Sumac Tryptic

7"x12" oil   starting bid $20

I am on grandma duty this week so I am posting paintings that I am putting on auction.

Little Mothers

6"x6" oil   starting bid is $17

If this looks familiar, it is because I have already posted it, but I decided to put it up for auction on DPW.  I won't get much chance to paint this week because my grandkids are visiting.

A New World

6"x6" oil

I reworked an old painting.  I liked the figure of the woman and baby but didn't like the environment she was in so I decided on a soft ethereal world.  Of course everything is new for a baby, but I think that a new mother also experiences the world in a new and different way, as the surrounding take less precedent over the world of love and responsibility you feel for this vulnerable and fresh creature.

Thank You

8"x8" oil  NFS

This painting is different than my other work in a couple of ways.  To start off with, it is a concept painting.  I thought of an idea I wanted to illustrate and planned it out.  Then I did a very detailed drawing on the gessoed panel, as much work as if it was a finished product.  Then I painted it, using soft scumbled areas on the left, over the names of women who have helped me over the last 8 months as I have recuperated from surgery.  I like the idea of a child praying, as it represents such innocent belief and hope.  I am not selling it, but am doing another project with it.  I have always liked using text in painting as it adds an interesting pattern and another layer of meaning, but I seldom do this.  I am really happy with how this turned out.

Hole In One

8"x10" oil SOLD

I love it when people commemorate an important event by purchasing a piece of art.  Certainly getting a hole in one on the golf course counts as a significant point in time.  This is a gift from the purchaser, so if you recognize this guy, don't tell him!

Friends Forever

8"x10" oil  SOLD

This was a commission.  It is a gift from one friend to another.  I think it will be a great present to honor their long lasting and loyal friendship.

Fistful of Kohlrabi

4"x6"  oil

I am a bit all over the place these last few days...back in the garden with this one.  Kohlrabi is such an interesting looking player in the food group.  I love the deep purple color of this one.  The challenge for me on this painting was finding the balance between enough detail and keeping it loose.  I also didn't find it easy to come up with the right colors for the hand and the background, even though I paint a lot of flesh.  When I am conscience of the "rules" I always struggle.  It really works better for me to not let my brain get in the way!  Do you feel like that?

Rainy Day

4"x6" oil

This is what I saw driving home from the gym on this rainy day today.  I tried hard to hold it in my head so I could paint it.  I like how it turned out, especially since it is not my usual palette of super-saturated colors!

Big Radishes

11"x11"  oil 

I don't know why, but I love painting radishes.  Maybe the attraction lies in the gorgeous complimentary colors of red and green....maybe it is how round they are but have the funny little roots on the ends that make lovely shadows.....maybe it is the wilted greens that form such fun abstract patterns...don't know, but I love 'em.

Taking a Break

5"x7" oil 

This painting was completed a while ago but I varnished it too soon and it smeared a thin layer of green over her body so I had to do some restoration.  I removed the varnish and did some touch-ups and revisions and it turned out better than I had hoped and I learned a new skill, so all is good!

Up On the Roof

8"x8" oil 

I was having a discussion with another artist yesterday about those paintings that just keep nagging you to do something.  I know a lot of artists ditch them when they don't behave, but I am of the inclination to just leave them hanging around until I figure it out.  This is one of those pieces and I am glad I didn't give up on it, because I like where it took me.

Sumacs

5"x10" oil

I painted this plein air last fall of a hill of sumac bushes but it took me until now to finally paint in the black lines.  The coolest thing about painting plein air is that when you go back to look at the paintings you can remember how you felt, how the light hit and how it smelled.  I love the look of sumac bushes in every season.

Striking the Pose

4"x6" oil 

This pose she is holding must say something about her personality.  She froze for a moment, enticed by those picnickers across the park who were playing a lawn game, knowing she had reached her permissible boundary and she caught my attention and I am sure that I caught someone's attention wondering why I was photographing her...and it goes on and on.

Little Mothers

6"x6" oil

I was watching these little girls at the park.  The one face us had a popular type of doll and she was totally in to it.  Her friend, who had the same doll with different colored hair, treated hers like an inconvenient accoutrement.   So even though I called this painting "Little Mothers" it might be more appropriate to cal it 'little mother and her single friend!'

