Bee Hive

We've become backyard beekeepers. This is our bee hive - it's a Warre hive and is supposed to be a good hive for urban areas. Less honey is produced in these hives than in the traditional Langstroth hives, but they require less handling by the beekeeper.

I now understand the attraction that some people feel for bees...they're mesmorizing. In the evenings, I often walk down to the hive to watch the bees returning home. Busy bees.

Mary's Garden

Click here to bid

Mary's garden covers several acres in Creswell, Oregon. These are the steps leading up the hill to more of the garden. There are scenic views at the upper level.

Mary's Iris

SOLD

We went to our friend Mary's house today to paint her garden. Mary's garden is a wonderland - so peaceful and idyllic. It was the perfect place to be today.

There is so much color and beauty at Mary's - it was hard to choose a spot to paint.

Click here to buy

Every day this little guy visits the squirrel feeder hanging in our rhododendron bush. He was very annoyed when I took his photo this morning. Clearly, I was interrupting his breakfast!

Scotch Broom

 Scotch broom is a perennial that blooms from April through June and grows 3-10 feet tall. Originally called Scot's Broom, Scotch broom was introduced from Europe as an ornamental and for erosion control. It's highly aggressive, displaces native plants and disrupts wildlife habitat. According to the Oregon government website, it's estimated that Scotch broom costs Oregon $47 million dollars annually in lost timber production. 

While it looks spectacular on the hillside across from King Estate Winery, it's sad to see how much it has spread in the last few years.

Silent Reflections

Click here to bid

I went back to paint the bridge again yesterday afternoon.  I was with two friends and excellent painters, Patti McNutt and Carol Marine. We had the best time painting in the sunshine on Dexter Lake.

The day was a success - the air was warm, the lake and surrounding hills were breathtaking, and we were treated to a bald eagle flying low across the water. Best of all, I got to spend the afternoon with two lovely friends.

Lowell Covered Bridge

We went up to Lowell yesterday to paint the covered bridge. The weather was perfect and the setting was so beautiful. We started a little after noon and stayed until about 4:00 p.m. I came away with a slight sunburn, but I'm not complaining - it was so worth it.

If I'd been a better painter, I would have included the two fishermen who were fishing from the bridge!

Vineyard Road, King Estate

This view is looking down on one of the vineyard roads at King Estate. The scotch broom is in full bloom on the hills across from the vineyard. Scotch broom is lovely, but not native to Oregon and very invasive. It's miserable for folks who are allergic.

It was so incredibly beautiful at King Estate this afternoon. After I finished this painting, I was sorely tempted to stop by the winery restaurant and have a glass of pinot gris on the patio. I didn't do it though...I knew I'd fall sound asleep in the sunshine and would be sleeping up there still!

It would just be too hard to explain when I got home!

Amazon Park Bike Path

I was so eager to do some plein air that I drove over to the park twice yesterday. It was just too dang cloudy and cold in the morning when I first attempted it, so I tried again in the afternoon. It was chilly and windy, but I stuck it out and painted this little scene looking south toward the dog park. Rain is forecast for all next week - bah!!!

Pinot Noir with Lilacs and Apples

Click here to bid

This was an attempt to paint on a little larger scale than the 6 x 6 inch panels I normally use.  This painting was done on an 8 x 10 inch panel. I love painting larger, but realize I have lots to learn about composition...maybe someday I'll have the courage to try something really large.

The weather has been beautiful for the past few days and I'm eager to get outside to paint.

Tea and Lilacs

Click here to bid

Lilac bushes seem old-fashioned. They are often seen in the yards of older homes in town and around the countryside. I've heard that during the western expansion, young pioneer women would take a lilac start from their mother's bush before they left on their journey. Once they reached their destination, the lilac starts were carefully planted next to the house as a remembrance of the family left behind.

My great-grandmother came west on a wagon train when she was a tiny baby. I wonder if her mother had a lilac start with her on that trip.

How bittersweet it must have been for those young women. Every time I see a lilac bush, I think of that story and feel a twinge of sadness.

The Sun Worshipers

Click here to bid

This is a painting I've reworked. I changed the background from high key to low key to see if it would make a difference. I realize that paintings I'm attracted to are generally low key.

