"GINGER"

8x10" Oil on Panel

Private Collection

This piece is done for a very sweet young lady in Raleigh for her birthday. Hope her year is wonderful and brings her as much joy as her cute "Ginger"!

"FRUIT ANYONE ?"

8x10" Acrylic on Masonite Panel

I love the lines in the street and the scene at the stand! Again, I find these small paintings free me to paint quickly, then create pieces from the parts I like best!

"Nude 1"

12x16 Watercolor on Arches


A quick study done several days ago too loosen up.....
Today I've added more intense color to it and like its strength. Fun to play ~ intuition does speak doesn't it!! I once did a project whereby numerous colors of colored tissue papers were torn and adhered to the susrface, once dried contour drawings were done.

"ON THE GO"

Oil on Masonite panel

Figures from behind always seem curious! Making one wonder.......where is she going, where has she been?........ Leaving a lot to the imagination of the viewer.

Its cold and wet in NC today and a great day to stay in and do art! Along with this painting, I was also able to work on some drawings for several watercolor paintings I plan to start this week.

Reading a couple of good books on color theory also ~ COLOR, by Betty Edwards (author of Drawing on the RIght Side of the Brain) and BLUE AND YELLOW DONT MAKE GREEN (or is it YELLOW AND BLUE DONT MAKE GREEN !!!) by Michael Wilcox.

RHETTS

EXHIBITION

Wanted to post this photo today so you can see how great the walls look!!!

With Gwen Dumas and Paula Womack, I'm excited to have the opportunity to be showing work in Rhett's of Southern Pines, NC. A great place for a delicious lunch (most Tuesdays he has Shrimp and Girts that are just wonderful!) and, now, a great place to find "ART TO GO"!

"PEOPLE WE KNOW ? "

Tour Of SketchBooks

This and the two 'sketches' below are from my 64 page sketchbook completed for the tour of sketchbooks by The Art House Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia. The sketchbooks of all praticipating artist will tour to the following places from Feb thru July:

Art House Gallery, Atlanta

Museum of Contemporary Art, DC

Chris' Jazz Cafe, Philadelphia, PA

Laconia Gallery. Boston, MA

Antena Gallery, Chicago, IL

Soulard Art Market, St. Louis, MO

3rd Ward, Brooklyn, NY

Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)

Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago, IL

"ALEX" ~ SOLD

11x14" Oil on streched canvas

Private Collection

Painted for his grandfather, Alex is the son of a family in New York. The light hitting his hat and the diagonal shadows were so much fun to paint! The play of lines in the shirt and shadows and railings were created on purpose and was pleased with how that turned out.

"CLARA" ~ SOLD

20x28" Watercolor on Arches

Commission Portrait

In the process of updating my blog, I've realized there are several things I've not posted. This portrait happens to be one of them! She's a 'little french girl" and it was done for her parents this past year. I'm working on a new watercolor portrait right now and when I saw this photo I was surprised at how similiar the color selections are ~ of course Im only half way thru the new one so we'll see !!

"IN THE MIX"

8x8" Oil on canvas

The negative space in this painting has to be my favorite part! I've finally determined that oil painting is more sculptural than watercolor....at least thats how I sense it!! Taking a watercolor workshop currently with Lisa Mathis and its been fun to be introduced to some new techniques; hoping to post the two Im working on next week.

"FIRST DANCE"

8X8" Oil on streched canvas

Catching a moment in time!!! Its great to get that 'just right' moment ~ usually when others are totally unaware that they're creating an 'art moment'!!

"TO GO"

8x8" Oil on streched canvas

I can NOT believe how litlle posting Ive done since Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, we still have 'dial-up' so anything on our computer is unbearably slow. SO ~ enough with excuses ~ I just have to do it! Like getting in front of the canvas !

This little painting was done somewhat quickly and was so much fun ~ shadows intrigue me and these colors like alot! I 'm finding that simple subjects, or the simplicity in and of any subject, and the way light plays with it to be a strong interest ~ and challenge!

