Yes Toucan

 

Click Here to Bid - 5x7in. - oil on panel

This probably isn't what you have in mind when you hear toucan, but it is in the toucan family. I just loved the colors. I actually had to UN-exaggerate (gray them down a little) them for it to be believable.

I Really Mean It

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's a second version of the elephant and cup, from a different angle. I got the elephant from ebay, which I think is a great place to get stuff like this. I've had my eye out at thrift and antique stores for years, but everything I found was way too intricate or cheesy for what I wanted to paint. I like very simple things like this.

Party Cups

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

I found this pink stripey cup in Boise when I was there recently. I tried painting it a couple of times, but this is the first one that worked out. I think it's because of the company it's in. I tried with apples before, and my guess is they just didn't get along.

Orderly Breakfast

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

These eggs were surprisingly bright orange! And they weren't even the super expensive ones. I thought they paired quite well with the yellow teapot. : )

Where's the Water?

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I got this cute little wooden elephant recently. At around the same time I got a black bunny the same general size and have tried now 4 times to paint it, with nothing to show. Some things are just hard. My husband had to finally say - let it go. For now anyway.

Before the Rain

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x12in. - oil on panel

Back in September I took a trip with some plein air friends to the Tetons in Wyoming. This is the same group of friends I've gone up into the Sierra's with about 5 times before (if you've been following me a while). And although I had a WONDERFUL time with my buds, I didn't mention it here because I didn't come back with any good paintings. It was pretty humbling actually. I reworked each of my paintings using memory and photos, and this is the only one that turned out ok. There is an article about the trip out this month in Plein Air Magazine if you'd like to check out more about it all, and work by the other artists. It's a pretty great article!

About this particular spot: We were on the way back to our house one afternoon, and it was clearly about to rain. But we stopped at the river anyway, and we all set up to paint. Sure enough, about 5 minutes in it started to sprinkle, and then pour. Fortunately I had some photos from right before the rain, although the clouds were kind of reversed (coming in from the right instead of left). So I moved some things around, which is much easier for me to do in the studio, and voilà. It definitely captures the mood.

Big Bird Little Bird

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's another thing I borrowed from the lovely Patti - the brass swan. I decided he needed a companion in the painting, and now they are inseparable in my studio. I think some imprinting happened.

Where'd Everybody Go?

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

When I look for good reference images, I'm primarily looking for interesting value arrangements. I found a lot of these isolated animals with white backgrounds and while I love the simplicity and stark contrast, I didn't know if they would work with oil paint. But I love the result!

Group Chat

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

My good friend Patti lent me a few things recently to paint. One is this fancy yellow mug. The design of it is prettier in person, but this was all the detail I wanted in the tiny painted version.

Thank you, Patti!

Quite the Pair

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

A couple of European Bee-Eaters. I wonder what they eat...

Up for Anything

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I recently bought a small, detail brush, after owning pretty much only flats for many years. I asked AI what kind of brush was best for detail, and ended up getting a small round. I still mostly use my flats, but when I do the eyes, the round comes in super handy. Also, I've gotten to the age where when I paint those details, I have to use reading glasses, and something to steady my hand. I was young, and then poof.

Oh the Indignity

 

Click Here to Bid - 7x5in. - oil on panel

This isn't my cat. I wouldn't do this to a cat of mine. Because I wouldn't want to die in my sleep.

Pretty Perch

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

It finally got cold here in Missoula. Here's a tropical bird to remind me that it's still warm somewhere.

Bright Birds

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here are a couple of lovebirds for your post Thanksgiving ate-too-much, just-going-to-sit-here-and-peruse-the-internet daze. Me too.

Spring in Your Step

 

Inquire through Cassens Fine Art - 24x36 - framed

On this, the day before Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for wildlife photographers who go out there with the bears and other dangerous animals and get great photos that I can paint from. : ) I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow filled with good food and naps.

Not for Consumption

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

In case you missed it, I recently released a new online tutorial (ArtByte) that is all about painting glass! The idea behind the ArtBytes is they are bite-size and affordable. If you have seen it, please email me with feedback, or leave a review. Thanks!

Networking

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

When I was younger I dabbled briefly in web design. I didn't know how to get my name out, so I joined the Austin Chamber of Commerce and went to a few networking events. For me, securely in the introvert camp, it was painful. This is my re-envisioned "happy" networking event, with happy apples and cups, all completely comfortable with each other, no financial advisors allowed. : )

Ready and Waiting

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I tend to like orderly scenes. I think it's the German in me. Of course my mother would say that I wasn't orderly as a child. But it's definitely something I embraced as I got older. In my environment and my paintings.

As for the bird I posted yesterday, the general consensus is that it's a Great Tit. Thanks to everyone who emailed me. : )

Mildly Curious

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I found one great reference photo for this, but now I'm trying to figure out what kind of bird it is. The file just says "Sinichka." Is this a kind of bird? When I search for it I get a lot about a Russian TV series. ??

Apple Sniffer

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x8in. - oil on panel

He takes his job very seriously. I mean someone has to make sure the apples smell ok.