"Lone Pony" oil on masonite 4x4"

click on image to bid
I live in a dairy/logging community. We are probably the only property on our street that does not own animals over 18lbs. There are horses and cows EVERYWHERE. I must admit they make nice images. However, do not expect me to own one...ever.

"Sunday's Child" oil on masonite 5x5"

click on image to bid
I laugh every time I look at this painting. The way I saw the little girl was delicate and quiet. Missed the mark on that one. However, as a great lover of all things color I'm pretty happy.

"The Guardian" 4.5x5.5" oil on masonite

click on image to bid

It's so odd. I'm not a boxing fan but if you were paying attention there was a young man from the Phillipines that just won his 7 weight division. Unheard of. Some say he's the best fighter of all time. Somehow this painting reminded me of him. I didn't see the fight but I read about it and saw some highlights. The will of an individual is an amazing thing.

"The Party's Over" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
We met this little tike at a wedding reception. She and her sister are two of the most beautiful children I've ever seen. That's your warning. There will be more paintings of them.

"Fashion Forward" oil on masonite 5x7"

click on image to bid
I met this woman at a wedding. I can't tell you how intrigued I was with her profile. So many interesting features but when they all came together she was a very attractive woman. No cookie cutter here.

"About The Worry" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
Children are so magical. Don't you wonder what, if anything is going through that little mind? I think it about my cats all the time. I refuse to believe that they don't think. The other day my Ollie wandered into the bathroom with me. The only doors in our house are to the outside and to the bathrooms. When I turned on the water to the shower he immediately tried to stretch his 18lbs up to the doorknob to get out. Explaint THAT to me.

"Why Is It Doing That?" oil on masonite 6x6"

"What?!?" oil on masonite 4.5x5x5

click on image to bid

"7th hole, par 3" oil on masonite

This photo makes the painting look like a watercolor. Odd. I may have to re-shoot just because I think it is a much stronger piece in person (aren't they all?)
Our weather has changed dramatically here. I haven't been on the course in about 2 weeks. Maybe a good thing since the salmon run was in full swing (no pun) on my last visit. They are pretty far up stream by the time they reach the course so there will be lots of deaths. The smell is not so inviting. The creek on our property is so low this year that we don't really expect to see many if any at all.

"Struttin' Stuff" oil on masonite 5.5x5.5"

click on image to bid

Sometimes it becomes difficult to know what draws us to a subject. There just seemed like something very strong and very confident in this woman.

"4th hole, par 5" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

I'm not sure I did this justice. What you can't see is the long, bright green valley leading up to where the painting starts. I may have to do a second version just to satisfy myself. What am I saying? they're all to satisfy me.

"A Moments Contemplation #2" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

I saw this woman while dining out one evening. She was with her adult son and it was obvious the conversation was not going well. Having my own adult son I really felt for her. My son has never made me feel like she looked. He'll be 40 tomorrow and for me it is the anniversary of a most marvelous day.

"Par 3, 3rd" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

In 2008 I took up golf. Actually, I was the last hold out in my family. When my son gave in to it in 2007 and loved it so much I decided to give it a go. This image is from our local course. We live in the foothills of Mt. Rainier and even though it is a public course and sometimes a little rough (no pun) around the edges it provides with spectacular views. My husband and I go at the crack of dawn so as to not hold up the real golfers. Don't get me wrong. My husband, Ross is a real golfer. However, one hack, even in a twosome, can slow you down tremendously. I'd love to set up my paints right on the course but the danger is too high. We've met some delighful folks. We have an inordinate number of senior citizens in our little town. Here is a group of 4, sometimes 5, that meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They are almost always the first group behind us. Jim is tall, lanky and very friendly. Chucky is considerably shorter, not quite so talkative but equally encouraging. I haven't met the others yet. I plan to take the homemade sticky buns one morning. I need all the help I can get.

"In My Opinion" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
This portrait is of one of my best friends. Chris is one of the most creative, funny, dark people I've ever known. The good news is he lives one mile down my street so I'm lucky enough to enjoy his company often. If you'd like to see his work take a gander at Forgottenobjects.com
You won't be disappointed.

