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!

Spot of Sunshine

From mini-hurricane to mini-heat wave. In a week! I'll take it..as long as we can get a few more days of 70's before summer. I painted this one on a black ground for contrast. Everything was dark except for this patch of wheat lit up through the clouds.

Spot of Sunshine
oil on canvas
6 x 6
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging
lightly varnished + signed

Turn at the Cypress

A quick landscape study I did last night. I love me some wonky power poles.

Turn at the Cypress
oil on canvas
6 x 6"
lightly varnished + signed
available here

Sparrow

The last in my trio of Spring bird portraits. I really enjoyed adding some colorful backdrops for these little guys!

Sparrow
oil on wood block
approx. 4 x 4"
lightly varnished + signed
available in the shop soon

North Coast Beach

No happy sunny skies around here! I changed the reference photo--grayed it down and made the sky stormy. Now it's my kind of beach. Harumph.

North Coast Beach
oil on canvas board
5 x 7"
lightly varnished
signed
framed and ready for immediate hanging

contact me for availability

Oh, for those of you inquiring about prints, I am still saving up for a good printer that I believe will accurately represent my work in archival inks. I prefer to print on demand versus going to a print shop. That way people can purchase what they like and I can custom color correct each one. I would love to have notecards available for upcoming holiday shows, but we'll see. Fingers crossed. Thank you for your patience!
*sold*

Pt. Reyes Mini

I loved the meandering waterway and colorful grasses of the marsh at this spot. It's a place we visit at least several times a year when us landlubbers hear the call of the ocean.

Pt. Reyes Marsh
oil on canvas
5 x 5"
painted edges, suitable for immediate hanging
lightly varnished
signed

*sold*

Well-Heeled: Tickled

I thought these shoes looked downright yummy. I hope you think so, too.

Well-Heeled: Tickled
oil on canvas
4 x 4 x 1.5" wrapped canvas
lightly varnished
signed on side
*sold*

Solitude

Sometimes all we need is a little time to ourselves.

Solitude

oil on cradled gesso panel

6 x 6"

lightly stained edges, wired for hanging

signed

lightly varnished

*sold*

Another Day Done

One of the first successful paintings I did in oil was an oak tree at sunset. I enjoyed painting another and seeing how my style and approach has changed in the past years. I really like how it turned out.

Another Day Done (Putah Creek Sunset)
oil on 3/8" gesso board panel
6 x 6
slotted on back for easy hanging
signed
lightly varnished
*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*

Stripes

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

available in the shop soon!

Cloud Study

Okay! After a crazy week, I'm back in the saddle again. The kids are out of school--and it takes time for all of us to adjust. Sleeping in = good. Trying to paint = not so good. I'm still shooting for a painting a day, so we'll see how it goes. This picture was painted from a photo by my friend Melissa on her recent camping trip. They were such good cloud photos, I had to ask her to use them! I'm trying to get more depth and perspective. That feeling they are coming at you, not just sitting in the sky.

oil on canvas panel
5 x 7
lightly varnished
signed

*sold*

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*

More Minis + a show!

I finished up a few more of the wee ones for magnets. I'm hoping the weather will be warm enough to dry them quickly! I will be showing them and my other work this weekend at Indie Davis, a small local craft show featuring some wonderful local talents. I have been selling my fabric crafts at shows for years but this will be my first featuring my paintings. Thank you Nina for hosting!

I spent the last few days polishing up my displays and table covering. I'm excited and a little nervous, too. I will be putting the shop on vacay mode Thursday--fingers crossed I sell something at my booth!

New Growth

This is a familiar tree on my morning walks (or runs, depending on my level of enthusiasm!). I love how the old spindly branches contrast against the lush new leaves.

oil on canvas
6 x 6
lightly varnished
signed

*sold*

Golden Glow

I had to take a sick day yesterday. Some sort of stomach flu had me out of commission since Saturday. Ick! I made a quick little study today of the foothills, hay and trees. I never get tired of them!

oil on masonite
4 x 7"
lightly varnished
signed
available in the shop soon
*sold*

Five Sisters

I struggled early this morning on a teensy tiny board. It didn't go so well. I got more satisfaction from tossing it (emphatically) in the trash than at any moment while I was actually painting it. I gave myself a second chance on an 8 x 10 canvas. I didn't have much time so I worked quickly.

Success! Keeping the brushwork loose on the trees and the foreground simple.

oil on canvas
8 x 10"
lightly varnished
signed since I took the picture. I always forget to sign until after I've taken photos!

available at nina's haute again, davis california

Sunflower Fields Forever

When the sunflower fields around here are in full bloom, it is truly an amazing sight. Not crazy about my division of space on this one (needs more sky, less road) but I am happy with the clouds. Some days you just have to give yourself credit for picking up the brush!

oil on canvas
5 x 7"
lightly varnished
signed
*sold*

available at nina's haute again, davis california

Poleline Rd.

This road connects my town with the next town north and takes you on a short jaunt through the surrounding farmlands. Every step of the way is dotted with power poles (hence the road name). I'm usually the one driving, which isn't very condusive to taking good pictures and not to mention dangerous..but this time I was the passenger. I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

So join me--let's get out of town!

oil on canvas
6 x 6"
lightly varnished
signed

available in the shop
*sold--thank you, lisa!*