Have a Super Monday

I've extended the free domestic shipping in my etsy shop with coupon code SUPERMONDAY. I know it's really called "Cyber" Monday but that seemed like a lame code. I much prefer my Mondays to be super. If you are an international customer, contact me and I will also give you a discount.

Cactus
oil on canvas paper
6 x 6"
signed + mailed in a rigid mailer
on sale here in the shop

Weekend Sale!

I have paintings coming out of my ears! They are stacked in window sills and corners of my house. I'm happy to announce a special little sale for those of you who read this 'ol blog, follow me on Facebook or generally just like original art. Enjoy free domestic shipping (insurance included) on all works in my etsy shop with coupon code PUMPKINPIE at check out. I will be listing new works throughout the weekend. I hope you see something you like!

Thank you for your continued support.

Painting above (still wet!)
Blue Hues
oil on wood panel with distressed edges
4 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed

Sketchbook

It's been a busy few weeks. I've focused on ceramic creations for two shows and now I'm really looking forward to getting back to the easel. Some days I don't have the wherewithal or time to paint in oil and I do some little sketches in watercolor and pencil. A lot of them aren't worth sharing but I've decided to put a few of them in a new shop section called "sketchbook". Just for fun.

I hope you're having a great weekend.

Slipping into something different

I know some of you follow me on Facebook and may have seen that I've been dipping my toes into the ceramic world. And by world, I mean it is totally different from painting. There are so many steps and variables. For a (ahem) control-oriented person like myself, it feels good to let it go. Opening that kiln fills me with childlike giddiness and anticipation!

I have been working with simple, organic shapes in porcelain, a nice contrast to my color-filled painting realm. Going between the two has made me more creatively complete and inspired. I look forward to painting each day more than ever..and squishing clay in the in-between times. I'm so lucky to be able to do both.

Feel free to check out more of my porcelain pieces at my new etsy shop.

Notecard Sets

I ordered some note cards a while ago, but wanted to see them before I put them in my etsy shop. I am very happy with how they turned out! The paper is super thick and glossy. I kept the pictures small to give them a nice border of white. They are available in two sets: landscapes and shoes. These are the first prints I've done of my artwork and I'm pleased that these little paintings can live on after the actual works have sold!

Endless Sky

We know it's Fall around here when the students come pouring back into town. Literally. Bicycle-riding novices come careening off curbs and groups of confused, disoriented nineteen-twenty somethings clog the sidewalks downtown. It's like having to scoot over and share my town again. I find it both frustrating and hilarious.

While we don't get a whole lot of stormy skies year-round in Central California, we get the most amazing vapor-like whisps of clouds that seem to stretch on forever. I loved painting this one.

Endless Sky
oil on canvas
8 x 10"
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging
signed
lightly varnished

*sold*

Winter Pond

I was craving something cool and foggy today! Hope you're having a great weekend, wherever you are.

Winter Pond
oil on 1/2" thick gesso board panel
keyhole slot on back, perfect for immediate hanging
6 x 6
signed
lightly varnished

available in the shop soon
*sold*

Almost Touching

I loved how these two trees' shadows were so close, but not quite touching. I'm also digging the new 6x6 cradled gesso boards I bought from Utrecht Art. When the paintings are dry, I'm going to stain the edges to bring out the wood grain. At first, using them was a nail-biter--I didn't want to screw up! The best part is I can just wipe them down and start again.

Almost Touching
oil on cradled gessoboard
6 x 6
signed
lightly varnished
wired for hanging
*sold*

Well-heeled: Stiletto

Yes, yes, more shoes. Some days I yearn for my old office job--just so I could wear a pair of these. Painting them is almost as much fun (and slightly less painful). I love using these chubby little 4" canvases. I think they make the perfect format for an affordable art collection, no matter what size your feet are.

Well-heeled: Stiletto
oil on canvas
4 x 4 x 2" wrapped canvas
lightly varnished
signed on side

*sold*

To Winters

This road leads to the next town "over" called Winters. It's a lovely drive, especially when topped off with a delicious breakfast at the end...

oil on gallery depth canvas
painted edges, perfect for immediate hanging
6 x 8
lightly varnished
*sold*

Downtown Haze

Lots of summer activities the past few days + my hub had the camera. He took some wonderful pictures of Mono Lake and Tuolumne Meadows on a recent trip that I can't wait to paint. This is a familiar scene of downtown Sacramento draped in a veil of summer smog. I enjoyed painting a cityscape for a change. It was challenging to render the buildings but not get caught up in the details (windows, wires, etc.). I'm very happy with the finished look.

oil on canvas
4 x 12
lightly varnished
*sold*

or contact me for more information

Stripes

oil on canvas
8 x 10
lightly varnished
signed
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging

available in the shop soon!

Up Above

Enough with the clouds already? I loved working some color into the sky in this painting. I wanted a sort of ethereal light where you say "wow..look at.." and then it's gone. I'm very happy with it. I just wish the camera did a better job of capturing it. It's much prettier in person!

oil on canvas
8x8
painted edges
lightly varnished
*sold*

With the toasty weather we've been having, paintings are drying fast. Yay for the heat!

Etsy front page!

Thanks to a fun treasury created by PonyAndPoppy, I made it to the front page! Woot! View the whole Hit the Road treasury here. It made my day!

Light & Fluffy

More clouds! At first it was difficult to stop blending and just let the brushstrokes be obvious and so very..well, present. The more blending, the more frustrating--so this time I just let 'er be.

oil on canvas
6 x 6
painted edges
lightly varnished
signed

available in shop soon

Farm Fresh

Sometimes after painting in a particularly choppy or impressionistic way I'll crave smooth soft blended strokes for the next one. Kind of like yin+yang, sweet+salty--a balancing act.

oil on canvas
4 x 12
signed
lightly varnished

available in the shop

Crossroads

Which way should we go?

oil on canvas
8 x 8
lightly varnished
signed
*sold*

Red Pom Poms Redux

I originally painted these on a laminate chip last year, but couldn't resist painting them again! I think most painters have a "wubby" of a subject that calls to them. It's comforting and pleasant to paint when maybe other subjects are trying. Maybe apples, avocados, flowers? For me, it's definitely shoes.

oil on canvas
4 x 6
lightly varnished
signed
*sold*

Foothill Storm

I had a tree up in the foreground, but it was bugging me. I took it out and I'm much happier with it. Simpler is usually better (for me at least).

oil on canvas
8 x 10
lightly varnished
painted edges
signed

available at nina's haute again, davis california