Billowing Cloud

Finally finished up this one yesterday. We have remained cloudless for this winter--no rain and hardly any fog. Strangely still and dry. Fingers crossed it bodes well for a wet Spring.

Billowing Cloud
oil on canvas
6 x 12"
lightly varnished + signed

*sold*

Tule Fog

It feels so good to be back painting again! This one is an homage to our local Valley fog. When present, it makes driving miserable but it's gorgeous at the same time.

Tule Fog
oil on cradled board
6 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed
wood edges, suitable for immediate hanging
available in my shop here

Hello, strangers!

Little House in the Trees
oil on canvas, custom order
9 x 12"

I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I've posted. Since my two Holiday shows I haven't had much time for painting. I had these two custom orders to fill and once those were out the door it was *poof!* Holiday overdrive. Now that Christmas is over, I feel like I can share them with you without spoiling any surprises. I now feel like I have been in motion for too long. Time to settle in and get situated before welcoming the New Year.

Junco portrait
oil on board, custom order
6 x 6"

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

Yosemite Meadow

..Life is too much like a pathless wood

Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs

Broken across it, and one eye is weeping

From a twig's having lashed across it open.

I'd like to get away from earth awhile

And then come back to it and begin over.

---Robert Frost

Yosemite Meadow

oil on canvas

4 x 6"

lightly varnished + signed

Converge

That point where it all comes together. Off in the distance. You can't really see it but you trust that it's there.

Converge

oil on deep cradled panel

6 x 12"

stained wood edges, perfect for immediate hanging

lightly varnished + signed

contact me for availability

Marsh, Winter

Up and running with my new computer. Still making adjustments and getting my feet wet--colors look different and everything seems HUGE. I have to say this Mac thing is pretty awesome. I did a series of three little landscapes on wood blocks this weekend. This one had an olive green underpainting which gave it a toned-down Old World palette feel. I like!

Marsh, Winter
oil on wood block
sawtooth hanger on back
4 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed
contact me for availability

Late Afternoon, Co. Road 102

This stand of trees is along my favorite country road. It makes such a beautiful contrast--the warm glowing fields and the cool green grove along the creek.

Late Afternoon, Co. Road 102
oil on cradled board
11 x 14"
stained wood edges, suitable for immediate hanging
lightly varinshed + signed

Two Up High

This week has been a little chaotic so far and I haven't been able to park it at the easel like I had wished. But I eeked out this one last night. It started out as a still life but morphed into a landscape...funny how that happens.

Two Up High on a Hazy Day
oil on canvas
4 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed
$60
contact me for more information

Mini Magnets

Little paintings for magnets. Which one is your favorite? I'm partial to the magpie. Yippity skippity, it's Friday! Happy weekend, wherever you are.

Cloudscape No. 1

I'm hoping to do at least 5 or 6 cloudscapes for upcoming shows. I envision them displayed clustered together like family portraits.

Cloudscape No. 1
oil on canvas
4 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed
contact me for availability

Yellow Mustard at Dusk

This was my third version of this scene. Sometimes I like to make things hard for myself. Imagine that--an artist hyper-critical and emotional? The fun thing about painting with watercolor is you have the ability to rip it up in a good hissy fit.

Yellow Mustard at Dusk
watercolor, 5 x 7"
matted and ready to pop in an 8 x 10" frame
$40 + $5 shipping and handling
please contact me to purchase

Leading In, Complete!

I still might make some tweaks here and there, but I'm pretty pleased with how this one turned out. I'm hoping to get a few more of these mid-sized pieces under my belt before the holiday show season.

Leading In
oil on gallery-depth canvas
12 x 12 x 2"
lightly varnished + signed
contact me for availability

Leading In

I've been working on this one for a couple of days. I really want to paint larger pieces but they can be challenging--both because of the time they require and adapting my technique to still have a spontaneous feel to it. This one is 12 x 12". Not huge by any means, but it's still an adjustment. So far, so good!

In Shadows

Yes, another road leading off into the horizon. Surrounded by fields and falling-down fences. I love our Valley landscape.

In Shadows
oil on canvas board
8 x 10"
lightly varnished + signed
in the shop soon or contact me for purchase info

Dusk, July

Sometimes I get hung up on painting the sky at sunset and forget to look at the beautiful glow and deep dark shadows it creates. I'm very happy with how this little one turned out.

Dusk, July
oil on wood block
5 x 5"
lightly varnished + signed
available in the shop soon

*sold, thank you Lisa!*

Tumbleweeds in Training

What do you do when stuck in a car for 8 hours driving back from Southern California? If you're me, you take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. I happen to love power lines and tumbleweed bushes, so it's all good. I enjoyed painting this in a vertical format to emphasize the sky. Plus, it may be the perfect fit for a special spot in someone's home.

Tumbleweeds in Training
oil on canvas
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging
lightly varnished + signed
available in the shop when dry

Down the Road

A little one I managed to whip out today. I enjoyed painting the perspective and the end of summer colors that make me think maybe, just maybe Fall is coming.

Down the Road
oil on canvas panel
5 x 7"
lightly varnished + signed
available in the shop

Finally, a painting to share!

Today was the first day of school. Nobody cried (including me!). To celebrate, I promised myself I'd finish the painting I started, oh, four weeks ago. It's an Alaskan landscape, but I think clouds and sky are universal themes. I'm so happy to be back at the easel.

Because so many people have inquired about purchasing a piece before it is listed in the shop, I've decided to have some of my paintings available for pre-purchase. It allows me to sell them at a discount directly to you. Once the paintings are dry and ready to ship, I will remove the button and put them in my etsy shop. Just a little sneak peak buying opportunity, so you can reserve a piece right away!

Up and Up
oil on canvas
8 x 10"
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging
lightly varnished + signed
in the shop

Bumpy Stretch, Tuscany

A motto I live by is if you don't like it, paint over it. Which is what I did. Goodbye fava beans, hello Tuscany. The orange peeking through makes me happy and reminds me that everything's a process..

Bumpy Stretch, Tuscany
oil on canvas
4 x 6"
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging
available in the shop!