Abe

oil 10x10 inches not for sale Abraham Simpson is a hometown hero. He served his country as a Marine, and while doing so, died under enemy fire in Iraq, 2004. His mother, Maria chose the photograph I painted from. It's a great natural pose, and she especially liked that his hand is in the shot. I did too. It was my idea to paint him as a gift to his parents. I had no idea really, how emotional it would be for me. I hoped and prayed while painting that I'd be able to get his likeness but also his spirit for his parents. I thought about him in Iraq, and about him in Heaven. Maria came over yesterday to see it and really liked it. I made some minor changes today, and I'm satisfied that it's the best I can do.

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.

North On Campus -sold

oil 9x12 inches Click to Purchase I frequently go north on Campus about 10 miles to our daughter's house in Upland. This lawnmower shop next to the railroad tracks caught my eye time after time. I finally pulled over and got a shot I could work from. What is it about railroad crossing signs? I really like them. My little break from painting is done. It felt good to get back on the horse, so to speak. Cactus coming next post. I love cactus. A railroad sign with a cactus...now that would be a painting!

Paint Me Pomegranate -sold

oil 6x6 inches Click to Purchase This is the ninth and last in my pomegranate series. To view the series, go to "labels" below and click on pomegranates. Happy November, everyone!

Pom To The People

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase Part of my pomegranate series. I put this sheet of collage paper on the floor to get the view from above. Red, black and white is a favorite combination.

Tustin Autumn SOLD

oil 9x12 inches, framed. Click to Purchase My painting submitted to the Tustin Plein Air Competition. It received an Honorable Mention. To be very honest, sales yesterday were dismal. There were a lot of nice comments on my work, but almost everyone kept their cash and credit cards in their wallets. After a day like that I get discouraged. I ask myself if I'm devoting myself to making things that nobody wants. Seriously. Life is short. I apologize to those who say "don't put anything negative on your blog." I think it's important to be honest about the struggles of being a painter and a human being. Think I'll take a few days off from painting.

Logan House -sold

oil 12x9 inches Last Sunday in Tustin I met up with Brent who commissioned me to paint his lovely historic home built in 1928. His grandparents purchased it in 1934 after they married, and the original furniture is still inside. Amazing! Below is the unfinished field study. When I got home I realized the pink canvas tone was a problem. I started over with a light burnt umber and executed the work using my sketches and photo references. I have a dream of someday living in an historic home. It may never happen, but I feel honored to paint a few. Tomorrow I'll be out at the Tustin Art Walk with lots of fellow artists. It's a great day, so if you're local, don't miss it!

Sunflower Sings -sold

oil 8x8 inches Click to purchase Almost to the end of my Fair paintings, two more to go. At this point I had finally painted so much for so many days that I actually felt like I could not make another stroke. It hit me all of a sudden and felt very weird. Just then my husband arrived. We walked around the Fair, watched bees, horses and dog races, ate a lot of junk, and then I felt much better. (Just like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, if you know that story.) I finished the painting that night fueled by cotton candy. Today I was painting on the streets of Old Town Tustin for the Plein Air Competition. It was about 95 degrees. Not happy with my painting yet, but I have two more days...hopefully cooler days.

Sunflower With Pomegranates

oil 20x16 inches Click to purchase I got the urge to paint a larger painting. I'll blame it on Nick Brown who in the opposite corner of the room worked on really large canvases. He was such an inspiration, I tackled this subject while still in my tiny corner, AND I recently hit the mother lode at Aaron Brother's canvas sale. I loaded up my car with large (and some small) gallery wrap canvases. Now I've got to figure out what to do with them. Bigger room, bigger brushes, bigger blobs of paint, right? Alas, I don't think it's that simple.

Floral Bowl With Pom -SOLD

oil 8x8 inches Click to Purchase The next in the pomegranate series. It has been a busy couple of weeks. I miss the time and focus on painting I had at the fair now that I'm home again. We've been having some home improvement/repairs done and my watercolor classes are underway. Next Saturday, Oct. 20th I'll be at the Old Town Tustin Art Walk. This is my third year and I can't wait. So much fun! Come visit me on the corner of Main and Prospect if you can! It's from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

This painting is available at Vander Molen Fine Art, Arcadia, CA

Jar With Bird

oil 8x8 inches Click to purchase In this setup I liked the pairing of glass with ceramic, and the sparkle of both.

Floral Bowl 2 -sold

oil 8x8 inches Click to purchase Still posting work from my time at the fair, I got some flowers at the grocery store knowing I'd be able to paint from those for a few days. "Paint 'em 'till they die", I say. Where are the pomegranates? Elizabeth thought I was sick of painting them and tossed them out! Maybe she was sick of watching me paint them! Just kidding. So a little break in the pom action. Good thing I had the flowers, and my series continued after Dawn brought more pomegranates.

Seeds -sold

oil 6x6 inches When I decided to paint the seeds, I really wasn't sure I could pull it off. I reminded myself to paint from dark to light and make marks the shape and colors that I saw. I kept going, leaving each mark alone until I was done. It worked out. Whew!

Bird With Pomegranate

oil 6x6 inches Click to Purchase The colors of the previous painting excited me so much, I decided to do this simpler arrangement. I love this little ceramic bird. This series has a subtle feeling of Fall. Our evenings are getting cooler, the sycamores look fall-ish, but it's supposed to hit 108 degrees here today! Can't believe it's October already.

Poms & Bird

oil 6x18 inches not for sale Today I'm off to the last day of the Fair. I met and worked with the nicest people, painted more than twenty paintings and sold quite a few. Elizabeth and I had a blast working alongside each other. So grateful to her for talking me into it and sharing her space. This painting is one in the pomegranate series, and possibly my favorite so far. The format was new and fun. Might be for sale at a later date.

Twigs & Pomegranates

oil 6x6 inches not for sale In the previous painting I toned my canvas with thalo red rose and Indian yellow which gave it a glow. With this one I toned with burnt umber. I really like the earthy feel. In other news, I'm happy to report that two of my military plane paintings have sold ("Flight Day Prep and War Bird"), and I'll be able to donate the proceeds to The Wounded Warrior Project. I don't know who the buyer was, but if you're reading this, thank you SO much! To see the WWP paintings, click on "benefit for WWP" in labels below.

Pomegranates -sold

oil 8x8 inches Click to Purchase When I was a kid, a neighbor had a pomegranate bush in their back yard. I would climb their side fence and crouching at the top of the fence, work my way to the back to "acquire" one for myself. (As if my feet actually in their backyard would get me caught!) I think they knew I did this, but they didn't care. The mother painted oils in her family room and the father made anything out of wood, including guitars and later, an easel for me. Funny how a piece of fruit conjures up so many good memories. The first time painting them, it's a lot like painting pears or gala apples...lots of color variations.

Storm Passing- San Francisco

oil 8x10 inches Click to Purchase This is the last of the recent San Francisco paintings. Even painting from photographs I get the feeling I'm right back there in that beautiful city. We stopped very near the Golden Gate Bridge and looked back toward Fisherman's Wharf. What a sight! Though this might be better as a larger painting, I'm very happy with the expanse conveyed by the sky.