Fish Beach Alley

10 x 8 Oil on Archival Board

SOLD

Boats at rest at Fish Beach on Monhegan Island.  That sunlight at the end of the alley drew me right in.  Shadows and sunlight...Yeah!

The Artist

5 x 7" Oil on Gessoboard

$55, Unframed

SOLD

 This is what it would have looked like yesterday at Poplar Forest if the weather had cooperated.  They had a "Painting on the Lawn" event that began with sunlight, and pretty soon turned into a total washout.  We got there just in time for the clouds to roll in and the temperature to drop about 20 degrees.  We headed for the tour of the building hoping for the sun to return, however, it thundered and there was a lot of lightening, so we were sort of held captive on the tour until the lightening diminished.  I kept thinking of "Hotel California".. "You can check out any time you'd like, but you can never leave."  We were chilled to the bone!  So...this is my ode to what would have been.   

Spring Regatta, Smith Mountain Lake

8" x 16" Oil on Gessoboard

$95 Unframed

SOLD

New season of sailing for my husband, so I get to paint more sailboats.  It was a windy, spectacular, blue day for the first race.  It's unusual that the mountains appear to be the same color as the lake, but that's how I saw it.  It's an atmosphere thing, I guess.  Some days, they appear to be violet, others they are green.  An artist I like painted the same scene from his window each day of the year, and not one of them was the same.  Before I began painting, I don't think I noticed the subtle changes that occur.  So....yet again, another sailboat painting...A new day!

Old Country House

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Well, if you know my work, you have seen this before.  Having a 9 week old puppy has kept me from painting recently, but I think we are beginning to have a "relationship" where Tallulah knows who is the alpha dog/human.  (Up until now, she thought it was her :-))  I love old houses with character, and this was one of them.  The yellow and red make for a happy painting!

One Large Black Dog At Rest

7 x 7 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

This Newfoundland attracted a lot of attention, and I think the owner was pleased about that.  I'm getting more and more into practicing shading and skin tone and really enjoying it.  I feel as though I'm sculpting with the pastels, using the darks and lights to create bone structure and placing that dash of color is just the right place. 

Silver Sea

11 x 5-1/2 Pastel on Wallis Paper

20 x 14 Framed

This painting shows why I keep saying that it doesn't matter what the weather is like on Monhegan Island.  Each and every day is more breathtaking than the day before.  This was one of them.  The stormy sky with just a little sun trying to get through gave the ocean a sparkle that was incredible.  That is what I tried to capture here.  That sparkle...

Breakfast Conversation

11-1/2 x 15 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 20 x 24 Framed

$225 + s/h (Framed)

This was breakfast at the Island Inn on Monhegan Island.  The sun was pouring in through the windows of the dining room.  We were so lucky with the weather.  Our group was able to paint everyday, and the temperature couldn't have been better.  We are going again the beginning of September.  One can only hope that our luck continues :-)  If not, I will just have to paint the fog and rain.  That's OK, too!

Historic Beauty

7 x 7 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

SOLD

I love old buildings, and this structure dated back to the late 1800's.  It was part of a Shaker community building that I believe was used as a central meeting place.  I chose to paint this view because the flowering bush in front of the window really set it off, but I might paint it again from the inside looking out through the leaded glass.  It always amazes me to see how the glass distorts the view and gives objects a surreal quality.

A Perfect Place to Read

6 x 6 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

Another painting from Emerald Isle.  I doubt if this woman would have been able to read so peacefully over the July 4th weekend.  We really lucked out with the timing of our trip there.  Cool breezes off the ocean, sun, salt air....AHHHH!

Sunlight and Shadows - Maine

7 x 7 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

SOLD

This is the quintessential Maine.  We ate at an outdoor restaurant across from this boathouse.  The red and stark white next to those great darks was so perfect, and a painting waiting to happen.  I am going to do a larger painting of this scene so that I can incorporate more of the water reflections when I have time.   So much to do...so little time...

Smith Mountain Lake Spring

13-1/2 x 11 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 23-1/2 x 19-1/2 Framed
$200 + s/h (Framed)

Spring is so beautiful here at Smith Mountain Lake.  Right now, the trees are all blooming and everything is getting green again.  It's a chance to use my pastel called "Spring Green."  I must say, though, that the color doesn't even do justice to nature's spring green.  I pass this scene when I walk everyday and never get tired of it.  I don't know if any of you artists out there have the same problem I do when painting a scene with lots of greens in it.  I find it difficult to get the variation without overuse.  I was pleased with the balance on this one.

"Hey Buddy, Can You Spare 25 Cents?" Chicken Panhandling

6 x 6 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

 

These chickens remind me of the panhandlers in New York City.  You'd expect them to ask people as they pass by for a handout.  I think they've learned that this is a good place to hang out... and they say chickens aren't smart....

Painting Monhegan

13 x 9-1/2 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 24-1/2 x 22 Framed

$250 + s/h (Framed)

 

This is actually an older painting. I did it 'plein air' the first year I went to Monhegan and still love it.  The wind was blowing, the sun was shining, and you could smell the ocean.  Nothing is better than that!  As I had mentioned in other posts about Monhegan, everywhere you looked there were artists painting the scenery.  I set up my pastels and spent a few hours in the "zone."  I've kept this painting, and whenever I look at it, I can feel that day and smell the salt air.

The FlowRider Kid

16 x 16 pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

 

I found a brand new blue pastel and HAD to use it!  I love the color and texture.  I've never been on a FlowRider, but it sure looks like fun.  This was on a cruise ship.  I've been on many cruises, but none of them had anything like this.  Of course, it was many years ago, and at that time most people just went for the food :-)

Splash Redux

6 x 6 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

SOLD

This is a new, smaller version of "Splash", a painting I did a few years ago.  I'm so fascinated with water, surf, and waves.  I never get tired of painting them.  The first "Splash" was on Monhegan Island in Maine, and this one is from one of the islands in the Caribbean.  This will probably be the second of many more.

Early Morning Sunlight

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The other morning I pulled open the blinds and saw the sun hitting the trees across the cove.  Everything glowed.  It only lasted for about ten minutes, but what a display!  I know I say this a lot, but again this was a quick study.  I have definitely learned over the past year or so that I have to be totally committed to what I am painting or it doesn't work.  One of my favorite art books is by Kevin MacPherson.  He painted the same exact scene from his window each day for a full year.  It is amazing how beautiful each painting is, and how different his perspective was.  His book is an inspiration to me.

Painting in the Park

I didn't have a lot of time to work on this one, so this is a very quick study of one of my favorite artists painting in the park in Charleston.  The painting took me less than an hour and because I didn't overwork anything, it has a spontaneity which I really love.  I plan on doing more to it, but I thought I'd post it and then perhaps post a "finished" piece later.

Motoring Home

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This was a painting I completed during the summer, but since today is sunny and spring-like, it made me think summer is right around the corner and it would be a good time to put it up on the blog.  Water is always a challenge for me, but something I seem to have a need to do.  I think it must have something to do with growing up on Long Island.  I enjoy living on a lake, but it is not the same as living right on the bay or ocean.  There is nothing like the smell of the sea or the sound of crashing waves, and the beaches of Long Island and Fire Island are absolutely beautiful. I don't think there is another place that can match them.





Church Glow

This is a beautiful old church in South Carolina that we visited.  I loved the way the sun's glow on the church floor drew us in.  It was so quiet, peaceful, and cool on that hot summer day.  Now that the painting is done, when I look at it I can still feel the comfort of being there...and taste the ice cream cone we ate afterwards!

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.