Peonies to Start the New Year

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD 

Here is a bouquet of flowers for all of you out there to thank you for stopping by to browse my blog, website, and Facebook pages.  As I said in the Christmas post, your feedback and emails are so very much appreciated.  I love hearing from you all and especially love being a part of the World Wide Web of artists.  I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, and Productive New Year.

Baby Boy

SOLD

"Baby Boy" is a commission I did for the owner of CJ's Coffee and Sandwich Shop, a favorite place of mine for breakfast and lunch.  This is his mother's cat, and he gave the painting to her as a Christmas present. Actually, this is the first cat I have painted and it seemed to just flow, so I may have to do more :-)  When I asked what the cat's name is, I got several answers.  Apparently, the cat has an identity problem, but the definitive answer was "Baby Boy." "Baby Boy" gave me a chance to have fun experimenting with mixing colors.  I am told he is part Coon cat, quite large and definitely furry...I really appreciated the opportunity to do this painting, so thank you Chris :-)

A Very Serious Elf

Christmas Photograph, 2013

One has to be extremely fast to capture Tallulah, our Sproodle, in her elf get-up.  You can't even see the red top of the cap.  Her expression says it all:  "Really???"  This was the third try, and quite frankly, I gave up.  Not the best picture of her, but the ears look good...  

I want to thank you all for checking in on my blog and for the wonderful emails and feedback throughout the year.  I'm so thankful for you all :-)  I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Christmas Tree with Red Dye #3

Pastel on Wallis Paper

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I painted this and used it for my Christmas card a few years ago, and I still love it.  Every time I see the  photo I have of it, I can taste peppermint (not a favorite of mine).  I licked each and every one of those candies to get them to stick together so I could paint them.  I wasn't feeling so great after setting it up, but being a dedicated artist, I pushed on and painted the still life.  What hardships we artists have to endure....Hope you all are finishing up on your Christmas shopping.  I'll post again before Christmas to wish you all a good one.

So Many Naughty.....

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

I am bidding this painting on my Daily Paintworks site.  If interested, go to the link on the right.  This Santa was leaving our local bank and looked neither happy nor jolly.  In fact, he looked downright grumpy.  At first I painted him just as I saw him, but decided that he looked too sinister and gave him a slight smirk.  Still not a Ho Ho Ho type of guy, but not quite a "Bah Humbug" dude either.  I hope you all are making headway shopping for the Holiday.  I'll check in before Christmas.

Blue Vase

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This was my mother's vase, and I've always loved the shape of it.  I'm not sure why I suddenly felt like painting it, but I"m glad I did.  Just a quick study and sudden memory.

Shari - Warholesque

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

All I could think of was Warhol's Marilyn's when I was painting this.  I got a new MAC AIR for my birthday, and my daughter was on the phone trying to explain some of the fundamentals to me.  Not an easy task :-)  We had some fun sending our abstract photos back and forth.  I loved this one and figured it would be a nice challenge. I'm loving my AIR.  I went to Barnes and Noble and got two good books.  They are one step below the "Dummy" series...They are called "...For Seniors."   N I C E.....

Puffed Up Bluebird

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD 

You can't miss this painting, can you?!  I went for color on this one and actually like the way it came out.  This particular bluebird (at least I think it's the same one) flies back and forth from a tree branch on the side of our house to the railing of our deck.  I guess because the weather is getting colder, it has been really puffed up...Or it has been eating too much.  When the sun hits that blue, it becomes that incredible iridescent color.

Kingfisher

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

The Kingfisher happens to be one of my favorite birds.  One of the reasons is that my friend told me that the sound they make is easily identifiable because it sounds like that old song "Wipeout."  I don't know if anyone else out there remembers it, but it really does, if you listen to the song.  We have a resident Kingfisher who sits on the top of the mast of our sailboat watching for fish.  When he sees one, he dives straight down.  It's really something to see.  Now wherever I am, if I hear that sound, I know there is a Kingfisher around, and odd as it sounds, I start humming "Wipeout."

Christmas Train

 Oil on Gessobord

I figured this was a good way to start the Christmas season.  Better than camping outside a store all night to get a bargain.  That practice still amazes me.  It was in the teens and really windy here in VA the night before Thanksgiving, and they interviewed a few people on the nightly news who had set up camp outside a electronics store.  YIKES!  Back to the painting, this little red haired boy was fascinated by the train under one of the trees at the Hotel Roanoke.  Each year, the hotel has a wonderful array of decorated trees sponsored by different organizations. It is really a Christmas wonderland.  I get a real kick out of the children (and some adults) all dressed up for the holiday.  This piece was done for Goose Creek Studio for their "O Christmas Tree" display.  What Fun!