Many Paths

"Converging" oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I love how the multi-colored horizontals turned out with this painting. Despite it's busy-ness it still evokes a sense of calm. 

First Snow

First Snow, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

The first snow is always so beautiful to me. I have to get out of the house to cross-country ski, walk, or in days of yore, I would go for a run. This particular day my hands were almost completely frozen and not for the lack of my oversized ski gIoves.  I took a photo looking straight up to capture the day; leafless trees replaced with cold snow, clean, blue sky and rapidly moving clouds which resulted in this colorful, soothing painting.

On a different note....the good news is I just bought a pochade box and utility tray to mount on a tripod to paint en plein air. I am excited about how an entirely  new dimension(s) could be brought to my work, by painting outside. The bad news is we are supposedly in round two of the polar vortex winter from hell. Uhg!

Hidden Dandalion

Hidden Dandelion, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I look down a lot when I walk.  I am deep in thought most of the time and looking at people during these times would be a distraction, not anti-social :-) And because I look down just as much as look up (sky high), I see a lot of treasures like this. I would never have thought a dandelion could be found still growing after a freeze, but here she was, all bundled up in her blanket of various wild grasses.   

Van Gogh and Friends

Van Gogh and Friends, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

My dear friend Lori is so enthusiastic about my painting, and she is also the owner of one of my works. She loves to travel to see her adult children. They recently took a trip to the Nation's Capitol and visited one of my favorite museums, the National Gallery. She took some great pictures of her family and I loved this one so much I asked for her permission to paint it. It has two of her three children in it, and of course Vincent. He seems to be looking at them as much as they are looking at him.

From Mary's Garden

From Mary's Garden, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

sold 

My friend Mary grows these beautiful Japanese eggplants in the summer. After she bought one of my paintings earlier this  month, I couldn't resist doing this commission for her.

Eggplants are such a beautiful vegetable, have gorgeous whimsical leaves, and the color is rich, like none other. The only problem I had when painting these handsome creatures was trepidation that it might not turn out to her liking. But she loves it, as do I, so all is well :-) 

Row of Trees

Row of Trees, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

I painted this yesterday as I was coming to grips with the fact that the picturesque part of fall was sadly over. Most of the leaves are now gone in Louisville, and those leaves still hanging by a thread are dull brown. And as I type, a few days ahead of this actually posting, snow is in the forecast. Um, yay....not! Have a look, one more time at the beautiful, colorful aspects that we all look forward to each year's near-end.

The Three Graces

The Three Graces, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

Oh Sunflowers on a cold, cold day; what could be better? I painted these graces from a photo that my sister sent me last summer as she was traveling around France.  I have looked at the photo almost everyday since I received it. I finally decided to paint it, with cold hands, in my cold house, to radiate a little warmth for my soul.