"You Looking at Me?"

8"x10" - oil on canvas

Thought I'd try my hand at painting a bird. This is a Lesser Goldfinch. I really enjoyed painting the detail on him, the feathers and eye area. I actually used some of my silver paint for the highlight on his beak.

"Eggs all in one..."

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

This is the second painting I've done using this birds nest that I found with it's eggs. Fortunately, I took photos of it with the eggs in the nest as I had a few unfortunate egg destruction. From kids poking their fingers into them to my kitty eating one. I think I only have one or two left. You might not be able to see it, but I added silver and copper paint to the delicate interior of the birds nest. I enjoy painting birds nests and know there will be more to come...maybe I'll add a bird with the next one.

"Loon"

8"x6" oil on panel - NFS

I forgot to post this painting I did for my girlfriend Kitty. Her family has a camp in Maine. She's a writer and loves to hear their songs as she sits on the porch writing away during the summer months. I thought it fitting to paint one and present it to her during my visit last October.

"The Colors of a Summer Night II"

36"x18" diptych - oil on canvas NFS

This is a painting of a sunset I captured one summer over 4th Lake, Old Forge, NY...it's where my husband grew up, the Adirondacks. For the past 22 years this is where we spend our summer vacations. I hope our kids keep the tradition going when they have their own children. It's a beautiful peaceful place! We have many wonderful memories of family and friends there.

"City the Kitty" edited

12"x16" oil on canvas

City the Kitty has his on fb wall. One of his moms, Lori Shepler, is a wonderful professional photographer and captures City doing a lot of silly stuff. About a week ago City posted on his wall that he wanted to see himself sketched or painted. So, I decided to take him up on it. After all, I did have a wonderful photo to go by. I'm very happy with the final piece and I believe City will be too. The back ground I layed down on the first try. That almost never happens. The bowl came last as I wasn't sure how to handle it. This is when I stopped thinking and just spread the paint and the magic happened. I had some left eye issues, but found my problem, placement of the highlight. This is why practice makes perfect, well almost. Lori is going to take our family pictures of us on the beach. I just need to set a date. Not that we have horrible weather here in OC, but spring seems like a good time for it.

I decided to let this painting rest for a week and went back to it and saw what my issues where. I'm very happy with the out come. I even put in copper paint in his eyes...only can appreciate it looking at actual painting.

"Mojo"

8"x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas SOLD

This is Mojo. He was a joy to paint. His owner is my cuz, well my cuz's wife, she's my family too. I might tweak his whiskers a bit more, but for now I feel he's complete and looking great. I think she'll approve.

I'm on to the next orange tabby and will post pictures of my process with that painting.

"Stacked" - edited

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

I wanted to experiment with painting sand. I found these stones at Laguna Beach. I love to look for small shells and wonderful stones to add to my jar. It was fun to paint and hope to paint sand, stones, and shells together again.

I realized the picture I had originally posted was not the finished piece. I take pictures sometimes just to see my progress. This is the final picture...I know the difference, plus I've signed it! :)

"Lola"

12"x16" oil on canvas SOLD

Lola is Havanese and doesn't shed. That must be nice as my dog and cat shed. I had the pleasure to meet her to take a few pictures and she is sweet and full of personality! And yes, VERY, VERY soft!!

"Zephyr"

11"x14" oil on canvas NFS

This is my niece Shannon's horse Zephyr. I took a bunch of pictures when we went to her barn during our visit Thanksgiving week. She had her fuzzy winter coat on. I'm giving this to her for her birthday.

"Chica"

8"x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas SOLD

This is my girlfriend Kitty's kitty. She's has wonderful markings and lots of whiskers. Those were the most fun to paint. And as you can see she has a lot of attitude.

"Surprise Pond"

12"x16" oil on canvas

This is from a photo I took while on vacation this summer in the Adirondacks. I actually got in a canoe with my husband to get close ups of the lily pads and flowers. Artists can go to many extremes to get a great shot for a painting. These pads after a while drove me crazy. I had to take a lot of breaks. They remind me of Pacman, only green. Not painting anything soon that's green.

"Who Needs A Rake?"

8"x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

This is Malcolm. Another animal first. He is yet another barn yard friend of my friend Lisa. She told me that goats are great leaf eaters. They're like potato chips to them. I think my parents could use a couple of goats as they are constantly raking leaves in the fall. He was fun to paint and the photo I had really didn't have a leaf in his mouth, but after hearing the story I added it. I think it gave him character.

"The Magic of Merlin"

8"x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Another first for me! I painted this gorgeous rabbit who I've been told was a ginormous bunny. I didn't get the pleasure to know him personally, but I feel I felt his spirit while painting him. He unfortunately didn't make the heat over this past summer back east.

"Sprinkled with Sugar"

8"x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

This is Sugar. She's my cousin's cousin, Lisa's barn cat. She took a wonderful photo of her that I just had to paint. I loved her expression. I'm extremely happy with the finished painting. Love all the color! Did I forget a color?

"Miss Ruby"

8"x10" oil on canvas

Another kitter I just finished painting. Ruby is a sweet and friendly cat I befriended at my girlfriends while visiting in October. I was missing my own cat and she kept me company. She posed perfectly for a candid shot.

