Dappled Red

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

A few weeks ago my husband and I drove down to Hamilton, MT, a small town about an hour south of us. We wandered around enjoying the lovely weather and I snapped a few photos when I felt inspired. We got into a conversation with a lady who had lived there all her life and was quite proud of her "work truck." Unfortunately hers was not in great light, but this one was.

Petals Waving

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

One thing that I think is really cool about these Balsamroot flowers (wild here in Montana) - every plant has a unique theme. The petals are big and fat on some, and skinny on others. The middle part is a little bald in the middle (like these), but then full on others. Sometimes there are notches in the ends of the petals, and sometimes not.

Another thing I've always liked, about flowers in general, is the odd petal that sticks out in an unusual direction. Like they're waving hello. These two have one each. Hello.

Brave Bunny

 

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

When I was teaching in North Carolina last week, I got out early one morning and took a few photos around the Apex neighborhood where I was staying. I saw quite a few bunnies, but they were too far away and skitterish to get any good photos. Here's the best one I got. >

And that's why I have mostly relied on other photographers for the really good ones I can paint. : )

Love Attack

 

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

This is a yellow-collared lovebird, coming in for a surprise, love attack. I couldn't resist.

Nestled Between

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

This is another wild Balsamroot that grows in my area (Missoula). I especially like the leaves on this plant, which provide a lovely backdrop. For every painting I have to edit the leaves a bit because they are never arranged perfectly. I usually try some things on my ipad first - painting over the reference - before I start painting IRL. It's a pretty handy tool.

Quiet Yellow

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

I am just home from teaching a workshop in Apex, North Carolina. I had a really wonderful group of students. They listened, asked great questions, and make big leaps. I miss them already. Here they are ->

After the workshop I went to the beach for a couple of days with a friend. I brought my camera just in case I felt inspired, and wow, was I! The people on the beach were just ... well, they were just begging to be painted. The bodies of every type, the water, the reflections - so cool. I took a million photos, completely forgetting to reapply sunscreen. But the sunburn was totally worth all the material I got!

I have some paintings left from before that I will post for now. This one is another Balsamroot flower - wild here in Montana.

Delicate Buds

 

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

Here are a few more thimbleberry flowers, just peeking out from the foliage. I adore the light on this one. Very minimal. As soon as these start blooming next month, you can bet I'll be out taking more photos!

I'll be heading off soon to teach a workshop in North Carolina. Unfortunately this means I won't be able to ship paintings or prints until after I get home - June 4th. If you need something fast, please let me know and I'll get my husband to ship it. Otherwise, I apologize for the inconvenience!

Premium Parking

 

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

I couldn't believe my luck when I ran across this scene recently on a neighborhood wander. I had a lot of title ideas, but finally had to just pick one. I wanted it to be something like - woops, I think I left the door open again - but that was too long.

Backlit Yellow

 

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

Here's another Balsamroot, a wildflower that is just finishing up around here (Missoula).

I've been inspired lately by Christina Weaver's floral paintings. I think she mostly sets up outside and paints them from life, which is braver than me. But I really admire her style. She's got some great drawings too. Check her out on Instagram.

Stealth Parking

 

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

Here's another little scene from around Missoula. I think I need a pink and turquoise garage.

Thimbleberry Flower

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

I've always thought of these as wild roses, but the internet tells me it's a Thimbleberry flower. They aren't blooming yet this year, but I've gotten a lot of pictures in the past. I've seen them on hikes in the Bitterroot Valley, south of Missoula, and I hope to get more pictures soon. They are positively adorable.

Missoula Morning

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

On my walk around local neighborhoods recently, this was the view every time I looked east down a wide street. I believe these are called the Sapphire Mountains, and they have distinctive horizontal lines that are left over from the different levels of Lake Missoula, which was a thing near the end of the last ice age. I was out in the morning, and the clouds were just peeking over like this, which I always think is so cool.

Balsamroot

 

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

For the past 6 years, since we've lived in Montana, I've seen these yellow flowers around and never gotten my act together to go and photograph them before they're done. Until this year! They're called Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), and are abundant if you know where to look. I passed some on the highway and stopped, but they were on such a steep hill I was afraid I would fall. I finally found some very accessible ones about 20 minutes away on a trail called "Sound of Music" (how fitting!).

Where We Sat Last Night

 

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

During my recent EBB (several weeks where nothing went right in my studio) I ventured outside for new inspiration. I have been hesitant to take photos in Missoula, and I think it's because I have quite a few friends here, and I feel more self-conscious because of it. Well, I put that feeling aside and wandered around a few nearby neighborhoods with my camera (luckily everyone was at work). This was the first scene that really inspired me. And it took me 2 tries before I was happy with the painting. But I am. And that's always incredibly exciting after an EBB!

EBB Tulips

These were the tulips that did me in. Ok, not really, but painting them I think kicked off the dreaded EBB. Or at least, this is what I was painting when it started. I said to my husband, "Should I wipe these?" He said, "No, I like them." I couldn't see it. And that's part of the EBB for me - nothing looks pretty. So here they are for you to decide.

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - "Five Tulips"

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - "Four Tulips"

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - "Two Tulips"

We're Losing 'Em

 

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

I haven't posted for a few weeks because I had a pretty big EBB. That's the opposite of FLOW, and it's when absolutely nothing I do in the studio works out the way I want it to. I used to feel really terrible and scared when this happened, but now I know it's just part of the creative process - like a field lying fallow.

After a few frustrating days, I realized what was happening and I gave myself a break. I went for more walks and got some stuff done around the house. I spent more time with friends. Every day I managed to go into the studio at least once and push some things around - sometimes oil, sometimes watercolor just to try it - anything to keep one toe in. And after a while, the flow returned. I've got a few more paintings to show from before the break (including this one), but eventually I got inspired by some things outside my studio. I know, crazy! I went outside! That's coming soon.

Just a reminder that if you want to get emails with my latest paintings, you can sign up here. : )

It's the Simple Things

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. oil on panel

When I set up this arrangement, something about it sang to me. I love it when that happens.

Final Act

 

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

Here's number two in my green series. I'm quite happy with this one. I like the drama of the light from below. It reminds me of actors on a stage, hence the title.

Green Sticks Together

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in - oil on panel

I did a couple of green themed paintings. Here's number one.

Gathering Safely In

 

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

This is the last of the orange slices for now. The title is a line from a song I like. 10 points if you can guess it without looking it up online. : )