Working Together

4"x6" oil

We call it play, they call it work.  They are diligent gardeners, pulling up plants and planting weeds.

Taking a Stroll

4"x6" oil

Backyard Fun

30"x48"  acrylic SOLD

This is quite large and I really wanted to approach it more stylized and graphic.  I made a number of changes before I delivered it, and forgot to take a photo, but you get the idea.

Boys and Girls

6"x6" oil

This does bring back memories of sunbathing with my girlfriends (we used baby oil and iodine back then) and the boys in the distance.  The pattern of their legs with fun shadows really caught my attention and I snapped a quick shot of this that was really terrible.  There were a lot more people in it and only part of their legs, but it was enough to create a painting I am happy with.

Almost

6"x6" oil

This little one was working so hard to catch balls that were just barely out of her reach.  That did not deter her though, as she stayed with the task.

Dragonfly

6"x6" oil

This little dragonfly is dancing in the shallows.  I love this summer subject because it gives me the chance to play with color.  Landscapes in VT in the summer are pretty green, so I am focusing on our beautiful parks and lakes and the lovely people that enjoy them.

Morning Coffee

6"x6" oil

Lovely place to enjoy morning coffee with their pouch.  It is actually from Brookfield, VT, and they are watching those fishing from the floating bridge, which should be a subject for another day.  If I owned that dock however, I would put some Adirondack chairs on it.

Shade

6"x6" oil

Sitting on a bench in the shade, watching the river go by, this couple has found their piece of paradise today.

6"x6" oil

It is so sad when roses fade.  They just look pathetic and droopy.  I showed my granddaughter my wedding pictures and she said, "oh Grandma I wish you still looked like this!"  I guess I look a bit faded and droopy too!  I am glad I got these roses at their prime!

White Roses II

6"x6" oil

I took a bit of a different approach to this and my granddaughters were also painting with me, which was fun but a bit of a distraction!

White Roses

6"x6" oil

I got a beautiful bouquet of white roses for my birthday and was able to get a few paintings from it.  Roses and Peonies are a challenge for me and I know it will take a lot of painting of them before I am confident.  In the meantime, I am just going to have fun.

Right Touch

6"x6" oil

I think there was a lot of golfing this  holiday weekend, however I was entertaining my granddaughters and did not have time for photographing anything but them. 

Putting Practice

6"x6" oil

I hope to do a series of golfing paintings, but that means I need to get out on the golf course and ride around finding landscapes and figurative positions that are interesting.

Sand Play

6"x6" oil

I do love the simplicity of this. I didn't fuss at all and kept the value areas clean.  I call it a success.

Well Prepared

6"x6" oil

This little guy was all geared up and ready for his adventure, but he was waiting for some grown-up help to arrive.

Picnic

6"x6 oil

I love this little scene.  You don't see too many cowboy hats in Vermont, so it is even funnier that it is her sunhat.  It is always good to have a little picnic at the beach.

3 White Lunch Boxes

8"x10" oil SOLD

This is a painting I did 5 years ago at a Karin Jurick workshop.  It was what inspired me participate in the daily painting movement.  I haven't always painted or posted every day, but it has convinced me that consistency and focus on the goal creates momentum.  I love this painting because these women were clearly on a quick lunch break with their cute little white boxes of food.  They were all color coordinated and sat so close together.  So I am posting this to celebrate 5 years of relatively consistent painting.

Pink Peony

6"x6" oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my third attempt at painting a peony.  I am understanding the structure of these flowers better.

Embracing the Story

6"x6" oil

I thought it was interesting that this woman was turned away from the lake.  Her purpose there was the shaded breeze and the ability to completely give herself to the story.  Not a bad moment!

Meditation

6"x6"  oil

Swimming is not what she is here for.  She may not even reach critical midpoint, but getting the legs in cool water and just breathing in the refreshment, peace, relaxation, and joy, are enough.

Can't Wait

6"x6" oil

I know you have been there.  That moment where anticipation turns to kinetic energy and you are flying towards your long awaited moment.  I can say that she wasn't disappointed!

Naia

6"x6" oil

I couldn't help but smile the whole time I was painting beautiful Naia.

