My Yellow Bag

Click Here to Bid (8x8in. - starts at $100)

Here's another scene from my trip to Italy this spring. Apparently Florence is famous for it's leather, and this gal had clearly invested in a beautiful yellow specimen. The wall she was leaning against was the same color as the steps - gray. So I used Photoshop to mock up some alternatives. A purple wall was the winner, which is how I painted it, being careful to keep the "shadows" around her. But my favorite part is that little light reflection on her glasses. It's pretty funny, the things I'm proud of.

Waiting for Others

sold.

In the photo reference for this one (from in front of the NYC downtown library), the guy was looking right at me. And when I first painted them, they ended up both looking at me. So after some deliberation I scraped off both faces and re-did them with the idea that they would be facing slightly away. It's a tiny thing - subtle, (and not easy!) but I think it makes all the difference in the world. I'm much happier with it now!

Little Landing

sold. (7x5in.)

Another Portland neighborhood scene. I'm glad to live close to such a cool city!

Ruby Steps

sold. (7x5in.)

This is another one from Portland. I have to admit that about halfway through this one I almost wiped it off. But I'm so glad I stuck with it!

Heading Underground

Click Here to Bid (8x8in.)

I caught these two guys heading down to the underground train in San Francisco a while back. I love the back light, the shadow, and the movement the scene captures. And the rails. : ) I can't say enough how much painting as much as I can from life has helped me interpret the photos I've taken.

Pam in the Doorway

sold

It's been a while, but this is another one of my Pam project paintings. Pam is a friend who agreed to pose for me around her house while I took a million photographs. I'm waiting for her to get home from Tucson now so I can take pictures of her grandkids. (come home Pam!)

Yesterday I discovered something new. Well, two things actually. Some friends told me about the Savvy Painters podcasts, which are very cool (the first thing). And I decided to listen to an episode while I painted. Usually I listen to music, and this has always worked really well for me. I've talked to people who listen to other things and I could never understand. I assumed I wouldn't be able to concentrate on both things. But something funny happened - as far as I can figure, while half of my brain was engaged by the talking, the other half painted without distraction, and without over-thinking! And I ended up doing a painting I was really happy with. Not this one (not that I'm not happy with this one - I actually LOVE it). But I'm ahead by a few paintings. I'll point out the first painting when I get to it. Meanwhile I am listening to all kinds of things now while I paint, and actually learning some things even. And loving it.

Path Through the Rhodies

sold

This is a little plein air sketch I did recently in Mary's garden. It was a little flight of stairs through some Rhododendrons and Azaleas. It took like 20 minutes, and I think of it more as a sketch than anything. so I am starting the bidding at $1. Actually, now that I'm looking at it again, it might work better as a little horizontal - with the bottom cut off. If the winner would like that, my husband can make it happen with the table saw. Just let me know.

Oh, and we are leaving for Germany in one week, for 3 weeks, so any paintings I sell for the rest of this month won't be shipped until July. I apologize for the inconvenience!

Dudes Having Coffee

sold

Here's another scene from San Francisco. Whenever I do little paintings like this with people in them, the people often turn into people I know. Isn't that weird? They're strangers in the reference photo, but friends in the painting. Does that happen to anyone else?

City Porch

sold

One day in San Francisco we walked quite a distance on Hyde Street, which, along with being extremely steep, has some lovely residences along both sides. I was particularly struck by the light falling on this porch. One day I'd like to do a whole series of front porches!