Lead by example......

"Head in the Clouds"

16" x 20" oil

Lead by example…..

I love who my dad was....exciting, adventurous, funny, loving and also just very down to earth and playful.  He was always chasing a dream and making fun things happen! I admire those qualities about him…I'd love to see more of that in the world.

I need to lead by example….be like him!  Go out and live the life of my dreams and let people watch me do it.

I want my boys to see everyone can do these wonderful things and everyone in their own way can live in their own adventure.  We don't have to watch from the sidelines and just admire others…we can go out and do it too!!!

Okay.....just thinking out loud,

thanks for checking in with me.

Go out there and live the life of your dreams people!!

Lets do this!!  

Alaska sunset

Alaskan Sunset

6" x 6"  oil

We had a beautiful, clear day here in Anchorage, Alaska.

 I knew I wanted to try painting the sunset today, but it was pretty cold..... -5.

This sunset was happening at about 3:45. 

  

So I set up in my yard....close to the house where I could zip inside and 

warm up by my wood stove.  This was quick, but fun.  I like painting outside, maybe next time it will be warmer.

Thank you for looking!  :)

The Beach.....

Tonight, in Anchorage Alaska, it's snowing.  It's so peaceful and beautiful....

..but....

I have the beach on my mind......I'll switch gears soon enough. 

I'm still enjoying the warm sunshine, crashing waves and ocean breeze in my head.

I had to try painting it.

Thank you for looking!

Blimp

"Blimp"

6" x 8"  oil

Sitting on the beach in California, I saw this big blimp cruising up and down the beach.

I knew I had to paint this!  Somehow blimps still make me think of the 1930's.

It would be great if this one was aluminum....but, the colors are beautiful too.

I'm home in Anchorage, Alaska....but warm & sunny California is still on my mind.

Thank you for looking! 

Las Laguna Gallery

My painting "Pretty in Pink" was juried into Las Laguna Gallery's "Women in Art" show.  These pictures are from last week's opening.

The show runs from November 7th until November 28th in Laguna Beach, California.

It's a great show with so many amazing artists....I felt very privileged to be a part of the show!

Check out Las Laguna Gallery....

and thank you for looking!

Fiona in Goggles

"Fiona in Goggles"

18" x 24"  oil on canvas

Apple in Cool Light

"Apple in Cool Light"

12" x 16"  oil on canvas

New painting

I'm still working on this one, and the photo could be better....

But, I'm liking it so far.  

Thank you for looking!

Line up.....

"Line up"

16" x 40"  oil 

I need to do another semi-truck painting.  I really love the huge grill and all the chrome.  There are a bunch of trucks in town with that old fifties, turquoise color for the cab.  I'd love to paint one of those.

I see them driving by a lot, but I need to find out where they park and rest at the end of the work day.

I work at an antique shop, during the day, we're gearing up for the holidays.....I've been working 

a lot of hours at "Ozarks" and when things settle down, I'm going to get back into my studio!

I spend a lot of time daydreaming about paintings I'd like to paint lately, I need some time to try a few of these ideas out.  

Soon.......

Thank you for looking!

Pretty in Pink

"Pretty in Pink"

24" x 24"  oil

Pretty in Pink is going down to Laguna Beach soon.

She will be in an art show celebrating women in the arts

at Las Laguna Art Gallery.

I'm excited to be in a show in Southern California!

night painting

6" x 8"  oil

Tonight I had a small camp fire in my yard.  

I was burning twigs and a broken fence.  I love sitting around a campfire,

just staring at the fire.  Watching ocean waves hit the beach and watching a campfire do the same thing to me....maybe that's my purist form of meditation.  I stop thinking and watch, it's so relaxing.

I had a lot of wood to burn and I did a lot of staring at the fire, but then I had this wonderful idea...

painting by the fire.

 I set up next to my little fire and painted my apple tree and then after the sun went down, 

I painted this view of my house....from my side yard.  It was double relaxing...fire and painting.

Loved it!

Thank you for looking!

Sunset

Playing around with my paints again....

