Daddy's Hands

Oil on canvas - 24" x 30"

Allen, our great-nephew, flew to Texas this week to start a new career with the U.S. Air Force. We are so proud of him and will miss his handsome smiling face around here!

This is an older painting from a photo I took of him celebrating his fifth birthday as he intently watched his dad adjust the seat on his new bicycle! How quickly the years flew by! The painting is hanging in the home of Allen's parents. Now I shall look forward to painting him in his uniform!

Tribute to Eanger Irving Couse - American Painter - 1866-1936

22" x 26" Oil on masonite

This is a post for Following the Masters Challenge Six - Western Art hosted by Michelle Burnett. While I am working on an original for this challenge, this one painted a few years ago certainly fits the theme. The reference photo was found in my late mother-in-law's elemetary school teacher's files. As a post card type photo, there was no artist signature so I never really knew if the original were by Couse or Joseph Henry Sharp. The gridded photo in Antiques and the Arts Online, removes all doubt but that the painting was by Couse and that Ben Luhan had been his model. The pose, pot, blanket, headdress, etc. are as in the reference photo (which I have misplaced). The background was taken from other paintings by either Couse or Sharp and my imagination. A practice piece just for fun, this fellow lives in my attic! Thanks Michelle for the opportunity to bring him back into the light!

Sunday Morning

10 x 5-1/2 Oil on Canvas Mounted on Board

Oh My Goodness! At the last minute I decided to attempt Karin Jurick's DSFDF Challenge for weeks 44 and 45 and immediately found myself so far out of my comfort zone a map was needed just to stay on track! First of all, in order for the painting to be the least bit "Romantically Realistic" (as is my style), the power poles and lines had to go. Right? Maybe not... I see many artists worked them into charming design elements as did Karin in her piece. I seem to have lost the depth and rolling hills! Darn! And I tried to create a focal point by placing a red car near the traffic light in the left corner. Not many cars on my street so guess it had to be Sunday morning, thus the title.

Whew! So this is why it's called a challenge!

Wow! - Best of Show Award

36 x 24 Oil and Love on Canvas
Portrait of Son Edward

Maybe I shall wake up and it will all have been a lovely dream...but meanwhile...I'm savoring the moment! Sorry the glare on the top half of the painting washes out the color, but isn't this the prettiest ribbon ever! I am in the clouds!! Never before had a "Best of Show" so this is one special day! The silly grin I'm wearing is indeed a happy one!

The show is the 42nd Annual Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League Juried Members Exhibit judged by fine artist and educator, Cathy Futral art and humanities professor at South Florida Community College, Avon Park, Florida and author of the new book "Art Lessons Notebook". Thank you Cathy!!

The show will hang in Black Mountain, N.C. through August 16.

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