Trio

6"x6 oil

This is my second attempt at peonies.

Pink Peony

6"x6" oil

This is my first ever peony.  I have been wanting to paint some after seeing so many beautiful paintings by artists I admire.  I am happy with the results, but know that I won't really get it, until I have painted a gazillion.  So mastery is a gazillion minus one for me!  Here are some links to peonies that have inspired me:  Jonathan Aller,  Jo McKenzie, Shawna Lampi-Legaree

Moonlight Ritual

30"x48"  Acrylic  SOLD

This is a lot different for the paintings I have been doing for several years.  It is quite large and is very stylized.  I envisioned this painting over a year ago and have just now finally painted it.  Although it is very simple in design, it took a lot of editing and revision for me to get what I wanted, so there is a lot of paint on the canvas.  I am really happy with it and I believe it tells the story I wanted to tell.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

6"x6"  oil

I love the pose on this one.  Babies and old folks (like me) know nature's way of amplifying the audio mysteries of the world...just scoop your ear into a better sound catcher!

Goats View

6"x6" oil

These goats looked as happy as any goats I have ever seen.  I am not sure I could correctly describe what a happy goat looks like, but they sure looked confident, well fed, and like they got a lot of attention.  I don't think they are the easiest animals to have around, but they sure are fun to watch.

Waiting

6"x6" oil

Waiting for the wave to crash!

Work of Play

6"x6" oil

When watching kids at the beach, it is easy to be drawn in by their wild enthusiasm. But, it is hard work having that much fun.  There is the digging and the pulling and the riding of the body board and the fighting with the waves to regain air.....so much work of play.

Pink and Green

6"x6" oil

Can you hear the music of the waves?

Also Keepers of the Beauty

11" x 11"  oil  SOLD

First I must give my apologies to Dreama Tolle Perry because I stole her title.  She is a phenomenal artist and writer and posted on her blog about those who are "Keeper of Beauty."  I was doing this commission at the time I read her post, and knew that the owners of this lovely garden are one couple Dreama was referring to.  There are a lot of details in this composition, but I wanted to tell the story of the architecture of the plantings, the allure of the koi pond, the babbling of the brook and bird songs, and the sculptural references.  Unfortunately there is a glare on both sides of this photo, making the edges look washed out.

Courage

6" x 6" oil

A 3 foot wave may not be surfable, but to a pre-schooler, it is daunting.  The child on the right is crouching down like a prowling cat ready to pounce on the wave if it gets close enough, while the toddler in pink is fascinated by the little rivulets of waves lapping at her feet.  Gramps is ready to grab the first one to get in over her head.

Coffee and Tidal Pools

This is another painting with tiny little people.  So I asked myself "why" did I put this burden on myself????  I guess the answer is that I liked the story and it was a challenge.  I like how the rocks, thick with sea weed and moss, turned out.  Grandpa is enjoying watching his grandsons look for critters in the pools, Dad is carrying the baby and trying to drink his coffee.  Mom is having one of those rare breaks.  She is focused on enjoying her coffee and a view that sweeps her away to a lovely sailboat in the distance.  Nice story, don't you think?

Focused View

She is determined, trying to see through the marshland viewfinder but is just a bit too short.  Daddy is there ready to steady her or aid her in the process.  I hope to illustrate the tension in each of their bodies and their concentration but I also had fun with the railings and marshland background.

Going Up

6"x 6" oil

This makes me think about the song "The Bear Goes Over the Mountain."  The excitement of going up, up, up, but not knowing what is on the other side. I think there is magic being in a cathedral of trees with little girls. These figures are itty bitty.  I have been doing a few paintings lately that have miniscule people in them.  I am not sure why I have chosen these subjects, but I am sure that if I do enough, I will figure out how to do them without sweating!

Pear Pair16"x20" oil

16"x 20" oil

This was so much fun to paint.  It is larger than I have been doing for a while and it is on canvas which isn't my surface of choice.  I like to paint on slick hard panels with lots of smooth layers of gesso. So, I felt like I had nothing to lose with this and just cut loose with a wide brush and colors that spoke to me at the moment.  I make a lot of mistakes along my creative journey so it is nice to have something turn out that makes me happy and was a joy to paint.