French Press

Click here to buy

Strong coffee is one of my guilty pleasures. I believe I could even forego chocolate for a cup of good, strong Northwest coffee with cream!

Oriental Lily

Click here to bid

Our local market had these Oriental Lilies on sale for Easter. The fragrance from the flowers was so powerful that it hit customers as they walked into the store. We had no intention of buying flowers yesterday, but the fragrance was very alluring and we couldn't resist. When I mentioned it to the check-out clerk, she said, "Yeah, a lot of customers are complaining of headaches from the smell!

 I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure!

Hendrick's Park

Click here to bid

Today was a perfect day for plein air painting. This is the rhododendron garden at Hendrick's Park. The month of May is usually peak season, but there was an amazing display of blooms today.

Garden Frog

Click here to buy

This pottery frog sits on our patio. He's probably contemplating the bees. 

Tuliip Time

Click here to bid

This is a do-over of a previous painting. Right now I'm feeling very conflicted and unsettled with my paintings...it seems like the more I paint, the worse things get. I can't seem to figure it out. So frustrating.

Spring's Gift

Click here to bid

Spring has arrived and so have our bees. We installed them in the hive on Saturday. So far, so good. Today I'll be checking to see if the queen has settled in. She arrived in a little cage that is about the size of a finger. We plugged her cage's opening with a gummy bear and then placed the caged queen into the hive. It takes the bees about three days to eat through the gummy bear. This three-day captivity of the queen allows some time for the bees to become acquainted with her and accept her as the queen - otherwise they would kill her! Hopefully all is well today and she is free to begin her work.

Bees are absolutely amazing - I'm so happy to have them in our yard!

Braeburn Apples

Click here to bid

The ubiquitous bowl of apples! Apples are so satisfying to paint - they offer a chance to splash lots of red on the canvas.

I'm continuing to use the fracturing technique. I like the faceted look that it gives. I'd like to try it with some plein aire painting. My new plein aire easel and palette are supposed to come today, so I'll be painting outside soon.

Not tomorrow, though! Tomorrow our bees are scheduled to arrive. We placed a bee hive in our backyard and ordered 3,000 10,000 bees for the hive. I'm really eager to have those little guys buzzing around our garden.

Ghost Reflections

Click here to bid

This wine is pinot noir blanc, from Ghost Hill Cellers. Ghost Hill Cellers is located in Yamhill-Carlton - Oregon's wine country. The grapes were grown on Savannah Ridge Estate and bottled by Trappist Abbey Wines.  If you ever have an opportunity to visit Oregon, I recommend a tour through the wine country - it's so incredibly beautiful.

We especially like pinot noir blanc - a white wine made from red pinot noir grapes.

The wine in this bottle will be used to toast my husband's retirement at the end of May.

Blue Pot with Gerberas

Click here to bid

These Gerbera daisies are a recent purchase for our garden. I wanted to paint them before they were planted, so put them in this pot and brought them indoors. Poor things...they looked so healthy when they were outside, but started to wilt after being inside during the painting session. I finished the painting as quickly as possible and put them back outside. I hope they are ok!

Brown Betty

Click here to bid

I've painted this little teapot many times - it's a favorite. I'm a bit weary of doing still lifes, though, and am ready to try my hand at some plein aire painting. Now that the weather is getting warmer and drier, it will be possible to head outdoors. I've just purchased a new plein aire palette and easel. As soon as it arrives, I'll be all set to go!

Blue Vase with Bouquet

Click here to bid

Still experimenting with fracturing and color.

Yellow Pot

Click here to bid

The plant in this pot is called "Kalanchoe." It's a succulent and has vibrant red flowers with waxy dark green leaves. It looked so cheery in this yellow pot that I couldn't resist it. My house is beginning to look like a flower shop!

The painting is another attempt at fracturing - the technique developed by Julie Ford Oliver. It's so much fun (and just a little bit scary)!

Wine with Apple

Click here to bid

I'm trying to paint more loosely. For me, it's harder than it looks!

