It Is So White (Is Not, Is Too)

An absolute flurry of activity around here. Wrapping and painting and painting and wrapping! The energy carried over from one to the other. Can you hear the music playing throughout? Available here.

The Humble Bundt Cake

I think I captured the still cold light that enters my kitchen this time of year. It makes me want to warm up the oven and get baking. This wooden spoon is so old I think it belonged to my mother. The bundt pan is definitely like hers was but long lost. I borrowed one like it from my good neighbor, Gayle, and then returned it wishing I'd painted it. That week I found this one in a consignment shop. It meant to painted.
Ready to hang, it's 10x10" on cradled natural wood 1" deep; no frame needed. Available here.

Look Toward The Light

Landscapes are not my usual fare but I took this photo at the end of our week's getaway to Long Beach Island, New Jersey. It was the last week of September, end of season for them at the end of the day. I was struck by the light bouncing off the glass and how they all seemed to be staring in the same direction as if they were watching the tourists go home. Available here

Cara Cara In The Moonlight

Summer's end. We are going to spend a week by the sea. Just like these wedges of reddish oranges, basking in the light of the moon. Heh heh. I could use a vacation about now.

UPDATE: vacation was lovely. And in other news...

I'm pleased to say this painting was just accepted to this juried exhibition and sale. If you're there or going on your own vacation, stop in and take a look! It won't be too early to begin holiday shopping.

This May Hurt

This sunny lemon and matching juice reamer were painted upside down(!) as a challenge to paint what we see rather than what we think we know. It's lots of fun and I challenge you to try it. Look at things differently. Don't put a label on it. Well, this lemon has a label on it but you know what I mean.  Available here at my lemonade stand.

The Other Chanel

After an early bout with something from Avon for little girls that smelled like carnations, I moved on to eschew Patchouli Oil and embrace Jasmine Oil. Fortunately, my girl squad got together to gift me Chanel No.19. Was it because my birthday is on the 19th like Coco's? Or maybe because it had just been released in 1971, our first year of high school, and advertised as "The Unexpected Chanel", "The Outspoken Chanel". Coco Chanel reportedly pronounced it, "Audacious and assertive. Never conventional." I loved it. No.19 was discontinued in 2000. SOLD

Heart of Darkness

Painted as part of a series. Just thought I'd share. I've been working on some series and larger pieces to submit to local shows. These are not currently available for sale.

Half Full

Maybe a bit more than half. Life is good. Water is the theme for these hot days. And it's also the theme for this week's Water Challenge on DPW. Available from my DPW Gallery.
Update: It's not your eyes. I updated photo with accurate color by photographing in natural light again but on a day without an impending storm. What a difference a day makes!

I Don't Care

I care a lot but when I find a place to float alone in clear water, I do not. For those who are counting, this is the third swimming pool painting. This one is available here but if you have a photo of someone swimming that you'd like to commission, contact me here.

Nest 1234

Or I might have called it, This Is Not My Home. This is a hummingbird's nest that was one of many built in a ficus tree at my home in SoCal, where there was an atrium. I guess because it was protected from cats and other predators, we had many generations of hummingbirds making it home. The egg was found under a robin's nest which was built in our Colorado (my husband's home) Spruce and although quite prickly it is less protected from attack. Click to buy

Paco Plays with Pizza

My daughter's cat, Paco loves toys and people to an insane degree. I've never met any cat like him. Garfield has lasagna and here is Paco guarding his pizza. Painted for Cute Cat Challenge on DPW. Come and get it. Gone!

Tea and Berries

A summer breakfast of berries with tea. Keeping it light for more time to paint.
Click here to purchase.

Back To Basics

Bold brushwork and a basic black on a background of primary colors. I've been working on some larger pieces in the studio but it feels good to get back to the small direct studies. Available here.

