Geranium View

10 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

I really wanted to sit in the rocking chair next to that window filled with geraniums.  Unfortunately, no one offered me the chance, so I painted it pretending all the while that I WAS sitting there.  That's the great thing about painting.  The artist can place himself (or herself) in the scene without leaving the studio.  Imagination is a wonderful thing.  As Twyla Tharp said "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

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.

In the Spotlight, Washington Square

9 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

I painted a smaller version of this quite a while ago, but never got to take it home from the framer because it sold really fast.  So, I decided to do it again in a slightly larger format.  All of the different colored shadows from the spotlights at Washington Square Park were a challenge but I'm happy with it, and that's what attracted me to this scene.  I probably have said this before...I know I have....but there was always so much going on in the Village when we lived there, and I was glad to see that music is still a part of the experience even though most of the cafes are gone.  I still miss the old Figaro's; sitting at the outdoor tables, drinking tea or coffee, and watching the great people who made the Village home.  It was a little village inside of NYC. There was nothing like it :-)

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.....

Grand Central Down Time

SOLD

8 x 10 Oil on Gessobord

The lighting at Grand Central Station is so incredible!  Everything glows, which made this man's vest really jump out.  He tucked himself in a corner against a wall to check his cell.  What I was going for here was to paint this as though the viewer was just walking by.  I thought about straightening out all the lines, and decided to give it a little tilt as the viewer would have as he/she passed by.  I should have called it "Askew."

Chilling Out

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Just relaxing!  The one thing about the beach is that you can actually sit on the porch, rock in your rocking chair, drink coffee, and just chill.  No real distractions.  It's unfortunate that these times only happen once in a while.  Only a little detail in this painting, but I hope you get the feeling.

Bedford Centerfest

9 x 8 3/4" Oil on Gessobord

Buy Now Through ETSY

This was Bedford Centerfest at lunch time.  The streets were full of people out to have a good time, and what attracted me to paint the scene was how colorful everything was.  I was sitting at our artists' co-op booth watching people parade back and forth.  It really reminded me of NYC during my daily lunch break.  I would sit in Bryant Park and be fascinated by the people.  I still am, and I suppose that's why I paint what I do...People going about their daily lives.

Painting and Pottery

Oil on Gessobord

SOLD AT AUCTION 

This painting will be part of the Bower Center Artisan Trail Benefit Concert and Silent Auction on October 12th, at 7 PM.  It was framed by Goose Creek Studio and once again, they did a great job!  If you are in the area, please come by.  It will be fun and all for a good cause.

Red Gardening Gloves

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Things have been so hectic here that I needed to paint a quiet piece.  It doesn't get much quieter than Monhegan Island off season.  September/October is a very busy time for outdoor art shows and gallery exhibits here in Virginia.  I suppose all over, not just Virginia.  As much as I like to do them, I find them exhausting.  I also find I don't have as much time to paint and if I do, I feel a little rushed.  Monhegan is my Moment of Zen.  When I paint it, I'm there..(Strange as that seems).  I can smell it, feel it...AHHH...

Bedford Sunrise

9 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

One of the bad things about doing some outdoor art events is that you have to get up REALLY early, but it is balanced by views like this.  Driving to Bedford Centerfest, I caught this spectacular sunrise.  It's really hard to capture the splendor of sunrises and sunsets in paint, but I wanted to give this one a try, and I'm glad I did!  It always amazes me how fast it all happens.  One minute it's dark, the next you get a pinkish color, and BAM...you get the yellow of the sun.  Another day...How lucky :-)

Out to Pasture

9 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Old buses usually don't interest me, but the colors and the light here were just too great to pass up.  It looked like a piece of sculpture sitting on the lawn.  The neighbors might not have thought so.  I'm thinking there wasn't a "community association" involved :-)  If there was, I would love to be at the meeting where they discuss property maintenance....

Fall Vista with Pumpkins

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This started out as a beach scene and morphed into a pumpkin painting.  I'm not sure why.  Possibly because the beach scene I had planned on painting was not developing properly and I totally lost interest.  I scrubbed it all off and started again, just going with the flow.  Nothing really to go by; just applying paint to see what developed.  Big surprise to me...I like it!  I left it as is, almost afraid to touch it again since my batting average wasn't the best for the day.  Happy Pumpkin Time, Everyone!

You Can Do It!

6 x 6 Oil On Gessobord

Winding down the summer beach theme as Fall sets in...  I'm not quite sure whether this young girl was pulling her brother out of the water or pushing him in.  I prefer to think she was protecting him by keeping him from danger;  however, that might be wishful thinking on my part. This little painting is just a study of movement.  Something I enjoy so very much :-)

Gull Convention During Rough Seas

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

I have become really fond of gulls.  I realize they are pests at times, but when they are soaring, they are quite beautiful...and of course, anything that has to do with the ocean has a special place in my heart.  Monhegan Island is like Vegas to the gulls that hang out there.  The tourists sit on picnic benches eating and spilling, dropping food, discarding leftovers, and then get up and just leave a big mess.  It's pay day!  Not only that, but some of the cooks bring the fish remains and toss them in the air.  What a sight that is.  I tried to catch the gulls in action with my camera but they were too fast, and I'm pretty sure I was running in the other direction.  They were pretty intense!   Jamie Wyeth did paint them, and of course, brilliantly.  If you get a chance, check out his incredible work.  Here are gulls during their down time.

