Carp Diem

8 x 8 Oil On Gessobord

A study of an interesting woman...Very loose, but so great to paint!  I felt as though I was sculpting this woman with my brush.  There are things I might think about changing a little, but I'm leaving it as is and will probably do another one.  I'm learning that studies are really important. This has turned into one of my favorite paintings.  She was not just feeding the carp, but actually petting them...YUCH!  I'm pretty sure she was talking to them, as well :-)  It takes all kinds, right?!  She was enjoying the day, and that's what counts.  I just hope she went home with all her fingers....

Butts Galore

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

Love the postures of this group of vacationers looking at the fish here at the lake.  Even the dog had his rear to me :-)   Thankfully, they were intent enough that they didn't pay any attention to me taking their picture.  For me, this is what it's all about..Painting people doing what they do...Just hanging out.  Another "Day in the Life."

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...

Waiting for the Right Wave

6 x 8 Oil on Linen Board

There is a perfect wave out there.  It's just a matter of waiting until you see it, or knowing it when you see it.  It's sort of the same thing with people, too :-)  

Detail of Boys v. Girls

Detail of the 16 x 20 painting "Boys v. Girls."  Obviously, this is just the girls :-)

Boys v. Girls

16 x 20 Oil on Gessobord

Beach volleyball...  A great way to spend the day.  Crashing waves, the smell of salt water, clean sand, and friends.  What could be more perfect?!  I'm going to add a detailed post so you can really see a part of the painting.  Because of the size, everything looks very small here. The detail, however, does distort a little but at least you can get a better idea of what you are looking at..

Yellow Kayak

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

You can't miss this kayak!  I love the bright yellow against the color of the water.  My friend, Judy, kayaks all the time and I keep saying I am going to take down my dull blue kayak and go with her, but never get to it.  She came by the house the other day, and I'm not sure if she saw me, but I took a bunch of pictures of her from the kitchen window.  I've got her coming in, going out, and just resting up as she is here.  I see a future theme of paintings...that is unless I get out there with her.  Then I won't have time to paint.   The last time I was out, a storm blew in as I got to the end of the cove.  I made good time there, but when we saw lightening, everyone else had energy left to get back.  I paddled for dear life, but the wind came up and was blowing against me.  I went nowhere fast.  Obviously, I made it back, but I was not a happy camper :-)

Queen of the Frisbee

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Tallulah is almost 2 now, and what a fun dog she is!  Her favorite thing to do is play frisbee and she literally flies...  Ears fly, feet fly, tail straight up in the air.  If we have a treat, she will allow us to take it from her mouth.  Otherwise, she holds on to it for dear life.  She hasn't quite gotten the "drop it" command, although she obeys when it doesn't involve the treasured frisbee.  A little neurotic...Yes...especially when it comes to thunderstorms.  We got her a thundershirt which helps a little, and she looks quite lovely in it :-)  Still scared, but stylish.

Chime On!

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Isn't it great how some people just make everyone around them feel happy?  These two wonderful artists do!  What fun we had at the Sedalia Artisan Fair.  There were so many artists and vendors there and lots to see and do.  This display had really beautiful chime bowls made by Peter Buchanan, each one with a distinctive sound....So naturally we disrupted everyone around us by playing them and singing, quite loudly I might add.  I don't think the chimes bothered anyone, but the singing.......

A Single Slice

Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

This little painting was done for the "Itsy Bitsy" show in Bedford, VA.  Pizza is just a fun thing to paint, and one slice was perfect for the small size allowed.  We are going to have to branch out on what type of pizza we get from now on.  I think I've done as much as I can with the plain cheese variety.  I will have to branch out to more exotic types....like Hawaiian :-)

Narcissism on Swan Lake

8 x 8 Oil On Gessobord
SOLD

I can remember my parents warning about swans being mean when we used to feed the ducks.  We would save up our stale bread and feed the ducks everyday at a lake on Long Island.  I was always on the lookout for an attack swan coming at me and would have nightmares about it.  Then I fell in love with the movie "Hans Christian Andersen" with Danny Kaye.  He sang that great song about the ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan, and now every time I see one that song plays in my head.  They are really quite beautiful and so graceful.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

SOLD

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This was a fast painting done while gallery sitting at our art co-op.  Whenever I am rushing to get somewhere there always seems to be roadwork, and I always seem to be on the long end of the waiting line of cars.  I'm pretty sure this man was pretending that I wasn't there.  The line of cars coming in the other direction went on forever.  It's quite possible that he was sleeping on his feet :-)

Calf and a Half

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

There are a lot of cows around this part of Virginia, so I thought I should at least attempt to paint a few every now and then.  This particular cow gave me a look that said "What are YOU looking at?"  Despite that, I did give her long, luxurious eye lashes and a rather pretty nose with a spot of red.  Her positioning behind the other calf might have something to do with the look.  Who knows what the other calf had eaten for lunch?!

