No. 564 This Year's Amaryllis

 

 

This Year's Amaryllis

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

This is it, the last day in the 30 in 30 challenge. I didn't quite get one posted everyday but 26 out of 30 isn't too shabby. Now it's time to finish those commissions!

No. 563 The Last Doughnut

 

 

The Last Doughnut

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 

Yes, we've come to the end of this particular series, at least for now. I'm going to hang the show at the doughnut shop this Sunday. Spring is just around the corner and you know what that means.... TULIPS!

No. 562 Mandarin Still Life

 

 

Mandarin Still Life

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

This was painted during the last Seahawks game. You know, the one that decided they get to go to the superbowl.... :) Go Hawks!



No. 561 Oh My it's Pie

 

 

Oh My it's Pie

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 

 

Apparently 7:00pm is not a good time to find jelly doughnuts at the local grocery store. There was, however, cherry pie. This was my first and quite possibly last painting of pie. It was far too yummy to have around.

No. 560 Them Dangling Doughnuts

 

 

Them Dangling Doughnuts

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

Returning once again to the sillier side of doughnut painting.

No. 559 White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle

 

 

White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

I purchased this cutie from a specialty doughnut shop nearby called Frost, the home of the bacon maple bar. I chose this variety for it's good looks. Had I known at the time it was called "white chocolate raspberry truffle" it would not have lasted long enough to paint.:) 

No. 558 Ladies Weekend Away

 

 

Ladies Weekend Away

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

Sold

 

A few weekends ago the moms group I've been a part of for sixteen years abandoned their families for a relaxing weekend on Whidbey Island. We rented a gorgeous house on the water. I painted this interior during out stay there. If it was daylight, you would see the Puget Sound out those windows. It was truly awesome. What a way to chase off the post holiday blues!

No. 557 Broken by a Bismarck

 

 

Broken by a Bismarck

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

Up to this point I'd been really good about not eating my doughnut models or, at the most, just sampling them. This Bismarck, though, took me down. After taking enough bites to get the filling to pleasantly ooze, I drooled the entire time I painted it. About three minutes after the painting was finished the doughnut was no more...

No. 556 The Jelly Doughnut

 

 

The Jelly Doughnut

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

This is by far and away my very favorite doughnut painting. Once again I put myself and the doughnut at risk by taking a bite to expose a ruby red center. However, one bite exposed only a tiny bit. Oh my, two bites were in order...

No. 555 Dangling Doughnut

 

 

Dangling Doughnut

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

Okay, now it's time to get a little silly. Earlier I enjoyed painting hanging ornaments, so why not a hanging doughnut? And yes, I made the ultimate sacrifice and took a bite out of it to add a little more interest. :)

 

Congrats to the Seahawks! Who would've believed we would get to go to the Superbowl two years in a row? Amazing!

No. 554 Coconut and Coffee

 

 

Coconut and Coffee

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

I was really pleased with the texture of the coconut topping on that yummy little doughnut.

 

Painting doughnuts is a high risk business. Not only do you have to keep yourself under control but you have to keep an eye on other potential doughnut snatchers as well....

 

 



No. 553 Don't forget the Coffee

 

 

 

Don't Forget the Coffee

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

I really struggled coming up with interesting ideas for doughnut compositions. A great benefit of daily painting is the opportunity to try out various ideas without a scary investment of time and materials. If I think about it long enough something good will come my way. :)

No. 552 Sunset Doughnut

 

 

Sunset Doughnut

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

In February I will be showing a group of paintings at a doughnut shop in Seattle. It occurred to me that a few paintings of doughnuts might be in order. I had no idea how hard that might be. Sigh. So here is the first in my doughnut odyssey.

 

No. 551 The Missing Snowflake

 

 

The Missing Snowflake

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

We have had a noticeable lack of these little fellas floating around here. Will we have more snow before the end of the season? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

I love to collect snowflake ornaments. This painting is based on one of them.

 



No. 550 Medina Beach Plein Air

 

 

Medina Beach Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 

A plein air sketch from a paint out in Bellevue last year. This is a terrific little park on Lake Washington, noticeably quiet after painting in downtown Bellevue and full of flowers.

No. 549 Chinese Lanterns with Teacup

 

 

Chinese Lanterns with Teacup

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 

A bit of a throwback to my "Chinese Lantern" phase. :)

No. 548 Christmas Throw Back

 

 

Peppermint Poinsettia

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

As you may have noticed I'm using the 30 in 30 challenge to help me catch up with posting. So bear with me here, this is a painting I really like but didn't have a chance to post before Christmas. I love this poinsettia. The pink mottling reminds me of peppermint.

No. 547 Winter Solstice in Snohomish 2014

 

Snohomish Winter Solstice 2014 - Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

 

Snohomish has the coolest winter solstice event. A group of volunteers lead by the Mayor and her husband line the river walk with luminaries. What a beautiful site. This was my second year of trying to capture the experience in paint. I think last years effort was more successful. I will keep trying. Maybe by year ten I will be able to do it justice. :)

 

No. 546 Mandarin with Leaf

 

 

Mandarin with Leaf

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

On a visit to Pikes Place Market in Seattle last week I was excited to see some mandarin oranges with leaves still attached. I gleefully bought a few to paint at home. By the time I got a chance to paint them though the leaves had dried up, some in very funky positions. This particular leaf happened to dry in a graceful shape.

 



No. 545 New Years Painting

 

 

 

New Years 2015

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

 

I painted this view from the living room window of my brother's house on New Years day. Every time I visit I'm inspired to paint his view. Just love those mountains!

No. 544 Poinsettia Fascination

 

 

Poinsettia Fascination

Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

15" x 30"

 

After going a bit crazy buying Poinsettias at Molbaks, I couldn't resist doing a painting of these glorious plants. It kept me well occupied during the week surrounding Christmas. I put the last strokes on it yesterday. 



No. 543 Ruby Beach Rock Outcroppings

 

 

Ruby Beach Rock Outcroppings - Plein Air
Oil on Linen Panel
5" x 7"

A plein air painting I neglected to post from a trip to the coast in November. We were so very, very lucky to have such nice weather while we were there.

No. 542 Melissa's Vase

 

Melissa's Vase

Oil on Canvas Panel

7" x 5"

 

An cool little vase created by my neighbor Melissa. I spotted this bouquet in her home and she kindly let me borrow it to paint.

No. 541 Red, White and Blue

 

 

Red, White and Blue

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 

A great piece of advise I once heard about participating in a 30 in 30 challenge was to paint ahead. So if, for one reason or another, you weren't able to paint on a particular day you could still post. Here's one from my paint ahead stash. :)

Here's hoping for a clearer head tomorrow...



No. 540 A Quick One

 

 

 

Still Life Without a Name

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

 

A quick post tonight as I've come down with a cold and am feeling sorry for myself. :( Not the best way to begin a 30 in 30 challenge. It could be worse though. At least it's not the flu, which appears to be making the rounds too.



No. 539 Happy New Year!

 

 

A 2015 First

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

We're back from a great little family vacation. Now it's time to take on the new year! Once again I've decided to participate in Leslie's 30 in 30 day challenge, a great way to refocus after some time off. On the last challenge I had a goal, which you may or may not have noticed I totally missed. So this time I've decide to heck with a goal, I'm going to just paint what moves me. :)

 

Thank you so much for all your support in the past year. It's greatly appreciated. Wishing you excellent health, much happiness and prosperity in 2015!