To and Fro

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

This is another little summer scene from my hometown of Missoula. Now the weather is getting cooler and we're starting to transition to pants and jackets. Not that I'm complaining about that (at all!) but painting this was a nice way to remember the warmer weather. I absolutely adore the seasons here. In Texas it was just hot, until it wasn't, and then hot again. Here, by the end of each season you're craving the next one. And each new season is that much sweeter because of the one before.

Into Shade

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

Another scene from around the Missoula Saturday Market. These two were just stepping into the shade of the bridge from the parking lot. I love that little sliver of light on her head and shoulders. Magic.

Tired Boy

 

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

I ran across this little family on one of my market walks. They were part of a bigger crowd waiting at a light. I decided to zoom in and isolate just these three. Those little hands on top of dad's head were just too cute not to focus on.

A Great Day to Fish

Click Here to Bid - 11 3/4 x 5 7/8in. (just under 6x12) - oil on panel

(click image to see larger)

Here's another scene from my trip to the beach in North Carolina this year. There were guys like this up and down the beach - their fishing poles stuck in the sand. One (I) had to be careful not to get snagged on the lines as they ran into the water, especially when they were distracted by picture taking.

I often have my husband cut panels down to make the sizes I want. I have a pile of "scraps" from this, and I thought, well, 6x12 isn't a standard size, so if I have something that has to be just a little smaller, a framer will have no problem with it. So. : )

Did You Lock the Car?

 

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

Here's another little people scene. I think I'm in love with reflected light. In general. On fruit, on people, on anything. It's so subtle, but so satisfying in paint.

Early Birds Get Coffee

 

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

Here's another market scene from our lovely Missoula Saturday affair. I had a lot of fun with the background. And the people. Happy happy. : )

Missoula Market Walk

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

Missoula has a series of markets downtown on Saturdays during the summer. You can make a morning of it - walking from one end of downtown to the other, hitting all the markets. I did this a few weeks ago, with a friend, and my camera. This is a scene from said trip.

Sampling the Goods

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

I had been meaning to get down to the farmers market in Missoula for a while. Years. When I finally went recently, with a friend, I realized that I have no trouble going in other towns, but when it's my own ... I hesitate. I feel self-conscious with my camera. The solution was to go with a friend and pretend I was a tourist. It was great. I got lots of photos.

And speaking of people paintings, I recently got a new batch of my "People Out and About" book, an improved version. I was hearing from people that the last batch had faulty glue in the binding and the pages were eventually falling out. If you got one of those books, I'm so sorry! AI helped me find a new printer: Dazzle Printing, which I am quite happy with. Eventually I will put out other books as well.

Into the Light

 

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

This is a scene from Florence, Italy that I have painted before with no success. The two main people remind me of my in-laws, which is why I gave it another chance. My favorite part is her striped shirt, and the way her hand goes back.

Market in the Trees

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

A few weeks ago my husband and I drove over to Spokane & Coeur d'Alene to explore their Saturday markets for reference material. We found the one in Spokane to be fairly underwhelming. This is a scene from the one in Coeur d'Alene, which was nestled in the trees. It made for lovely ambience, and cool shopping, but fairly dark photos. I was thrilled when these two stepped into the light!

Out for a Stroll

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

It takes me about 3 to 4 times as long to complete a painting with people in it than it does for other subjects. People are tough. Even though I suggest them, I have to get every mark in the right place. I mean, not that it's perfect, by any means, but we know what people look like, and we can tell at a glance if something is off. So I have to do a lot of careful considering while I paint. It only looks loose.

Look at This One

 

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

I wish I lived closer to the beach so I could go out regularly and get pictures of scenes like this. Alas. I guess it'll just have to be an excuse to take more vacations. Poor me.

Mom Needs Shade

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

This little girl was entertaining herself with a dance while her mom took a snack break in the shade of the pier. I picked the reference with the best pose, and then had to move her over a bit so she didn't line up in funny ways with the posts. It was challenging, but I'm happy with the result. : )

Water Bottles

 

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

This is another one from Southport, NC. Mom fully knows the importance of everyone drinking enough water.

Which Way, Honey?

 

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

This was just outside the visitors center in Southport, NC. I just loved the poses and the colorful clothes, and how they were lit. It's almost like they were posing just for me! I did make up the flowers on the bush behind them, but it goes, right? : )

Time to Gossip

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

I loved these two mature women walking the dog (at the beach in NC), far more interested in their juicy gossip than the dog.

Family Time

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

Here's a sweet little family at the water's edge. I had to combine a few photos to get the poses I wanted, but I think it was worth it. I love how the water looks green when it's about to wave. : )

Hunting Treasure

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

A lot of the people at the beach were collecting shells. This actually made it easier for me to take photos without them getting suspicious. These two kiddos were especially engrossed. I loved the gestures.

Wave Watchers

Click Here to Bid - 7x5in. - oil on panel

Here's another one from my NC beach trip. I loved the kiddos the best. I always had my camera set to a multi-shot capture because they move so fast (in the next photo this kid was crouched to jump). This way I can choose the pose I like best.

Time to Reapply

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

When I got home from the beach someone asked me if it had been crowded. Normally I would consider crowded a negative, but I happily answered "yes!" Not that it was packed, but there were definitely people everywhere you looked. Happily. : )