"Tux"

5" x 7" pastel on Pastelbord.

OK.. equal time for a cat painting. They say black and white cats are the smartest.. although my solid grey Nikita would have to disagree.... Click on the link to my eBay store to purchase.

"Papillon"

5" x 7" , pastel on Pastelbord.

This one is cloe to my heart.. it's my very own little dog, Riley... who we adore. He celebrated his 2nd birthday last week, and in his honor.. I'm donating a portion of the sale price to a wonderful no-kill shelter in my area called the Geauga Humane Society Rescue Village. To purchase, click on the link at the right to take you to my ebay store... and please feel free to contact me with any special requests! (clikc on the image for a closer look!)Thanks for looking.....

"Wheaton Terrier"

5" x 7" , Pastel on pastelbord.

I love working on my little dog paintings. They are a great ay to warm up if I haven't painted for a day or two, or if no particular subject matter is applealing to me at the moment. I ALWAYS get totally absorbed in them... painting them is just pure relaxing fun. I've been working alot in pastels over the past month or two.. so have been playing with the pastels with my dog/cat portraits... So, see the next few listings for more. (You can click on the image for a larger view).

Click on the link at the right to my eBay store to purchase... or feel free to email me with a custom animal portrait request!

"Jim", WIP (work in progress)

12" x18" Pastel on sanded paper

Jim is a model I've paitned over and over again, but he has one of those faces that is so full of character.. I can always find something new in it that excites me. I have one more session with hiom tomorrow to finish this up, but I thought I'd list my progress so far.. I begin with a charcoal sketch, then start laying in the dark tones, working up to the lightest highlights, constantly tweaking and reassesing the original drawing underneath. The picture at the top is where I am with it now...... I'll post the finished piece later in the week. can't wait til tomorrow to finish it up!

"Still Life with Oranges"

16' x 20", Oil on Canvas

I found this oil last week as I was cleaning out my studio.. it's one I did a couple years ago, and shelved while I was decding whether or not I was done with it. I do that often.. let a piece sit for a while as I digest it.. waiting days or weeks, or sometimes months, to see if anything screams out to me that needs to be fine tuned. I once heard that the way to know whether or not a painting is complete is whether there is nothing else in it that you can correct.

There are probably a couple oif things I could correct in this painting, but i sort of like the look of it... I like the way the oranges glow and jump off the canvas, against the dark earthy brown backdrop with hidden leaves. Click on the image for a closer look.

To purchase, click on the link to the right to take you to my ebay store.

"Tuscan Day"

8" x 10" , Orirginal watercolor on Arches paper

I'm teaching a watercolor class at home each week, which is lots of fun for me, and I hope, for the group I am teaching! This was a demo piece using a background wash of Quinacridone Gold (made by Windsor Newton), and then another wash of Opera (hot pink, also by WN). The two washes, one over the other, create a wonderful warm glowing base for any landscape.. especially this Tuscan subject matter, which has so much warmth in it to begin with. Please click the link on the right to purchase in my eBay store.

"Robert" (Work in Progress)

14" x 20" Pastel

Although this portrait is not quite done, I thought I'd list it and show the process of painting it. I started with a charcoal sketch of the model, and worked the same as I would with oils... laying in the darkest values first, and working up to the lightest. Working on this was pure fun.... I'll list the finished peice next week.....

"Edgartown Lighthouse"

10" x 10" ,Oil on canvas.

Here is another painting of Martha's Vineyard I did this week.....I love how the sun hits the lighthouse, the quick loose strokes, and the warm earth tones I used in this one. I don't always love the finished product, but this one I think came out nice! Hope you like it ,too.

Available for purchase in my eBay store. Click on link to the right.

"Vineyard Roses"

10" x10" , Oil on canvas

I've done this view of a home I saw in Edgartown, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, several years ago, and have been wanting to paint it for along long time. Well, I finally did a couple months ago, and still haven't got it out of my system. This is the third(and smallest) version of it... and I'm not sure yet if I'm done with the subject matter. it's different each time I paint it, and always pure fun to work on. Hope you enjoy.

