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 .

Spring Faces

Spring Faces 6 x 8 oil on panel

These smiling faces make me smile each time I look at the pots of them around the yard and in the window boxes. They are tiny buy resilient to all the hardships of Spring weather.

These were painted using several photos on my I-pad and shifting between them. What fun technology can be when it helps us reach a create out work with less hassle

This painting was done with a transparent underpainting, much of which shows through in the final piece. The texture varies from thin and sheer to thick and opaque.

Wildflower tie Up

Wildflower Tie-Up  oil on panel 5 x 7 in.
The ice is off of the lakes finally, 2nd latest date in recorded history and I am seeing wildflowers at last.
This is a dream scene for me, I love Queen Anne's Lace, my favorite wildflower and a boat ready to be taken out on a quiet pond, sun shining and warm. Dream with me from your chair and plan a quiet afternoon in a boat on the water wherever you are .

Crumpet, 3 views. dog portrait,

Crumpet, three views, 8x10 oil on canvas panel

These were a birthday gift for my sister this past week. How much fun these were to paint. How could you not love that face? I love doing dog portraits especially since we do not at this time have a dog, I can vicariously enjoy them.