"The Popcorn Bag" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
Everything about this little girl was adorable. The hat, sunglasses and those chubby little cheeks. How is it that a knit cap in the heat of summer can seem so right?

"Attitude" 6x6" on masonite

click on image to bid
It's been a long, unusually hot summer here in our little town. This woman was eyeballing the local eatery that served up ice cream during the local street fair. Everyone has complained about the economy and yet this place decided to close at their normal time - 2! I can't tell you how much business they missed.

"Is ThatYou Tim?" oil on masonite, 6x6" sold

okay! so I've been gone. It has been a very busy summer here. Our niece Emma got married on our property and our time was captive trying to get the 5 acres ready for 200 guests. It was a marvelous event but now I am "back to business".
This images is of a wonderful man we met at his art store in Astoria, Oregon. I have already painted his partner so it was only fitting that he show up.
A lot has happened this summer. I attended my, gasp!, 40th high school reunion. Not spectacular in of itself except I went to my 20th and hated it. Why go back one might ask. Well I'm sure glad I did. Not only did I have a marvelous time, I have reconnected with some of the most amazing people. I look forward to their emails each and every day. What did we do before the internet?

"Tickled" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

Was she really this cute? YES! and her willingness to look right at you without any unease was so refreshing. Who gets hair like that? Totally unfair.

"That Parker Woman" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
We have these friends, the Parkers. They are a large group. Fun and frolic all of them. We are lucky enough to be included in some of their celebrations. This beautiful youngster is the daughter of one of the many brothers. Her face and features just beg to be painted. I seriously hope this is not the last study I do of her.

"It's All About the Hat" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

That little glow of lip hair "had me at hello". Sometimes what we don't see is as important as what we do. Did I get that backwards? Oh well. It was fun having so little to work with but seein potential. I was very please with the end.

"Best In Show" oil on masonite 6x6"

This beautiful little guy is Otis. He's one sharp cookie! He's also my son's best friend after the wonderful woman he married. I have forgotten how old he is. His face never changes so you just don't think of him as getting older. He's also smart as a whip......wait! has anyone ever stopped to wonder how smart a whip is? Strange things we humans say.

"Another Girl With a Pearl" oil on masonite 6x6"

Funny what a split second will do. This young woman is actually quite attractive. This look may not play well for her but it was great fun to paint.

Long days journey

Well! Last week I took "vacation". Translated that means I did not go to my day job. Instead I stayed at the old homestead and cut, clued, clamped and wired 58 frames. Two were 30x42, 0ne was 24x36 and the remainder were 7x7". Since I had never done this before it was quite the adventure. Ross and I purchased a frame cutting system last year and this was the maiden voyage. Let's say I will NOT be giving the local frame shop any competition. However, they are not bad! My brother Greg is a finish carpenter and came over one day to observe and give advice. It would have been so easy to just let him do it but then again I would have missed an opportunity to expand my skills. He was very helpful. My technique with the saw needed some serious work. Even with good equipment you have to pay attention to all your movements. I guess it's not that much different than a good sable haired paint brush.

Anyhoo...this was all in preparation for mounting a show at the local City Hall. We live in a very small town and have been making a concerted effort to become more involved with the visual arts. Though it is not a traditional venue when they asked I didn't hesitate. These images give you an idea of what we ended up with. Thank goodness for laser levels and a few other tricks I used. They may not be 100% level through out but I think it's pretty good.

"Master of the House" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
When we were in Astoria, Oregon we stumbled on the most wonderful little art supply store. The two men that own it were both there, ever enthusiastic to share information about the wonderful array of product they carry. I think we visited 3 times in two days! needless to say our truck was NOT empty on the ride home.

"Lass Lost" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

This little one attended a wedding at our place. It was so interesting to see her with different faces on. You wouldn't think it was the same child when she was smiling. She and her sister both are stunning young women. I'd love an opportunity to paint them together.