Click on the link at the right to purchase in my eBay store.

"Gay Head Tide"

10" x 10" , Oil on canvas

I've been on a Martha's Vineyard kick this week....the onset of the fall weather always reminds me of the coastal towns and islands on the east coast.. The tourists are back home preparing themselves for the winter, but the island scenery remains to weather the storms.

Click on the link at the right to purchase on eBay.

"When the Cows Come Home"

18" x 18" , Oil on Canvas

Detail

Driving through Amish country in Lancaster, Pa. last summer, we happened upon a group of Holstein cows taking a siesta under a tree. I had to pull over and have an impromptu photoshoot with them.... they are so darn cute. I've painted them several times, but I haven't gotten them out of my system yet. More to come....
To purchase, click on the link on the right to my ebay store.

"Peach Fugue, Chincoteague"

12" x 24", Oil on Canvas.

THe photo doesn't really do this justice... it's so soft and muted in person, and those bank of trees on the left are actually very grey-blue-purpl-ish! The bright sunlight I was photgraphing it in was relentless (not that I'm complaining about bright sunshine and summery temps in Oct!). Ilove painting Chincoteague landscapes.. they are always as theraputic and relaxing to paint as , I hope, they are to view. Click on the link at the right to visit my ebay store to purchase.

"Laura", WIP (Work in Progress, stage 2)

16" x20" Oil on Canvas.

detail

Here is "stage 2" of my portrait of Laura. (see earlier post) As you can see, I've brought in lighter values over the original darks, and am picking up more details. Stay tuned for finished painting !

"Tres Gatos" WIP (Work in Progress)

9" x 12" on gessoed hardboard.

I started this cute cat painting last year after seeing a wonderful exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art called Quatro Gatos (featuring Picasso and his pals from Barcelona). So, this is my version.. currently "Tres" gatos.. but there's still room left on top for another cool cat to be squeezed in. I just sletched in the top right one yesterday.... so it's still very much a work in progress. I'll post the finished product soon...
Click on the image for a larger view.

"Laura", WIP (Work in Progress)

16" x 20", Oil on Canvas.

Work in Progress.

Laura is one of my favorite models... she has a quiet elegance about her.. always earthy, but regal at the same time. She sat for 3 hours for this first sitting. I first sketched her out in charcoal to get the basic shapes and postions, then started in with the darkerst values in broad strokes to lay in color, and began building up the painting. In oils, I work "fat to thin", meaning I begin using thin washes of paint mixed with turpentine, and then as I build the painting, and work up to the lighter colors, I stop using the turp and use Liquin or Linseed oil and work with the paaint in a heavier, thicker way.

I'm getting back to this portrait tomorrow, and can't wait to lay in the flesh tones and paint over this underpainting.. it's like putting frosting on the cake.... pure fun! I'll try to finish it up in one more sitting.. I'll post it again when it's complete.

Click on images for larger view.

"Still Life with Roses, small"

5" x 7", Oil on Hardboard.

This is the third in the grouping. Read up above for description and details. :-)

"Stiil Life with Roses, medium"

11" x 14", Oil on Canvas

This is the medium size still life that followed the first, larger one I did. Read up above for details and description.

"Still Life with Roses, large"

16" x 20", Oil on Canvas.

One of my very favorite things to paint are still lifes. I find them a great excersize to remind me how much I love to draw, and studdy what's infront of me and try to convey it as best I can, while still allowing myself to be expressive in the use of paint, color and technique.

I enjoyed this so much(and LOVED the beautiful roses), that I had to work quickly to do it again and again, before the roses wilted! So, that I did, just to challenge myself, in two smaller sizes.... Hope you enjoy!

They are all available for purchase on ebay. Click the link of the right to take you to my eBay store.

"Schnauzer, Dog-a-Week Paintings"

6" x 6", Oil on gessoed hardboard.

One of my weekly dog offering on eBay... I saw this little cutie with his owner sitting and watching the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco last winter. It was such a sweet, quiet moment.. I had to stop and ask if I could take their picture. The dog said yes.