Never Far From the Phone

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

AH....The smell of  salt air, the seagulls making their seagull sounds...Summer, but wait!  Some guy is yelling on the phone.  That doesn't bring back my childhood memories of the beach!  Remember the days when you would go to the beach with just your blanket, towel, sunscreen, and perhaps a radio if there was a game on?  The point was to relax, get away from it all,  listen to the surf, and get some sun.  Now, everyone has to be connected to everyone else at all times.  No quiet time, no time to ponder life's mysteries (I never did that, but it sounds good :-)  Do we all have to hear other people's conversations?

Stuck Up!

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

Why I pick things to paint is a mystery even to me.  Personally, I think this guy misconstrued Dylan's "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door."  My other thought is that he was just trying to show off his new Jimmy Choo shoes.  Stilts are in, you know :-)  Whatever it was, the man walking behind him thought he would make a good subject, too, and he didn't care that he was getting wet....

Not Hogwarts

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

So...This is not the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, although one might think so.  Looking around the reception room at my daughter's graduation made me feel very wizardly though.  It was her PhD reception, so there were a lot of black robes and colorful hoods.  I expected to see Maggie Smith at any moment :-)  Unfortunately, she wasn't there, but it was all very exciting anyway.  I have no idea who these two people were but they were having an intense conversation, possibly about how they missed Bill Clinton as the speaker the day before.

Nourishment

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

This was done for two really special people and is a total departure for me.  There isn't much to say about this one.  The name says it all.  I was going to call it "Imagine" because I kept thinking about John Lennon's song while I was painting it.  The part about."..sharing all the world."   We all need nourishment, though, don't we?!

Family Day

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

I'm really into water now :-)  Painting it is not as easy as one would think.  It's a struggle, but when it comes out the way I'd like, I'm thrilled.  These last few paintings I've done have been such a joy.  I haven't gone into the process thinking about what it "should" look like when it's finished.  I've just been letting it happen, and the outcome has always been a surprise...and a happy one at that.  For me, movement is always the key.  I must say, though, that I did get new contact lenses recently ... Perhaps that's what makes the difference :-)

Beach Divas

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

I spent my entire childhood and teen years doing exactly this.  The more burned I got, the better.  My goal was to get a tan.  Never happened!  Blue eyes, blond hair...No tan...When I moved to NYC, I even got one of those tin foiled folding things and would go to Bryant Park at lunch time to get a few rays.  I didn't look too odd because there were a lot of other young women like me, in suits, heels, stocking, etc,.doing the same thing.  Men were smarter.  You would never see a man in a suit and tie sunbathing.  Anyway, the two women here were in conversation, spending a beautiful day at the beach.  Fun to paint!

Riding In!

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

I am really excited about this painting!  First of all I had such fun painting it, and secondly it came out better than I ever thought it would.  I experimented with mixing techniques and strokes, and hit on one that worked and I'm happy with.  I'd love to say that one of these people is actually me, however, you'd recognize me as the one with the Mickey Mouse tube and water wings on :-)  I'm always amazed at the balance surfers have.  I'm on a beach kick now, so I'll be posting lots more.  My wonderful daughter-in-law caught this shot for me.  She's the best, and a great photographer!

Good Way to Start the Morning

8 x 10 Oil on Linen Board

Well, Happy Mother's Day to all!  This is exactly how we started out our morning.  It's hard to find good New York bagels here at the Lake, but there is a great bagel shop if we travel into Roanoke.  If there wasn't one around, we just might have to move back up North.  When we moved from New York to New Jersey, the local bakery advertised bagels, but we discovered really fast that they were just soft rolls with a hole in the middle.  After living there for a while, real bagel places started opening up.  Then came our move to Smith Mountain Lake...Again, no bagels until we discovered Roanoke.  So now that we have almost everything here, we'd better not move again.  Check out my great new coffee mug.  It's made by my favorite potter, Dan Perkins.  I absolutely love it and use it everyday.  I make sure I switch hands when I lift it, though, because it's heavy and I don't want bulging muscles in just one arm... :-)

Beginning of Summer

12 x 24 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

OK..Technically it's not summer yet, but I just got back from a week in Florida where it most certainly is summer.   Hot and humid, and rain every day, which made me feel like painting the beach.  My favorite season is not summer, and I avoid going to the shore during June, July and August.  Love the Fall and Winter, though.  That's the best time because all the children are back in school, and you pretty much have the beach to yourself; and in the Fall the water is still warm enough to swim.  Yikes, I sound old.  I think I remember my parents saying the exact same thing.  Uh Oh.....

