Foxy

Foxy  

8" x 6", pastel 

This guy and family often visit us, any time of the day really. They frequently dine under the bird feeder, or drink from the lower birdbath. Why the other day, one of them was sitting on the front porch. Forgive us if we don't invite you inside!!!!!  Lol! 

 

 

 

Sky 21

 

Sky #21

6x6, pastel

Been awhile since I have painted a 6" x 6" sky, but I thought it was a good time to return to the subject. I have painted a number of larger, grander skies, but these little jewels gave me confidence when I was just starting in the medium. God never fails to give beautiful skyscapes and if you don't like it....just wait a minute and it will be totally different!!

Spring Wren

 Spring Wren

6" x 6", pastel

We have a number of these little wrens around the house. They are into everything, every plant, pot, piece of furniture and loud!! To be so tiny, they are the loudest birds!! But I love them!

Easter Meltdown (until I can decide on a new title!)

 Easter Meltdown

12 x 16, pastel

This photo is a number of years old and I have loved it each time it has been shared. It is just so precious and typical of little ones....things can go downhill so fast in a photo session. 

I have been in a painting slump of late, nothing enticed or interested me. Had enough of critters and landscapes. Then Easter approaches and this photo is once again shared by grandmother and family. This is one I have wanted to try since the day I saw it. But I 'knew' that I couldn't paint good enough to capture all three cuties. Well, this year, I swallowed my fear and asked if I could attempt it. They graciously said yes. This was the most fun that I have had painting since I painted my oldest son and his first child last fall. There was no pressure, wasn't trying to please a client, just pure joy of creating or recreating the essence of children being children!

Hope you enjoy it, too!!

Texas Trio

 Texas Trio

18 x 24, pastel

This was a painting that was created from a number of photos that I took near my home. I am definitely not a "longhorn' fan (Gig'em!), but I loved painting these. All the angles, shadows and bone structures were a neat challenge. It found a home this past weekend and I hope they enjoy it as well.

Splendor in the SKy

 Splendor in the Sky

10" x 20", pastel

This was the scene one evening as I was heading home from the Gallerie at Gruene. Just had to give a try at recreating the splendor of the sunset. Fortunately, an art patron wanted it in their home!!

Cactus and Cedar

 Cactus and Cedar

8 x 10, pastel

This is a typical scene across quite a bit of Texas, at least here in the hill country. This was another of those that just sort of painted itself, perhaps because it is seen almost daily. Loved the cactus shapes!

Woody's Hangout

 Woody's Hangout

12" x 6", pastel

Rarely, do paintings just flow, but fortunately this one did! From sketching out the first attempt, which  was a bit too big for the size I desired, to fast sketching it on the Uart pastel paper, to pastel application this one was just fun. Besides the fact that these woodpeckers clear out my bird feeders almost daily, I do enjoy them being around.

Lesser Goldfinch

 Lesser Goldfinch

6" x 6", pastel

We have many various visitors to our birdfeeder, supplying endless hours of enjoyment. These little beauties visit during the warm weather, so we enjoy them while we can.

Peach Sunset

Peach Sunset

12 x 6, pastel

There is something about painting a vertical sunset. I just love them, maybe because they are unexpected, just as the colors of this sunset. It was so pale but with the wisps of clouds that really looked like they wanted to bring rain.......but, alas, it didn't happen.

 

Serata Italiana

 Serata Italiana

10 x 8, Pastel

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 10 years since I was blessed to get to go to Italy on a painting excursion! That was a magical 10 days, a once in a lifetime experience! To get to travel to Italy and then to get to paint was a delight. At the time I only painted in watercolor, not pastel, my preferred medium now. The pastels I have created have mostly been of the people I encountered and a few of Orvieto alleyways.

This painting is from the first evening in Citta della Pieve and is the entrance to the pizzeria at the Hotel Vanucci. I just loved the light and the cast shadow created by the lamp and vines. It is available at the Gallerie at Gruene.

