Cool Tootsies

 

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

And finally ... here is my first beach painting! This is from a recent trip to North Carolina - a little vacation after my workshop in Apex. I spent hours and hours walking along the beach snapping photos. It was like heaven for me - the people, the water, the reflections!

Mischevious

 

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

I went around and around trying different ways to paint the fur on this guy. Fur and hair and ... whiskers - are quite the challenge to paint. #alwayslearning

Nice to See You Again

Click Here to Bid - 8x6in. - oil on panel

Did you know that llamas communicate by humming? And they set boundaries by spitting at each other. But I've always thought they looked really happy - I think it's the mouth shape. And anytime I've met one they seem especially curious and unafraid. Best of all, I've never been chased by any.

Sea of Green

 

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

One more balsamroot painting, even though they are completely done now IRL. We had a very wet spring and all the grass and other plants are extra lush and tall. I love the abundance! Makes for some lovely walks.

Go Goose

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

When I was a little kid my family had some geese for a while. I was terrified of them because they would chase me. My parents said - just turn around and chase them back. But they outnumbered me! To this day I'm still terrified if I see a pack of them. One I can handle.

Dog Love is Eternal

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

You can count on dogs to be wearing permanent heart-shaped glasses for you. Their tails will never not wag when you get home. Their love will never wane. Dogs are THE BEST!

Sweet Seeker

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

This one has a bit of palette knife work, so I took a second photo (with my phone, so the colors look a little different). If you click on either image you can see them larger.

From Another Era

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

Here's another one from my wander around Hamilton (MT), a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. Every once in a while my husband suggests we get an old car, but I don't want to have one. I just want to paint them. But I am very grateful to those who get them and park them in places I can access. : )

Open Door

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

In the past when I've driven north of Missoula, up towards Flathead Lake, I've passed some old cars beside the road that looked interesting. Well recently I went back to find them, and eventually discovered Wrecker Kellys. I don't know what motivates this kind of place to leave all these old cars sitting around, except maybe advertising(?) but I sure am grateful. These were the cars right up by the road - someday maybe I'll get brave enough to go in and ask if I can take pictures of the rest. It was a little too early on this day.

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.