"Laguna Keyhole"

12"x9" oil on canvas panel - in progress

Over this past weekend I attended a one day workshop with Greg LaRock and he was so kind to critique this painting for me. He gave me some great tips. So, I've been working on this to get the atmosphere right and get my water to "lay down" the way it should. It's slowly getting there.

"Shadow Boxing"

16"x12" oil on canvas - Finally complete!!

I'm happy how this came out. Adding the hightlights and details always makes a difference. I loved painting the old leather. The color is pretty acurate in this photo. I did sign it to the left, but softened it as my eye directly went to it.

"No Stopping Any Time"(Crystal Cove)

8"x6" oil on panel (in progress)

My friend P.K. and I went to Crystal Cove a couple of Fridays ago. It turned out to be windy on the beach so we set up in front of the strip of old garages where the wind didn't blow. We of course had lunch first at the Beachcomer Cafe, yum! I did a color study not thinking I'd continue on with it, but once in the studio I dabbled with it and this is how it's coming. I love the character of these old buildings. This pic is a little blurry. I think I'm starting to get my groove with plein air painting. Practice, practice, practice!

"Pearing Up"

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

Finally complete. Added highlights and bruising, as all things aren't perfect!!

Friends!

P.K. (she's a beautiful person inside and out) and I

Miya (Moo) and Brookline - very entertaining duo!

My new friend, P.K. and her two girls, Miya and Brookline came to visit. I met P.K. at my last workshop and we hit it off. She is a very talented artist! It's wonderful to share our passion for art, along with our life stories. Of course, much laughter was involved!! We origninally had plans to plein air paint on Friday, but it rained. So, we went and had our toes painted instead, had great conversation with wine, and a homecooked meal, compliments of my hubby. Her girls got along with my girl, Roxy. My boy, Bug, just wanted to play, kitty with claws and eyeballs are not a good mix. P.K. is planning to move to Ireland this year. Our plan is to get out together and paint as much as possible. My heart is already sad, but it's all good! She'll remain my friend, always!

April Showers!!- updated

April is the weirdest month for me! April holds the most friends I know for a month that have a B-Day! I must draw Arians towards me some how. (Added one)

April 2 - Wendy, neighbor/friend
April 3 - Samantha, niece
April 4 - Old (real old) boy friend, Bob
April 5 - Paul, friend and awesome exercize instructor
April 10 - Kristen, neighbor/friend
April 10 - Dave, friend of hubby and mine
April 11 - Tim, husbands best friend and mine
April 14 - Patty, best friend
April 15 - Monique, best friend
April 16 - Aunt Mary, on husbands side
April 19 - Kitty, my other best friend
April 20 - Scott, husband
April 20 - Winnie, mother-in-law
April 26 - Kory, neighbor/friend

Whew, I might have missed someone, ya think?

Busy Finishing!

12"x9" oil on canvas panel - "Laguna Key Hole" in progress

This is one of the other paintings that I liked from the last workshop I took. I made a color study, took pictures and worked on it in the studio. I think I like this process. It fits with my technique. I have a little bit to go. I might re-visit this area again, it was very pretty, and relaxing.

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Pearing Up"

This just needs a little more hightlights and then it's done.

5x7" oil on panel - "Laguna Sky"

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Grape Scott"

Again, same thing, needs a little more hightlights.

My Lovebug

This is my 5 month, almost 6 month old, Bug. I've posted him before. He really thinks he's a dog. He plays fetch with me in the morning while I have my coffee. I throw, what used to look like a mouse, and he returns it right to me, usually jumping onto my lap and dropping it. I grew up with cats and never had one fetch before. He even plays with my dog who's 5 times his size. He's a charmer!

Busy Painting!

I haven't posted in a while, but I have been very busy painting. Here's just a few that I've been working on. I have three more that I'll post soon.