Flamingo Dawn

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Monhegan, Maine... again!  You can tell how much I love the place.  I woke up one morning before dawn and walked around the Island taking in the beautiful sunrise and the colors as they began to appear.  I don't think I will ever forget it because I have never seen anything quite so beautiful.  This plastic pink flamingo was taking it all in as well, and perhaps keeping watch over what was going on; although there wasn't much at that hour. He might have been part of the Island security force.  Probably the only one.  If you look between the two houses, you can see a bit of the ocean and Manana, the uninhabited island directly across.  As the sun came up, Manana became bright orange, an unbelievable sight.

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".

Window Shopping

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobrd

I should call this "Male Model Shopping."  A woman can dream, can't she?!  Maybe she was just looking at her own reflection...Not!  This painting was certainly a challenge.  Not only did I have to worry about painting the woman, but I had to figure in her reflection and the huge male figure behind the glass.  A little rough around the edges, but I'm actually pleased with it considering...I think...For now...Probably until tomorrow...Maybe until a little later....Actually I see a few things right now...

Just Right!

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

This painting was done for our Electric Company Artists' Co-op's (TECAC) first ever art challenge.  Our members have to do something that directly incorporates beds into their art.  I can't wait to see what each artist does!  The paintings will be hung for Bedford's Second Friday event in December.  We have such an eclectic group that a challenge like this will be something to see, so I hope anyone who is within traveling distance will come to the Co-op and also take in all the art and festivities Bedford has to offer.

SOLD, SOLD, SOLD

Well, it's been a good summer.  Here are a few of the paintings that I have sold in the last two months.  The images aren't the best, but you can get an idea.  The beach scenes were relatively large, and I'm so pleased that they have found new homes.  For some reason, the "Hamptons Mist" painting (image at the top) never photographed properly, so it's hard to picture it.  It was actually one of my favorite paintings.  Others that have sold this summer:  Yellow Kayak, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Pretty, Caning, A Single Slice, and two commissions. If you have purchased one of my paintings, I just want to say thank you and hope you get years of enjoyment from it.   

All Ears

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This painting was an experiment in using color, and you can see I had fun with it :-)  The original painting isn't as violet as it appears here.  For some reason, the camera picked up on the purples.  Dory might not think it's worthy of public view, but I will assure her that I will paint it again.

Rainy Summer Days

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

It was pouring, but these boys didn't care since they were getting wet anyway.  They were playing with "Xtreme Splashers."  They would suck the water up into these tubes and spray each other and the adults sitting under the overhang.  I was one of these adults, and I tried really hard not to complain.  They were actually very good and did listen when 5 adults all yelled in unison "Don't spray up here!!"  It's really good no one else was out on their docks, because voices carry here at the lake, and the adult yelling would have annoyed everyone.  The kids were pretty quiet...It was the adults :-)

Marching to His Own Drum

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

I think the puppy on the left has a problem with following the crowd.  That is a good thing in my opinion, and if I were choosing one of these dogs, I would definitely choose "Mr. Butt."  He certainly would have a mind of his own and would be much more fun.  He would be the one leading the anti-everything marches and going his own way.  A challenge for his humans, but so worth it!  These puppies are from JayHawk Labs in New Hampshire.  My cousin and her husband raise and show beautiful award winning Labs. Check them out on the web.

Carrot Top

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

For all you people out there in blog world who REALLY know alpacas, this might not be what you consider an accurate portrait, but this particular alpaca looked at me exactly like this...with disdain, and a faint smile.  She reminded me of my mother's cousin..A smirky smile, really dark red lipstick, and red hair right out of the Florida retirement bottle that stuck up with lots of hairspray.  This alpaca is not as elegant as my favorite llama, Polka Spot, from the Beekman farm.  I realize that llamas and alpacas are totally different, but those faces are quite similar..at least to me.  If I could actually see Polka Spot in person, I would have chosen to paint her, but this alpaca will have to do.

The Thrill of Shopping

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

Men loved to shop, don't they?  Smart stores will put a few chairs out for men being dragged around clothing stores by their spouses.  This man was twiddling his thumbs and gaping at the ceiling, probably wondering if his partner was kidnapped...Possibly hoping for that outcome...

Cold, Wet, and Camera Shy

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Here's Emily, not listening to my command "OK..Smile!"  I probably would not have painted it if she had smiled for the camera.  It wouldn't have been as interesting to me.  This was a chilly, rainy day, but the kids wanted to swim.  It really didn't matter to them, because they were getting wet anyway, but for the adults on the dock it kind of mattered :-)

I'm Too Sexy For My Plume...

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Oh Yeah!  I'm too sexy..too sexy.  Love that song, and it seemed appropriate.  I'm pretty sure he was showing off and trying to attract the duck in the water.  Fun, fast strokes on this one and a joy to paint.

