Gather Round

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in - oil on panel

I love these scenes in the bright sun, but haven't found a way to paint them from life as they change too much, too fast. And so I've been taking pictures and painting from that. I would love to find a light that simulates this look, but have had no luck so far.

Orange You Colorful

 

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in - oil on panel

Here's another larger painting experiment. This time I decided to add a lot of color variation within each color. I tried it out first on my ipad and that really helped a lot.

Holding it Together, Again

 

Click Here to Purchase - $800 - 18x18in - oil on panel

Here is the product of a recent experiment where I took a small painting I liked > and made it larger ^. Since I had all the props, I set it up again and took pictures. Then I painted from a combination of photos and the original painting. In the future, if I can, I will work from life (as I normally do).

I made two small changes to the composition - I shortened the white vase so it wasn't the same height as the green cup. I don't know if that made a difference, but there it is. I also moved the little, white plate closer to the green cup. In addition I increased my painting arsenal - in addition to brushes I used a squeegee and palette knife.

I Ordered Eggs

 

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in - oil on panel

Today I went to the post office to ship my latest large painting and found that prices had gone up yet again, and especially over a certain size (any box side longer than 30"). I've seen this happening, and for other reasons as well have been focusing on medium sizes with new work (in between 6x6, and 24x24). I feel so much more freedom composing, but also in how I paint. As well I've been experimenting with my process, and I have a feeling my next batch of workshop students will be hearing some brand new things from me. : )

So here's a NEW painting, finally, after exhausting my reserves.

Remembering Fall

Click Here to Purchase - $1000 - 24x30in - oil on panel

All my life I've collected pretty leaves. I used to save them inside the pages of books, and include them in letters. A few years ago, when we were still living in Eugene, I got the idea to paint them. I tried a few small paintings, but found they worked best really big! This is a painting from that time that I've hung onto but am now ready to part with.

Yearning for Summer

Click Here to Purchase - $1000 - 24x32in - oil on panel

Here's another big one that I used a ton of palette knife on, so there's a lot of texture. I'm including a few close-up photos of some particularly juicy bits. So fun to work with!

Stacking Cups

Click Here to Purchase - $900 - 24x24in - oil on panel

Here's another big one that I did a while ago. I never painted this particular composition as a 6x6, but it's the kind of thing I have done. Soon I will post new work where I further explore this idea of "enlarging" my small compositions. It's been quite challenging. So much that I put it out as this month's Daily Paintworks Challenge. Feel free to submit your resize (you don't have to be a member)!

Fruitful

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in - oil on panel

Here's a fun little one from a few months ago. I don't know why I'm going so slow posting this old work. I guess I've been so into the new stuff I'm doing that I just forget.

Gloriosity

 

Click Here to Purchase - $900 - 24x24in - oil on panel

I've been doing some larger work, but they're all still what I call "experiments," so I'm not ready to show anything yet - but I am still running out of room. SO, I am letting go of this old one. I did a ton of palette knife work on it, so there's some pretty heavy texture. Below are detail shots in glancing light so you can see more (click to enlarge).

Don't Crowd Me

 

Click Here to Purchase - $1000 - 20x36in. - oil on panel

I love the idea of taking compositions I've done before small, and making them big. The past few days I've been going through images of all my little paintings with that goal in mind. The only question in my mind is HOW to go about it. This was an earlier experiment with that, and I'm trying out new stuff currently in my studio. Storage is the only issue ... which is why I'm selling some old stuff - to make room.

REFUND POLICY - If you are not happy with this painting and return it to me undamaged within a month of purchase, I will pay for the return shipping. : )

Sitting Pretty

 

Click Here to Purchase - $750 - 26x24in. - oil on panel (unframed)

Here is one of the larger paintings I mentioned that I'd like to move in order to make room for new work. The reference came from a rose garden in Oregon, though I can't remember if it was in Eugene or Portland. I made a lot of trips to both - spent countless, happy hours photographing every rose that spoke to me. Ahh, good memories!

A Matter of Life and Death

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I got this little skull a while back with no idea that it would be SO hard to paint. The transitions are super subtle, but I think the hardest thing is that we know what a skull is supposed to look like, so even with it super sketchy like this, everything has to be in just the right place. I've had to wipe off quite a few versions for each time it's been in a painting.

Stay in the Boat

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT: I have rescheduled the workshop I had to cancel earlier this year in Portland, OR. The new workshop will be May 9-11, 2025. Registration is already open, here. If all goes well, and there is interest, I will consider more workshops in other places. : )

Everybody Wants Grapes

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I took a nice, long trip with my husband and dog, which was so wonderful after the year I've had! The great thing about trips for me is getting out of my routine and attaining a broader perspective on my life and my work. This is especially true when we are camping, because it gives me lots of time to stare at the scenery and contemplate what I'm doing without being pressed up against it as I am when I'm in my studio.

Another benefit of trips for me is that eventually I get bored, and new ideas start popping into my head. I had quite a few this time, and mostly they revolved around larger paintings. I have a handful of small works left that I will post (like this one), but I also have some big ones that I was holding onto for I'm not sure what reason, and have dusted off, varnished, photographed, and will soon post as well. The prices on these will be good as my main motivation is to move them out of the way for new work.

As for my neck and healing from surgery, it's going great! They say it takes a year to get back to "normal," whatever that means after essentially 20+ years of neck trouble. My muscles in that whole area are still angry, and that certainly hampers what I can do, but it's improving steadily, and everything is so so SO much better than it was before!!!

Cups Competing for Sake

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I bought this little bottle of sake to paint because it was so pretty and frosted. I tried pairing it with a bunch of background colors until this one just sang. But it wasn't until I added the red cup that it became really interesting. I never would have thought it up - I just had to try a whole bunch of things until my brain went - ooooh.

Join Us

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Always nice when a friendly group of apples welcomes a newcomer. : )

Scissors Paper Grapes Apple

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

What beats what in this contest? And do we add the cup, or is it just the referee?

Student Teacher

 

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

Here's another little still life that I painted a while back. I had been to the store looking for bottles with colorful labels to add to my scenes. But I think the apples stole the show. Or is it the pitcher?

Should We Hide the Sake?

 

Click Here to Purchase for $200 - 6x8in. - oil

Here's another one that's been sitting around my studio. I'm still not able to paint still life, but I have started to paint from photos (less difficult for my healing neck). As it is after any long break, my skills are rusty. I know it will take a little while to get into the groove and start doing work I'm proud to show you. Until then I'm enjoying the process.

Neck update: I'm feeling better every day! I started PT today and it's going really well so far. More and more I'm able to do the things I couldn't do for almost an entire year! It's like starting over with my life. : )

Gathering

 

Click Here to Purchase for $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's another little painting I did a few months ago when I was still able. I'm looking forward to doing some new stuff and have a ton of ideas. I keep a million little post-it notepads around the house for jotting down ideas, and lately I've also been using the Google Notes app on my phone. I love it.