Painting Give Away

In an effort to direct more traffic and comments to my blog, I am going to give away a painting at the end of Oct. Everyone who subscribes to my blog and leaves a message will be entered...leave more than one message and you will get a better chance. The attached photo is of the painting I will give away.  The subscribe menu is on the right on my blog. Thanks!

Dance Me, Daddy oil on panel 7"x7"

Dance me, Daddy. Dance me around.
Don’t let my feet ever touch down.
There’s nothing better than being your girl.
If I am your princess, then you are king of the world.” Cindy Morgan

Unexpected View 10"x4.5" oil on panel

This was a DPW challenge to do the foreshortening on the bodies.  I added in the sea gull to give them something to look at and tell a story.  The sea gulls are like tax collectors on the beach, always looking for some payment for your privilege to be there.  They are willing to steal it if you don't leave it for them.  The challenge for me on this one was to simplify the photo which was very cluttered and had a third person in it, to get the values and colors right so that it was unified, warm but had some pop.  I like the size and shape of the panel.

Youth Sublime 6"x6" oil on canvas

"Youth Sublime" came from an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem and I thought it fit this painting well.  It is hard to describe the joy and magic experienced in a child seeing that open span of water with all its possibilities.

Sand Castles 6"x6" oil

Beaches everywhere in my studio and the leaves are turning outside and I am wearing socks and jackets!  This is a lake beach and a family moment.  SOLD

Dance of the Hot Peppers 6"x6" oil on canvas

Silly?  Yes, but it gave me a chance to paint my hot chilies from my garden, put in Peggy the Penguin, play around a bit with shapes and shadows, and it took me back to art class in grammar school.  What a cool concept.....doing art for an hour in the middle of the day during school...by far my favorite class!

Kayak Garden 6"x6" oil on canvas

I love to kayak so naturally I am drawn to this image, but I also love the way kayaks are stacked everywhere and they have such vivid colors.  They make a really pleasing graphic design.

not available

Waiting For Breakfast 6"x6" oil on canvas

I have seen a lot of seagull paintings the last few days.  This is my contribution. We are feeling falls chill and changing colors.  I guess I will soon have to change seasons in my paintings!

Double Rainbow 6"x6" oil on canvas

Sometimes a scene will just blow me away and then when I try to paint it life gets complicated!  Sometimes, as an artist, I can infuse a painting, even one of mundane subject matter, with a sparkle and excitement.  But when painting a sensational scene like this, I feel like I just didn't put into it what I was feeling at the time.  I will study it for a while and think about it...maybe increase the contrast...change the colors...honestly I don't know what needs to be done.  Any suggestions?

I Love You 5"x7" oil

There is nothing so wonderful as being that special someone.  This little guy has decided that his Grandma is his special someone and I am in love!

SOLD

The Storyteller 7"x7" oil

I snapped a shot of these kids playing at the Vermont History Expo...except for the adorable little boots, they were normal homespun modern kids.  I have decided to donate this painting to an auction to benefit the victims of Hurricane Irene.  Relief efforts continue in Vermont as many people have not gotten money they expected from FEMA.  Clean-up is expensive before any repair or rebuild and a lot of private bridges were washed out, as well as houses and businesses.

SOLD

Linda Lee 4"x4" oil

Linda Lee...my sister who is closest in age to me. She is brilliant, talented, generous and a bit of a perfectionist. She has clear blue eyes and adorable dimples! It was challenging to follow in her shadow.

SOLD

Pattycakes 4"x4" oil

My sister Pat, was dubbed "Pattycakes" by our lifelong friend Mary Gillhouse. I was a young teen when Patty was born so she benefited from having much older sibs to haul her around and play with her.  She grew up to be the most accomplished woman who is highly capable, organized and administrative while still being creative and fun!  I had a lot of trouble painting my sisters but I am happy with how this turned out.  I needed for them to smile...because they always do!
SOLD

Grandma Barbie 4"x4" oil

This is my sister who goes by Barb or Barbara but we remember her as Barbie.  Hard to believe that she has raised 7 kids and is a grandma.  Recently someone said to me that they thought I painted people from the back so I wouldn't have to deal with their faces.  Actually I love doing portraits but some are harder than others.  I found that painting my sisters was really hard and have decided to re-paint them to show how beautiful they are.

SOLD

Blue Light Bulb 6"x6" oil on canvas

This was a DPW challenge...to paint a light bulb...so I rummaged through our collection to find an interesting one and came up with this blue one.  I have no idea why I have a blue light bulb or what I would do with it, but after some research, I found they are marketing them as mood lighting and blue is the color of serenity and tranquility.  The mouse is a little guy I picked up at one of those little shops in Newburyport that is an endless feast for the eyes of seemingly unrelated items arranged with meaning.  The marigold blossoms just add a bit of contrast.  Even though this is a silly still life, I really like it, and still lifes really help you hone your painting skills.  My sister-in-law, Laura, used the word "artitude" to describe the attitude of focusing on painting daily specifically as a coping mechanism....using your passion to get you through.  I love this idea, and am grateful to be full of artitude!  I wish you a day of serenity, tranquility and artitude.

Things Are Looking up 7"x7" oil

Things are definitely looking up for me after a year of chemo.  This is my granddaughter and the twinkle in my eye!  My sister, Laura said she applauds my artitude...I think that is a fabulous word and I am going to use it as much as possible.  Thank you Laura.  The things that got me through the last year include:  drinking massive amounts of water, exercising every day, belly laughing frequently, sleeping more than 8 hours, painting as much as possible and of  course friends and family and those who get real joy from my work.

SOLD

Sunshine! 7"x7" oil

Today I end a long medical treatment and I have sunshine in my soul!!
SOLD

Fishing Boat 9"x9" oil

I have been using a lot of complimentary colors lately....there is something so pleasing about them.  The splashes of orange dance around the blues in this.  This boat waiting to go "catch" some fish, was anchor moored where the Merrimac River reaches the Atlantic, near Plum Island.

Beached Kayaks 7"x7" oil

So many ways to have fun at the beach!  These kayaks are good for quieter waters in the bay.  I love to kayak so they caught my attention, but even more so, they are such brilliant colors against the sand.

Ding Ding Dingies 7"x7" oil $135

I love the sound that boats make clanging into one another, and also the sound they make against the moving water.  This is from Quisset Harbor which is filled with beautiful sail boats and is home to "The Knob."  The Knob is at the end of a long thin peninsula on the west side of the harbor.  You can walk out to the end which is a big round knob, giving you a wonderful view of the ocean.  If I ever do a mosaic, I think I will use this design....I can see it in my head with light glowing through it.

Sunscreen Optional 7"x7" oil

This was from the Cape.  The animals are so used to people they really show their personalities.   I was with friends walking along a pretty deserted beach occupied by this crow and his buddy.  I couldn't resist this image.