Gertrude

Gertrude

6"x 6", pastel

For the past couple of months I have been working on a commission, a rather large commission, 4ft x 4ft. It has really been a fun painting to create. But no matter how much fun they are, commissions carry a good deal of stress along with them, at least for me they do. You see on other paintings, I just have to satisfy me and if I am lucky some one will like it enough to take it home with them!!! But a commission requires that you paint to the satisfaction of the buyer.

Today was the day that the big reveal was going to happen. So, to de-stress, I decided to paint this little chicken!! Years ago a neighbor tried their hand at raising chickens, just a few. They would let them roam the 'hood during the day and cage them at night. They often visited our yard and I took the opportunity of photograph them. This was the perfect painting to de-stress, loved her disgruntled expression!!!

Chilly Chickadee

 Chilly Chickadee

6"x 6", pastel

February was weird month in Texas as far as weather is concerned. A week of freezing temps, even single digits and almost everyone had snow across the state....even Galveston!! We had two days of snow and miserably cold temps, days without heat and water. But as bad as the humans had it, I felt 

bad for the critters that had to stay out in the elements....so very cold. I was filling the feeder twice a day and water only stayed in the liquid form for a few minutes.

This little guy was one of the dozens of birds that frequented the feeder that week. 

Surprise Winter Visitor

 Surprise Winter Visitor

8"x 6", pastel

Just this week we had a bit of snow, quite an unusual happening in south Texas. I kept my eyes peeled for this little fellow. You see, several years ago we had a severe freeze lasting several days. Now I have a bad habit of leaving the hummingbird feeders up. Well, imagine my surprise when I looked out the window and saw this little guy on one of the frozen feeders!!! I immediately set to work to get another feeder out there with thawed food!

He hung around several days as did the freeze, keeping me busy putting out thawed food every couple of hours. He often sat in our lemon bush (where he is in this painting) just a shivering. I have the cutest photos of his little eyes closed, and those feathers puffed up, trying his best to stay warm.

I am sure we will have another cold spell and I will be on the lookout for my little visitor!

Ketchikan

Ketchikan

12 x 9, Pastel

My son had the pleasure of visiting Ketchikan this summer and shared the reference photo for this painting with me. There was much more in the original photo, but I narrowed it to fit this format. He was surprised and I believe pleased with his Christmas present. He shared with me that I failed to include the seals that frequent the area enjoying the local fish (he failed to take a photo of such going on!) This was a fun one!

 

Sunning Hummer

Sunning Hummer

6" x 6", pastel

Have been working on a commission for a bit and was ready to paint for fun. While going through my photos, I came across this little guy....and the rest, as they say, is history!!

It was fun creating this one!

You Can't See Me!

You Can't See Me!

8" x 8", pastel

Couple of weeks ago a mama left this baby at the end of our porch one night. As luck would have it, she didn't come get it bright and early! I was so excited to get photos of him that morning. He was such a sweet looking critter!

During this troubled time it was so refreshing and calming (well sort of) to paint this today, to escape all the gloom and doom in the media. Hope this little painting brings you a bit of joy!

Green Glass

Green Glass

12 x 9, pastel

Matted to 20 x 16

Painting glass is always a challenge, recently I decided that I needed to tackle that challenge again. The fact that it was green made it even more exciting.

To show off the daisies I decided to mat this painting in white...contact me if you are interested in adding this painting to your collection.

You Mocking Me?

You Mocking Me?

8" x 8", pastel

We are blessed with all kinds of wildlife and birds that frequent our bird bath both to bathe and drink. This mockingbird seemed truly surprised to see his reflection.

Evening Repose

Evening Repose

16 x 12, pastel

Sitting here in the house sneezing and hating the gray/tan sky and clouds from the influx of Saharan Dust, I long to see the beautiful sunsets so predominate here. The dust is supposed to provide us with more colorful sunsets. It is just so thick right now.

Painting this subject is one of my favorites to create. I loved the clouds that almost seemed to be iridescent. This painting is available, contact me if interested.