Mama- Beach Wrapped

14" x 11"
Oil on Canvas

The spring day was bright but not too hot so, not planning to stay long at the beach , no umbrella was packed. We were having a fabulous time when we discovered Mama was becoming quite pink! No way was she ready to leave so my sister and I playfully wrapped her in a big beach towel and snapped a few photos.

I wonder what Mama would think of this little portrait? Surely she would laugh out loud! Always supportive of my every artistic endeavor, old paintings from high school still hung on her walls until she went to live with my sister in her 82nd year. I even tried to “buy” the old paintings (to burn them) and provided her new ones all along the way ! No way would she give them up - just hung the new ones and left the tired poor attempts in place or moved them to other walls!

This painting contains bittersweet tears mixed in with the paint. Our mother was an angel on earth. How I miss her ready smile and quick wit. Oh - for one more day at the beach with Mama….

Fruit and Glass

18" x 24" Oil on Hardboard

Oh boy - this one was a challenge with each stroke yielding a delighted sigh or an “oops”. Not sure if it’s finished so will look at it for a while before signing. Painting glass may be addictive since I can hardly wait to arrange the next still life!

“Fruit and Glass” was started by toning the support with a neutral warm acrylic and transferring a very detailed drawing. The under painting was roughed in with acrylic before the switch to oils. The pears were painted with many thin transparent glazes as was the blue glass. The dark behind the pears is a deep green - not black as it appears in this photo. Romantically realistic - I do like this one!

Currently a portrait of my mother is on one easel and two commissioned portraits on others. The next still life reflective glass painting will get a back burner for now…

Hydrangea Basket

Weeks ago this painting was started inspired by a Wet Canvas photo. When it didn’t seem to work … color harmony wasn’t satisfactory…the towel was way too important and almost the same size and shape as the flowers... it was put aside and I went on to the next projects!

I prefer to paint on loose canvas rather than stretched to make cropping easier and wish that had been the case here 'cause - you know, I couldn’t leave it alone - just had to fiddle with it! Part of the towel had to go as did the gloves. Using a utility knife to cut the canvas from the stretcher, the painting became a 10” x 12” now glued to hardboard. The gloves were replaced by a sprig of budding hydrangea and hopefully it’s finished.

Daddy's Girl

8" x 10" Oil on Canvas

Commissioned by this precious little girl’s mother, their portrait will be her daddy's Father's Day gift next month. I was given permission to enter it in an early spring show at the VAC in Punta Gorda, Florida, and received lots of positive feedback and a possible new commission! It has now been delivered and I’m eagerly awaiting the father’s reaction! What a joy painting this one! However, a red dress on a baby was more challenging than I had imagined it would be.

Running Against the Wind

The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months… how hectic these last few months have been!

I haven’t been posting but have been painting as usual! Lots of projects and a little traveling, but have missed checking in with blogging friends! Now to catch up!

My multi-talented son designed and built an awesome table easel for my March birthday. I’ve used it almost every day since and am totally in love with it. Thank you Edward! I shall treasure it always!

What a compliment that Jessica whose portrait I did when she was a little girl used that image for some of her graduation announcements! Thanks Jesse! Congratulations and best wishes to you!

In January David Darrow mentioned a worthwhile challenge - one year daily/weekly reading of the BIBLE on line. I’m not exactly keeping up - but am trying! Not sure I’m going to make it all the way through by the end of the year!

Also early this year Johannes Vloothuis began his weekend on line classes in landscape painting which continued through mid-April. What an opportunity - but very time consuming with homework and exercises! While I couldn’t get all the classes live, the recordings are available on line at very reasonable prices and I’m downloading the ones I missed. (Click No. 10 on the website for my sincere testimonial).

Will try and get a new slide show soon. Thanks for not giving up on me!
Now I’m off to see what my fellow bloggers are painting!

Morgan and Baby Girl

14" x 11" Oil on Canvas

What a fun challenge! Purple cows we know - but a dog painted blue? - with a blue eye? Here is the finished painting (I think). Will look at it for a day or two, make a few adjustments, sign and varnish. Morgan is our grand-niece and such a beautiful girl! She will be seeing this for the first time on face book and here on the blog…so…I’m holding my breath but think she will like it. She is a wonderful model and I plan to paint her again soon (without Baby). Thanks Mo!

Baby Blue Eye - WIP - detail

This detail is from a portrait underway of a beautiful young lady and her family’s recently adopted shelter pet, Baby Girl. Baby Girl’s blue eye has limited or no vision, however, she sees "ok" with the brown one and has stolen everyone’s heart with her sweet personality. The painting is almost ready to sign and I’m pleased with the way it’s going while also working on a commissioned portrait. Hope to
post both of these soon. Stay tuned!

