students. Gar provided the shoes. I did this as a demo.

Started From Seed, Acrylic, 6x6", SOLD This is a  Daily Paintworks Challenge  posted by   James Coulter . The directions are as follows: For this challenge you'll have to go outside (yes, even if it's hot). Choose some flowers on the ground and stand from one to six feet away from them. Use only these colors: Ultra Blue, Cad Yellow Med (or Lt), Cad Rd Lt and white. Limit your painting time to one hour (don't cheat!). Using only three brush sizes (large, med and small) start with a large brush and cover the canvas with thin paint (not runny), getting most of the large, dark areas blocked in. Then work dark to light, thin to thick. Have a focal point with darker darks, lighter lights, more intense color, thicker paint and fewer sharper edges. The rest of the painting should support that area with less visual energy (softer edges, less intense colors, less contrast). Use the smallest brush only at the end and in the focal area only (last 15 minutes). Use a value