Happy Memorial Day

Oil

6 x 6

Quickly captured the neighbor's boat heading into the dock on Sunday.  A little overcast but still a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I greatly appreciate all those who serve, and who have served, our country.

Peter Rabbit in Forest Park

Oil

9 x 12

No you won't see Peter Rabbit in this painting but I assure you of his, or rather their, presence!  I so wish I had a photo of me trying to plein air paint at Forest Park in Noblesville, IN on this day.  Karen Miles, Kristin Whitney and I went there for a peaceful day of plein air painting - listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, and finding inspiration.  We found our spots and began painting.  Fifteen minutes later, several women arrived at a nearby picnic shelter.  Within 30 minutes there were 30 children, ages 3 - 5, and their parents.  The children, all well behaved by the way, swarmed around me on all sides playing tag, kicking balls, and generally having a great time.  Meanwhile, I struggled to focus on my painting and finally gave up.  The painting above is the product of hours painting plein air and one hour of refinement in the studio with a well deserved glass of wine.

The group at the picnic shelter was from the local Peter Rabbit Preschool for their year-end family picnic.  One of the teachers came up to us as we were packing up and shared that the children had been learning about art and artists at the school.  Apparently, it was an art history lesson because one of the children pointed at us and exclaimed, "Look!  Those ladies are artists and they aren't dead!"

Golden Guys, Hats Off, and Little Sunshine

 

Individual 6 x 6 Oil Paintings

Little Sunshine is Sold.  Hats Off and Golden Guys are available.

Ambrosia, Sorbet and Daisy May

          

Individual 6 x 6 Oil Paintings

Ambrosia and Daisy May have new homes.

SOLD

Sorbet is waiting for you!

Painting some small paintings and experimenting with techniques and colors.

Queen and her Court

Oil

12 x 12

SOLD

I'm really enjoying this interpretation of Queen Anne's lace.

Prairie Trace Barn Redux

Oil

16 x 20

There aren't a lot of barns left in Carmel, Indiana.  A small barn still standing is off of River Road near Prairie Trace Elementary; however, a subdivision is going up across the street so I'm sure it's days are numbered.  

Queen Anne's Lace

Oil

9 x 12

NFS

Now I'm caught up with postings!  Painted this floral from photos I took last summer of Queen Anne's Lace along the road next to the field.

Fall Inferno

Oil

16 x 20

Guilty as charged - I've been painting and not posting.  Here's another painting completed within the last month.  Had trouble with the name though.  Naming isn't my favorite part of painting!  Then I looked down at my 'to do' list and saw I'd written down the name of a particularly enjoyable song while painting - 'Disco Inferno' by The Trammps, 1978, and thus the name.  

Float On

Oil

9 x 12

I was planning to practice plein air painting a couple of weekends ago and Saturday was just the most gorgeous day.  First thing in the morning I saw a gorgeous light streaming through the trees in front of the house and then another beautiful scene of reflections on the water.  Well, I sat down and enjoyed my cafe au lait and read the newspaper - great morning.  I missed the painting opportunities though!  So, I thought, no problem, I'll catch them tomorrow morning . . . and it rained.  Obviously I've a lot to learn about plein air painting.  So, I painted the above from photo references painting fast and trying to approximate at least the time constraints of plein air.  

Serene Dusk

Oil

18 x 24

Playing with my palette in this painting using warmer blues.  Painted this last month working from the hundreds of great photos from our trip to Brown County last fall.  

Cafe Santa Fe

Oil

12 x 12

Forgot to post this one and it deserves to be seen.  Painted this 'Dreama' style back in February using transparent oil paints but maintaining my warm palette.

Ady

Oil on Linen

Last Thursday I went to a demo by portrait artist Clayton Beck - it was an incredible demonstration . . . and quite inspiring.  On Friday I painted this portrait of my great-aunt Ady from a photo taken on her 90th birthday.  My grandma, Mimi, will be in the painting as well but I'm still working her portrait.  Two of the most amazing ladies - wish they were still with us!

Mini Me

Oil

8 x 8

A smaller, quicker version of the vase of tulips but without the hydrangea.

Brittlebush Bee

Oil

8 x 8

SOLD

Brittlebush Blooms - Shawn Deitch

Oil

6 x 6

NFS

Lots of rain in the desert last week and now the reward - it's raining flowers!  Hallelujah!

Dove Mountain Desert 3

 Oil

8 x 8

SOLD

Another desert study using gessobord again.  Gorgeous day for hiking and contemplating color and shadows!

Dove Mountain Desert

Oil

8 x 8

Another day, another hike and another desert painting!  This time using a different canvas and underpainting.  This painting is on a Raymar panel with an orange underpainting.  The result is much different from the smooth, white gessobord.  Colors and brush strokes both are more muted.

Dove Mountain Path

Oil

8 x 8

SOLD

Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona has a beautiful, natural desert walking trail on each side of the boulevard.  A hike on this trail takes you mentally miles away - breathe deep and enjoy! 

Just Chillin'

Oil

12 x 12

Just started reading 'Cutting for Stone' and I'm hooked already. New painting imagining the perfect reading spot.

Tulip Time

Oil

12 x 12

SOLD

Painting flowers and cheery scenes while wishing for warmer, sunny days!

Night Brigade

Oil

18 x 24

SOLD

Just finished 'Night Brigade".   Summer fireworks at the lake are set off from barges in the water just off shore.  Makes a spectacular show in the air and on the water.

The Big Show

36 x 24

Oil

SOLD

I painted 'The Big Show" a couple of weeks ago.  It is a contemporary take on the awesome fireworks display over Lake Tippecanoe every July 4th.

Summer's End II

Oil

24 x 24

Peering into the water on a calm day is so rewarding.  The reflections from the sky and trees compete with the clear water and the aquatic plants below for my attention.  The leaf won.

Summer's End

Oil

24 x 24

Early October at Lake Tippecanoe was so quiet and peaceful.  No boaters, no skiers, no jet skis . . . just quiet.  We finished up chores to prepare the cottage for winter.  Bob fished a bit and I read a good book.  Good days.

Morning Glory

Oil

18 x 24

NFS

This painting was inspired by one of the photographs I took while hiking around Brown County State Park.  I always take liberties with the colors but I also added the water since the creek bed was dry and full of leaves.