Peacock

5"x7"
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Dudes, it has been a long, long, long day. But tomorrow should be a nice, friendly, hang out at home and paint day, so that'll be good. Hugs and peacocks all around :)
#1514

Peahen

5"x7"
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I am so glad that the neighbors have a flock of peacocks that come over to visit our bird feeder! Granted, it's meant for a different sort of bird.... and I still haven't figured out how to get ahold of one of those feathers... but they make me happy anyways. And Naomi loves chasing them :)
#1513

Marble Portrait I

6"x8"
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I do so love painting marbles :) As you can most likely guess from the title, I believe I want to do some more like this one....

Country Store

6"x8"
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This is from an old, old reference photo of mine that I loved but was intimidated by, and then forgot about.... and then rediscovered right here in the middle of being fascinated by twilight paintings. It might have been a little too much to tackle in a daily painting, I'm not sure.... but I really enjoyed it anyways. And learned a lot. If you like it, though, let me know soon because I think I'll be returning to this one!
#1511

Front Porch Light

6"x8"
sold
Trying another twilight painting! Yesterday was so incredibly beautiful that I went outside to paint for a bit.... took some creative liberties with the image, though, because the clouds were too much for me to try to put in a plein air piece! Don't worry, I got reference pics, and this way the focus is on the cozy little house.... and the one star in the sky :)
#1510

Little Green Grape

4"x4"
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#1509

Eye Contact

5"x7"
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so..... is this one super cool, of have I gone over some weirdness deep end with it? I honestly cannot tell!
#1508

Blue Sky

5"x7"
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Continuing with the pics of the donkeys... anyone know what a baby donkey is called? I keep wanting to say jenny, but I'm pretty sure that's not a donkey, but the opposite of a mule...
#1507

Little Burro

5"x7"
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I drove out to Apex last weekend for a meeting with the 'executive commitee' about the Spring Whimsical Women Show- it was fun as always, and it will be a really exciting show, but I drove past a wonderful little group of donkeys on the way there and back! I got out and took lots and lots of pictures, which makes me happy :)
There were also some sheep in there, gorgeous critters with curled-around horns, but they were stubborn and wouldn't come anywhere near the fence for pictures. And then when I climbed the fence and tried to stalk them around the muddy pasture (in my flip flops, of course, hoping that no one in the farmhouse would notice, or if they did that they wouldn't come out and yell at me), they ran off! Little stinkers....
#1506

Iris Bud

4"x12"
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Remember the yellow one I did like this? I thought I'd try another, but this time do a soft, warm wall color and a dark, cool flower bud :)
#1505

Orchid Arc

5"x7"
sold
Gr... why couldn't I get proper pictures of today's and yesterday's paintings? Oh, well, they still look great in person. Especially together :)

Orchid Buds

5"x7"
sold
Nothing to say this evening... in a weird mood :( It's been a quiet, productive day so I don't know where this is coming from, but it's producing some nice painting....

Looking Glass

9"x12"
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This painting only exists because of my daughter- she really walked into my studio holding up a hand mirror just like this! It was such a strangely beautiful idea that I knew I had to do a painting of it... I love how her hands came out, and the fact that the reflection in the mirror was so abstract, and the soft halo of her curls....
#1502

Blackheart Cherries

5"x7"
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I wanted to continue with yesterday's idea, do some more twilight houses, but that really was the only decent reference I could find.... so I'm going with fruit, today! Aren't they gorgeous?
#1501

Farmhouse in the Evening

6"x8"
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I wish more people would put their lights on in the evening, this is such a beautiful idea for a painting but I had a dreadful time finding the right house with the lights turned on in a pretty way... it's worth it, though. And I'm hoping things will change a bit with that as warmer weather comes in!
#1500

Blue Marble

5"x7"
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Really grooving on the dramatic shadow on this one.... might go back in and add some more detail in the reflective surface of the marble, though!
#1499

Four Marbles

5"x7"
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Just 'cause I haven't done any marbles for a while :)
#1498

Helicopter

4"x4"
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I don't know why I keep coming back around to this little painting and working on it some more, but I do... and it seems to get a little more delicate, or subtle, or something every time. I like that.
#1497

Gardenia Shadow

5"x7"
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Here's a subject you haven't seen from me in forever! I do miss gardenias.... even though we're only renting this place, I wonder if I should plant some? I will totally plant anything edible, but somehow it seems so frivilous to plant gardenias... even if they are the most wonderful flower ever.... :)
#1496

Shades of Grey

5"x7"
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I realized it had been a while since I'd done any teacup paintings, and thought I'd give a weird perspective a try with this one. It was super tricky, but I like the depth that comes through with the cup!
#1495

Vanilla Buttercream

5"x7"
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Because sometimes you've got to spend a couple of days painting desserts :) Seriously, though, a friend of mine is coming over tomorrow and we're going to make lemon ginger cupcakes with lavender icing and that is going to be AWESOME!
#1494

Chocolate Glazed Donut II

5"x7"
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Just because donuts are awesome :)

Spring Onions - WIP

8"x16"
WIP

Emergence

9"x12"
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This is a portrait of a beautiful conch shell I found at the beach last year, wrapped loosely in a wonderful silk scarf I inherited from my grandmother. The idea was of something worn but lovely emerging into the light out of womb-like, ocean-like depths. It was quite time consuming to do.... but toally worth it, I think. I just love the worn, pitted surface of the shell against that luscious silk!

