Friday, May 30, 2014

No. 437 The DuPen Lilacs No. 2

 
 
 
 
The DuPen Lilacs No.2
Oil on Canvas Panel
8" x 10"
 
Another attempt at painting those lovely, lovely lilacs.


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

No. 436 Mini Mt. Baker Sunset

 
 
 
 
Mt. Baker Sunset
Oil on Linen Panel
3" x 5"
 
Few! A new order of mini canvases finally came in the mail. So this won't be the last one!
 
 


Monday, May 26, 2014

No. 435 The Dupen Lilacs

 
 
 
 
The Dupen Lilacs
Oil on Canvas Panel
8" x 10"
 
 
I spotted this huge gorgeous lilac bush on a morning walk of my neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately for me, they lived in the yard of some good friends. I didn't have to do much arm twisting to get permission to run home with a few clusters. Woo! Hoo!
 
 


Friday, May 23, 2014

No. 434 Double Tulips with Lemons

 
 
 

Double Tulips with Lemons
Oil on Canvas Panel
8" x 10"


One of my favorite tulip paintings this year.


 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

No. 433 More Mini Landscapes

 
 

Padilla Bay Mud Flats
Oil on Linen Panel
3" x 5"
 
 
Gosh, I love painting these plein air minis. They are almost like doing a thumbnail sketch so they aren't intimidating at all. They force me to simplify and because they come together so quickly I have more time to adjust composition, values and colors if needed. It only takes a brush stroke or two! Lastly, I find the long horizontal format works very well for most landscapes.


 
 
 
Lone Tree in Spring Storm
Oil on Linen Panel
3" x 5"
 
 
While out plein air painting last week, I reached into my bag for a mini canvas. To my huge disappointment, I'd discovered they were all gone! This simply wouldn't do. I didn't hesitate to hop on line and order more. I couldn't wait for the perfect coupon. Hopefully, thirty six mini canvases will keep me for awhile....


If you'd like to try your hand at painting on a mini canvas click here for a link to order my favorites. You can also find similar mini panels in most art supply stores.




Tuesday, May 20, 2014

No. 432 Mt Vernon Paint Out

 
 

 
A Barn Near Edison - Plein Air
Oil on Linen Panel
3" x 5"
 
 
 
A couple of weeks ago I had the great good fortune to attend a PAWA paint out in and around Mt. Vernon with two wonderful painting buddies. The weather was great on the first day but not so hot the other two. We had a terrific time anyway. On the trip I indulged my fondness for doing tiny paintings.
 
If you'd like to see some photos of our adventure, check out the video below.....
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Monday, May 19, 2014

No. 431 Back to Snohomish

 
 
 
The Kirkley's Historic Home - Plein Air 
Oil on Canvas Panel
8" x 8"
 
One of my all time favorite historic homes in Snohomish. I anxiously await for the azaleas to bloom then I pack up my gear and I'm on my way. Last year the Kirkley's bought the plein air painting I made of their home with a little help of Facebook and my friend Renee. So I actually got to see inside this extremely charming house and meet the wonderful couple that lives there. I love the perks of being an artist!
 
 
 
 
 
The Kirkley's Historic Home Quick Study
Oil on Canvas Panel
6" x 6"
 
This is a quick study of the house painted the day before the larger piece pictured above.
The owner, Joanne, runs a bed and breakfast in the carriage house next to the home. It's only a couple of blocks from 1st street which is full of antique shops and cute boutiques. If you're looking for a fun getaway give Joanne a call. Her number is 360-568-5390 and her website is cadyvillecarriage.com. 
 
 
 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

No. 430 UW Botanical Gardens - Plein Air

 
 
 
 
UW Botanical Gardens - Plein Air
Oil on Gessobord
6" x 6"
 
 
This is from a lovely PAWA paint out almost a month ago! I had intended to work on it some more before posting but we know how that goes...
 
I attended another paint out this weekend in Bellevue. I had no idea there were so many interesting places to paint there. Hopefully it won't be a month before those paintings are posted.




Friday, May 16, 2014

No. 428 Spring in the Snohomish Historical District - Plein Air

 
 
 
 
Spring in the Snohomish Historical District
Plein Air
Oil on Linen Panel
5" x 7"
Sold
 
 
We've had some spectacular spring weather lately. Perfect timing for peak bloom of rhododendrons and azaleas. So I made a bee line for downtown Snohomish. I love this little old house which appears to be on the verge of being consumed by these beautiful bushes.
 
 
 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

No. 427 Still Life with Yellow Bottle

 
 
 
 
Still Life with Yellow Bottle
Oil on Linen Panel
5" x 7"
 

Another still life based on what I saw at the Alexander Zimin workshop.
  I was pretty fascinated by the way he set up a still life. No one was allowed to watch. I'm assuming because he didn't want any distractions. Never had I thought to put that much focus into setting up a still life. Also, not being able to watch only made me want to watch all the more......



Monday, May 12, 2014

No. 426 Ebey's Landing - Plein Air

 
 
 
 
Ebey's Landing Looking South
Oil on Linen Panel
7" x 5"
 
 
A favorite family haunt on Whidbey Island, I've painted it before and no doubt will paint it again.  Don and the girls love looking for agates here. There is also a wonderful hike along the bluff. I had intended to work on this some more but history shows I'm not very good about going back to work on old paintings. Not when there are so many new things to paint! 


Saturday, May 10, 2014

No. 425 ACEO Cats

 
 
 
Pangurban in the Forget-Me-Nots ACEO
Oil on Canvas Paper
2.5" x 3.5"
 
Continuing to have fun creating these tiny paintings.
These two are based on earlier daily paintings I am fond of. The white cat
is a neighbor kitty and the black one is our very own cat, Boston.
 
 

 
Peek  A Boo ACEO
Oil on Canvas
2.5" x 3.5"
 
 
 

Friday, May 9, 2014

No. 424 Another "Cool" Still Life

 
 
 
 
Another "Cool" Still Life
Oil on Linen Panel
5" x 7"
 
Once again having fun draping fabric through the still life and painting in natural light.
 
 

 
Another "Cool" Still Life - ACEO
Oil on SoHo Painting Boards
2.5" x 3.5"
 
Here is the mini version.
 
 


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

No. 423 More Golden Tulips

 
 
 
 
More Golden Tulips
Oil on Linen Panel
7" x 5"
 
In this painting I get the feeling the tulips are just on the verge of exploding into a cloud of petals...


Click here to view auction.
 
 


Monday, May 5, 2014

No. 422 Double Tulips and Silver

 
 
 
Double Tulips in Silver
Oil on Linen Panel
7" x 5"
 
Click here to view auction.
 
 
Daily Paintworks, the website I usually auction my paintings on, posts challenges to inspire artists. One recent challenge caught my eye. Brenda Ferguson (a favorite daily painter of mine) asked us to paint our bliss. Beautiful, beautiful flowers are my bliss. So with that in mind, I painted these lovely double tulips in a silver pot. If you would like to see some other challenges on Daily Paintworks click here.