I still haven't found it, but I'm getting closer.

Thank you for looking!

Vincent Van Gogh

Okay, my absolute favorite artist of all time is Vincent Van Gogh.

He was the first artist I ever took any notice of.  My mom and dad had a print of one of his

sunflower paintings in their bedroom when I was growing up.  

I didn't like it that much.....somehow it kinda depressed me. 

When I was 12 years old my parents took our family to Europe, when we were in Amsterdam we went to a museum filled with only Vincent's paintings. There I saw one of his sunflower paintings in person (I'm getting the chills just thinking about that moment)  It was absolutely beautiful.  The color was so much more intense and richer that the print my parents had.  NOT depressing at all...uplifting....sunshine on a piece of canvas.  I remember that afternoon well.  Looking at his self portraits, you could see the mood he was in that day.  Emotion and feelings radiating from every painting.  All the glorious color.....the energy......I didn't know it then, but that was the moment I wanted learn to paint. I look back on that moment a lot lately, as I'm trying to decide what way to go with my own artwork.

If I had a wish....I'd wish that Vincent was my teacher.....my mentor....or maybe just my 

painting friend.  What do you think?  That would be pretty cool wouldn't it!?

Thanks for checking in with me and reading!

I appreciate it!

     

Back road

This is a small painting I played with yesterday.  

It felt good painting it.

Poetry in motion

Athletic, tall and thin....my son reminds me of the saying, 

"poetry in motion".

His movements are graceful and athletic....he inspires the artist in me to learn more.

I wish I could capture that athletic grace...and his sulky, teenage stance....

the "James Dean" posture and movements.  When he moves, it's almost like time has slowed...

he is in his own time....  

This is my first attempt at capturing his movement...

more to come.

Thank you for looking!

Champagne bottle

I'm showing you some older paintings, while I paint something new.

I like this oldie.....is it because there's so much red, a favorite color of mine?  Or is it because it's a simple bottle of Champagne?  Or maybe it's because champagne is always a celebration 

or happy occasion drink at my house......anyways, I thought I'd share.

Thank you for looking!

workshop painting

I painted this one at a workshop in Scottsdale, AZ ...last year?  The year before?

I can't remember...but The Scottsdale Artists' School is a great place to go to learn from some pretty amazing artists.  There are a lot of artists... with different styles and mediums to choose from.

Something for everyone!

Thank you for looking!

Night paintings.....

"Midnight Call"

I love the quiet mystery of night paintings. 

Night time is full of mystery to me.  Walking my dog at night....passing by 

homes and warm light glowing in the windows.  I imagine families settled in for 

the night, kids are doing their school work, families are watching 

movies together, a romantic evening for couples.....I let my imagination drift.

I was alone, on a trip to Washington, a few years back, 

and this lonely phone booth looked like a beacon, 

trying to draw me in......call your husband, he misses you..... 

I went back to my hotel room and called him on my cell phone!  What was I thinking?

How romantic to call him at this phone booth.....

So I painted it.  

Next time I'll call him from the phone booth, and paint it!

Tavern

Still life paintings....

  

Both of these paintings have gone to a good home!

I love when that happens.

I'm ready to paint a few more paintings of women...maybe even another self portrait.

Painting myself takes a lot of pressure off.  I don't mind what I paint and I have all the time in the world.

Thank you for looking!

A sneak peak.....

I just got done hanging a small collection of paintings at 

Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge,

here in Anchorage, Alaska.

The paintings are for sale and on display for the month of September.

Tomorrow night is a small reception from 5pm until 8pm.

I've heard there will be truffles...chocolates and drinks at this little soiree!

Painless....

Thanks for looking!

Sunset

"Sunset"

11" x 14"  oil

Chrome....

"Chrome"

16" x 20"  oil

This is my idea of an abstract painting.  

When I get in real close to something I love and 

paint just a portion of it.

I loved the color of this car and that glowing tail light....all the yummy chrome.

Well...it was a joy to paint.

Thank you for looking!