Outsider Artist

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

This is how most of us who become artists start out. You can't get a better canvas than a Brownstone stoop.  I have painted Rocky before, and I must say he is turning into one of my favorite subjects.  I'm pretty sure his father helped him with the face, but you can see him starting one of his own.  It's so cool that they live in this part of  Brooklyn because that's where my parents and his great grandparents lived.  Probably not too many blocks from this building.  Life's all a big circle, isn't it?!

Marathon Stretches

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

This started as a study of figures in different movements and poses but turned into one of my new favorite paintings.  My son runs in marathons, and this was before one of the races as the athletes were getting ready.  The figures are simple, with little detail, but what I was going for was for the viewer to feel as though he or she was catching them in mid stretch.  It's always a surprise which paintings will actually please me, and this one was no exception.

Subway Couture

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

Well...What can you say?!  New York City is a perfect place to people watch and who could resist painting this woman?  She was dressed for Alaska and had her iPad and her iPhone, so she was totally connected to the outside world.  The socks matched the hat, so she was totally stylish :-)  The woman next to her was studying and drinking her Starbucks coffee.  It was actually an open cup, but I put a lid on it due to the fact that I couldn't stand the idea of all those germs getting into her coffee....This one was fast and fun.  Quick strokes hopefully coming together.

Painting and Pottery

10 x 8 Oil on Linen Board

I painted the two tall pots before when they were displayed at The Electric Company Artist Co-Op.  Both paintings have since sold; however, now I am the proud owner of them, as well as a small bowl and a mug by the same potter.  They are prominently displayed beside one of my paintings and I get so much pleasure looking at them.  The Potter, Dan Perkins, has become one of my favorite artisans :-)  

A Woman of Substance

6 x 8  Oil on Linen Board

I met Susie at Goose Creek Studio last year and just love her.  She is so kind and generous, and is such a pleasure to be around.  I see her at every art event, always with a smile on her face, and always ready to talk about the artwork.  I've noticed that she doesn't just look quickly at a piece.  She will stand in front of it and really take it all in.  I've tried to capture her expression here and the joy she seems to have when she looks at art.  I'm hoping I did her justice.

Finally, Spring!

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

Well, Spring has arrived for a day or two.  We seemed to go from a snowstorm to 90 degrees in a matter of days.  Totally confusing for plants and humans alike.  A little color always makes me happy, so I did enjoy  painting these flowers before the weeds take over.  Summer in Virginia is not a favorite for me, so now, even before summer has officially arrived, I'm looking forward to Fall.  As everyone tells me, I'm never satisfied :-)

Putting it Out

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

If you look back to the photograph I posted called "Forced to Leave the Building,"  I mentioned that when we were evacuated from the Shenandoah Club I spent time taking photos of the firemen while waiting to be let back into the building.  Well...this just shows you that there is always something to paint...at least for me.  I'm not sure why, but I really get pleasure from experiences that are a little out of the ordinary.  Joy is the word!  I kept thinking about "Alice's Restaurant," Arlo Guthrie's song, watching this.  There were a lot of men there for a few burning towels, and they had lots of equipment.

Breakfast at CJ's

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Two of my most favorite things...cappuccino and crumb cake. As far as I'm concerned, there is no better way to start the day.  Our small coffee shop has new owners, and I'm not sure what brand of espresso they use, but I think it's even better than Starbucks.  I'm very picky about my coffee.  The baristas at Starbucks usually run for cover when I approach the counter.  Yes, I see them smirking.  My order is really involved and specific.  The person at the counter tries to keep up as he/she writes on the side of the cup, but invariably something is not quite right..."..cappuccino, Grande, dry but not too dry, mostly foam but a little milk, make that skimmed milk, double shot...unless you usually use two shots.  If so, then triple shot..."  Here at C.J.'s, they seem to know how to make a perfect cup.  Now, that's a science :-)  I really loved painting this.  Seriously, I could almost taste it as I was applying the paint.

