Hudson with a Face Full of Snow

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

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This is Hudson, an Australian Shepherd.  He is a northerner, so he is totally happy this winter!  A muzzle full of snow is heaven for him, I suppose.  I do hope all you people in the northeast are coping with the cold and blizzard-like conditions.  Here in Virginia, we are currently at 19 degrees and had 60 MPH winds all night long.  Two days ago, it was almost 70 degrees.  We even had a fly in the house :-)  Perhaps, he knew what was to come and decided to come inside....



Bluebird Up Close and Personal

SOLD

6 x 6 Oil On Gessobord

This poor little bird didn't fly south.  Apparently he never listened to what the other birds with more info were saying...Or he made the mistake of listening to the local weather on TV and assumed it was going to be hot and sunny.  Either way, I felt I should have given him a warm scarf and hot chocolate.  He wasn't as blue and red as I painted him, but I thought the bright red/orange might warm him a little :-)

Tree Trunk in Snow

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6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

Shadows and snow...That's what this little painting is all about.  As I've said so many times before,  winter is a favorite with me.  I know many of you don't share that view.  Especially those of you who are up north right now.  I think the stark beauty of the sun on the snow and the deep dark shadows are really something to behold.  This painting is a new favorite of mine :-) 

Look What's in the New Dick Blick Catalog

If you happen to get the new Dick Blick catalog and look at pages 80 and 81, you will see seven of my paintings displayed in Blick's frames.  How exciting for my artwork to be chosen to appear in their Christmas catalog!  I'm really blown away by the honor :-)  Thank you, Dick Blick!!

Winter Morning View

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

The same view as the previous post, but from last year on a cold morning after some overnight snow.  I'm extremely excited that summer is over and my favorite season is beginning.  I can feel the change early in the morning.  There is a chill in the air, and everything takes on a different smell...if that makes any sense.  Today is the Fall Regatta here at Smith Mountain Lake.  My husband is getting ready to head out...sun block lotion in hand.  I hope to get some good paintings out of it.  The weather is just perfect.  Hope you all have a good day as well, and thanks again for checking in on my blog. 

Winter Fetching

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

 

Starting Bid $30, Click Here

 

Our Sproodle, Tallulah, loves the snow, but not when it's falling.  She seems to think that it will hurt her when it's coming down and she ducks every two seconds.  We have tried to get her used to it, but to no avail.  Once it stops snowing though, she can't get enough of it.  When we get ready to throw the ball, she races out into left field, but usually loses track of it after it has landed.  I think the fact that she can't hear it fall is what throws her.  She races around digging her face into the snow until she smells it and comes up with it.  Her tail goes a mile a minute.  It is such a joy to watch her hopping around!  Now everything is mush.  Not so much fun to watch her come in covered in mud....

Blowing Away Winter

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

 Click Here to Bid in DPW Auction

 



Big storm here in Virginia.  Over a foot of snow, and a real chance to use the bright red snow blower that's been sitting in the garage for a few years.  Actually this isn't our snow blower, but our wonderful neighbor's.  He came during the height of the storm and blew what was there away.  It doesn't get much better than that.  What a great friend, and a really good photo op!  60's this week.  Global Warming...

View From The Cape, Smith Mountain Lake

Pastel on Wallis Paper

Today we are supposed to get some snow here at Smith Mountain Lake, which probably means one or two flakes.  The schools have closed in preparation for the big event.  Actually, I think they closed because the Thanksgiving break is about to start. The News last night said the snow trucks were ready.  After living here for 13 years, I still get a kick out of how Virginians react to winter.  I did this painting a few years ago and still love it.  I thought it would be a good time to re-post it. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Talk to you after the holiday.

Studio Apt for Rent; No Utilities

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD 

Last winter, we actually had a little snow here in VA and I was able to take a photo of the snow on the bluebird house before it melted.  It looked so desolate and reminded me of a cold water flat in NYC.  When we were looking for an apartment in Manhattan, we came across some strange places, especially in the Village...  Clawfoot bathtubs in the kitchen, etc.  This place might be magnificent on the inside, like Snoopy's doghouse.  Who knows?!  

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.

North Wind Huddle

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

This little painting was done rather fast.  My goal wasn't to get an exact rendering, just the "feeling" of the cold wind at the beach in Maine. We had all the clothes in our suitcases on, and it still wasn't enough to keep us warm.  It's 22 degrees here this morning and if I remember correctly, it felt like 22 or less there, and that was the beginning of September, not January.  I've painted this scene before in pastel, but thought of trying it again in oil...Like I said, just a quick one..and just for the "feeling."

Snow at the Lake

Oil on Masonite

What I tried to capture here is the snowy day we had last week..cold and icy.  I actually painted this from my studio looking out at the snow building up.  I think the view through the windows gives what I paint a glassy look, if that makes any sense.  It's a slightly different view from the inside looking out.  That pane of glass really does make a difference.

Snowman with Shovel

Keeping ahead of the falling snow is the key, according to my husband.  That way he just has to push and not lift.  I love painting snow, and this one was no exception.  There are so many colors you can use in the white.  Actually, there isn't too much pure white in this painting at all....only at the very end of my painting process as a highlight.

Fresh Snowfall

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The barn in New Hampshire again...New perspective.  This is one of my favorite snow paintings and again was used for a Christmas card with an added wreath and red bow on the front door.  My mantra in December is "Please Snow," however, sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for! 

Winter Shed

A quick watercolor done in black and white...Very simple, but I think it says just about all there is to say.  This shed is at my cousin's house in New Hampshire.  For Christmas a few years ago, I put a red and green wreath on the door in acrylics and used it as one of my Christmas cards.  I really love the simplicity and peacefulness of the scene.  Watercolor is not my "thing," but this one worked for me.

Smith Mountain Lake Christmas

This was one of my Christmas cards from a few years ago.  I had a commission to paint a tree on the end of a dock, and this is what I came up with.  I've sold a lot of these cards the last few years.  It's always fun to open cards people send me and see my own paintings.  This isn't any particular Smith Mountain Lake scene.  It's just from my imagination and could be anywhere here at the Lake.  I still like the "feel" of the cold water and winter sky.  I love Christmas!!!

Barns in Winter, Smith Mountain Lake

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As I've said, I love snow, and I did this painting for my Christmas card a few years ago.  It is one of my favorites.  Again, the barns are in Floyd which is a perfect place to get inspiration.  The rest of it is Smith Mountain Lake.  By the way, stop by Goose Creek Studio in Bedford.  They are presenting a funky Christmas tree event.  I will post the painting I submitted in the coming days, but you can see all of the artwork there soon.  As it turns out, I think I'll use the one I am putting in as my Christmas card for 2011.  I am so inspired by Goose Creek Studio and Patrick and Mitchell (the owners).  They are the most supportive guys in the world, and I'm truly honored to have my work there.  If you have time, check out Goose Creek Studio!

Smith Mountain Lake Winter

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I'm thinking winter!  It was really cold this morning at 3 AM, when I took our puppy out.  Most people like Smith Mountain Lake in the summer, but I also love it here in the winter.  I'm crazy about painting snow and look for every opportunity to do so.  This painting was done from several photos of different scenes I took and then put together.  The mountains are Smith Mountain Lake and the barns are Floyd.  This is actually my favorite way of painting because it involves using a little of my imagination...something I try to do in each piece of work.

Lake Snow

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I'm thinking winter!  Summer's been nice, but I'm ready for brisk, cold days and snow (that doesn't have to be shoveled...)