Lunch Break

"Lunch Break"

12"x 12", oil on canvas

I finished this one in my new studio in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.

I'm loving my new space....the door is open and I get to talk with the coolest people!

Tonight is my first "event" in my new place... I'm having a First Friday event from 5:30 - 7:30.

I'll have goodies to eat...if you're in the area, come say hello!

135 Christensen Dr, Anchorage

at the corner of  2nd avenue and Christensen Dr

Flower #10

"Flower #10"

5" x 7", oil on canvas

Quick little guy….. time flew by yesterday!

I found myself eager to paint this one at 11pm last night, not wanting 

my flower streak to get interrupted  :)

I skipped running… something had to be sacrificed.

Thank you for checking in one me and reading!!

  

Flowers

"Flowers"

22"x 28", oil on canvas

sold

This whole painting was inspired by the colors of sunlight

 within this glass jar….me, trying to capture all that glorious color!

If I try again, would something new happen?  Would I see the colors the same way?  

I know the shapes could shift…that part I'm not too fussy on.  But the colors,

would I see and mix them the same way on a different day…different mood?

Recently I had someone want a painting that was already sold.  They asked if I could 

paint them another one just like it.  I said I could try….see how it turns out and let them know.

Even though they're almost identical, I can see the emotional part of it is gone, in the second painting.

The inspiration, that was there in the beginning…it's only in the first painting.

It's like a science fiction show….the cloned painting doesn't have the personality 

that the first did.  Maybe I'm the only one that would notice it in my own work. 

The inspiration, the spark…. the love…it's so important to a painting.

Its the main reason I don't paint commissioned pieces….

from someone else's photo.  It might be a wonderful picture/subject…but if it didn't 

tickle my brain….it might not turnout very well. 

Anyways…I do like this painting…and I won't try it again, 

cause I have something else I'm inspired about today :)

Thank you for looking…and reading!

I appreciate it :)

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!

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! 

A few still life paintings....

"Girls Night Out"

oil

"Out on Good Behavior"

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!

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! 

Neon signs

"One Hour Cleaning"

30"x40"  oil 

This is a neon sign here in Anchorage, Alaska.

Gotta love neon.  It always inspires me!  

There's a bowling alley sign that's been calling to me lately.

  But now we have so much daylight, I don't get to see

it glowing in the dark.  I'll need to wait until September.

More clouds.....

Clouds #3

5.5" x 14"  oil

More clouds from my windy plein air evening.

Clouds on my mind again!

Clouds #2

5.5" x 14"  oil

I was very distracted by clouds all last summer.  Size, shapes, mood, color ~ I wanted to paint them,  take photos of them, describe them to people.  I found myself pointing them out to everyone...talking about it to you on my blog.  Then one day, as mysteriously as it came , the distraction quietly crept out of my mind, I don't know when.

Yesterday, it came back.

Last night I had a great view.  The wind was blowing and the clouds were moving and shifting, 

I gave it my best shot and painted a quick as I could.  I finished a couple small studies last night out in an open field.... then I went home, warmed up and went back to take a bunch of photos.

Clouds are so cool.

My work week.....

"Lunch with my Peeps"

12" x 16"  oil

I was walking my dog yesterday morning before work, thinking......what if I got up earlier?

Think of how much I could do before my work day even begun!

I can't seem to find a regular time to paint.  It's like that wonderful treat, that takes last place 

when other things need to be done.  But yesterday.....while walking my dog.....I thought, maybe I could be a morning person, maybe I could paint in the mornings before work?  

I met a wonderful artist in Easton, Maryland....Stephen Griffin, we were having a beer and talking about art and painting.  I was asking him how he got to the level he's at (he's a master at impressionistic landscapes and life like portraits)  He told me I need to paint my 200 paintings!  That's what he did.

"What do you mean?  200 paintings?"  I had an idea.......get out there and practice.  He said he and a friend got up everyday at 5am and painted...never skipped a day!  Their paintings improved dramatically over a few months.

He said I need to paint my 200 paintings, then throw them in a pile and burn them....then go paint 200 more!  Okay, I got it....paint...paint...paint!  Of course that's the only way I'm going to go to the next level........paint my way there. 

 I have been hearing this message from a few other accomplished artists too.  

So yesterday morning.......I thought, maybe before work I can start working at that goal of 200 paintings! 

When I got to work, I found out that my work days are going to start at 12 noon, instead of 10am.  I kinda feel like the universe just arranged things for me after hearing my thoughts on my walk..........knowing I'm not really good at the early morning thing, this will be a good alternative.

So that's my new goal 200 paintings.....you may not see them all,

 I want to be able to paint without fear.  So I'll show you the ones I'm happy with along the way :)

 My advise to you......go for a quiet walk and tell the universe what you want,

 then watch what happens next.  

   

Strawberries

"Strawberries"

6" x 6"  oil

I woke up thinking about doughnuts and coffee, but when I found out

my favorite doughnut shop was closed today......I decided on strawberry shortcake!

A quick trip to the store....

Grocery list 

1.  Strawberries

         2.  a pint of heavy whipping cream

      3.  biscuit mix

            4.  several shades of nail polish

Sugared & cut strawberries heaped on a warm biscuit, with a big dollop of whipped cream,

it was wonderful!  I'm so glad the doughnut shop was closed.

The nail polish was a little project I was thinking about since I saw

some polka dot finger nails on Pinterest....

So now my nails are painted and covered in tiny dots......toes too :)

I had a nice day with my family.

Vintage VW

"Under Cover"

5" x 7"  oil

This neat old bus was in  Northern Idaho a while back.

I painted this one from a photo I took.

I have a lot of fond memories of these little beauties.