Monday, December 21, 2015

Private Party

SOLD


These little tulips were sitting just outside the door of my local market. It was a wet, rainy day, but they were so cheery that I had to have them. I've been working to get more color into my paintings and it seemed they would be perfect models. Little did I know that they would be as wiggly as children. They are blowsy and bright. I hope I can paint fast enough to get a second painting with their petals open. Silly girls!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Waiting For Santa


Christmas Eve is magical. I still feel twinges of childhood anticipation waiting for Santa. On Christmas morning it was thrilling to see that Santa had visited our house in the night. In my heart, Santa still visits on Christmas Eve.

This little mouse has been patiently waiting for Santa, but finally fell asleep just before Santa came down the mouse chimney.

This  painting will be ready for shipping at the first of the New Year.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Azalea with Satsumas


A colorful way to spend a gloomy day.


Satsuma


SOLD

It's dark and stormy this afternoon, and lights are glittering in the windows of neighborhood homes. These little orange satsumas seem to shine with their own special glow.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Things We Love


SOLD

Roses make me think of my mom. She loves roses, and when I was growing up there were always roses in our yard. When my mom was a tiny little girl, her grandmother wrote a poem about her. It's my favorite poem and the only one I've memorized. When I think of roses and my mom, I think of this poem:

To Lola
It is autumn in my garden 
And the leaves are falling fast.
Little lights that gleam and glisten
Are but hoar frost on the grass
All the springtime bloom has withered;
Summer roses are all gone.
Mists are in the air, and sunshine 
Faint and shifting in the dawn.

But within a sheltered corner,
Place I love and call my own,
To recall my spring and summer
Grows a tiny rose - half blown.

It is you my brown-eyed Lola,
With your hair a golden sheen
That has brought me back my June time
In the fragrance of a dream.

You, the rosebud that has brought me
In this Indian Summer glow,
Love and joy of long lost springtime
Just before the winter's snow.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Azalea with Violets


I love playing with color on dark afternoons - these colorful flowers were so much fun to paint. I've been experimenting with some techniques that are new to me - using a wash of transparent color at the beginning of the painting process and then using a boatload of paint on the canvas. My friend, Patti McNutt, recommends using enough paint to "paint like a millionaire." I think that advice is finally beginning to sink in. This was painted with a loaded brush.