The Little Mermaid

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

"Far out in the ocean...There dwells a Sea King and his subjects..."  I love Hans Christian Andersen's story about a young mermaid who fell in love with a prince.  Here's a little history of the statue that I have painted here and I must say, it's pretty interesting in an odd way.  The statue was commissioned in 1909 and sits in Copenhagen's harbor.  It was moved a little farther out than its original positioning due to vandalism and to prevent tourists from climbing it.  On April 24, 1964, the mermaid's head was sawn off and stolen by what my research described as "politically motivated artists." SAY  WHAT?!  A new head was produced.  In 1998,  it was decapitated again, but the head was returned and re-attached.  This poor mermaid has had her share of trouble, but she is beautiful and she will always be special to me.

Freewheeling

12 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

Messy..Yes;  Creative...Yes;  Easy...NO!  Drinking out of my pottery mug takes on a whole new meaning now.  I used to think pottery was easy.  Just playing with soft clay.  First of all, the clay is really hard and not very pliable until you kneed it, and second of all, the wheel is hard to get the hang of.  Either my pot bottom is too thick or my finger goes through the bottom.  When I finally get the clay up into a pot shape, it's so irregular that I have to keep trimming it.  By the time I'm done, it has become a very shallow dog dish...not what I was going for.  This is a painting of one of the members of my class who definitely has the hang of it all.

Pool Cool

16 x 20 Oil on Gessobord

It's so interesting to watch people play in a pool.  This boy was really too big to climb on someone's shoulders, but I think he was trying to impress the girl on the side.  I wonder if she was impressed?  I really wasn't caught up in the people in this painting.  I wanted to focus on the pool water.  The colors are so different from any other water source, so this painting is really about the water...and summer.

Paparazzi

SOLD

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

I'm pretty sure this man works for one of the local newspapers.  He was taking photos of a music and art event I had attended.  He had lots of equipment with him, and his camera which probably weighed a ton and certainly wouldn't fit in my little shoulder bag like my camera does...By the way, did you know that "Paparazzi" is plural for the singular "Paparazzo?"  I didn't either :-)

Oh, Pool Boy!

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

These women reminded me so much of the people at the  pool I used to go to when I was in my teens.  They had cabanas for the wealthier families and lockers for the "regular" folks.  We had a locker and didn't spend much time hanging around there, but spent our days either in the pool or following the cute pool boys who brought drinks and chairs to the cabana people.  My friends and I loved following the boys around and felt ever so lucky when they had us lugging the chairs to the people.  Why we didn't see that we were working for nothing is beyond me :-)  Our main goal was to get the boys' attention.  Ah....Youth!

Katherine's View

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

My Daughter-In-Law was here visiting.  She and my son live in Singapore, but we got to spend a great week with Katherine.  She's a terrific photographer with her own blog, KK's Photo Friday.  Each Friday she posts photos she's usually taken the previous week.  Today, she posted from Munich, Germany, where they are vacationing.  Their next stop is Copenhagen.  This painting is Katherine zooming in on the farmhouse in the distance in Bedford, VA.  We took her to get some new lens filters for the camera while she was here.  The photos she posted today were wonderful, so I guess the filters really work well :-)

Bar Butts

8 x 8 Oil On Gessobord

SOLD

Another in my series (this makes two) of butts.  I know I've done more butts in the past, but at that time I wasn't a dedicated butt painter.  I guess I am now :-)  I find enjoyment and inspiration in lots of strange things, and then I can't wait to paint them.  I'm not sure I want to be remembered as the Butt Painter, though...

Herb's Moment of Zen

5 x 7 Oil on Linen Board
SOLD

Here's Herb, an avid fisherman, Blue Bird genius, and an all around nice guy, fishing in a quiet cove at Smith Mountain Lake on our friend Jim's boat.  If you go out during the week, you pretty much have the lake to yourself, and it doesn't get much better than that!  All you hear are the sounds of summer...the water lapping, the birds chirping, the fish jumping (never near your line), and an occasional Great White Shark circling....only kidding!  Here's my Ode to Herb.

Recent Commissions

8 x 8 Oil On Gessobord

SOLD

8 x 8 Oil On Gessobord

SOLD

These two commissions were such a pleasure to do!  I'm so glad that they liked them.  It is really a challenge to paint children, at least for me, but I find it to be very satisfying.

The Mellow Yellow Camp Group

8 x 8 Oil On Gessobord

I'm taking pottery classes at the Bower Center for the Arts in Bedford, Virginia, and when I took my husband in to see the "almost" pots I made, I came across these boys taking pottery lessons as part of their camp experience.  They were very quiet and serious, unlike the adult class I'm taking :-)  I didn't hear any complaining about the clay being too hard, or to messy, or too wet, or not wet enough....(in our class, that was just me..)  One boy did have a red face, but I think that was just sunburn and not rage.  Anyway, I was really impressed with the Center.  They have so much to offer the community, and it's a really great place to spend some quality time.

Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Pretty

SOLD

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This is my cousin's new French Bulldog Puppy, Dory.  What a face!  It doesn't get much cuter than that.  Not exactly pretty, but for another Frenchie, I suppose she's spectacular and will be very popular with the boys :-)

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 :-)