Forced to Leave the Building

I don't usually post photographs, but this was too good to pass up.  Our ArtVisions group was asked to show our work at the Shenandoah Club, a private club in Roanoke, VA.  We all got there with our 10 paintings each and proceeded to start hanging, when we were told we had to evacuate the building.  Apparently, there was a fire and the staff had to call the fire department.  So, we did as we were told as the fire trucks pulled in.  Now if you notice, none of us thought about our paintings at all...except for our friend, Nancy.  I have decided she is the one we all should go to in an emergency.  I'm pretty sure she was saying to herself: "I'm NOT going to lose this painting after working on it for so long!"  The rest of us were all oblivious, like school kids during a fire drill.  We spent about 1/2 hour in the parking lot taking pictures of the firemen putting out the fire, (which turned out to be towels that were smoldering and burst into flames.) I snapped this picture while the firemen worked.  The only thing I can say about our group is that we all have that "artist" mentality, which makes us quirky and fun, and most of our time together is spent laughing....and every now and then painting.....

Young Man with Tattoo

8 x 6 Oil on Linen Board

My artist friend gave me this photo of her husband and said I could paint it if I would like to.  As soon as I saw his "Alfani" underwear, I was in :-)  This was a fast little painting, but a lot of fun to do once I got into it.

Finish Line, Half Marathon, NYC

8 x 10 Oil on Linen Board

Five Runners and one woman looking very official at the end of the recent NYC Half Marathon.  I enjoy painting on  linen boards, but have noticed that the photos I take of the paintings are not as clear or sharp as they are when photographing paintings on smooth gessoed boards.  So, this is close, but not as sharp as the original painting.  I hope you can feel the movement in this piece.  That was what I was going for...as well as capturing the exhaustion of the second woman from the left :-)  She seemed totally spent.  

Entertainment at the Gallery

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

Click Here To Bid

This was a scene from a recent gallery show where three of my paintings were hanging.  My main objective was to paint the man in the forefront who had a bemused expression on his face and was in the process of turning to look at me as I was taking his photograph. The Juror spoke about each piece she chose for the show, and when she got to mine I snapped the picture.  She mentioned that my subject matter was "unexpected" as she spoke about my piece called "Just Another Pretty Face."  If you scroll down, you can see it on this Blog.

A Quiet Resting Place

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

I'm sure hoping this wasn't a permanent resting place...The cat's family might object  to me painting this in such a cavalier manner.  I think the cat found a spot away from foot traffic to take a nap.  One can only hope.  I'm a dog person, so painting cats is new to me and I'm not up on their habits.  Anyway, here is my version of a perfectly healthy cat taking a nap :-)

Two Pieces Left

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

What do you do with the leftover pizza from dinner?  First paint it, and then put it away for tomorrow's lunch.  I'm not sure why I paint pizza, but I think it has to do with loading the brush and canvas with lots of paint.  There is a sense of pleasure for me when I push the paint around, much like sculpting with clay.  It doesn't always come out looking like the object I want it to, but it's satisfying nevertheless...and then there's lunch to look forward to tomorrow...

Keep Rowing!!

8 x 10 Oil on Linen Board

Summer, Maine.  Not exactly warm!  I can almost hear her saying "Oh Yes. This was a great idea, and I get to row, too..."  Her hands just might be frozen to those oars, and she better not fall in because the water temperature is really cold.  At least she was smiling...or pretending to...

An Abundance of Hot Air

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

Abingdon, VA has a balloon festival each year, or at least did in the past.  I'm not sure if it still does.  This was the first time I was able to see how they set up before flight, and it was such fun!  A lot of work goes into getting ready.  The balloon chasers really have a hard time of it.  They have to follow the balloons and reach the site that they land.  Sometimes it involves climbing over fences into fields of cattle or worse.  The course is set but it depends on the winds and if off course, the plans go by the wayside and the chasers have to run around hoping to get to the right place at the right time.

Pottery on Display

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Another painting of the pottery done by Dan Perkins that was on display in our gallery window.  The wonderful color of the pieces, plus the light hitting them through the window really made for a perfect still life.  I'm probably not done with this series because I'm enjoying the process of painting them.  Hope you all like them, too!

Village Trio

SOLD

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

When we lived in Greenwich Village in the 60's, there was always music being performed in Washington Square Park day and night and we hung out there a lot.  It apparently hasn't changed.  What has changed is the wonderful lighting around the Arch.  It's probably been there for a while, but our recent trip back to the City was the first in a long time.  The building we lived in was still there and looked the same, although now it has a doorman.  We would have turned our noses up at having a doorman then.  Now, not so much..:-).  The park was and still is a wonderful place with so much "life" going on.  I do miss it.  I enjoyed painting this.

