Friday, August 30, 2013

New Friend

24" x 24"
oil on canvas

For my birthday Guy gave me a new easel. It is a great easel, sturdy and solid for larger paintings, it even tilts horizontally! For this wonderful gift I promised him I would paint this first on the new easel.

I did a video of it and you can see it here.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Death Valley Moon

Death Valley Moon
10" x 5"
oil on panel

I know, I'm kinda all over the place. 
Welcome to my brain. 

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Big Blue

26" x 48"
oil on canvas

Just finished this big boy and have it in the window at the Sun Gallery and Gifts so passerbys can say "how much is that doggie in the window?". This, and all my other dog paintings will fill the gallery Sunday, August 25th for the one year anniversary. In addition, we'll have handmade artisans inside and outside of the gallery - Hope you can make it!

I am so excited that The Star News caught wind of the market and did a write up in this morning! You can see it here: http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130817/ARTICLES/130819693/0/search?p=1&tc=pg


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Ocean Storm


10" x 8"
oil on canvas panel

Yesterday, we saw a fantastic storm. We thought for sure there would be funnel clouds over the ocean. So we rushed out of World Market and hightailed it to the shore. Although we saw no funnel clouds, it was quite beautiful and in the end of this dramatic play of nature, we were gifted with two rainbows and the sunshine peeping behind billowy clouds over the marsh.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Beached Boat

10" x 8"
oil on canvas

You probably know this about me - maybe not, but I like to paint a lot of different things. I'm not a fan of being stuck on one subject even though dogs are my favorite, I like to move around a bit. It keeps me fresh. 

Recently, I found this site called Paint My Photo where  photographers donate their photos for the use of creatives like me. I think it's a fantastic idea and I've found some really great photos to paint from - the cows were one of them and now this little boat which kind of reminds me of something Popeye would motor off in.

Here's the link if you are interested:

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Rocket Dog

48" x 24"
oil on canvas

Sometimes I do a painting and just know something is off. So I hang it up and look at it for awhile, sometimes even months and then it hits me what I need to do and it will eat at me until I do it. So, I'll put it back on the easel, I'll make the changes with a little extras and the familiar alarm will go off that tells me "it's done".

I did this a few months ago and never listed it because I knew deep down, even though I wanted it to be done, it wasn't. 

Well, now it is.



Monday, August 5, 2013

Parrots Commission

20" x 16"
oil on canvas
Sold to a collector in Florida

I have never painted parrots before and was asked to do this commission of four beautiful birds as a gift from a pet sitter. I am a distant admirer of parrots and while I am in awe of their beauty, I know first hand the dangers and trickery of these birds. I used to be a live-in bird sitter to a Hyacinth Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, Scarlett Macaw and a Toucan in south Florida during my college days. The majority of the time I basically tried not to get bit, knowing full well the pain their beaks could inflict. 

Upon the first meeting of the Hyacinth Macaw, he grabbed my arm faster than I knew what was happening and clamped down with a force I had not experienced before. He only left a small puncture, but bruised my whole arm for two days. Later, once he accepted me, we became great friends and he would sit on my shoulder at coffee time and nuzzle my cheek. The scarlet never got used to me and would regularly chase me though the yard screeching. Once she would calm down, I could get her to climb on a broomstick to put her in the enormous wrought iron cage they called home. 

It was quite an experience.

Friday, August 2, 2013