Dusk in the Desert

Dusk in the Desert

9" x 12", pastel

Was trying to get another painting in before Christmas, that wasn't a commissioned piece! I came across this desert photo in my photos. Always a sucker for a sunset, they can be so breath taking.

Hope you have a Blessed New Year!

Christmas Commission

Coco and Tex

9" x 12", pastel

Hoping everyone had a blessed Christmas! We sure did. This is a commission I completed for a Christmas gift. They were such cuties, fun to paint.

Looking forward to the new year and all the opportunities to create art. Oh, so many possibilities!

Attitude!

Attitude!

9" x 12", pastel

Full body version of previously posted cat. This cat is really pretty cool, which is saying something coming from me. Enjoyed painting this one.

Received news yesterday that a painting had sold at Pitzer's Fine Arts in Wimberley. Never get over that feeling of someone liking my work enough to want to take it home----thrilling!

Mockingbird on a Fence

Mockingbird on a Fence

9" x 12", pastel

Click to buy

This bird was visiting the Wildseed Farms on the same day that I was there. Loved his color and edges against the blurred flower images. Also, liked the light/shadows of the bird on the fence post. Can you tell I liked this design? Just don't know why I waited so long to paint this.

Ombrello Rosso

Ombrello Rosso

9 x 12, pastel

Click to Bid

OK, I won't make you go to Google translate to get the title-----Red Umbrella. Don't know why nouns and adjectives are switched in Italian, but sometimes they are.

This is the original painting of Rainy Morning, a wonderfully damp early morning in Italy several years ago. I experienced an ah-ha moment with the painting. Originally the lower right corner was a construction site, and guess what I did----yeppers, I painted the fence, sign, etc.  My husband wanted to know why I would ruin a painting and paint what was actually in the photo. So I swallowed hard, removed the construction and ad-libbed. Not something I do with ease.

Just love the muted colors with the splashes of red throughout, brings back great memories.

Strolling at the Biltmore

Strolling at the Biltmore

9 x 12, pastel

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Really thought I had posted this painting. (It is heck to get old!) There are two versions. The first has 2 couples on this path as the original photo showed. The photo was taken last November at the Biltmore Winery on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

One of my very talented artist friends, Rita Kirkman, was over and said it would have more intimacy if I reduced it to one couple. I immediately decided to paint it again, something I would never do years ago. Of course she was right, much more intimate, plus I simplified the foliage and increased the size of the painting.
Still pleased with the original and will post it another time.

Exciting Barn news!

Carolina Barn

9 x 12, pastel

Click to Bid

Had some exciting news today. Daily Paintworks chose this painting as a Facebook Pick of the Day on their Facebook site. Over one hundred artists submit paintings daily to DPW and out of those 6-8 are chosen  to be featured on their Facebook page. If you get a chance, check them out there are some lovely paintings.

Carolina Barn

Carolina Barn

9 x 12, pastel

WooHoo!! I finally completed a painting! It was a study in procrastination avoidance!! Ever have that problem--finding all sorts of things to do to avoid doing what you really want to do, because you are afraid you will fail??? I really haven't tackled any painting of substance over the holidays, mainly the Variations. Now, the Variations have afforded me an opportunity to explore color, technique, strokes, but also, an opportunity to avoid really trying to create that 'good' painting. So my confidence has been suffering. Like Rita Kirkman says, "Just do the work", the rest will work itself out.

We passed this barn flying along the interstate to Asheville in October. I took note of the surroundings and decided we would stop on the way back to take pictures. Well, we were late getting the rental car back to the airport, so no stopping. When I recognized the surroundings, I rolled the window down, wrapped the camera strap around my arm and started snapping pictures at 70 mph!!! It's a wonder the camera didn't fly out of my hand. 

       Curley #2       

9 x 12, pastel

Can you tell I like to paint animals? This is my second version of Curley, the first lives in Pennylvania with a couple who had a Curley who looked just like him. This Curley needs a good home, too.

Attended the TPS show opening/reception last night. There is some beautiful art there by artists from across the nation. Hope you can get by to see it.

Also, New Braunfels' own, Rita Kirkman, has a two woman show opening next Friday at Cactus Jack's in Gruene. Her partner in art is Jeannette Cuevas. The reception starts at 6 pm on the 26th. There are rumors that door prizes of their art will be given away that night!!!!! This coincides with the Texas Clay Festival in Gruene.