MERRY CHRISTMAS

                                                                 WINTER CARDINALS 

                                                                         Oil on Canvas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you Dear Friends!  Each time we have touched base whether online, in person, by mail, by phone or just in thought - I am grateful.  You add joy and meaning to my life and artful endeavors.  Your encouragement means so much more than you know.

Twenty-Twenty has been an interesting year all things considered, but focusing on creativity and painting proved to be a great way to brighten our days and lift our spirits.

WINTER CARDINALS was completed and found a new home in November.  Thank you Crafted in Carolina Gallery!!

                                                                         

DAYDREAMERS

                                                                             16" X 12" 

                                                             Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Autumn -what a glorious  season here in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina!

My model for Daydreamers is a mystery fellow.  When our adult son saw the painting he was sure he was the model.  This happened again  when both grandsons saw  photos of the painting - each is sure he is the model - and I’m not telling! 

This one was a joy to paint - it started  as a summer setting with lots of blue water - too cool for my taste. Needed to warm it a bit.   Looking out the studio window here and seeing the brilliant colors made  changing  to a fall setting a no-brainer!  The title tells the story.

Daydreamers is available at Crafted in Carolina Gallery,  3073 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC, Phone (828) 944-0004.

HIDDEN BABY

                                               16 " X 20" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

One of the supreme rewards spending our summers here in the North Carolina Smokey Mountains is the occasional fawn sighting!    

These beautiful creatures  are the babies of white-tailed deer and are born April through July.  Most first time mom's have only one baby but will typically have twins or triplets afterwards. Last year having a mom and triplets cross our front lawn as we watched from the deck was an unforgettable thrill!

These little forest treasures are left alone in hidden areas of tall grasses or bush while mom  goes off to eat.  She returns at dawn and dusk to feed and maybe move her baby.   Sometimes when we see a very young fawn wandering alone,  it's natural to feel panic (I know I do)  but  it's necessary to leave the fawn alone and mom will return to take care of it providing it's best chance for survival.

This HIDDEN BABY is available at CRAFTED  IN CAROLINA GALLERY, 3073 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC. - Phone 828-944-0004

ONCE UPON A TIME

                           
                                                              11" x 14" Oil on Canvas

A photo of a little girl sitting alone outside totally absorbed in her story led me to the usual “What ifs”...what if she were reading to her pet?  What if she were reading to a little sister?  What if she were seeing a vision from the page?  What if….? and ONCE UPON A TIME slowly became my story….a joy finding the animals and deciding upon a setting - very favorite kind of painting!  I suppose  deep down I’m really an “illustrator” at heart.

This was to have been a quick study for a larger painting and in the future would like to pursue that.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER

                                                              10" x 8" Oil on Canvas

Catching my pretty little model in such deep  thought while the glass reflected her anticipation or possibly  apprehension, presented a painting challenge that was irresistible.   Reflecting only one eye hopefully adds to the mystery of this fleeting moment of serious concentration...What is "just around the corner"... 

DELANEY AND SOPHIE

Whether she's playing soccer, baking cookies, or at the easel painting, Delaney's enthusiasm is contagious.   She  is one of  our grand nieces and definitely a free spirit.   With her beautiful auburn hair and sparkling  brown eyes,  she is an ideal model.  Thank you, Delaney, for allowing me to paint you and Sophie in the snow!   I hope you and I can paint together again this summer. 

BOW RIDER

                                                             14" x 11" Oil on Canvas

What a pleasure painting this beautiful little girl for her grandparents!  The painting has arrived at their home and was well received!  Happy Dance!

Siena, on vacation with her grandparents in the Sea Islands of southeastern Georgia, enjoying the wind in her face as the boat skimmed across the waves toward St Simons Island.

This painting will be included with the SHADES series of models wearing sunglasses for an upcoming book.

While it can be quite a challenge capturing a personality when one can't see the eyes, Siena was not difficult. 

BIG SISTER

                                                         

                                                              14" X 11" Oil on Canvas

Naming a painting - I wonder if others struggle to find a perfect title to illustrate the inspiration, feelings and emotion that go into our works?

The photo of Jackson's first day of school and his big sister Jordan's attention to him has been in a "to do" file for a long time.  These two are older now and their family experienced some serious health issues last summer.  It was then I knew the time was right to finally capture this special moment for their grandmother, a collector of my paintings.   The painting was shipped  last week and her reaction brought joyful tears to my eyes! 

