Art by Mary Rochelle Burnham

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.

Shooting Star , Print, 8x10, available I played with the oil sketch of 'Marilyn' in Photoshop to see how I would of liked to resolve the portrait had I had the time to finish it. I like the way this turned out so much, that one day I may get around to painting it. Oh, if only I had all the time to do everything that I longed to do, I would have to live several lifetimes and be really energetic!

Marilyn, Oil, 11x14, SOLD I started this Sunday evening when I found out what the Daily Paintworks Challenge was. I was pretty excited and I had expected to do a polished piece. Well, sometimes life happens, and I have been pushed and pulled in several directions that just hasn't included time to paint. Oh, I hate that so much! Good news for you as I am auctioning off this lovely oil sketch for $1.