In The Zone -a plein air painting from the Balboa Fun Zone, CA -SOLD

oil 14x11 magnify This painting is available at the Debra Huse Gallery 949-723-6171. This is a back of my car shot before I took it into the gallery, and below an easel shot. Fortunately I got set up early enough to start this piece before the ferris wheel started up. I got the drawing in without any figures, then painted the ferris wheel first, then the rest of the scene. I added the figures last from shots I had taken with my iphone while painting, then painted the sidewalk around them. Lastly, I did some edge work for a feeling of movement. Several of the competing artists painted this scene. Nice to see the different interpretations. IN OTHER NEWS: I have a demonstration coming up on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga. Associated Artists of the Inland Empire will hold their annual show in Celebration Hall. Demo is from 10am till 9pm with breaks for lunch and dinner. Over 300 pieces of artwork will be on display Sept 11-13. Come on out to Victoria Gardens for a meal at one of the restaurants and enjoy the art!

Got Candy? -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches This painting is available at the Debra Huse Gallery. Last chance to purchase one of the many great paintings for Just Plein Fun Invitational! Just visit the website to see them all. 949-723-6171 While I was MIA, my husband and I enjoyed a two week once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris. I hope you enjoy the pictures below. Now we are packing up the house. In the next few weeks we'll move about 10 miles north to Upland. I'm very excited because I'll have a much larger studio for painting and teaching. Don't know if I can keep painting while preparing to move, but I'm going to try.

Montmarte was my favorite place in Paris. It was thrilling to walk the cobblestones the impressionists walked and eat lunch while surrounded by artists selling their work. Sacre Couer, at the top of the hill was my favorite cathedral of the many we visited.

Utilities -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA SOLD

oil 10x8 inches magnify By the afternoon of the third day I was feeling a bit overbaked and extra crispy from the sun. So I walked to this familiar spot I've painted in the past knowing I could sit in the shade. I hear the residents of the island are not fond of the utility lines and poles and there's talk of burying them. For me, they add to the island charm and are great verticals for paintings! I've always loved the sun and shadow between these two houses. This painting is framed and available at the Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island 949-723-6171 IN OTHER NEWS: We will be on vacation for the next two weeks. So there will be no posting and no shipping until after August 27th. See you then!

Banner Day -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify Here's a back of the car shot, the only one I have of the finished painting! We were painting like crazy, framing in the backs of our cars and hanging them wet in the gallery. Sometimes I'd take it off the wall the next day to tweak it a bit the back of my car. In the scene, the cars were a big challenge. Work trucks kept coming and going. But I loved the flags strung up across the street, hence the title. This painting is available at the Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA 949-723-6171

Deck Work -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify The second morning I found a nice place in the shade for this piece. The worker was coming and going, but I got plenty of phone shots of him in different positions. I placed the figure in the initial draw-in, then finished him last using my photo references. The human element always adds life and interest to what otherwise might be a fairly mundane scene. This painting is framed and available at The Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA. 949-723-6171

One Way -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA -sold

oil 12x9 inches magnify I painted this on the first afternoon of the Just Plein Fun Invitational. The surfboard in the corner is not immediately noticed, but I intended to make it the focal point along with the umbrella. When I finished the gallery was closed, so I left it framed and in my car overnight. Then I had an idea. In the morning at the back of my car I gave the surfboard a red stripe down the center. It brought a spark to the focal area and a nice foil to the blues, tans and greens throughout the painting. And...I was so excited I forgot to shoot a pic of it! Well you can see it in the gallery and on the website. This painting is available at The Debra Huse Gallery 949-723-6171.

Balboa Bronco -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA.

oil 12x9 inches magnify First morning's painting for the Just Plein Fun Invitational. I set up to paint this mechanical horsie and the colorful storefront. Children hopped on an off while I painted, but this one little boy in particular became my official model. Once he discovered I was painting him, he kept coming back to model again and again, looking over at me to see if I was looking at him. Adorable! What a great way to start the week! This painting is available for purchase at The Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island. 949-723-6171.

Here are some of the thirteen invited artists. (from top left) Tom Biagini, myself, Michelle Byrne, Sally Jordan, Eileen McCullough, David Solomon, Rita Pacheco, Susie Hyer.

L-5 Cottage At Crystal Cove -a plein air painting from Crystal Cove State Park -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify This was a fun little piece which sold practically off the easel. The next day we headed home and I started preparing frames and packing up for the Just Plein Fun Invitiational on Balboa Island. Nine paintings in six days, and meeting other artists...it was a great experience! Sorry I'm slow lately in my postings, but they're coming up next.