"White Hot" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
We were in this dim lit little cafe with granola like menu. Everything we ate was magnificent! The staff was all female with two delightful YOUNG women waiting the tables. They were that kind of sweet, simple college tonality that you encounter in any town that harbors a university. However there was no college in this town. Way back in "back" of this eatery was a fish tank. When the waitress would pass by they took on an eerie glow of red. I think she was embarassed for the attention.

"All About Me" oil on canvas 30x42"

click on image to bid
If this looks familiar it's because it is. This image was the first study Idid for the commission. The only difference? SIZE. This devil is 30x42" Yep. Those are some mighty big choppers. I wish the photo was better. After 35 years working in dentistry the teeth have every reflective surface right where it should be. I'm not convinced I could have pulled it off without that background. It would be easy for them to look like big, white pillows. At this point I'm totally hooked on these larger-than-life paintings. If it wasn't so annoying to stretch and prime canvas they would come more quickly.

"Speak Not" oil on canvas 24x36"

click on image to bid
For those of you that have followed my blog (thank you), you know who this is. My poor neighbor Sarah has no idea she is, yet again, plaster over the internet. It was really interesting how different it was to render her so large. There are now 4 of these oversized facial canvas in my studio and it really has become fun to live amongst them. I really don't know how to best describe it. As a painter I find myself staring at them and disecting parts of the canvas; trying to remember how in the world it got there. At this juncture my brain is so full of ideas for more of these giants that I can't paint fast enough. That, topped with the fact that I have to stretch and prime the canvas.........YUK.
Okay! off to watch college basketball :)

"The Promise of Magic" oil on canvas 30x42"

click on image to bid

Yes, you have seen this gentleman before. However, since I'm still mesmorized by his face you just have to deal with it. The biggest (no pun) difference between this image and the ones before is the size. This image is - GASP! - 30x42". Yep. One very giganto face.

It started with the commission for the African children. After doing several of those at this size I was seriously hooked. It's really kind of fun to be in my studio with all of them surrounding. If anyone out there can explain that to me please do.

Since doing so many of the smaller, daily type paintings transitioning to the large canvas is somewhat daunting. Everything is different. The brushes needed for sure and then trying to control the thickness of paint! wow, that's a big one (again, no pun) You almost have to ask yourself to think of them as to different disciplines.

End? can't wait to do more.

"Book Smarts" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

I really don't know why I do this to myself. Any time there is so much of one color in a composition I KNOW it's going to challenge me. Who knew there were so many colors of PINK?!?!? That poor shirt was painted, repainted and repainted again. Thank goodness I wasn't painting the walls of a room. Couldn't live with it but sure as heck wouldn't want to have to paint over it.

"Richard" oil on masonite 6x6"

It wasn't until I set them side by side that I realized the mammoth differences between this portrait and the last one. Everything about this was light. Interesting; Richard is NOT a small "light" fellow. Much like my son, he is barrel chested and much a man's man. However, he is thoughtful and intense in his work. It doesn't matter if it is cooking, casting, making wine or working on his property.

"Jeff" oil on masonite 6x6"

Wow! painting is easy. I just got a new camera based on a piece in an art magazine written by a photographer that I highly respect. This is the first piece I have photographed with the new machine. Getting it to download to my computer was a nightmare. I'm happy with the image but daunted by the process.

Anyway...this is my son. If you haven't noticed, he's a handsome devil. At 6'3" and 200+ pounds he has the disposition of a pussy cat. The truth is he looks more like my older brother's offspring than mine. I was really surprised at how easy the likeness came. I hadn't intended to leave it at such a rough stage but I just couldn't put my brush to it again.

"Market Share" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

Wow! too funny. I painted this over the weekend. Today I visited my sister in-law, Amy who has an earlier version of the same shelf. It is amazing how much looser my work is now. I like the first painting but this feels free. It would be fun to see them side by side.