Good Neighbors

Left over from our neighborhood Cinco de Mayo celebration, these little cheesecakes begged for their moment in the spotlight before being consumed. Thank you to Adele, who lives just over our back fence, for always making such lovely desserts for the parties. They were just the inspiration I needed to end my painting dry spot (and my diet).
I'm very happy that taking a month long break didn't set me back, as feared, but propelled me forward. There was a time when I didn't paint at all for many years. When I took it up again, spurred on by my painting daughter/muse, I was somehow beyond where I'd left it. Does anyone else observe, consider and quietly carry concepts and turn over solutions while it appears nothing is going on? Available here.

Glassy Again

Another go at the same glass subjects. This time with a few minor changes. Can you spot the differences? Take 15 seconds. Time's up! This time the little bottle didn't make the cut. AAww. Different spectacles and it's only 6x6". Extra credit if you could divine that last bit. But the main difference is subtle. I tried to use what I'd learned on the first and use fewer strokes and make it simpler to see what I prefer. I'm not sure. What do you think? Available here.

Glassy

I painted this as part of the Thru the Glass Challenge on DPW. I love the colors and the composition and lively brushwork. As often happens when I photograph a painting, I can instantly see it differently and imagine changes. If I painted this again I would attempt it with fewer brushstrokes and colors.

Cat Nap in Dappled Sunlight

Discovered this guy on a park bench under some trees doing what I like to do in a patch of warm sun. It's a challenge painting dappled light and add to that he is fairly dappled himself with stripes and spots so I just went a little crazy with the brushes and I think it worked! Available here.

Tea With Mickey

Painted as a possible companion piece to the earlier Cup and Book. This is a much loved and very old Mickey Mouse book given to me by my daughter, Maddie, in which Mickey works on a newspaper. I've done that. Disney has Mickeys hidden all over Disneyland and I've hidden one here too. Can you find it? Use your imagination!
Available here.

Cup and Book

Teacups and picture books sized for baby's hands. Happy things in happy colors stacked haphazardly. Painted loose and messy, like my days with Baby Lyle.

It was fun scrambling to find items and stack for quick photos to paint for The Second Stack Challenge. Just when I got something set up near the window downstairs, the right light was gone. So I dash upstairs, with cups clattering and various items scattering but I caught that last ray! Available here.

Quiet

This was painted while everything around me was blanketed in snow. It reflects a certain contemplative quality that I've been feeling lately. Along with avoiding social media, for the most part, and media in general other than brief news updates, I turn to the arts -- books, film, music and painting. I visited the American Wing of the Metropolitan this week and worshipped in the room of Sargeant. Available here.

Shy Rose

This week's Daily PaintWorks Challenge of 'chunking', i.e. simplifying values/tones and color, proved to be quite challenging. I like a challenge particularly when I feel as though there is something worthwhile to be gained from it. So here is a second go at it and I'm pretty happy with it. I was less happy with the first and that's why it is not posted here. It is up on DPW if you really must. Available here.

Too Late To Cook

Painting in mainly monochrome for DPW Black and White Challenge. Harder than it sounds but a good way to focus on values and form and how much color you can sneak in and still appear B/W. Available here.

Elementary Memories

I've been reconnecting with friends and sharing whatever memories we can summon up from our earliest school years. It has me wondering why we remember and forget the things we do. Available here and now.

Tough Luck

Or, You Can't Always Get What You Want. Available from my gallery on DPW here.

Foiled Kisses

This one was inspired by the Daily PaintWork's Foil Challenge. And a challenge it was! So fun. As I've mentioned, I do love painting shiny things and I'd never thought to attempt foil. The trick was to keep the contrast high and the edges sharp with little or no blending. I don't know about you but I'm delighted with it! Available here.

Mandarin, Long Stem

I've been meaning to paint this little bowl for quite a while. I've been happily busy taking care of my first grandbaby while his parents work in NYC. It's a long day with memories of being home alone all day with his mother and learning each others patterns and needs. The only real need I am missing is painting so I have returned to painting in the nighttime. Available here.

Crimson Pear, Sliced

The pears we received from Christmas are perfectly ripening now. They slice like butter. I like the cascade of circles here. Can you tell I stole a slice from between the small and larger one? It was delicious and I consider all part of understanding my subject thoroughly. Available here.