"Jack & Balls" --- n/a

6"x6" - oil on canvas

I just got my first square panels in today and am trying them out. This is another item from my friend Randi. She had them sitting on top of her microwave and I thought the balls looked so right in this tiny little pot.

"Cactus Fruit" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on canvas

Apparently you can eat these. Cactus Fruit. I got them at the grocery store today. I would eat them now, but I wouldn't have the first clue how to cook them. Anyone have any ideas?

"Shiny Cup" --- n/a

6" x 8" - oil on canvas

My very good friend Randi lent me this cup to paint. Here it looks like it has a white stripe at the top, but it's just the reflection of the white ground on the very shiny cup. Too bad I dropped it after I painted it and it broke into millions of peices. Just kidding Randi! :)

"Got Garlic?" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on canvas

"Bottle Trio" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on canvas

This painting is a tribute to Jeff Hayes http://www.jeffhayesfinearts.blogspot.com/. I love his paintings like this and wanted to try my hand at it. I couldn't capture the same glow he gets, but I tried.

"Demonic Napkin Holders" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on canvas

They just looked cute at the thrift store, but suddenly, in paint, they look evil. You be the judge. I've turned on comments, so if any of you want to let me know what you think about my paintings, feel free. I am open to criticism.

"Ceramic Bunny" --- $100

6"x8" - oil on canvas

I found this bunny at Goodwill the other day and it just jumped out at me.

"Apple Row" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on cotton

SOLD

"Soapstone Turtle and Jar" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on canvas

About 6 years ago, while teaching arts and crafts at a summer camp in Maine, I carved this small soapstone turtle. I've had to glue the head back on a couple of times, but it still survives to grace our mantle. I included the jar because I love the distortions through glass, and especially this striped fabric.

"Radish Twins" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on linen

I did this painting last week. I bought the radishes at the grocery store, brought them home and painted a couple of them right away. By the next morning, they were all shriveled to half the size they were originally (I left them in my studio). Two days later, they were tiny, little, hard nuggets. I was amazed. And I kept calling them turnips. Don't ask me why.

"Fish Out of Water" --- n/a

6"x8" -oil on linen

My husband and I recently had an adventure trying to find a fake Christmas tree. Yes, yes, it's a little early. But we were dreading the horror of needles everywhere and scratches on top of the car...and then what do you do with the tree AFTER Christmas? Ugh. Well, we didn't find a tree we were ok with, but we did find a few ornaments, this fish being one. Painting glass is a real challenge, but I felt this turned out well. This one's going on ebay so click to title to bid.

"Starfish Paperweight" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on linen

This is one of those items that has been in my house forever, but I have no clue at all where it came from. Probably something of my husbands. It's funny all the stuff that comes into your life when you get married. Furniture...books...music...kids...

My good friend Robin saw this and bought it already, but I'm proud of it so I thought I'd put it up anyway.

On my easel...

In addition to today's "leaf", I wanted also to show the larger painting I am working on for a gallery in Cape Cod that I was recently invited to show in. The gallery wants a horizontal format and smaller than the ones I do for my gallery here in Austin. This is 10"x20" - oil on linen panel. I am pleased with it. I love working small. I don't know why I never did it before.

"Leaf" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on linen

This here's a leaf. :)

"Tomatoes 5" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on linen

Here's #5. This one's my favorite.

"Tomatoes 4" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on linen

"Tomatoe 3" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on linen

Here's #3.

"Tomatoes 2" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on linen

I've decided to do a series of these tomatoes. Here's #2.

"Orange Tomatoes" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on linen

"Squash 2" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on linen

"Pumpkin" --- n/a

"Squash" --- SOLD

6"x8" - oil on linen

On the way back to Austin from Fredericksburg there are all kinds of road-side stands selling, at this time of year, pumpkins and colorful squash. I had a great time last weekend with my step-daughter, Maddie, picking out our favorites. This was one of them.

"Fall Leaves" --- n/a

6"x8" - oil on linen

I collected these leaves from Bastrop State Park, on a hike there with my family (husband, David and son, Jacob). I love leaves. For me they represent the cycle of life. They start out as tiny little buds, then slowly grow up big and green, then turn sometimes red and orange and fall off the tree, then biodegrade and feed the tree they came from. It's lovely.

"Apple" --- SOLD

This is my first painting in a series of daily paintings. I am very drawn to simple, everyday things on simple backgrounds, and this size, 6"x8" really lends itself to that. I am used to working very large, and I have to say this small scale is really fun and freeing. I love this!