On The Sunny Side of The Street

 On the street where I live. I love to catch the sunlight splash onto the tops of the houses at the end of the day. It only lasts for a few minutes but it's magical. 

The title is the 1930 song that crept into my mind as I painted. That happens a lot if I don't have music playing in my studio so I usually make sure to. I chose to paint this because I've been actively trying to put aside the worry and negative thoughts that our current predicaments find us in. It's not easy to stay aware and involved yet not succumb to despair. 

I didn't know more than the "leave your worries on the doorstep" verses but it actually starts out:      Walked with no one and talked with no one and I had nothing but shadows. Sound familiar?

Sealed Fortune

It was capturing the shadows that excited me and made me pick up the brushes again. I'm not eating the cookies if I keep them sealed but that means my fortune remains a mystery. Buy here.

Red Galoshes

These aren't my rain boots although I would be so happy to wear them if they were my size. I had a little visitor brightening this rainy April day. It was lots of fun capturing the slick light reflections on the shiny lipstick red surfaces. You can nearly make out the clouds in them!
Available for purchase.

Party Patterns in Pink

Packing up another birthday party and noticing the story they told and how pretty and pink they were inspired a painting. They are archeological layers of parties past and present. Lots of presents. The bottom layer is a plastic tablecloth, and all that remains of a matching ensemble, for a daughter's 6th birthday. Over the years we've added paper lanterns for tea parties, Alice in Wonderland theme parties, wiped off the icing and melted spots with birthday candles. Make a wish! Purchase here

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.