BEAR-LY HANGING ON

 

15" x 15"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This little bear was started over a year ago, signed and displayed in a gallery.    However  I was never totally pleased with the overall  painting.  So, when it returned  to the studio it went back on the easel.  His mouth opened enough to expose a little pink tongue showing more personality, pine twigs were added to break up some of the negative spaces and the lichen on the bark greyed to put more focus on the baby bear.    Maybe he is finished this time?

CHILLIN'

 

                                                              20" x 30" Acrylic on Board

Henrietta the hippopotamus is cooling off. What a fascinating animal. The name comes from a Greek word meaning "water horse" but our huge lady is in no way related to a horse! She is semiaquatic, lives along rivers and lakes in sub-Saharan Africa, can weigh up to 3,300 pounds, and lives 40 to 50 years. She can run 30 miles per hour and is a herbivore. Due to her size and aggressive nature, she can coexist with Nile Crocodiles, lions, and spotted hyenas but these are known to prey on young hippos.

Usually thinking these giants look so docile, who knew they are one of the most aggressive and dangerous animals on Earth! They can snap a canoe in half with their powerful jaws and kill about 500 people in Africa each year as reported by National Geographic in 2017!

Always eager to become familiar with subjects I memorialize in paint, no way do I want to meet a hippo face to face - well, maybe in a zoo!

CHILLIN' won Third Place this week in the Wild About Wildlife show currently on exhibit at the Cape Coral Art League, 516 Cultural Blvd, Cape Coral Florida. I am thrilled!

SILENT DANGER

 

 16" X 20" Oil on Canvas

Here in Southwest Florida alligators are our neighbors and sometimes nuisances when they wander away from their limited habitats finding their ways into our garages, carports, and sometimes into a swimming pool!  They frequent golf courses seldom posing any threat but can be a  real danger to our pets.  At this link you can see just what I’m talking about! 

Sadly more and more we have encroached into their territory.  On our daily walk at a local park we pass the signs that read, “Do Not Feed the Alligator”.  I haven’t seen one there but wouldn’t go into that pond!  

The “model” for this painting posed at the end of a dock in another local park and didn’t seem to mind my taking a few photos! Maybe not the most handsome of creatures but totally magnificent in their own way.

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.