"Chincoteague Autumn"

16" x 20", Oil on Canvas.

I experiemented agan with the red underpainting in this landscape...it adds a richness and glow to it, that makes it come alive.

Click on the link at the right to purchase this in my eBay store.

"Yellowstone Sunset"

11" x 14" OIl on Canvas.

I love this scene of the national park at sunset. I did something a little different in underpainting before I started on this one. I painted the canvas bright red, and was careful to use it in the composition and painting process. In addition to painting in a way where I was able to leave some of the red underpainting showing, I etched into the wet paint with tool to bring out some of the red undertones. I had fun with it, and I think it adds a warm and rich perspective to this warm and rich scene!

Available for purchase on eBay. Please use the link on the right to take you to my eBay store.

"Preservation Hall"

11" x 14" Oil on Canvas.

I love this view of the live music landmark in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It's always fun to paint because it captures the colors and rustic feel of the FQ.

"Misty Morning, Chincoteague"

10" x 10" Oil on canvas.

I love painting these quiet, serene scenes of Chincoteague. They're medatative for me... not just painting them, but viewing the finished peice always gives me a moment of.. ahhhh.. calm.

If you are interested in purchasing, click the link to my eBay ssssstore on the right.

"Black & White and Green All Over"

10" x10" Oil on canvas.

We were driving through Amish country in Lancaster, Pa. this past summer and I made my hubby pull over so I could take some pics of these cute cows taking a little siesta under a tree. It occured to me as I was working on this and having so much fun with the black and white patterns that I have never painted cows before. Needless to say, it won't be the last time! I've got another larger one in the works that I'll list later in the week....

If you're interested in purchasing, you can use the link at the right to find this in my store on eBay.

Sunday Morning on Bourbon Street

12" x 24" , Oil on canvas

I haven't posted in a month! That's how busy I've been with summer travels and painting and life! After spending so much time on landscapes this summer, I felt like getting back to an old subject I haven't visited for along time... New Orleans. I had such a good time working on this.. I started on a red canvas, and worked loosely, letting the the red underpainting shine through. I love the contrast of it against the torquoise paint. It's available for purchase on Ebay. Use the link on the right to take you there. Thanks for looking!

"Vineyard Roses II"

18" x 24" on canvas.

This is a replay of a painting I did last month ... but a much larger version. It was from a photo I took on Martha's VIneyard years agao.. and finally got around to painting. I had so much fun with it and I felt like I wasn't done yet.. so pulled out a larger canvas, and got busy. In this one, I used a pallette knife, along with brushes, and took a little more artistic license with the colors and details. If you'd like to see the first, smaller version, take a look back in my archives to June, and you'll find it. I think I"m done now with this view....the photo is back in its album and retired now!
To purchase, follow the link on the right to my eBay store.

"Chincoteague Rain"

11" x14", Oil on canvas.

ended up having fun working on this, although it started out sort of frustrating. The colors were too high a "key", (too bright) and it wasn't feeling like the mood I wanted to convey. So, after a week or so on my shelf in my studio (which is where all paintings take a break and sit for a while before I decide whether or not they are done!), I decided what this painting needed was a warm umber brown glaze, which means I mix the oils with a clear medium that is transparent, and I can glaze over the entire piece and alter the overall tone. So... as soon as I put brush to canvas with the glaze, I felt better! It solved the brightness probleem, and gave it a luminous quality which reminds me much more of the marshes on Chincoteague. Hope you enjoy!

To purchase, check out my link to my eBay store on the right.

"Long Road Home"

11" x 14" on Canvas

From a recent Plein Air painting trip I took to Chincoteague and Assateague Islands in Virginia.

Along the road to and from the island , are salt marshes that are as vast and wide as can be, and this one lonely boat always sits there. The sun was still rising as we were leaving, and I had to stop for this one more picture to bring back home with me....

To purchase, follow the link on the right to my eBay store.

"Blue Sunrise, Assateaaague"

8" x10" on linen canvas.

This is the 2nd painting I did during my early morning Pleain Air session on Assateague Island. See yesterday's post for details.