Gerbera Daisies with Strawberries

Click here to bid

These daisies are from the market. It's surprising how long they have stayed fresh. I like them so much - I think I'll look for some to plant.

Strawberries and Wine

Click here to bid

King Estate is a beautiful winery in the Lorane Valley, close to Eugene. The winery restaurant patio has a panoramic view of the valley, and it's just heaven to have lunch there on a sunny day.

The wine in this painting, "North by Northwest" Syrah, is from King Estate. It's delicious!

Tea with Strawberry

Click here to bid

Tea and strawberries in the afternoon.

Confidential Conversations

Click here to bid

These flowers seem to be having an earnest conversation - wonder what they're talking about...?

Just Hangin' Out

Click here to bid

Great day for just hangin' out!

New Day

Click here to bid

The cyclamen are blooming like crazy. They're just so pretty this year.

I am trying an experiment using more color in my work. I'm not sure about this painting, but I sure had fun painting it.

Spring Fling

Click here to bid

Lenten roses and daffodils from the garden.

Camellia and Frog

Click here to bid

We're partial to frogs. This is another little guy who resides in our garden.

Primrose Frog

Click here to bid

This little pottery frog lives on our patio table. He looks so festive with his primrose "hat."

Morning Tea

Click here to bid

Reflecting on those first fresh, quiet moments in the morning before the busy-ness of the day begins.

In The Pink

Click here to bid

More primroses!

Sentimental

Click here to bid

My sister-in-law has a special fondness for primroses. They remind her of her mother, who loved those little bright spots of color, and always had them in her spring garden.

Red Cyclamen

Click here to bid

Rainy day, good day for painting!

Signs of Spring

Another painting of the daffodils and narcissus from our garden.

Daffodils and Narcissus

Click here to bid

The first signs of spring are beginning to show in our part of the Northwest. This photo picked up quite a bit of glare, so I may retake it once the painting is a bit more dry.

Salt and Pepper

This painting is 16"x12" - a larger size than I'm used to working on. Although it took longer, I think it was easier than the 6"x6".  It was a nice break to try something different.

Hope

Click here to bid

I made an effort to squint when painting this. I realized that I usually squint when looking at my subject, but once I transfer my gaze to the canvas, I open my eyes...this time I squinted throughout the painting process. I kind of like how this one turned out.

Our son-in-law's brother was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday evening, he received a call from UCLA Medical Center that his surgery was cancelled. His insurance company was denying payment. How does that happen after initial preauthorization approval? It's a tangled knot, and after a conference call, they (insurance company) said they will make a decision today...so once again, Dan is waiting. He will either have surgery at UCLA, or will need to go to OHSU. Time is of the essence, so we are waiting and hoping for the best.

Click here to bid

Thinking up descriptive new names for paintings is difficult for me...how many times can you title a painting, "Mums" or "Flowers"? These flowers are mums that I got from the market. They look cheery and joyful, so I've named them, "Joy."

Blue Vase with Mums

Click here to bid

Today I'm thinking a lot about my son-in-law's twin brother, Dan. Dan is going in for a very serious surgery at UCLA Medical Center tomorrow.  We all feel like we're in a state of suspended animation...holding our breath until it's over, hoping we'll hear good news tomorrow night. We love you, Dan, and are holding you in our prayers.

Tulips and Mums

Click here to bid

Flowers are really amazingly beautiful little things and I love to paint them.  I have to work quickly, though, because they move around so much. I took a short break from this painting and found when I got back to the easel that the tulips had rearranged themselves!

Iris and Tulips

Sold

These flowers are from our local market. There are many bulb plants poking up in our garden, so I'm hoping to paint some home-grown flowers soon.

Single Red Rose

Click here to bid

Another attempt at painting a rose.

Three Roses

NFS

These are roses from a beautiful Valentine's bouquet and were quite a challenge to paint. I'll definitely be doing more rose paintings in the future.

Jersey Bounce

Click here to bid

My tulips are getting a little blowsy, but they still bounce and swing. They put on quite a show.

I'm listening to Benny Goodman this afternoon - gotta love big band music!

In The Mood

Click here to bid

As I was finishing this painting, Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" was playing on Pandora. I'm in the mood for spring!