5"x7" canvas panel - in progress

This was one of the paintings I had started during my last plein air workshop. It looked nothing like this. I took a picture and I've been working on it in the studio. I guess that's where I feel most comfortable. Not that I'm going to stop painting plein air. I'm more comfortable getting a color study vs. something finished. I have another painting that I liked that I've been working on as well. I'll post that soon.

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Grape Scott" in progress

Still working one grape at a time on this one. The grapes are starting to get that glow that I want to capture.

16"x12" oil on canvas - "Shadow Boxing" in progress

I still need to work on this one a bit more. I like how the leather is looking. The actual painting is much warmer than this photo.

A Few Small Paintings

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Grape Scott" in process

I thought I'd show a few small paintings I've been working on. The title of this piece, well, my husband's name is Scott and I couldn't think of anything else. The grain of the wood has been fun to paint. I'm daunted by the grapes. But, I'll take it one grape at a time...

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "pearing up" in process

I love painting pears. It's been a while since I've painted them. I love the yellow-green pears with the soft red blending through the skin. It's always a fun challenge to capture the soft dots on the skin.

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Bug" in process

It was hard to capture a great photo of my 5 month old. He finally stopped moving to allow me to photograph him. I'm not sure if this will be the last painting of my little bugger. It's not the most creative pose. But, it's not a blurrrr like the other shots.

"Shadow Boxing" in progress

16"x12" oil on canvas

I'm liking how this is coming along, almost done. I've started a few new small pieces in between the drying time for this. I wish I could figure out how to paint wet on wet. I try but always pull off the color. I have another plein air workshop next week and I hope I can focus on being loose and learn to paint wet on wet. Habits are hard to break. Not that I'm trying to change the way I paint but, I truely enjoy trying new aproaches to painting. The end result can be awesome (or disappointing). The fact that I give it a whirl is what counts in the end.

"Shadow Boxing" in progress

16"x12" oil on canvas

Underpainting complete, now for the fun part! I'm not sure if I want to keep the brush strokes loose or get tight with it. I guess the brush will guide me.

"Shadow Boxing" in progress

16"x12" oil on canvas

I've been kick boxing since last May, and I love it!! Yes, this turned into another one of my goals...bikini this summer! I know, I know, your saying what, at your age! Why not. I came across a photo of an old pair of boxing gloves and thought it fitting to paint them. I'll show you this painting in its entire process.

"Bird's Nest" finally completed?

12"x12" oil on canvas

I believe that this is finally completed. This photo doesn't give this painting justice, as the colors of the nest are richer with many different browns and the blue is actually more teal. I'm hoping to invest in a better camera this year, maybe that will help.

Like yourselves, I have many personal goals for this New Year. Top of my list is painting, painting and more painting. I hope to get myself out and about more with the possibility of selling some of these. I have a goal of having a showing in November at my house (I need to start somewhere). I'll be inviting my friends and neighbors to show them I'm not really a recluse. I notice that some of the blogs I follow mention they want to paint a certain amount of paintings within the year. I probably should have that kind of goal as well.

Happy New Year!!

"Bird's Nest" - in progress

12"x12" oil on canvas

It's almost done!! I like how I've toned the blue down. Today I'm using a pallette knife to soften the top portion as I don't like the square shapes. It already looks different then this. I'll post, hopefully, the finished piece tomorrow.

"Bird's Nest" - in progress

12"x12" oil on canvas

I've been working slowly on the background. I'm letting the paint guide me on this, as I don't have a final "look" in mind.

"Birds Nest" still in progress

12"x12" oil on canvas

This piece is taking me longer than it should. I still need to decide on the background. My intention was the nest resting on weathered painted wood. I think this color might be too bold. I have some old shutters that have paint chipping off so I might incorporate that look onto the background.

"Birds Nest"

12"x12" oil on canvas (in progress)

This is a nest that I found out in front of my house this past spring. The bird left it with all its contents, I only have one egg left. I have kids who have friends who poked some of them. Then there is my new puddy tat who ate one. The background will probably change. I've been focusing on painting the nest. I'll give you an update of it soon.

"Heroes" and company - Tag!

