Stealing the Show

11"x11" oil

This is looking straight down on a bouquet of lovely flowers.  Clearly the flower that resembles a sunflower (maybe a Gazania?) is stealing the show. 

Tasting the Soup

Thanks to a brilliant and spontaneous photo, I was able to tell the story.  I think that the many hours I spent as a child studying Norman Rockwell's illustrations probably show their influence on my love of story telling.

Picking Flowers

12x12 oil

The most fun in painting this was the folds of the tunic, but how can anyone resist the excitement she expresses in picking her first flower.  Someday someone will tell her that dandelions are weeds, but until then, what magic there is in crawling in a field of flowers!

S'mores and Sledding

This is definitely a "Favorite Thing."  Sledding and eating s'mores with my grandkids and their parents on a beautiful winter day in Vermont.   Today I  awoke to a dusting of snow.  Well that is spring in our lovely state and it will melt before noon.  Unfortunately I got a glare on the photo in the bottom right corner.

Anticipation

12"x12"  oil

This is from my new series "Things I Love."  I am having a lot of anticipation for the next few months and progress on my recuperation.  This child is anticipating a beautiful day at the beach.  Someone asked me why I am painting in such happy colors when I should be painting from the dark (representing my recent challenges) to the light (hope for full recuperation).  We are all made differently and I am definitely a "glass half full" person.  I love to be happy or find happiness and joy and the dark takes care of itself...I just don't want to amplify it!

Gerbera Daisy

12"x12" oil

This gerbera daisy was a gift for my recuperation.  I have a great indoor spot for it and it just keeps on producing lovely blooms.  I have been really struggling physically after my surgery and I finally feel like I am starting to gain strength.  This painting reflects the joy I am feeling about that possibility.  I feel so grateful to be able to paint, and to have the ability to see, feel, smell, breathe and soon, walk.  It is so easy to take those things for granted.  The greens in this image appear much more intense and uniform than they are in the painting, and the background is a variety of darks (not just black).

Bird Feeders

12"x16" oil

For the last four months I have been staring out at the bird feeders in my back yard.  Most of that time there was snow covering much of it, but finally the snow has melted the pond has thawed and may migrating and hibernating creatures have returned and there is a hint of green.  This is not exactly the details of my scene, but I was more interested in the patterns that were here than in capturing the details. 

12"x16" oil

It has been 4 months since I was able to paint or do much of anything.  I am still in recuperation from double knee replacement with some rare complications, but the need to get out to my studio has become pretty over-powering...which is a good thing!  This is the neighbors yard.  Spring in Vermont is mostly patches of snow and ice, lots of mud, and occasional snow shower but we also have sugaring season which makes it all worthwhile.  Sugaring (the process of sugar maple sap running) requires temperatures above freezing in the day and below freezing at night.  Every once in a while, we have absolutely gorgeous days like yesterday and today.  With temps in the 60's and loads of sunshine and blue skies.  The elation that all creatures feel on those days is tangible and everyone is out frolicking at least for a couple of days.