"The Days Afterglow"

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

This is a wonderful sunset that I caught one early evening out my bedroom window. It might have been after a rain storm. Unfortunately, clouds aren't a daily thing here in sunny Orange County. So, when they're abounding, my head is in the clouds. I believe this painting will go to a close friend.

My husband's family is here and I'm thankful he cooks the feast we'll have today. No, I'm not just sitting around, I did all the baking yesterday. Okay, he cooked dinner last night, too! Yes, I'm very thankful he likes to cook! I know I have many things I'm thankful for this year!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

"Field of Mustard Seed Flowers"

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

This came from a photo that I had taken when we lived in Northern California. Spring time brings these wonderful flowers to life. The carpet of yellow is so vivid. I remember having to be careful driving sometimes because I would scope out places that I wanted to take pictures. I took the less is more approach to painting this and I was surprised how quick this painting turned out. I might tweek the sky a bit but I'm pretty happy with it. My daughter loves it and I might give it to her. What a nice mom.

"The Tangled Dance"

10"x8" oil on canvas panel

This painting started from my first oil plein air outing. I went out with a friend to gain a little experience before taking an oil plein air workshop. Of course, the first mistake was we went out late, around noon, when there is no shadows. It actually worked in my favor. The park we went to had plenty of oaks and trees all around and the sun dappled through causing great lighting on the trees and ground. I walked out of there with just a color study. After my workshop I revisited this and it was a lot of fun to be loose with the strokes. I'm very happy with it. I actually took a picture of more trees next to this scene and hope to paint it as well.

"Sunflowers"

10"x8" oil on panel

This is a little painting I've been working on (and off) now for a while. It's for my son's "end of year" teacher gift. I came up with this flower by asking her in September what her favorite flower was and she couldn't ask why. It's almost done. If I leave it alone then maybe it would be.