Summer Reading

8 x 16 Oil on Linen Board

I love these two people!  We were waiting at the Monhegan Island dock for the ferry to take us back to Boothbay Harbor.  This couple made themselves comfortable on the lawn of the Island Inn on a beautiful, sunny day.  I painted this in pastel a few years ago but have always wanted to paint it in oils. This painting will be on auction at Daily Paintworks.

Up Close and Personal

16 x 8 Oil on Belgian Linen Board

SOLD

Even though museums do not let anyone touch the artwork, I really do feel that it is the ultimate compliment for a viewer to actually take the time to really look and even think about touching a piece of art. To me, it shows that he or she is thinking about the process and really appreciates the work being shown.  So, here is "a viewer" (and a fine artist) contemplating a masterful piece of work hanging at our gallery.

LBJ On Display

16 x 8 Oil on Belgian Linen Board

"LBJ" by Marisol Escobar (1967) at the MoMA.  This was certainly a show stopper!  At first, you pass by it and suddenly stop and think: "That looks a lot like LBJ."  Then you really look at it and realize he's holding his wife, Lady Bird, and two daughters in his hand.  They look quite a bit like birds...i.e. "Lady Bird."  The structure is coffin-like.  I did a little research and found out that Escobar might have used the coffin effect due to the way Johnson got the presidency, and perhaps was a statement about the Vietnam War.  All in all, I found it fascinating and a pretty strong statement.

Island Solitude

8 x 10 oil on Linen Board

I have gone to Monhegan Island four times and have never experienced rain until the last trip.  The people all headed for shelter except for a few hardy souls.  I was one of them..although I am hardly a hardy soul :-)  I was looking for coffee...Where are Starbucks when you need them?  This painting only shows the beginning of the storm.  What came later was pouring, blowing rain and lots of mud.  I wound up painting in the dining room of the Inn.  Honestly, it was a wonderful experience.  No phones, TV, interruptions.  Only a ticking clock and the sound of rain.

Best Friends

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This is the second in the series of paintings I did of photos my parents took when I was young...way back when.  As kids, we were outside playing no matter what the weather, and I have to say it was a wonderful way to grow up.  This turned out to be one of my favorite paintings, perhaps because I actually remember that snowsuit and remember Robbie so well.  I can still feel my frozen toes :-)   I always find that when I really enjoy the painting I'm working on, the results usually work out for the best.

Racing in the Wind

6 x 8 Oil on Linen Board

Click Here to Bid

SOLD

This was a scene from the 2012 Fall Regatta here at Smith Mountain Lake.  I have no idea what I paint when I do sailboats, so I always have to get my husband to check to see if what I paint makes any sense.  He crews on a friend's boat for the races and tells me when the lines I draw are totally crazy :-)  A few times during this process I called him to look and evaluate, and he would say: "What's this black thing here?"  My response would be..."It's fine.  It's on my photo."  His expression as he walked away would make me reconsider :-)  So, if there are any serious sailors out there, and you see a line or two that seems a little odd..It's fine.  It's in the photo .....

A Woman On A Mission

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Art makes sense; computers don't..At least to most artists.  Starting up an artists' co-op takes a lot of time and patience, and thankfully we have some terrific artists willing to put in the work.  This was a quick study, and I'm pretty sure everyone at TECAC will know who it is :-)  I'm actually quite honored to be part of this great group.  Life is Good!!

The Pout

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

This painting was done from an old photo and it was in black and white.  I'm a little embarrassed to tell you it's me.  I learned pretty fast that I got what I wanted with that expression.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work anymore...  I've tried  :-)  I did a series of these paintings from my old photos.  I'm just glad my parents thought to take lots of pictures.

Pie a la Mode

6 x 8 Oil on Linen Board

Fruit pie and cherry vanilla ice cream...Yummm!  Not much more to say about this one :-)  This is a home-made pie, if you don't count the fact that it came in a box and all I had to do was bake it and then drizzle the caramel over the top.  That's about as close to "home-made" as I get. I didn't hear anyone in my household complaining that I technically didn't make it from scratch.  It was served as a "birthday pie" for a friend, complete with a candle in the middle. Not traditional, but it worked...

Queen Cooper

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Our friends' Boykin Spaniel thinks she's a human being and an only child as well :-)  She is such a wonderful pet and knows it.  She practically talks...They would say she DOES talk.  When she wants to go outside, she will sit in front of the door and stare at the handle waiting for someone to open it, or willing it to open on its own.  When they let her out, she lets the entire neighborhood know she's out there, giving out an ear-piercing bark or shriek.  Everyone knows her and loves her...So here she is in all her glory!