"Ah, But Were It Spring" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
A funny thing happened on the way to the studio. My gears got all twisted and torqued. This was not at all what I had planned and yet it felt very right. Everyone in Seattle keeps talking like Spring is here. I say it is not so. My garden journel suggests that we have a ways to go. Some years that "ways" is riddled with random snow. However, there are crocus in my yard. The tips of other bulbs are squeezing up through the cold soil. Just for a few hours it was good to think like the masses.

"Another Take" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

There is something so sci-fi real about these mannequins. I keep expecting them to march off the edge of that platform and do.........what? Some days it's difficult for me to decide between the portrait work and the fashion images. I've recently completed another 30x42" face. Well, completed might be a bit ambitious. Today was a fresh look and I think it will need some tweeking. However, it's darn close to what I invisioned. We'll see what happens.

"Rear View Mirror" oil on masonite 6x6"

CLICK ON IMAGE TO BID

Something about this made me think "how silly" but the colors and reflections grabbed hold and there it is. My time in the studio has been somewhat compromised lately so it's really hard for me to decide between "paint small, paint large". Today was small - TOMORROW IS BIG.

"Inside Out" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid

Reflective images have this magical edge all of their own. The things we don't notice really make the whole. Plus the fact that I would have purchased and worn this skirt! (okay...all you who know me stop laughing) I really had to look hard to see what drew me to this in the first place. The "figure" sits back so quiet and yet the most important element in the framework. It was a challenge but fun to do.

"A Moments Notice" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
This young man was one of three sitting on a street corner just being young. I will eventually paint the group. They were so oblivious to everything and everyone around them. The streets were busy with shoppers and the street fair but all they new was their little group.

"Her Majesty" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

I've been so impressed with the image of this woman since I first saw it. I'm thinking about doing a larger, full figure piece. She just seems to know something that no one else is privy to. She's just looking right inside of you.

"Take That!" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

click on image to bid

I don't know who the retailer was that designed these but I LOVE THEM! What would it take for someone to decide that cutting off the top of the head would be a good aesthetic idea? It just seemed to make them all that much more sassy. Anyone that knows me KNOWS that sassy appeals to me. I can't wait to do some more.

"The Worry" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

Ah! finally a little time in the studio. It's amazing how fast you begin to feel rusty. About half way through this piece I really saw no hope. I had no earthly idea how I would pull it all together. That must be part of the ongoing magic of painting. You can never get to confident or comfortable.

In the end I was quite pleased.

"A Future For All of Us" oil on masonite 6x6" sold

This may just be the gentlest face I've seen in a very long time. I was almost sad to complete the piece. It was developing a relationship with it. As a painter it's always hard to put the brush down and say "enough". It was magnified 10 fold with this painting. Maybe like a good book; you can't wait to see how it ends but then you're left wanting to know more.

"I Can See Clearly Now" oil on masonite 6x6"

click on image to bid
Oh my, what a treat this one was. Can you remember your first pair of shades? How cool we all thought we were. You can just feel the pride in this little one. All too soon we lose that magic. I'll probably do another version of this same painting. It seems there are always challenges that when a piece is done you begin to think of other ways you could have met them. My husband has this "87% rule" theory. If the piece meets 87% of your original expectation you're probably done. That's a pretty loose rendition. It has to do with the time that elapses between concept and execution. Since our idea continues to evolve over that time it probably will never be 100%. That said, he also contends that the 13% is the really important number.....You have to know him. My family calls him Sputnik.

self portrait

This is actually not a new piece. Daily Painters is having a day (tomorrow) dedicated to self portraits. Since I had this one and it wasn't too old I decided to post it again rather than subject myself to doing another one. Cheap model but not that interesting.

"Mesmerized" oil on canvas 30x42"

Its been a long time since I've been up here with the intent of posting. It isn't because I haven't been painting. We've had some daunting problems with photographs and I just wasn't willing to put pieces up that weren't close to accurate.
This piece is from the series I've been working on for a client. She is considering forgoing a large piece and hanging a cluster of the smaller studies. I think it will work very well for her but I already had the seed set in my little pea brain to do some of them larger. I stretched a canvas today to do another one. It was just too rewarding to leave alone.