Gray Skies are Going to Clear Up!

"Gray Skies are Going to Clear Up"!

 8 x 10

Oil on Raymar Panel
$100

The Daily Paintworks challenge was to paint polka dots!  I saw this raincoat on a walk and immediately fell in love.  I have been wanting to paint it but was waiting for the right occasion.  She just seemed to be strutting with a "Yes, I DO have a red polka dot raincoat" attitude.  And while I do like to paint things that make people smile...this painting makes me smile.  I love her! 

Bright Future! Graduate School celebration

Bright Future

8 x 10

oil on Canvas

Sold

Let the Commencements begin!  We recently attended a graduate school commencement for our lovely daughter in law.  It was a very nice ceremony on a beautiful campus nearby.  I was able to get some great resource photos.  I tried to capture the movement of the long, graduate school, sleeves and the loose free feeling of having just graduated!  The sky is the limit!  I always say reach as high as you can and then reach higher!  Such a fun piece and a nice remembrance.  

He's Got the Whole World In His Hands

"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

Commission  

I love painting smiles...I am the product of a military family.  Brats we are called.  Military brats.  It is a unusual community and only another brat knows what my path has been like and I understand theirs.  I know what it is like to be apart from my family...I know what it is like to count the days until you are together again...I know how joyous homecoming is.  I know how precious family is.  When I saw this reunion of a military member returning from deployment it touched my heart.  

Painting it was a joy...knowing I put a smile one someone’s face makes me happy.  So here I am...painting smiles again.  

Birds of a Feather

"Birds of a Feather"

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar panel
$100.00

I have seen a lot of painted beach scenes and I just love them.  The movement of the water...kids playing, birds flying, sunbathing, swimming, splashing.  I love all the techniques and variety of ways the scenes are depicted.   I am not much of a bird painter but I do love painting figures so you can imagine my delight when I discovered this gaggle navigating the dunes!   

Please Don't Eat the Daisies!

"Please Don't Eat The Daisies"

12 x 12

Oil on RayMar Panel
$200.00

This little girl is the granddaughter of a friend of mine.  She was gracious enough to pose for me.  If you follow my blog you will know that I plied her with brownies and she cooperated by posing for quite a while.  If anyone wants my brownie recipe...just ask.  I don't think Betty Crocker will mind!  This was done for the Daily Paintworks challenge.   

"Ma"...A Mother's Day tribute to my mom...

Ma

22 x 28 

Oil on Canvas

NFS

I painted this a year or so ago.  I wanted to do a portrait of my mom...but she hates having her picture taken and I knew she wouldn't sit for me.  I spent a week with my parents and took lots of pictures of the family and finally pointed my camera at her...she didn't protest she just gave me the slightest "Mona Lisa" smile and I snapped while I had the chance.  There is so much about this portrait that I love.  I love the cuff bracelet she always wears.  I love it when she wears red.  I love that she smiled for me even though I knew she didn't want to.   I love that she is in her 80's and I still get to talk to her every day.  When I showed her the portrait she said "Thank you for painting me pretty."  I love my mom.  Happy Mother's day...

Of course this one is not for sale...but I could do one of YOUR mom...just a thought...;)

Pat-A-Cake with a shadow

Pat A Cake

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar panel

$100.00

When I saw the Daily Paintworks challenge this week I knew I wanted to paint this scene of my grandson playing pat-a-cake in our front yard.  The perspective was a little different for me but I just kept "seeing" the shapes and it came together pretty quickly.  I also tried to incorporate a bit of David Shevlino's technique by not overworking my strokes.  Mine are a poor substitute for David's confident swooshes...but I am learning with every swoosh of my own!

David Shevlino Workshop at Easton School and Studio in Maryland

Last weekend I attended a David Shevlino workshop at the Easton School and Studio in Easton, Maryland.  The workshop was fabulous and David is masterful with his paintbrush. 

The first day David began with a still life demo.  He roughly outlines the piece and then blocks in the colors, refining, and adding color as he goes.  He uses strong, bold brush strokes and seems not to waste a single stroke.  It was like , whoosh, woosh, woosh...and he had completed a beautiful painting.  


Then the class tackled the same still life while David walked around and assisted, encouraged, and gave sage advice to each of us.  He was very careful to spend time with each student and spoke of his techniques and stressed values and color choices.  Values, Values, Values was the theme!  Needless to say I shall begin doing some value studies in the near future!


The second day was much like the first except we used a model.  Same format...same amazing painting demo from David and same amazing result.  Values, Values, Values!


The third day we spent the day working on two new paintings...one in the morning and one in the afternoon while David walked around and generously assisted us.  His unassuming demeanor and quiet tone are very soothing to listen to. 


David is, as I said so confident and sure of his strokes that he is a joy to watch and able to articluate his technique in a way that was easy to understand.  Make no mistake...I have a long way to go, but I feel my artwork will improve having attended this workshop.  

Red Light District

Red Light District

9 x 12

Oil on RayMar Panel

$100.00

My husband and I love to walk around Washington DC and take in the sights.  Some of the best sights are the people.  This couple was waiting at a red light and just seemed so fun...I knew I would love painting them.  The striped sox were calling me saying "paint me! paint me!"