"T-Bear"

8"x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

I have a few "putty tats" I've been painting. This is the first one of three (at the moment). This one is for my cousin, Tim and his wife Kelly. T-Bear was my cousins favorite kitty and it was a pleasure to paint him for them. Tim will be seeing this for the first time here on my blog as Kelly and I have been working together behind the scenes to get him painted. So much for a Christmas gift, lol! Thanks Kelly!! love you both!!

"Big Tomato"

5"x5" gallery wrapped canvas

This is a painting I did of a girlfriend's tomato she grew in her garden. It was a whopping 1 1/4 lbs., that's huge! It was fun to paint as it was a colorful fellow, nothing like a home grown tomato.

"Pearfect Company"

10"x8" oil on canvas

My husband was going to the grocer so I asked him to pick-up two red Bartlett pears. This is all he could find, Starkcrimsons. I'm very pleased with the finished piece. I didn't tone my canvas because I was anxious to start a new painting so it took many layers of paint. Lesson learned. So, now when I'm not feeling too creative I tone a few canvas' so this won't happen again.

"Hold On"

6"x4 1/2" oil on canvas board

A little trial of a dragonfly. It looks better in person, but that is usually the way paintings are. Might tweak later, but for now leaving him alone to just...hold on.

"Ben" - edited

12"x12" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

This is my first time painting a horse and I was very impressed how quickly I finished. I might have to attempt another. I certainly enjoy the challenge of painting something I've never painted...might have to do it again.

August 28 - Tweaked this painting today as I wasn't totally happy with it. This is what happens when you leave something along for several days. He's much softer now. He's now ready for his owner.

"Room no. 6"

3 1/2" x 5" oil on canvas panel

This is a small skeleton key I borrowed from my sister. It's fun to paint these little antique pieces. I painted the key first on a black background really not sure what to do with the background. I ended up using a glaze of yellow ochre and then lightening the key up a bit for it to pop. I'm going to hammer one of my real old square nails into this painting as well. Down to 2 nails left.

"Free To Go"

8"x6" oil on panel

I had a different title for this painting, but Megan came up with this title and it stuck. I think I'm pretty much done with this. Maybe a few small detail touches on highlights and of course my signature. This was fun to paint; I actually love to paint antiques. They have a history I can't see. My sister will be glad to know I painted it as I borrowed this lock and key from her. I also have a skeleton key from her. I should paint that so I can give them both back to her this summer.

Barn and Found Wood Frames

I wanted to show how I used barn and found wood and objects to frame some small paintings I previously posted. It's just a unique way to showcase my work. Not sure if you can see it in the photos just below, but I put actual old nails in the paintings. If you see and read my previous post you can get a better view and read where the nail comes from. I actually have 3 nails left and not sure yet how I'll use them.

6"x8" oil on panel ~ "a key to it all"

2"x6" oil on panel ~ "golden key"

8"x6" oil on panel ~"hugs and a kiss"

8"x6" oil on panel ~ "lucky shirt"

"Ladybug"

6"x1 1/2" oil on panel - on found bark

My husband helped me one weekend finding objects I could use as frames or incorporate into my paintings. He climbed the hill in front of us and brought back old fence pieces, barbed wire, bark from the ground. Little by little I've been incorporating them, even creating the painting for them; like this piece. It's just something fun and different to do. Trying to think green.

"P-Dan"

9"x12" - oil on canvas SOLD

Photo doesn't do her justice. I can't wait to deliver to two of them to the owner next week. I always love seeing clients expression. That's why I paint; to make others happy.

"Turtle"

12"x9" - oil on canvas SOLD

Turtle is finished and her sister, P-Dan is coming along great. Will post her soon. I'm just giving her a tune up.

8"x10" oil on panel ~ "the Key to it all"

6"x8" oil on panel ~ "Hugs and a Kiss"

A couple of small paintings I've finished recently. My cuz sent me 5 old rusty nails and I've been having fun incorporating them into my paintings. The rocks are from a litterally rocky beach in Santa Barbara and of course I needed to take a few interesting ones home to paint. The backgrounds were painted, hmmm probably a year ago and never knew what to paint on them, until now. I like when things work out like that. You do something and you're not sure why and then you figure it out. Sounds like life!! Enjoy!

"Audit" and "Syntax" (edited photo of Syntax)

10"x8" oil on canvas - complete

I look forward to hearing how these go over as a gift.

"Audit"

10"x8" oil on canvas - in progress still???

This is just one of two dog commissions that I'm finishing up on. They're both long haired Dashunds, this one is Audit and the other one that I'll post real soon is Syntax. Love the names. They've been a fun challenge for me. Unfortunately, they have both gone to doggy heaven so I think they'll be touched when they get these as a gift.

"Curtis' Cottage"

6"x8" oil on canvas board

This is a little cottage on 4th Lake, Adirondacks that used to be owned by my husband's aunt Jean. After her passing a really nice family bought it and fixed it up. It has a pond view to the left as well as the lake view. It would have been nice to have purchased it but managing the little house living here in CA would have been impossible. We're so glad the Curtis' own and gave it TLC. This was another building practice, I tried to remain loose. I might tweak it a bit a more. This will be delivered to the Curtis' this summer.