Bar and Lounge

"Bar and Lounge"

30" x 40"  oil

I reworked a painting from last year.

I like this version much...much...better.

The painting hidden underneath was the same sign, but during daylight hours...

hmm......what's the point.  I really only enjoy neon when it's glowing at night,

so this feels like a big improvement.

Thank you for looking.

Sunset Downtown

"Sunset Downtown" 

24" x 24"  oil

No Parking

"No Parking"

24" x 24" oil

I'm painting a few new paintings for an upcoming show at a neat place in 

Anchorage called Modern Dweller's.....it's a chocolate lounge!

Yuuummmmy.

I'm enjoying painting some city stuff!

Thank you for looking!

A Quiet Alley

"A Quiet Alley"

10" x 20"  oil

I had a nice time playing with the colors on this one....

and I've been trying a slightly different approach

with this piece and few other paintings.

I'm experimenting....I'd like a more emotional feel to my work, so.....

I'm just feeling my way in the dark I suppose.

I'm happy with how this little one turned out.

Thank you for looking!

A street corner....

Just a street study I was playing with.  

Thank you for looking! 

Neon sign paintings

"Tavern"  

16" x 20" oil

"Club 25"  

48" x 24"  oil

"Bar and Lounge"

40" x 30"  oil

A few still life paintings....

"Girls Night Out"

oil

"Out on Good Behavior"

Seward Highway

11" x 14"  oil

I feel like I might have captured the light in this one, 

but still... it's probably hard to make out what it is.

But the winding highway road and the sunlit rock wall 

caught my eye.  I'd love to go back and try this one a few more times.

 I'm getting a lot of plein air painting time in this week!

Today's plein air painting.....

11" x 14"  oil 

I did some painting along Turnagain Arm, outside of Anchorage, Alaska today. 

 I'm getting happier with my outdoor painting efforts.  It's so much

different than indoor studio painting!!  I'll get it.....just keep practicing!!!

Thank you for looking!

Arizona Tea

"Arizona Tea"

Wow....it's been awhile since I posted a new, finished painting.

I've been stuck....

I'm exploring and learning to paint plein air (outside, on site)

And that's been fun, it's been a bunch of good "starts", but

no finishes.  This is my first finished painting in a while.

Feels good!  I should do this more often! 

 Some studio paintings to go along with 

my learning paintings.

Okay....so.....these Arizona Tea cans, aren't they beautiful?

I love the colors....the cherry blossom branches, and it made a perfect

vase for a bright geranium blossom.  Lots of favorites of mine in this little 

setting....colors....metal....flowers......sweet tea :)

Thank you for looking!

July Roses

July Roses

#9 

I was playing with a pallet knife on this one.

I'm tired of looking at my brush strokes....so out came the pallet knife!

This rose bush is on the corner of my house.  

Somehow it's managed to grow in spite of moose munching on it all winter and spring.

 Over the years it's grown to be about 6' tall.....in spite of all the munching and pruning.

What a survivor!  The roses are so pretty and they smell wonderful.  They're in bloom now for a few weeks and then they'll bloom again at the end of the summer.

This is the first time I've painted them.

This is #9 of my plein air paintings.....I'm going for 200.

That's my goal.  I have a ways to go. 

Thank you for looking! 

Morning sun

14" x 8"  oil

Okay, this is painted on clear plexiglass.  My outdoor paintings have been fun to paint,

but when I bring them indoors....all the color seems to drain out of them.

An amazing plein air artist, Darrell Anderson, has been helping me out ( Thank you Darrell!!!)

  He said to "try putting a sheet of plexi-glass over the painting and paint it again...now with colors pushed bolder and use the style of whoever your painting "hero" is."

I loved doing this.  just like he had told me, the pressure of messing up is gone.......

 and I just played!

Very fun!  I'm going to try this with a bunch of my paintings!!

Darrell is an amazing artist, and he also teaches......

He lives in the Seattle area, and teaches often at the 

Winslow Art Center on Bainbridge Island!

Check out his work.....just beautiful! 

Sings with color!!