Snowy Perch

Snowy Perch oil 6 x 8 on panel
All dressed up in formal wear just waiting for the party to begin. This delightful little bird has found a perch on a snowy pine branch all dressed in his feather tuxedo. I giggle every time I see them, they seem to be hyperactive and chatter constantly. All the more fun to watch them and paint them.

The Beauty of White

The Beauty of White   pastel   11 x 14 pastel on panel
Growing up in the Midwest lilacs were in almost every yard and always in a farmyard. When we moved last  year we left the beautiful purple lilacs planted by my husband's Mom in the 1940's
Their fragrance filled the air. Imagine my delight when we moved to find two white lilacs in our front yard. Just had to paint them, and here they are.

Tiny Bubbles

Tiny Bubbles, 5 x7 painting, showing rustic barnwood frame
I fell in love with sunfish when I was very young, fun to catch and so pretty to look at. Well, not much has changed as I have aged.
I teach painting at Mt. Carmel, a family retreat center near here and one of the young boys went fishing every day off the dock and was always so proud of his catch and was happy to share photos with me, so I adapted  the fishy to look like he was coming up for air. At the same time my husband was making frames from the 125 year old barnwood from  our farm and when we put the two together it was like magic, the bubbles from the fish appear to go right off into the frame. Now how cool is that?

Comfy Perch

These little chickadees are a delight, they snuggle into our pine tree right outside the kitchen window.
They remind me of someone going to a party all dressed up in a neat tuxedo and since they always seem to be chirping and happy, I bet it will be a great party.

Basking in the Sun

Basking in the Sun oil 7x5 in.
These red geraniums and white petunias are a tradition at Mt. Carmel Retreat Center and seem to glow against the blue window boxes. They can't help but make you smile every morning when you get up, they greet you and ask nothing in return except water .