Little Green Vase

6" x 8"
Oil on panel

I painted this one for my mom a few months ago, but never posted it. I wasn't quite satisfied with the vase - I think I just overworked it.

Little Pumpkin

5" x 7"
Oil on Board
$30.00
Click Here to Purchase

I wish I could say that the crisp, Autumn air inspired this painting; however, North Carolina is still experiencing hot, humid weather. This is my submission for the latest DPW Challenge, The Fall's Challenge.

Strawberry Shortcake

6" x 8"
Oil on Hardboard

I did this painting a couple of weeks ago as a part of my "stacked" series, but didn't post it because I had planned on fixing a few details. Today, I decided that I was not going to fret over the little things and be happy with the "big picture" - so here it is . This past weekend, my family and I were in a terrible car accident. I am happy to report that we all walked away with minor injuries. So what better way to celebrate life, than with dessert. Enjoy!
I will be donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this painting to "The Help the Children of Africa Challenge". Daily Paintworks has organized this fundraiser to help the children starving in the Horn of Africa due to the devastating drought.

Click here to bid on this painting

Salt & Stacked Peppers

6"x 6"
Oil on panel

One of the DPW challenges in June was to do a painting of stacked items, and I chose to paint a stack of pillows (click here to see that post). I had so much fun thinking of different items to stack, I thought it might make an interesting series.

 

Pillow Stack

8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas
Sold
Click Here to Purchase

This is my entry for the DPW's "The Balance Challenge", posted by Cathleen Rehfeld. The challenge was to create a stack of something that is balanced - literally, and in color, composition, negative/positive space.  I thought of several things I could stack for an interesting painting, but settled on the pillow idea. Hmmm, looks like this could potentially be a series......

Cat

6" x 6"
oil on canvas

This is my entry for the DPW "The Whole Cat and Kaboodle Challenge". Click here if you love cats, you will enjoy seeing all the entries. All the proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to Shirley's Companion Animal Ministry.
Click here to purchase

Txtng

8" x 6"
Oil on Illustration Board
$30.00
Click Here to Purchase

It was great to finally be in front of my easel and painting again, after 3 weeks away. I knew I was going to be a little rusty, so I chose to keep it simple by sticking to a black & white interpretation of this week's painting challenge. Linda Popple provided the sunny, NYC photo for the challenge titled, "The NYC Lady Challenge".
I think it is ironic that I recently spent some time in NY, and I had hoped to return with photo reference of a sunny, New York City day, only to have been rained out. However, I did return with rainy day photos, a few extra inches on my waist - due to the amazing pizza, pasta, pastries, and bagels that I inhaled, and a smile on my face. It was great fun to spend time with family, and be pampered for a few days - thank you Gina and Steven!

Salt & Peppers

8"x8"
Oil on Hardboard

I have been trying to take more time in the planning stages of the process, by rearranging the objects and adjusting the lighting until I am satisfied. Now I need to break out of my comfort zone and loosen up in my paint application. Maybe I should be doing some quick 10 minute studies to loosen up before diving in to paint for the day.

Chester Sleeping

6" x 6"
Oil on Illustration board
NFS

This is Chester doing what Chester does best - sleep! About 5 months ago, our family adopted this handsome fellow. We had spent a good part of last year searching for the right dog to adopt, and we finally found him through Petfinder. He was found wandering the streets, and had become so thin you could see all of his ribs, but still waging his tail, happy to greet anyone who would give him the time. He was 43 lbs. when he was found, and he is now a healthy 54 lbs. Thankfully, a local rescue group took him in and cared for him until he found us; it seems as though he has always been ours.

Help Japan Challenge - Sweet Basil, Sweet Memories



5" x 7"
Oil on canvas
Sold
All proceeds donated to Save The Children

 This week the DPW Painting Challenge is dedicated to raising money to help the people of Japan. The assignment is to paint an image of something that comes to mind when thinking of  "home". My fondest memories of growing up in New York center around food, and family gatherings. The smell of basil makes me think of my grandmother cooking tomato sauce after church on Sundays, as my family would gather to eat a big Italian dinner. While I painted this today, my iTunes shuffle so appropriately played "New York State of Mind", by Billy Joel.
All the proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to Save The Children. There are many artists donating their work to this effort. If you are interested in supporting Japanese relief efforts, go to the DPW site to bid on this painting, or any of the other works donated. My heart goes out to the people of Japan, as they face unimaginable loss.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope."

Romans 15:13

Milk & Cookies

6" x6"
oil on Illustration Board

We have been quite focused on selling Girl Scout cookies over the past month. My daughter met her goal of selling at least 211 boxes of cookies, which means she has earned her very first "Cookie Diva" pin.  Here is my version of one of our biggest sellers - Carmel Delites.

Peppers

8" x 8"
oil on masonite

This is another entry for the DPW challenge. I simplified the still life set-up, and tried very hard to stick to the rules of one color per brushstroke. I am finding this takes great discipline and I need more practice. Maybe I will get back into the studio for another try tomorrow.

Sunflower Tea - 2

8 x 10
oil on hardboard

I decided to use the same subject matter as my last post - Sunflower Tea 1, for the DPW Challenge this week. I wanted to see how different my painting would look using the approach of one color per stroke. The painting definitely has more dimension, but it was difficult to not lose the drawing while being so free with the brushstrokes. Somehow I still managed to overwork and fuss too much in certain areas. I might try this challenge again, only this time I will force myself to step back after every single stroke.

Diggy

9 x 12
Oil on Hardboard

Diggy is a Cairn Terrier, just like Toto from the Wizard of Oz. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, so I hope that I captured his likeness and spirit. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to a local non-profit animal ministry.
 Stay posted for more furry friends to come.

Vine ripened tomatoes

2 - 6x6

Oil on gessoed mat board
$30.00
Click Here to Purchase

These 8 tomatoes were painted for a Ten Minute Challenge from Carol Marine at http://www.dailypaintworks/.com.  The rules of the challenge were to paint the same object 8 times, allowing only 10 minutes for each attempt. It was very difficult, but well worth it - a great way to loosen up. 

Daisies with peach

8"x10"

Oil on Board

In this one, I was trying to be a little more loose with my brushstrokes. I think the glass is my favorite part of the painting.

Orange Lillies

Oil on Board
7.5" x 10"

It was great fun painting that little glass, but I underestimated how difficult it would be to paint the Lillies.