Cooper at the Beach

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Cooper is the happiest dog and loves the water.  She is the only dog I know who actually plays and splashes while swimming.  She's a Boykin Spaniel and is almost human.  She belongs to our good friends. 

Observing the Landscape

I caught this woman studying the landscapes at a gallery this past summer. I liked the way she was standing, holding her coat, fully enthralled with the paintings she was looking at.  Her companion left to sit on a bench, obviously not as enthralled.

Afloat on a Float

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Here's a typical tough day on the Lake!  This was my husband this past summer doing what he loves.  I'm really happy with the colors on this one.

Winter Walk

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My cousin breeds Labs in New Hampshire.  What I tried to bring out in this painting is the falling snow and cold temperature of that particular day.  Of course, the subject matter is very near and dear to me.  This is my cousin's son, Jared, and daughter-in-law, Anna, walking two of their beautiful Labs.

Close Work

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I am going to enter this painting in an upcoming show.  I really love it!  I left the background almost white because I wanted the subject to appear like a photo negative.  I have her sitting a little off-kilter which I think makes the painting more interesting. 

End of the Day, Gills Creek

This is one of those beautiful sunsets here at Smith Mountain Lake.  I've found that it's a real challenge to recreate the colors that one sees at dusk.  "End of the Day" is one of my attempts that turned out rather well, I think.  There have been many that didn't do our sunsets justice.

Fresh Snowfall

This is my cousin's barn in New Hampshire.  It is very peaceful there and her property is so New England, so beautiful.  She and her husband are very special to me, and I loved doing this painting.

Blanket of Snow

This painting won First Place at the League of Roanoke Artists 2010 Showcase.  I love snow and was very excited about last winter's weather, although most people were not.  Coming from New York, snow was just part of the norm.  When I saw the snow piling up on the bushes in front of our house, I immediately went out and took photos.  This was just one of the paintings I did.  I used this image for our 2010 Christmas cards.

Splash!

This is one of my favorite paintings!  I began it on Monhegan Island, Maine.  I almost gave up on it when I got it home.  I worked and over-worked it to the point of throwing it out.  When I reached the "last straw," I just took a Nupastel and scribbled all over it.  It worked!!  Ever since this experience, I now just put paintings that don't work away and take them out weeks, months, or even years later.  You'd be surprised how many eventually do work.  This piece actually won an award.

Smith Mountain Lake Sunset

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The cloud formation was what grabbed my interest on this painting.  My studio overlooks the lake, and there are so many times that I will be in the middle of a painting and see another potential painting out there.  I want to immediately stop the one I'm doing and start a new one.  It takes a lot of discipline to continue and finish the one I'm working on.

Gullah Woman in Thought

I love this woman!  This is the second time I've painted her.  The first painting was of her weaving baskets in a bright red long skirt.  This time, I just did her wonderful face.  What I enjoyed doing was being able to use so many colors for her skin tone.  I also experimented with lost edges on this one.  I might even do it again!

Breakfast Treats

This was a challenge.  When I started painting it, I thought it would be relatively easy, but discovered that nothing is as it seems.  I'm always up for a challenge, though.

Shakespeare

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This is my daughter's dog, Shakespeare.  I'm pretty sure his name has something to do with my daughter being a literature professor! Shakespeare is a fun loving golden, and I had a great time grabbing pinks, reds, purples, and yellows for his coat.  He hasn't said much, but I think he is happy with his likeness.

Still Life with Reflections

I don't do still life paintings often, but I was fascinated with the blind reflections on the vase.  I also really like the pottery the flowers were in. 

Beautiful Magic

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Magic was one of the sweetest dogs.  She died this past year, and this was my tribute to her.

Coffee with Peanuts

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Each morning I read the paper and drink my coffee.  The news is so awful that the last thing I do is read "Peanuts," which always leaves me with a smile.  This one was fun to do!

Steady Hand on the Wheel

What fun this was!  This is my husband's arm.  It's not a subject most artists would think to do, but when I now look at it, I'm right there in the passenger seat next to him.  That watch...which I plan on getting rid of...makes the most irritating noise because of the way he holds his hand.  It clinks.  It took us the longest time to figure out what the noise was.  We were about to bring the car in for service when we discovered the source.

Painterly Stance

This is one of my favorite paintings!  I took a mini 'plein air' workshop at the Market in Roanoke last summer.  It was the same day that I saw the man I painted for "Dark Sunglasses."  This is the instructor/artist that was giving the class.  I loved watching him paint.  He was so relaxed and you could see that he enjoyed every minute of it.  The heat of the day didn't even seem to bother him.  What I was trying to capture is his gesture or stance, and I think it worked out pretty well.

Me and My Shadow

I've loved shadows of people since I was a child.  One of my favorite poems is Robert Louis Stevenson's "I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me...."  This is my friend's shadow as we were doing our morning walk.  I especially like the composition of this one.The painting is available at Goose Creek Gallery, Bedford, Virginia
http://www.goosecreekstudio.com/

Crossing the Finish Line

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I really like the way this painting turned out because when I look at it, I feel like I'm there.  Sometimes it is hard to part with my paintings when they sell.

Trio of Sailboats

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These three sailboats were coming around the bend of the Lake.  What I like about this painting is that it typifies Smith Mountain Lake.  It has Smith Mountain in the background and has a lot of depth and atmosphere.

Smith Mountain Lake Fall Regatta

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This is one of a series of sailing paintings I've done and continue to do.  "Fall Regatta" is the first one I did.

Book Club for Two

How I love this painting!  This couple was waiting for the ferry to arrive on Monhegan Island, Maine.  It was a long wait so they began reading on the grass, but it was the head-to-head relationship that interested me.  They sort of symbolized the whole relaxed atmosphere of the Island.

The "Mayor" of Park Avenue

Over Thanksgiving I was in Winter Park, Florida and caught this man talking on his cell and watching the traffic and people go by.  I named this The "Mayor" of Park Avenue because he looked like he was conducting business and keeping watch over the crowds.  His stance was so relaxed and self-confident.

Dark Sunglasses

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I have painted this gentleman several times, but this one is my favorite.  He was walking through the market in Roanoke on a very hot summer day.  His face, with all the marks of time, was what fascinated me.  I changed the background a number of times, and feel this one really works.

Wyeth House, Monhegan Island

                     
I've been to Monhegan Island, Maine, to paint for the past three years.  This painting is of the Rockwell Kent house that Andrew Wyeth owned.  His son, Jamie, one of my favorite artists, now owns it.  It sits on the cliff overlooking the ocean and is so beautiful and inspiring.  Monhegan Island is a destination for artists and wherever you go you will see painters at work.  This painting is shown at Gallery 108 in Roanoke, VA.
http://www.gallery108.biz/

Contemplation

This woman was waiting for the ferry to the mainland on Monhegan Island, Maine. I loved the tranquility of the setting. I call it "Contemplation." The painting is available at 
Goose Creek Gallery, Bedford, Virginia
http://www.goosecreekstudio.com/