Bloomin'

oil 8x8 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. Another botanical painting from UCR's garden. Cactus blooms are always fascinating to me.

Prickly

oil 10x10 inches on gallery wrap canvas ready to hang click here to bid My photo reference for this piece was taken on a Spring trip to Joshua Tree National Park. I've done some watercolors from the same reference, and it was a good challenge to work it in oil. I'm working on a portrait that's taking me a while, then on my way to Idaho for a few days. Don't know when I'll post next, but I'll be back.

Beavertail Blossoms

oil 14x11 inches on gallery wrap canvas ready to hang Click to Purchase I'm really enjoying the gallery wrap canvases, both for their texture and boxy shape. Thanks to Carol Carmichael who graciously shared some ideas on finishing the sides. Last spring at Descanso Gardens with a friend, we found this wonderful array of color. The label nearby was "Fairy Duster." I'm hoping it was indeed for this cactus! Some cactus expert out there correct me if I'm wrong! (Later note: WRONG!) A long time ago I discovered that the standard reds will not make some floral pinks, so here's a little chart I made before painting this piece. I ended up using ThRR- thalo red rose. My little sketchbook is a Moleskine with brown cardboard-like cover, perforated sheets and comes in packs of three. I use them for notes and sketching in the field, and color swatches at home.

Cactus Crown

oil 11x14 on gallery wrap canvas not for sale After not painting for two weeks, I found it difficult to get myself started. Started feeling irritable. (Just ask my dog.) Reminded me of getting off the bike while climbing a steep hill. Trying to get the pedals turning again, it's easy to fall if you don't do it right. So I found a subject that really, really excited me, then I painted bigger than usual, on not the usual support, with not the usual brushes. It felt new and fresh. I had a ball, and this is what came out. I like it so much I'm going to keep it.

Cactus Monster

watercolor on Arches paper 10x14 inches
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Every Tuesday night I get to paint with some artist friends. Yay! It's a good opportunity for me to play with watercolor...nothing serious, just mess around. I get a kick out of making cactus needles with masking fluid and have done a few prickley paintings this way. Some pretty pink pricklies are previously posted. (Couldn't resist.) This one appeared as a monster.

Bloomin'

watercolor on paper 14x12 inches
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I had a wonderful time demonstrating for Santa Ana Ebell Society today, a welcoming and interested group, some of whom stayed on way past time to see me finish. Thanks, ladies! The format is a larger version of a previous painting in the hopes that everyone could see, but to finish I had to paint much faster than usual! A cactus in bloom always interests me--tough and prickly yet with such beautiful flowers. Two of my favorite color pairs are here also: pink with orange, and yellow-green with red-violet. Yummy combos!

Pretty Prickly -sold

watercolor on Arches watercolor paper 8 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches

A photo taken at Joshua Tree National Park was my reference for this painting. The needles were painted using alternating layers of mask and washes, a technique I had been wanting to try with cactus for quite some time. Just finally got around to it! It turned out beautiful...and as always, is more vibrant in person. I may do some more of these--just too much fun!