Bailey's Sunbeam

24" x 18" Acrylic on Canvas

A thoughtful young man in the Greensboro, N. C. area commissioned this painting as a Christmas gift for his wife. Last fall he and I looked at a number of photos (via email) and decided this one best represented the loving devoted personality of their adored pet recently lost at an advanced age. She had always been a part of their married life and it was difficult letting her go.

It’s a pleasure to say this client was a joy to work with giving me helpful email feedback every step of the way! Bailey is snoozing in a sunbeam waiting for her two little boys to wake up and play. Shortly after Christmas a phone call from the recipient assured me how pleased she is and that the portrait will be a prized keepsake keeping Bailey's memory alive. That call meant so much! Better than ribbons!!

Anything That Breathes

Happy me with the merit award for EDWARD in the Venice Art Center’s juried “Anything that Breathes” show! Upon arriving at the lovely reception December 17, I was delighted to find my painting displayed on an easel glowing in great light enhanced by a pretty ribbon! Woo Hoo! The judge was Sharon Tritschler and this unusual and exciting show may be viewed through January 12 at 390 Nokomis Avenue, Venice, Florida.

Jade's Anniversary

Two years ago today we brought a nervous five year old female shepherd home with us from the local animal shelter. We were told her “family” had lost jobs and their home and could no longer keep Jade. After seeing her photo on the website, we just had to go meet her! It was love at first sight!

She kept her name and we began getting acquainted. Terribly insecure and not wanting us out of her sight, we feared she might be a “Velcro dog”. Slowly she gained confidence and started molding us to her satisfaction! German Shepherds always own their people and in no time at all she seemed satisfied we had potential and she could make us a family!

Jade has so enriched our lives - she keeps us walking every day, reminded me how much fun obedience classes can be and we adore her. She is a jewel - we could not ask for a better pet! Happy Anniversary Jade!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Oh Holy Night
Oil on Canvas

Christmas Blessings and Happy Holidays to my wonderful blogging
friends. Thanks to all who visit and leave encouraging comments!
You are appreciated more than you know and I am forever grateful
for your support!

May your new year bring you peace, happiness and good health with
many creative opportunities!

For this year’s Christmas card, the portrait of Starlin and Skylar (see August 29 post) provided inspiration and models! My thanks to them and to Sue and Joyce.

This One's For Me

30" x 15" Oil on Hardboard

Years ago we found two triangular pedestels - probably fern stands - while on a trek through antique stores in Eastern Tennessee. Never got around to properly refinishing them so they have been in and out of the attic or tucked in a dark corner of one room or another. Now I'm finding they make good stands for still life arrangements. One has a marble (broken) top and the other one a smooth top of wood.

A blank wall in the dining room begged for a vertical piece so I painted this one using "faux" fruit to enhance that space. Framed and hanging, it didn't feel "finished" so back on the easel it went. I'm still not happy with the background but tonight it's back on the wall...at least for the time being.

Silvia Williams Workshop

Last weekend I was happy to be one of six artists participating in an experimental mixed media workshop taught by Silvia in her bright well equipped mountain top studio. As a realist painter, I can’t tell you how delightful it was to be pouring paints and ink through coffee filters, gauze, cheesecloth, etc. onto various supports from watercolor paper, foam core, mat board and even my choice - primed unstretched canvas, to watch the magic happen! Various collage materials were used - cheesecloth, plastic screen, tissue paper, etc. Silvia was amazing as she worked on at least a dozen designs while we watched in total awe before giving it a go! I am somewhat reluctant to post my efforts since it’s obvious they are a bit color-wild and somewhat lacking in design. Just fun, fun, fun!

Thanks Silvia! You make it look so easy! Will see what I can do with these “starts” and post them later.

Goodbye Peanut

16" x 20" acrylic on canvas





When we lost our mother five years ago, her faithful and adored little Peanut joined our sister's household where she continued being a sweet spoiled prissy little princess. This week Marcy had to make the painful decision to let her go at fourteen years old. It was time.

Mama was known for her beautiful quilts, so when I painted Peanut’s portrait for her it was fun placing a special quilt in the foreground. She loved this painting which has been posted before but I felt the family might enjoy seeing it on the blog again. The idea for placing Peanut on pillows came from a favorite reference book, “Paint Radiant Realism” by Sueellen Ross.

Mama was thrilled when Florida Artist Wanda Carter known for her portraits of people and pets also celebrated Peanut with a portrait in pastel and even used the image on her brochures and greeting cards!

Goodbye Peanut and thank you Marcy!

Morning Stroll - Kristin and Madison

8" x 10" Oil on canvas

How I enjoyed painting this beautiful young mother and Baby Madison! Little Madison, so animated with ever changing expressions, made selecting a photo reference difficult! The family is delighted with the portrait and so am I! At the moment there is still another baby/parent commission in the works so stay tuned!