Among the title considerations were NEW BEGINNINGS (a show was planned and cancelled with that name at our local art center). This would have been my entry.  Maybe HIS GUARDIAN?  FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?  Somehow BIG SISTER seemed to tell the story; however, that makes the painting more about Jordan while it was Jackson's first day of school...and so I ponder... Your thoughts, comments and suggestions would be welcome.  How do you decide on a title?

"Mairzy Doats and Dozy Doats"

                                                  Oil on 6" x 6" Gallery Wrapped Canvas

“Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?”
Milton Drake, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston.

However, JoJo prefers flowers to ivy!  But then, JoJo is no longer a kid and will eat anything she can find!  Goats are amazing animals, they climb, jump, and can be quite entertaining... and just as annoying!  JoJo belongs to  neighbors in Maggie Valley.  Usually our flowers and shrubs are safe and we all enjoy JoJo’s antics.

A fun little painting for sure giving me a break from figurative and portrait work.  You may see JoJo again in a larger piece.  She's a sweetheart.

SNUGGY BIRD AND JOY

                                           

                                                  Oil on 12" x 12" Gallery Wrapped Canvas

As we shelter inside and face these uncertain days surely brushes are busy and fabulous works are being brought to life everywhere expressing our innermost reflections. No doubt fascinating novels will soon be flooding the desks of publishers as creative minds and hands are making good use of time and energy.

A very special commission last fall resulted in this painting of Joy and her mother’s bird...He had earned his nickname because this fellow loved to snuggle! A photo reference was used since Snuggy Bird is now happily flying beyond the rainbow bridge. Keepsake feathers were excellent references for capturing his true color. Joy is such a beautiful young woman - and “joy” was what I felt completing this painting for her mother.

BEAR-ILY HANGING ON

                                                                     24" X 12" Oil
                                                             Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Wild baby animals are such a joy to paint.  Their antics can be so cute whether playing or being taught survival instincts by a protective mother.  In our Western North Carolina mountains (as well as here in south Florida) bears can be a nuisance and a danger. As a youngster, I was once chased by a mama bear after getting a bit too close to her twins on a camping trip. Fortunately, my mama was close by! Not a close call but I do remember it vividly!

This little fellow has gone a bit too far up the tree and is looking for Mama Bear to rescue him.

BEAR-ILY HANGING ON is available at Crafted in Carolina Gallery, 3073 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, North Carolina 28721, Phone 828-944-0004

MERRY CHRISTMAS

                                                          Adoration of the Shepherds
                                            Copy:  Bartolome' Esteban Murillo - 1617-1682
                                                            11" x 14" Oil on Canvas 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you dear friends.  Each time we have touched base whether online, in person, by email or just in thought - I am grateful.  You add joy and meaning to my life and artful endeavors.  Your encouragement means so much more than you know.

So from our home and my studio to yours, wishes for a wonderfully creative 2020! May you, your families, your pets and your friends enjoy good health and blessings with lots of laughter filled days.

This old master scene appealed to me since it included a woman among the shepherds.  Some liberties were taken.  Changes were made in the background and the chickens left out of the foreground.  So many small faces were quite challenging but I'm pleased with the painting.

BEST HIDING PLACE EVER

                                                     
                                                    6" x 6" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

After seeing a photo of this little fellow, the cute face stayed with me - waiting for inspiration.  He
really needed just the right setting to bring about a painting.  Here in Maggie Valley we often walk past old (maybe wild) apple trees on our daily walks.  With interesting branches and ripened unharvested fruit, wouldn't a little bear (or raccoon) have a feast discovering this playground of goodies!  With a few photos of the hanging apples and a number of sketches, the bear was in the tree and paint was on the palette.

This baby bear found a forever home immediately after arriving at Crafted in Carolina Gallery!
Thank you Beth Latta Craft!

CATALOOCHEE KING

                                                       
                                                              12" x 12" Oil on Canvas

Another in the on-going oil and acrylic series as I paint our beautiful elk roaming the valley.   We are told the best times of day to see and photograph these majestic creatures  in the Cataloochee area are early morning and late afternoon.   They are also active and moving on cloudy days and just before a storm.   We have been so fortunate to get good photos here in Maggie Valley as well.
Cataloochee King actually posed!  He knew he was gorgeous!  This painting is available at
Crafted In Carolina Gallery here in Maggie Valley.

NOON-NAPPING

                                                         

                                                               24" x 18" Oil on Canvas

Noon-Napping is my  entry in Dick Blick's September  Pet Portrait Competition.  The top prize is $500 in art supplies.  The painting is of Joshua, one of our  German Shepherds and the one that most enjoyed being outside in the sunshine.  Joshua has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge but working on this painting brought him back to me for a little while.