16"x12" oil on canvas (in progress)

I've been working on this one on and off for a while. This is from last year's devistating OC fires. I saw this photo and had to paint it. I have some adjusting to do with the figures.

My Bug being a bug.

I've been tagged byJoanne Giesbrecht, http://thistledown-arts.blogspot.com/
Oh, I think she took me off her list on her blog, my name isn't there anymore. Maybe I'm taking too long to do it? Well, I'll continue anyway.

I'm going to do this like artist, Peter Yesis, http://dailypaintingpractice.blogspot.com/. He didn't tag anyone, just listed 7 things. The only reason I'm not tagging is it looks like everyone's been recently tagged.

1. I was born on my father's birthday (my husband was born on his mother's).

2. I met my husband on a blind date.

3. I have a canvas fettish. I can't walk into an art store without coming out with canvases. And yes, my art closet is full of all different sizes, like an art store.

4. I don't like driving to a place I've never been. I think it's a fear of getting lost. I've even made my husband take me to places the day before. It must be a past life thing.

5. I always have a song playing in my mind. I think in song. Sounds funny putting that one down. The songs change with my mood, experiences of the day, etc. I think my daughter has inherited that one.

6. I love thunderstorms and snowstorms. Maybe I should phrase it another way, I miss thunderstorms and snowstorms.

7. What else? Hmm...I'm a perfectionist, argh, did I want to admit that one? I'm trying to break my habit, really I am.

"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.

"Irises"

12"x24" oil on canvas

This is a different style for me. I again, experimented with a black background, adding color onto that letting the black peak through. I enjoyed doing this piece. It was casual and easy and I liked the boldness from something so very delicate.

"Puddytat"

We just adopted an adorable 3 month old boy kitty on Saturday. Here he is with my son, Matthew. The kitten currently has no name, just a bunch of nicknames, see title for one. I've thought of Leo (he was born in August like myself), Tigger, Romeo, Merlot, Dudley, Roo, Bug, Ringo, Cooper, Jasper, Bean...I just can't make up my mind and I have kids that don't like many of the names. I'm sure he will be a painting subject in the future. Mean while he's keeping me company in the studio.

"A Shady Path"

20"x16" oil on canvas (in progress)

This is another painting I've decided to finish. Again, it's from when I lived up north. I'm not exactly sure why I stopped painting it at the time, but I suspect it was my insecurity of knowing how to capture it the way it was in my head. I do like how the grassy dirt road brings your eye into the painting. I need to rework the green oak in front, there is too much detail and needs to be softened. Please feel free to leave a comment. I learn a lot from other artists.

"Pumpkins"

16"x20" oil on canvas

I love how this came out. I espectially like the stem of the front pumpkin. It has uncanny resemblance to a witches hat. I actually finished this last fall, but I just signed it. I'm thinking that last year I must not have believed it was finished. This is that perfection thing that hangs over me. Well, I got over it. It's done! In fact, now that fall is upon us, I've put it on my fireplace mantel.

"The One and Only"

24"x12" oil on canvas (in progress)

I started this painting when I lived in Northern California. I just loved the soft hills there and the wonderful old oaks. In summer the hills are red and in winter they are various greens. I must confess that the photo did have another tree to the left on the distant hill. I originally included it only to remove it later. I also exagerated the color. It was just something fun and different for me to do. It's very close to being finished.

"The Colors of a Summer Night"

"20x16" oil on canvas

I believe I've finally have finished this one. I should have posted the actual photo of this to show that I didn't exagerate any of the colors of it. Now I just need to finish the typtech I started of this same subject.

"a Pair of Pears"

5"x7" oil on paper

I had these two frames that I bought at a great price. I didn't have any 5"x7" canvas panels so, I thought I'd experiment. I took scrapbook paper that I cut to fit. The paper absorbed the first coat of oil paint but once that dried it was easier to apply the next coats. I was very pleased with the results. I'm sure I'll be painting on paper again. I just need to go visit the scrapbook store to get some interesting paper.