"Sweet Sarah" - SOLD

20"x24" Watercolor on Arches Paper

COMMISSION PORTRAIT

Finally finsihed!! And sent to Alabama to its new home! Sorry the photos isnt so great - I forgot to take it BEFORE the glass was on it! So there are reflections......

Thank you to all that have e-mailed asking 'where are you"...... I have been checking your sites on occasion but just have not had time to paint much and, with a lack of high speed internet have not been spending time to post. As with many of you, its been a very busy holiday season (since Thanksgiving) but Im ready to get back to painting and posting!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"AFTERNOON WALK"

9x12" Oil on Canvas

This was painted upside down ~ and enhanced once rightside up! Amazingly, the gentleman in the window was not apparent to me UNTIL I flipped it! MANY years ago, teaching art to high school students.....when finding someone 'stuck' it was fun to watch them get 'unstuck' by turning the reference upside dowm.....forcing the mind to abandon labeling we really see, and can draw, or paint, shapes rather than what we think we should see. GREAT FUN!! Check out all the other paintings of this reference on "Different Strokes From Different Folks".

"3 & COMPANY" ~ SOLD ~

~

9x12" Oil on Canvas

Never knew what fun shadows were!! They certainly create shapes that are fun to pay around with in the overall composition! Another of the weekly challenges from "Different Strokes From Different Folks".

"BOVINE QUEEN"

6x6" Oil on Canvas

This painting is this week's challenge for "Different Strokes From Different Folks". REALLY a fun way to see many styles of the same subject ~ Thanks to Karin!

"PEAR PARTY"

Collage - 8x10" Watercolor, Ink & Cut Papers

These little pears are done for this months "Virtual Sketch Date". There was a great reference photo of three pears in a white tray. As I began this project, I got carried away with creativity! Painting and cutting and playing with color! The circles, for some reason, kept reminding me of a childs birthday party ~ similiar to ballons perhaps!! Great way to spend part of a rainey day!

"SUMMER BREEZE"

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Thought about naming this one "Two Scoopes" but with the chilly temperatures we've had the last several days, warm 'summer breezes' just sounded great!!

"WALLSTREET WONDERS" ~ SOLD

Oil on 6x16 Canvas

Private Collection

Another challenge from Karin Jurick and her blog "Different Strokes From Different Folks". I, personally, would NEVER have selected the New York Stock Exchange as a topic to paint! Trying to create the movement, the hustle-bustle, that goes on in the trading floors was quite a challenge!!!

"CHICAGO CLOUDS"

Prismacolor on Paper

Another piece for Karin Jurick's "Different Strokes For Different Folks".
This is the Chicago Cloud Gate Sculpture in Chicago's Millennium Park. It's also known as the "Bean". After working on this I feel as though Ive taken a trip to the windy city! I would have never selected this topic but thats an advantage of these weekly challenges ~ Thank You Karin!

"FOR YOU"

Acrylic and Oil

What a wonderful afternoon of painting! This is for the monthly references from "Virtual Sketch Date". Someone mentioned using black as their ground and, altough I dont use black, I may try using this dark background color as a ground...

"LUNCH HOUR" ~ SOLD

Acrylic on 8x10" Canvas

This is the thrid week of Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks. She's a very inspiring artist and its wonderful that she is willing to put forth the effort for the site. The rendentions of her references are fun to see; last week there were 68 to paint her subject!

"HE'S THE GUITAR MAN"

Mixed Media ~ Acrylic and Prismacolor on Paper

Got alot of joy doing this one ~ In doing the art AND in recalling all the wonderful singing done with this guy playing!!! He's the best!! I've been experimenting a bit with flesh colors and like these ~ adding a bit more white.

"A SOUTHERN SUMMER"

Acrylic and Oil on 6x8" Canvas

This is my painting for the blogsite that artist, Karin Jurick, has created called "Different Strokes From Different Folks". Karin started this site two weeks ago and is posting a photo each Wednesday for any artist to paint or draw from. The results are very exciting as there are various mediums being used and, as you might imagine, the many styles and interpertations.

While painting this I recalled a close friend who mentioned how the heat of the southern summer causes the power lines to sag ~ we should all pay such attention to details... huh?!