Rising Moon

'Rising Moon' 10x8 pastel

Here is a night-time seascape. Imagine a cool and quiet evening at the beach. The wind has died down and you are dressed for the cold so it is very pleasant and refreshing to be out on the beach watching the moon rise. A few stars twinkle above as the clouds clear off. It is very peaceful with just the sound of the gentle surf.....Those were my thoughts as I painted this scene.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $145 USD
Or, send me an email

Two Ravens

'Two Ravens' 5x7 pastel

Here is a painting for Halloween although I love ravens and don't really think of them as spooky. In my pastel class this weekend we also will be painting birds. I have a certain method I use to paint birds and it is a good way to show how you can have interesting color and to get away from just using local colors. If you look closely at the ravens I did not use black at all.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $95 USD
Or, send me an email

Autumn Field

'Autumn Field' 8x10 pastel

I was surprised to discover this little bit of summer in the middle Autumn. There were still a few blooms among the rusty colored dried flowerheads and they looked so pretty against the soft colors of the fields. I enjoyed painting my kind of Autumn landscape!

Great White Egret

'Autumn Egret' 11x13 pastel

It was a chilly Fall morning and this beautiful egret was huddled among the grasses. I waited patiently for him to extend his long neck but he wouldn't indulge me! I did manage to get some shots of other egrets including a great one of an egret in flight which I will share in another post.

Evening Marina View SOLD

'Evening Marina View' 5x7 pastel

I never realized how beautiful the landscape can be in the evening. When the sun goes down and the lights come on....there are many new and exciting possibilities for paintings. Never again will I be able to put my camera away when the sun goes down. This is a view across a marsh looking at the distant lights of a marina. It is just 5x7 but I know I'd like to try a bigger night scene soon.

Beach at Dusk

'Beach at Dusk' 24x18 pastel

Every once in awhile things work out just right and present opportunities and experiences that have a profound impact on one's art. It is a wonderful feeling and I am not even sure where this will take me.....but as always I am prepared to enjoy the journey. Thanks VIPS let's do it again!!! I wish you could see this painting in real life since it is large for me. There will be more large paintings coming!

Tree Study aceo

'Tree Study' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel

Here is another small painting. I was practicing trees in this one for a recent class we did on painting trees. I was trying to simplify a complicated scene which is something I will be working on more.

Bird Nest Collage

My friends and I have been experimenting with collage this past year and this is one I did. It measures 5x7 and features prints of my pastel bird nest paintings and a real feather. The photo doesn't show the rich color and texture but I thought it was fun to do and wanted to share. I am hoping to get do some plein air painting this weekend if the weather cooperates!

Lavender Fields ACEO

'At Purple Haze Farm' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel

Here is a little color study I did for a larger painting. I love lavender and the Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Washington State was like heaven! I know I have said this before but I would Love to go back and actually paint at the farm!

October Marsh

'October Marsh' 8x10 pastel

I have been thinking a lot about the trip we took to Creighton Island last October and wishing I could go again. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. I really enjoy painting the marshes and would love the opportunity to return to paint there another time. Now I am thinking about plans for winter get- aways. I am scheduled to go to Asheveille NC in January for a demo and mini workshop on painting the colors of winter for the Appalachian Pastel Society. I know I will be looking for somewhere warn after that so maybe a Caribbean cruise will be in order! That sure would be nice.

Chicago Lights

'Chicago Lights' 5x7 pastel

Michigan Avenue at Christmas is a magical time. My friend & I took our daughters a couple of years ago and had a wonderful time shopping and seeing 'Wicked'. I will have to have Corey take some more night photos for me to paint from. I really enjoy painitng the city at night!

Nantucket Island

'Distant Trees' 5x7 pastel

The interior of Nantucket Island is just as beautiful as the beaches. We were on a drive across the island when I saw these interesting trees in the distance. I have more ideas for Nantucket paintings that I would like to try.

Weeping Willow Tree

Perry's Water Garden in Franklin North Carolina is a gold mine of painting opportunities....water lillies and lotuses ans weeping willows.....mountains, dragonflies! I had fun taking reference photos and I know they will be fun to paint on the cold winter days ahead!

Georgia Sea Island Marsh ACEO

'October Marsh' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel

This little marsh painting is from a photo I took on last year's trip to Creighton Island on the Georgia Coast. I was playing with colors and simplification. I often do these little paintings as studies for larger paintings.

Seaside Flowers

'Seaside Flowers' 8x10 pastel

I found these flowers by the edge of the sea in Maine. We were visiting Cape Neddick Lighthouse which is a wonderful spot and these flowers were growing wild along the edge of the cliffs. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a slight breeze...perfect for our drive up the Maine coast. What a great trip that was!

Beach Dunes

'The Morning Walk' 7x5 pastel

When I walk the beach in the morning I like to take my camera. I enjoy walking along the beach and walking up the various paths.....then turning around and getting photos of the path through the dunes. Each one has it's own unique character.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $95 USD
Or, send me an email

Something Different

Tonight's class we are talking about Henri Matisse and we will be trying to paint in his style. I had some time last night and decided to give it a try. I studied my big book on Matisse and chose some color combinations I liked. These little paintings are from my own photos and are pastels. I don't know if I was successful but I sure did have fun.

