The Morris Farm

"Morris Farm"

8 x 8 Oil on Archival Board

An experiment using the two color palette on a landscape this time. I actually like it    I really couldn't go too far wrong because this property I painted is so beautiful. Now, believe it or not, I'm working on a 36" x 36" piece of work. I'm half way done and still enjoying painting, so that's a good thing. I'll post it when it's done.

Dapper Sherman

Oil on Archival Board

 

SOLD

You can't tell me Sherman doesn't look smart and sassy and he should, too, because he is competing in obedience and winning much praise.  Apparently French Bulldogs are not always obedient....and I know they don't always win awards.  Only the ones who have incredible trainers (i.e., Brian Hawkins)!  Don't you think that red bowtie says it all?  What a face!!!

The Thinker

9 x 6 Oil on Archival Board

SOLD

A young man at the National Gallery getting information about one of the painting that interested him.  In the distance is Andrew Wyeth's "Looking Out, Looking In."  His position really reminded me of Rodin's sculpture, "The Thinker."  Thus, the title. 

I'm ready for this exhibit now.  I've got my 16 paintings and thought I'd be tired of painting them, but have found that I want to do more.  They are extremely fun for me and very Zen-like.  I forget everything else and plunge ahead, enjoying every stroke.

Under the Watchful Eye of Napoleon

9 x 6 Oil on Archival Board

Here's Number 16 in my on-going series of art patrons at the National Gallery.  Two women sitting with their backs to Napoleon (something he probably would not appreciate).  His stare didn't seem to bother them. The painting is Jacques-Louis David's "The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries," painted in 1812.  It was a good place to sit and relax before moving on to another room of incredible art.  I never seem to get tired of painting these little vignettes, and the more I do, the more I learn. Can't beat that :-)

Sale at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Art Show

SOLD

I was so very pleased to find out that my painting, "Stuck Up," was sold at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine recently.  The painting will hang until the end of the exhibit so if you get a chance and are in the area, stop by and see all of the artwork on display.

Monhegan Sunrise

SOLD

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

The colors at sunrise on Monhegan Island, Maine are quite spectacular.  Actually, incredibly spectacular.  Manana Island (the barrier island across from Monhegan) glows a crimson orange reminiscent of hot embers and is so beautiful it is surreal.  It is difficult to capture in paint.

Two Shelley's

OK, so here are two perspectives by two Shelleys.  My cousin, the watercolorist, is really Rachel but has always been called Shelley.  As I said in a previous post, Shelley is the impetus for my art adventure.  She just sent me this photo of the initial sketch she did while on the road, so I thought I'd post hers and mine together.  She works in watercolor and is quite accomplished.  I painted mine in oil from the photo she took in Atlantic City.  I'm enjoying her trip from my couch :-)  I've painted two of her images so far and am looking forward to more.

Freda, Fulang Chang, and Me

 

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

A photo op at the MOMA.  A woman getting a close picture of "Fulang Chang and I" by Freda Kahlo.  What attracted me to this was that the woman looked a lot like Freda from the back.  Plus, this is one of my favorite paintings at one of my favorite places in the world.  This is a study to work out issues for a larger piece I plan on doing, and I see a lot that I need to work on :-)

Children on the Move

9 x 3 1/8  Oil on Gessobord

OK..So this is a piece of Gessobord that I had my husband cut from a painting I had done a few weeks ago.  When I painted the original piece, the bottom of the painting just didn't look right to me.  The only way I felt I could keep the painting was to crop it which is easy if I'm doing pastel, but not so much on a hard board.  My husband was nice enough to drag out his table saw and cut the bottom off the painting.  Rather than throw the piece away, I just "played," and this is the result.  I might go back into this and refine it, but there is something about the lack of refinement that I like.  Even though there are ghosts around the figures, I think it gives the piece movement.  At least I think so....Just a fun little experiment.

It Is What It Is

12 x 9 Oil On Gessobord

Click to Bid in My DPW Auction

I don't normally do a still life, but I love this pottery jug and decided to set something up to paint.  I"m glad I did, because I really loved the process of painting  this.  I put down my strokes fast and didn't go back into it at all.  That's why I'm calling it "It Is What It Is"  :-)  Then, I ate one of the apples.....

Dragonfly

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

 SOLD

I'm not a fan of insects of any type, so painting this made me a little itchy :-)  My Daughter-in-Law took this photo using her zoom lens..at least I'm hoping she didn't get this close to the bug.  I do know that a Dragonfly doesn't sting.  Growing up on Long Island, NY, we had tons of them at the beach.  They were just a part of summer and when I see one, I can almost smell the ocean.  I really love Katherine's photos, and she seems to know what I like to paint so we make a good team.  So, here's my version of  "Dragonfly".

Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

10 x 14 Oil on Arches Paper for Oil

Rear Views...I seem to have a thing about them.  I love to paint the rear of people, places, and things. What's with that?!  Am I always looking back?  I'm sure an analyst would have plenty to say :-)  I was watching the motorcycle behind us on our way back from Bedford, VA, and suddenly realized that this would make an interesting painting. The landscape between Moneta and Bedford is, in my opinion, the most beautiful around.  Farmland, rolling hillsides, and mountains...It simply doesn't get better than that.  Well, the beach is right up there, too...

Monhegan Dawn

12 x 8 Oil on Arches Oil Paper

To Bid on This Painting:

On the last trip I took to Monhegan Island, Maine, I got up at dawn and walked the Island taking photos.  That had to have been the best and most inspiring time I've had in a long time.  When I started out, it was relatively dark, and on an island without street lights, dark is REALLY dark.  As the sun came up though, the colors around me were absolutely beautiful, and I'll never forget them.  Manana, which is an uninhabited island right off Monhegan, glowed an almost florescent orange.  What a sight!  If I ever win the lottery..I should say, if I ever play the lottery and win, the first thing I would do is buy one of these houses. It's like taking a step back in time.  I was just reading The Beekman 1802 Blog, and was totally blown away by a quote from Brent:  "Although we give a lot of importance to the crossroads, the U-turns, the speed bumps, and the forks in the road that mark our journeys, sometimes intersections, sleepy and quiet, are equally profound."  How beautiful!

Pose and Don't Smile!!

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

So...I said "Turn so I have your profile and don't smile!"  I wasn't expecting him to look so sinister, but I really like it.  Maybe it was my tone when I said to stop smiling, and I can almost hear what he was thinking. My main goal when I painted this was to convey that feeling.  It's all in the eyes!!

Tucked Away

SOLD

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

I love this cottage that was nestled in the woods in Maine, but what really attracted me to it was the play of light in and around the trees.  I've said it before, but there is something wonderful about the light there.  I think it has to do with the atmosphere and being so close to the ocean.  If it wasn't for all the snow, I'd be living there.  That being said, I sure wish Virginia would get a little...It just doesn't feel like winter without it!  I think they said it might reach the 60's this week.  That's just plain unfair!!

Barney Two

SOLD

Here's Barney again.  I posted another version of him a few minutes ago.  Don't you just want to cuddle him?  I know I do :-)  I'm sure Tallulah (my Sproodle) would have other plans, however.  I'd love to see the two of them play together. Lula is probably the fastest dog around, and I'll bet Barney would give her some competition.   Thank you to Barney's family for letting me paint him.  As I said, I really enjoyed it.

By the Slice

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

What better way to start off the New Year than with a slice of pizza?!  Actually, a better way to start the New Year is to PAINT a pizza.  I should have placed a bottle of champagne next to it, but thought of it too late :-)  I said it in my last post but it warrants saying again:  Thank you for spending time with me on my journey this past year and for providing input and encouragement.  The blog has had almost 10,000 visits!  I am going to have a special give-away when I reach the 10,000 mark, so keep checking.  I'm almost there....Happy New Year Everyone!

Art On the Go

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

I really love watching Plein Air painters at work.  They are usually so engrossed in what they are doing, they don't even focus on the crowd that is watching them.  I, on the other hand, always feel I have to talk to everyone.  (I can hear all my friends saying "Surprise, Surprise.")  I also tend to feel like I'm at an audition and people are judging every stroke I make.  My plan for 2013 is to change all that and just go out there and paint.  Bugs are another issue.  I'm the one you will see running around swatting at insects with my brush...A friend told me that Listerine keeps the bugs away.  Well, I sprayed it all over me and the bugs loved it.  Meanwhile, I smelled "Minty Fresh" for weeks, as did all my art supplies.  So, resolutions for 2013...Paint Plein Air and really enjoy it, and start talking to the bugs.  Maybe they'll get bored and go away :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  LET'S HOPE 2013 IS A SAFE, PEACEFUL ONE!!  Thank you all who have visited my blog and who encourage me to keep on 'keeping on.'  Love you All!

Ho! Ho! Ho! ..Or Not!

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This "Santa" man looked like he had the world on his shoulders as he walked by me at the Hotel Roanoke.  He was dressed the part, though.  He had on a red velvet jacket and, of course, the hat.  His wife was leading the way and the interesting thing is that she was not dressed "Christmasy" at all.  As a matter of fact, she looked rather plain, so I wonder what the scene was like at their house that morning as they dressed.  Whatever it was, I so enjoyed painting him!  Bah Humbug and Merry Christmas all rolled into one.

Christmas at the Pump

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

I'm thinking that this was a trial run for a Christmas trip.  This was the day after Thanksgiving.  Do you think his wife made him wear the sweater? The temperature was 70 degrees and it was Winter Park, Florida.  I liked his "cowboy" stance :-)  This is what happens when I have my camera and have time to kill.  Most people just fill up and go, but I look for photo opportunities...This is the second, and I promise the last painting done at this gas station.  You notice I didn't say "any" gas station....just "this" gas station.

This painting is being auctioned at Daily Paintworks.  If interested in bidding, click on the DPW Link on the right and go to the Auction page.