To purchase, follow link on right to my ebay store.

"Blue Cloud", Assateague

8" x 10" on linen canvas.

One of the most wonderful treats during my visit last week to Chincoteague Island, Va. was to set the alarm clock for 5 am (ok, that part wasn't so wonderful!), and drive out to the salt marshes and quickly find just the right spot to pull over and set up shop and paint. This has to be done with great decisiveness and speed... finding the most perfect view, dragging the portable easel out and setting up pronto(which, let me tell you, if NO easy task!), and getting the paints, turpentine, brushes all in position and ready to work. Even THEY are not fully awake this early in the morning... but once we all got going... we had GREAT fun! Working plein air (outdoors, on location) presents challenges and forces me to work fairly quickly to begin with.. but working against the quckly approcahing sunrise, and constantly changing sky and landscape, made it even more fun. By 7 am, I had completed three nice little paintings. This is one of them... and is available for purchase in my store on ebay.

To purchase, follow the link to my eBay store on the right.

"The Gondolier's Wife", Pastel

I'm proud to have won the

"JULY ART DIVA QUEEN",

(for the 7th time!)

by a group of my peers on eBay

for my pastel painting,

"The Gondolier's Wife"

12" x 16", Pastel on paper.

We were in Italy last year, and saw this woman bathing in the harbor on the Isle of Capri. While she wasn't really the wife of a gondola driver (or maybe she was?!!), she wore that hat which reminded us of the Gondoliers we saw wearing them in Venice. Maybe Capri is where the Venetian wives go while thier hubbies are hard at work!

"Purple Sky over Chincoteague"

16" x 20" Oil on canvas.

I'm leaving in a few weeks for Chincoteague Island, off the coast of Virginia. (google it!) for a little plein air painting excursion and can't wait. I't s one of my very favorite places to paint... so serene and beautiful with ever-changing lighting that make the marshes glow.. There's no place like it.

"Black Stripes"

16" x20" Oil on Canvas.

And another from a solo show now at the Gathering Place, Beachwood Ohio.

"Lemons and Stripes"

16" x20" Oil on canvas.

I've been so busy with freelance artwork and calligraphy this month, that I haven't had too much time to paint. I do have three different art exhibits now, however, so thought I'd list some of those pieces for your viewing pleasure! See exhibit locations to the right, if you're local and would like to go take in a nice art show or two! Hope you enjoy.........

"Vineyard Roses"

11"x14" Oil on canvas

I've been wanting to paint this scene from Martha's Vineyard for YEARS... It's from a photo I took 15 years ago and one I keep putting aside for "some day". This week, I had a long awaited break in my freelance work, so decided it was "the day" to have fun with this picture. I enjoyed it so much, I started working on it again, on a larger canvas. Stay tuned for that post soon...

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, follow the link on the right to my ebay store.

"Chincoteague Spring"

11" x 14", Oil

Another in my Chincoteague series....always SO relaxing to work on.....

"Fisherman's Sunset II "

11" x 14"

I had so much fun with the first painting of this subject, I had to do it again...

"Fisherman's Sunset"

11" x14", Oil

I really like the misty atmosphere in this sunset/seascape. It was fun for me to paint the silhouette of the fishing boat... I gave just enough info to capture the guys in the boat...

"Portuguese Water Dog"

5" x7" , Oil on hardboard

I love these wonderful shaggy dogs... I try to offer at least one dog each week in my ebay store, and try to come up with breeds that are a little less common, and stand out from the crowd! I think this one is definately a stand out breed.... I'm glad to accept commissions on dog portraits, so feel free to contact me through my website or eBay store.

"Pink Serenity, Maine"

11" x 14", Oil

Ok, so I got off track today from my Chincoteague obsession to paint this Maine scene.. looks like it could be Chinco, though!

"Purple Sky at Chincoteague"

11" x14", Oil

Here is another in my Chincoteague series, which I entered in a monthly contest held by one of the eBay artist's groups called "Art Divas", in which winners are selected by a group of our eBay peers. I'm honored to have had this painting win for the month of May... (which is my 4th win!)