Apple Half II

5"x7"
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It went and got cold and rainy outside again, so I stayed in the studio and painted a piece of fruit.... it's just as well, February rains are important for waking things up. And apples are fun to paint.
#1490

Pink Tulip IV

5"x7"
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I seem to be on a bit of a roll with these flowers... it feels good, expressing springtime, you know?
#1489

February Daffodil

8"x16"
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Ok, obviously not a daily. It was a lot of fun to work on, though- I think this is the most success I've had with incorporating splashy, random texture in the paint into a really nice, realistic image. And it's so springtimey :)
#1488

Daffodil on Black

6"x6"
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It makes me so happy that we have daffodils in the yard. Naomi still prefers dandelions, but there's something so wonderful and springtimey about daffodils.... the hyacinths ought to be coming along soon, too! They might be more attractive to a two year old, what with their overwhelming floral scent and all....
#1487

White Horse

5"x7"
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I had a lot of fun painting more on this one! I think the darker background really makes it more lively, and the sparkles and the more detail on the horse....
#1486

Bic

2"x3"
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I know you've seen this one before.... but I spent some time today cleaning it up a lot, and I love how it looks now! I didn't think I'd be able to get such a sharp image on one of these mini canvases, but whaddaya know.... :)
#1485

Antique Wrench

5"x7"
sold
This one was a lot of fun to paint- the texture came through in such an interesting way! And of course the object itself, this gorgeous old wrnech that is so sturdy and beautiful but had been used as a hammer enough that the metal is all battered and turned out at one end.... it's just fascinating :)

Pear Half and Shadow

6"x6"
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I'm finally starting to feel better, and so is my little angel! Like we can breathe again and have mostly stopped trying to cough up our lungs and everything... *happy dance*
#1483

Marbles in a Bottle WIP

9"x12"
WIP
This is one of those paintings that you know is a confirmation that you're crazy :-/ I think it'll turn out gorgeous anyways....
#1482

China Doll

6"x6"
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This is a doll that was my grandmother's, and is now mine... Naomi suggested that I paint it, and I'm glad I did, it was really interesting!
#1481

Key and Shadow

2"x4"
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I got a couple of really amazing things from Broomfields Gallery up in West Jefferson last weekend- including this key and to totally awesome antique padlock that goes with it. I want to paint them together so bad, but I haven't got the absolute perfect composition set up yet.... This is lovely, though. I like how it's flying. And how awesome it would be for someone for Valentine's Day :)
#1480

Halved Tomato

6"x8"
sold
Still trying to bring summer back :) It might be working- it felt downright balmy out today, and the daffodils are about to bloom, and the hyacinths have come out of the ground a good ways. I so want to get started on my garden for the year, but I'm afraid it's still to early! Ah, well...
#1479

Teabag II

4"x4"
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You might remember a teabag I painted a while back, a little 4"x6" one with a similar muted grey bachground... I've just been thinking about it lately, and want to try another ones. I think the next one I do will have to be used and still soggy, with little puddles of tea, but right now I really like the soft colors and textures involved with the ones that haven't been used yet.
#1478

Jawbone

5"x7"
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Glad to be back in my little groove :) Unfortunately my tiny angel is a bit sick, but at least that means I get to spend extra time cuddling her and readin to her...

Winter Shoreline WIP

18"x24"
I've been working on this one a while.... and promise to be working on it a long while more, but I know it'll be worth it :) I love all the stone, and they're going to contrast so beautifully with the bleached, flooded grasses!

Knife Handled Monkey Wrench

and another one. Broomfields Gallery is amazing! They'll have their entire inventory up online soon, too :)

Padlock

just a sketch...

Dandelion VI - Half Blown Away

4"x6"
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And continuing with my dandelion obsession.... also, I'm going out of town for a couple of days, so don't worry if you don't see me one here! I will be back and all caught up before you know it :)
#1473

Dandelion V

4"x6"
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Something pretty and summery..... I do love dandelions :) I wish it would warm up and be springtime already!
#1472

Avacado Closeup III

4"x4"
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Back to the pretty avacados again. Seriously, is anything else on the planet quite this shade of green? It's very interesting, and can be so tricky to capture... well, it's the green combined with the butter-y-ness, you know?
#1471

Sent out the January Studio Newsletter today!

 The Yellow Tutu

8"x16"

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 Strawberry and Reflection

8"x16"

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 Springtime Magnolia

8"x8"

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Reliquary V - Blue Bottle, Blue Bird

12"x12"

click here to purchase



... so I've got some new larger paintings to share, along with that :) I'm very happy with them. The Yellow Tutu makes me feel like I'm coming closer to incorporating the whimsy of some of my paintings into a cohesive style, and Reliquary V made me realize I want to try something with that concept that I've never seen before- and I've started tinkering with it, though it looks like the painting may take a while! Should I share, or should I keep you in suspense? Lol...
#1470

Avacado Close Up

5"x7"
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Naomi and I were at the grocery store the day before yesterday. and she pointed out that it had been a while since I had painted an avacado. Actually, she looked up at me from the seat in the cart, her little mouth full of strawberry, pointed at the huge pyramid of avacados, and said "What that?"
So we got one :)
#1469

Pomegranate Interior

4"x4"
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*yawn* pomegranates are awesome. as are close-ups. but I'm very sleepy this morning, so the words part of my brain isn't working, just the visual and painting parts... ya'll have a good day...
#1468