Fall Chickadee

Look who I found while shuffling and scuffling through the fallen leaves. We had a little chat and she let me know she was okay and was just enjoying the dappled sunlight, like me. After agreeing to have her picture be taken, she flew off to branches above. Buy here.

Sour Cherries

Painting with my daughter and my muse, Maddie, this weekend. Sweet. Buy now.

Expecting To Fly

A toy airplane waiting on the shelf for little hands to take him airborne again. Out of the shadows and into the light. I especially adore the reflected shadow cast on the wall to the left. "Props" (intended) to Buffalo Springfield for the title. The tune has been running through my mind during and after painting. Available here.

Peony for Mom

When I garden I think of my mother. She loved her garden and passed that love, the names of plants, and cultivation tips on to me. Like, peonies don't grow in SoCal. So one year I bought her a big bouquet for Mother's Day and drove it through the heat of the Santa Ynez valley. Although I had plenty of water in the bucket, I opened my hatchback to find soggy tissues on leafy stems. Together we tried to revive them in every way and finally left them submerged in a cool bath. They came back to life!

When I eventually moved to the east coast, I planted and painted plenty of peonies. My mom, Mavis, died many years later on a Mother's Day. I miss her but sometimes

 I can find her in my garden. 

Searching For Clarity

Duck Out Of Water

Drink Me

I painted the top one and though I love the color, I thought I could do better by trying to stay conscious of my tendency to add more than necessary. Not that the duck is unnecessary but I felt I may have used more brushstrokes and fussed with details in having mindless fun so I took another shot at it. That said, I learned that I like them both. Do you have a clear preference? If so, please feel free to weigh in.

Pug Ennui

Don't worry, Petunia. Spring will come eventually. I promise! click here to buy.

Figure Drawing Sketchbook

It's been a long time since posting here so I thought I'd share something of what I've been up to. Besides painting some different works not posted and spending days with my sweet grandson, I've been getting back to basics by drawing from live models, which I started back when I was 15. It's a great foundation and sort of like riding a bicycle (only in that you don't forget how). Wednesday night is figure drawing with the local artists' guild so a friend and I go and sketch the models then follow it up with 1/2 price margaritas across the street.

Lemony Light

What I see from the window above the kitchen sink. When I catch this moment of late afternoon light it makes washing up dishes a happy task. Do you look for these moments? The weather, the lighting, the timing don't always provide them so I caught it with paint. Available here.

The No Tickets Pizza Day

Of course there's a story. It was a rainy day and my husband and I drove into Manhattan with the idea of a Broadway matinee but the TKTS booth was sold out of whatever we'd wanted to see. We took off in the direction of downtown but passed crowds queued up for the Tribeca Film Festival! Yes! We stood in an info line, stood in another line to get tickets, and another line to be called for standby but left without seeing anything but lines. We headed toward the museum downtown again  but got stuck in a lane that took us onto the Brooklyn Bridge. On the other side is DUMBO...and Grimaldi's Pizza! Was getting caught in the no-way-out lane accidental, Mark? Excellent pizza and NO tickets.

Batter Up!

Batter for belgian waffles, that is. It's the first little painting of 2018! Painterly and luscious with complementary color palette. Opposites on the color wheel rarely please me as much as this combo. Available here.