Swan

Oil on canvas. 5"x7"

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...seven swans a-swimming. This is the last of the Christmas birds!

Christmas Goose

Oil on Gessobord. 5"x7"

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...six geese a-laying.

The Day After

Oil on Gessobord. 5"x7"

This is what I should be eating after the Thanksgiving food extravaganza. Instead, we had an early celebratory birthday lunch today at King Estate. Tomorrow we'll celebrate Terry's birthday with dinner and cake...then on to Christmas!

Happy Holidays

Oil on canvas. 6"x6"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Ornaments and Vase

Oil on canvas. 6"x6"

More Christmas ornaments.

Christmas Reflections

Oil on canvas. 6"x6"

Trying to capture the reflections on these ornaments was a bit of a challenge, but they were so much fun to paint. I'll be painting more pictures of ornaments over the next few weeks.

Gold Ring (Ring-Necked Pheasant)

Oil on canvas. 5"x7"

According to Wikipedia, the fifth day's gift of gold rings refers not to jewelry, but to ring-necked birds such as the ring-necked pheasant...somebody received a heck of a lot of birds for Christmas!

Colly Bird

Oil on Gessobord. 6"x6"

Sold

The fourth day's gift in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" is often stated as four "calling" birds, but originally (according to Wikipedia) the birds were "colly" birds, another word for blackbird.

Bemused

Oil on canvas. 20"x16"

I went to open studio tonight and had a wonderful time. There is something therapeutic about painting with other people. The room is quiet, everyone is focused and intent on their work, and there is an underlying feeling of peace and well-being.

The model was terrific - it was a pleasure to paint her portrait.

On Sale

Oil on canvas. 6"x6"

 Click here to buy

Another painting for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. I got a great deal on these shoes and I love, love, love them. Unfortunately, they just kill my feet!

The Dog Walkers

Oil on canvas. 8"x10"

Bid
This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge is to paint your shoes. I decided to paint my favorites. These old boots keep my feet warm and dry and are just right for dog-walking in Oregon.

Click here to see the Daily Paintworks Challenge:  The Shoe Challenge

French Hen (Faverolles)

Oil on Gessobord. 6"x6"

Bid
This gal is a Faverolles, which is a French breed of chicken, developed in north-central France in the vicinity of the villages of Houdan and Faverolles. According to Wikipedia, the bird was originally bred for eggs and meat, but now is primarily raised for exhibition.

Turtle Dove

Oil on Gessobord. 6"x6"

It's cold, crisp, and beautiful this morning...and today is Jenny's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

No Painting Today

I'm just too tired tonight to get out the paint. Sometimes I feel discouraged because I'm not spending enough time painting...yet when I'm painting, I feel guilty that I'm neglecting other things that need to be done. I work during the day, so my painting is restricted to nights and weekends. I worry that at the rate I'm going, I won't see much improvement.

I'm having trouble finding a good balance.

What about you? Do you paint? If so, when do you find time to paint? Are you satisfied with the time you devote to your art?

I'm curious to know how others manage their painting time.

Partridge and Pear

Oil on Gessobord. 6"x6"

This is a red-legged (or French) partridge, which perches in trees more frequently than the grey partridge, so likely is the partridge in the pear tree referred to in the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

It has been suggested, though, that the pear tree is, in fact, "perdrix", which is French for partridge, and pronounced "per-dree." According to Wikipedia, the original line in the song could have been "A partridge, une perdrix."

It's incredible how much useless information you can gather while surfing the 'net!

Skater Dude

Oil on canvas. 6"x6"

I have been sorting through our Christmas decorations, looking for something to paint. I was happy when I unwrapped this skating snowman figurine. I keep forgetting about him. He's a tree decoration, and only about three inches high. He's a charming little guy - I had a lot of fun painting him.

Merry Moose

Oil on Gessobord. 5"x7"

This guy is ready for Christmas.

Red Ornament

Oil on canvas. 5"x7"

Bid
I'm in a festive mood today. It's still early enough in the season that I have some hope of being ready for the holidays this year. Jingle bells, jingle bells...

Pine Cones

Oil on gessoboard. 5"x7"

Bid
It feels like the holiday season might be right around the corner, don't you think?

Gala Apples

Oil on canvas. 8"x10"

Brother Rick's Car