Delicate Orchid

                                           SOLD

When I was arranging this still life in my shadow box, I noticed how cautiously I set the pitcher and placed the orchid in the water. The reason for my steady movement was the absolute delicacy of both the fine glass and the dangling blossom. When I started painting, the awareness of their fragility stayed with me. I found that more than capturing shape and color, I was concerned with capturing that quiet essence.

Saved Orchid

                                               

Okay, so somebody broke my orchid. The plant was sitting on the desk in the den. Someone must have banged into it - inadvertently, I am assuming - because there it was with the bloom almost snapped off, just dangling. At first, I was really angry because it meant the death of something so beautiful. Then, I had an idea - the new turquoise glass pitcher I had been waiting to paint. So now, the orchid has a new lease on life for a bit longer in the pitcher.... and a whole lot longer in this little painting. I love happy endings.

Jessup's Neck

                                                    SOLD



I took myself out for a walk again. Nearly the end of February, and I was able to paint at the beach for hours in just a sweatshirt... unbelievable. I actually walked up the beach for a good 45 minutes before I found the perfect spot. I wanted to share with you my plein aire painting setup which has made getting out there so easy. I posted an image below and am sharing the link - Art Box and Panel from artist James Coulter - where you can purchase one if you are interested. I love it!

MollyKay's Vanity

                                       Click Here to Order Note Cards  

My daughter, MollyKay, is starting her career as a hair stylist and make-up artist. This still life is painted from the tools of her trade. It will be used as the image on her new business and note cards. I am using an online printing company Zazzle to make the stationary. I recently produced two greeting cards with this company from two of my other paintings. The color quality and glossy finish are outstanding. If you would like to buy either of those note cards or one with this latest image, just click the link above and it will take you to my store artnotes at Zazzle.

White Urn 2

                                               SOLD

I am enjoying these little studies of white on white. The more I look, the more colors I see. It is quite remarkable. The values in the shadows of the urn's handles are much darker in this photo than in the actual painting. I tried tweaking the digital image - but still couldn't get it quite right. Overall a great exercise in patient observance.

White Urn

                                                          SOLD

This is my entry for the "white on white" Daily Paintworks Challenge this week. Not easy. I wiped out twice... buy three times was a charm. I really needed to see what I was seeing and paint what I was seeing, not what I thought it should look like. A real mind bender, but great fun.

Apple Weighing In

Purchase Information

I am in love with this little kitchen scale. For some reason, when I was painting it,  I keep thinking that if it was human it would be very friendly. Funny what runs through your head when you are painting. Anyway, that's a bottle of Dom Perignon from the day I got engaged to my husband... almost 25 years ago. I think that makes it an antique!

February Seascape #2

  

Today was day two of painting plein aire at the beach. I didn't get out until late in the day. The sun was actually starting to set and so I had the added challenge of chasing the light. I loved it.

February Seascape #1

                                                 SOLD

Today I finally did it. I took my easel to the beach. I have been wanting to do that - envisioning myself doing that for a very long time. Resistance, fear of exposure, fear of standing out there alone, kept me safely tucked inside my studio, until today. I was inspired and got the final push from Roos Schuring , a plein aire painter from the Netherlands, whom I met via her blog and facebook. She wrote me yesterday and told me to take my easel for a walk... and so I did. Hooray!