Aspens -a Colorado landscape in oil

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Another piece using my photos from Colorado. The goal here was to convey the light on those glowing aspens. I lightened up and simplified those dark clouds a bit, but still they're pretty powerful in the painting.

Home On The Range -a Colorado landscape in oil -SOLD

oil 11x14 inches magnify/purchase info Finally, one fresh off the easel. I worked this up from my photo reference taken September 2014 in Southern Colorado. We were staying at a lodge on "the front range." Though it looked like a flat prairie, we were actually at 8,000 ft. elevation on the eastern slope of the Rockies. No wonder I was breathless just moving around! We had dramatic skies the whole time. First time I've used cobalt straight out of the tube for sky. It was that brilliant. Gotta love Colorado skies!

Winter Arrangement II -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 10x10 inches magnify/purchase info I love having a contrast of textures in my arrangements: the shiny hammered silver versus the pinecone and dried little pomegranates for example. My sister-in-law gave me this plant at Thanksgiving, and the crisp white flowers were a lot of fun to paint. How do you paint something so complicated? First I block in the dark green foliage amid and around the flowers. Then a few warmer, slightly lighter greens within the darks. Next, I painted the shadow sides of the flowers, indicating the petal shapes with brushwork. Then I painted the light, warm sides of the flowers, using brushwork again to convey shape and form. Last, I added a few bright green and yellow-white accents and the yellow orange centers. I'm not sure I'll be able to post again before Christmas, so MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY belated HANUKKAH to everyone!

Apple Of His Eye -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 8x6 inches magnify/purchase info A short painting session called for a small canvas and simple subject. Looking at the one simple apple in my hand, a Bible verse came to mind: "Keep me as the apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings." It's a prayer, actually. Psalm 17:8 I deliberately formed a cross with my brushes. So here we have what might be considered a "religious" painting without looking "religious." It's more about a relationship, really.

Winesaps -a still life painting in oil

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase information Sometimes the painting I'm working on gives me an idea for the next one. The color shifts in some apples amaze me, so I made that the focus in "Winesaps." On a personal note, life has been spinning at warp speed since the end of August. Paris trip, moving, Idaho trip, Thanksgiving, and currently staying with three of our grandkids for nine days while their parents have an anniversary getaway. Somehow I sneak in a bit of painting here and there. Maybe normal will return in January! IN OTHER NEWS: I'm THRILLED to announce that last night I was awarded First Place at the Debra Huse Gallery for my painting "Lemon & Grape Junction." What a wonderful surprise and honor! Thank you, judge Jeff Horn and Debra Huse Gallery. Be sure to see all the wonderful small works in Holiday Treasures Salon, Debra Huse Gallery on Balboa Island. It runs through Dec. 27th and works are also online for viewing and purchase. Click HERE, go to EVENTS and scroll down.

Photo credit: fellow artist Kim Vanderhoek. Thank you, Kim.