Marsh Morning

'Marsh Morning' 8x10 Pastel

I enjoyed painting with these colors....some of my favorites of course! Tomorrow is 'Henri Matisse' day at pastel class so we will be painting with a very different palette and style. I am looking forward to it as Matisse has always been one of my favorites.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $145 USD
Or, send me an email

South Carolina Dunes

'Dune Light' 8x10 pastel

We had just a small class today with a few students out of town. The topic of the day was edges so we worked on paintings that would allow us to practice hard and soft edges. We did a paint-along today and we chose this dune scene to paint together. Everyone did a great job and hopefully had some fun!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $145 USD
Or, send me an email

Autumn Pond ACEO

Today's painting is a mini....aceo collectable size painting that is 3.5 x 2.5 inches. This was a very busy autumn scene that I tried to simplify. There were so many trees surrounding this pond in so many wonderful Autumn colors. I can't wait to get out and do some plein air paintng this fall! I have my new artcomber and easy-l easel so I am ready to go!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $35 USD
Or, send me an email

Mount Rainier...Mountain Suprise

'Mountain Surprise' 8x10 pastel

A few years ago I did a fantastic family vacation touring the National Parks of the Pacific Northwest. There were so many highlights but seeing Mount Rainier had to be one of the best. We were staying in the park at Paradise Inn but the weather was terrible. The mountain was covered in fog and we couldn't see more than a few feet in front of us. The sad thing was the weather was scheduled to be bad for our entire stay. We wanted to see Mount Rainier!! So we got in the van and drove for miles trying to get a peek of the mountain...no luck. So with heavy hearts we went back to the Inn to rest. After awhile I looked out the window and to my surprise....the fog was lifting and I could see bits of Mt. Rainier! Pretty soon, the sky was blue and the mountain was out in all of it's glory! But just for a bit...soon the fog rolled in and the was the last we saw of Mt. Rainier.....but oh what a view it was!

Summer Poppy Field

'Summer Poppy Field' 8x10 pastel

I have painted close-ups of these poppies and I always enjoy painting them. it's hard to believe this 'field' is really just the median strip along Highway 64 in North Carolina! I think I would like to try something similar in a larger size.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $145 USD
Or, send me an email

Oranges and Pear

'Oranges and Pear' 8x10 pastel

In class last night we studied Paul Cezanne. Jayne shared some great information and we all discussed what made a Cezanne a Cezanne. Then we set up some still life arrangements with the fruit and items Jayne brought it. This is my Cezanne inspired fruit. I love painting fruit this way. It is so much fun to put down those nice juicy strokes of color!

Acadia National Park

'Acadia Sentinel' 8x10 pastel

I came across this great tree on a hike in Maine's Acadia National Park last summer. It was a picture perfect morning when we set out on a short hike. It is a good thing I had printed out some trail maps because it was such a wonderful day, we didn't want to stop our hike. I consulted the map and our short hike turned into a 5 mile trek up a mountain, down to a pond and alongside the ocean. It was fantastic!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $125 USD
Or, send me an email

Elegant Siamese Cat

'Elegance' 10x8 pastel

My Siamese kitten Maya is growing into a very elegant girl. Unlike her brother Tobi who is a compact solid cat, Maya has long legs and what I think is a very elegant look. She is very sweet and loves to hang out with me in the studio. I am painting apples today in preparation for tomorrow's class. We are going to paint in the stlye of Cezanne so I have been busy reading about him and looking at his work. Stay tuned for my painting from class!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $145 USD
Or, send me an email

The Bluebird Nest

'The Bluebird Nest' 11x14 pastel

Sadly Jayne had a bluebird box that was abandoned this season. She thinks that perhaps a tree limb that fell nearby might have frightened them. Whatever the reason she discovered the nest and eggs when she cleaned out the box. I knew I wanted to take advantage of painting the pretty little eggs since it is rare that we get to see them.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $175 USD
Or, send me an email

Jayne's Bluebirds

Jayne told me today that the bluebirds are eating her out of house and home! They are still coming around for their daily worms and bringing some warbler friends as well. I was over a week ago and got some photos of feeding time. There are about 10 bluebirds who regularly visit...the original pair 'mommy and daddy Boo' and their two broods. They are so much fun to watch!

Early Autumn Dunes SOLD

'Early Autumn Dunes' 8x10 pastel

I love a path through the dunes to the beach. They always seem to beckon me to go down to the beach and search for treasure....my favorite beach activity! This path is somewhere along the South Carolina coast.

The Bean...Chicago Painting

'The Bean' 5x7 pastel

I have been wanting to paint the Bean (Cloud Gate) for awhile now. Actually ever since I first saw it a couple of years ago in Chicago's Millenium Park but I haven't had the nerve! It is this week's subject for Karin Jurick's blog so it was the perfect time to try it! Karin suggested just letting the shapes guide you and not think about what you were painting. That really helped!

Here is a little info about Cloud Gate.....

Cloud Gate is British artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor work installed in the United States. The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city's famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a "gate" to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $95 USD
Or, send me an email

Sunflowers ACEO small painting

I never did get back to this North Carolina field this summer. It's a good thing I took so many photos last year. Here is a little painting of a tangle of sunflowers on a misty summer day. It is 3.5 x 2.5 which is an aceo collectable size. I am enjoying it matted and framed on my desk.....reminds me of a nice day exploring the mountains with friends. I call this little painting 'Togetherness'.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $35 USD
Or, send me an email

Caribbean Breeze

'Caribbean Breeze' 8x10 pastel

It's been awhile since I've painted a Caribbean scene and I've missed it! I love that turquoise water. I have a few more scenes I want to paint including some from Magen's Bay. This is the first winter that we don't have a cruise planned and I know I am going to miss that winter get away.

I am working on putting my blog paintings into easily searchable catagories. You can see the list on the side bar. It will take awhile since I have to go back and add tags to every painting but it will be so much easier to browse through catagories of my paintings.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $145 USD
Or, send me an email