Window into the Past

Window into the Past 6 x 8 inches oil on panel
Windows and doors of abandoned buildings hold me in a quiet trance. I am always wondering of the lives that were here, the sounds of a family in a daily routine of chores and family needs. I can't help but wonder if this was a pioneer family and if so how many generations lived here. Perhaps you will have other ponderings as you look at this... let me know your thoughts

Winter Mood

Winter Mood 5 x 7 in. pastel
I love the  simplicity of  the all over pattern of the trees and background foliage . In spite of the overall pattern I felt I could walk into this woods and be lost, all the random negative shapes would keep me hidden. Our Minnesota climate can be harsh and the fall-winters here can appear colorless and brutal but looking beyond that we have the Mood of the Season.

Sophie

Sophie 6x6 oil on panel
Sophie is our neighbors yellow lab, a real sweetheart. I see her from my studio window out playing and when visiting with our neighbors she comes over to me for an ear or chin scratch. This painting was done as a surprise thank you gift to her owners who clean the snow from our driveway and are just plain exceptional neighbors which I am sure they have an exceptional dog like Sophie. Here in Minnesota the winter especially throws curves at us with severe weather changes , sometimes bringing more snow than our little machine can handle and our good neighbor steps in at the crack of dawn to make sure we can get in and out. So we have two pleasures from these good people, a blown out driveway and a delightful dog to enjoy as well.
How lucky can we get?

Prickley But Pretty

Prickley But  Pretty   Oil  6 x 8 oil on linen panel
I have a love of thistles, their beauty and the pain they cause when trying to pick them, makes you leave them right where they are. In other words they adorn the weed patch where they are. But I love them for their wildness as I do all wildflowers
This painting was done on Senso linen. It comes in sheets in a tablet, sealed with clear gesso and ready to paint on. Economical  because if the painting is not one you wish to save you can dispose of it or if it is a keeper as this one is, I used Yes Paste to bond it to a hardboard panel. The canvas has a medium to coarser weave than I usually use but it was easy to paint on. This might be something you would like to try.

In the Quiet of the Morning

In the Quiet of the Morning 6 x 8 oil on panel
Early each morning I drive to Mt. Carmel where I teach and pass this little pond, it is so serene and in the morning light seems to be of another world. Always smooth as a mirror with the light beautifully reflected. I enjoyed doing this scene so much I may do a larger version as well.
Join me for a moment and enjoy " The Quiet of the Morning".

Funky Chick

Funky Chick  pastel 5 x 7
No, I haven't lost my mind after so many chickens recently. I just felt the need to step out of my comfort zone and go a bit nuts. This turned out to be so much fun, I may do more in the future, the medium of pastel lends itself well to the colorful hodge podge of color. Feel free to comment , if you think I have gone over the edge.

Pride in Appearance

Pride in Appearance pastel on archival panel 7x5in.
This white hen has preened her feathers to a glowing white. I am sure she is setting an example for all the other hens in the flock.
I used a Unison panel with an underpainting of pastel brushed in with water.I used Unison and Sennelier pastels . My goal was to have the hen look luminous. All blending was done by layering pastels, no rubbing.