Monday Morning, 6x6" (Sold)

Before I face all the errands and little chores of the coming week, I decided to set up a sunny still life to get things off on the right foot.  I forced myself to lay down just one stroke of paint at a time, and then just leave it!  No going back and fussing with it.  I'm forcing myself to be happy with an impression of what's in front of me.  I hope you like it!

The Old Mill, 8x10" (Sold)

This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks challenge.  After a false start or two, I reverted to my trusty palette knife to cover up the mess I had created and was able to come up with something I could be happy with.

Vase Buddies, 6x6" (Sold)

Sometimes a little knick-knack will call to me from the store's shelf.  Both of these little vases did just that this past week, and I couldn't resist.  I justify my purchases by painting them!

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Mary (Sold)

About a month ago, I was invited to put on a portrait demonstration at the Del Webb art club in Huntley.  So many talented artists with great questions and insights made for a very lively discussion.  I was able to start Mary's portrait there, and then I took it home with me to finish it up.  I'm looking forward to going back to put on a workshop there in November!

The Balancing Act II, 6x6"

Well, I enjoyed painting the first Balancing Act so much, I just had to paint another!

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The Balancing Act, 6x6" (Sold)

My Brother-In -Law gave me this great magnetic sculpture with blue figures balancing balls and each other.  I took one out and placed it on an upside-down shot glass.  Voila! A Balancing Act!

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The Open Door, 8x10" (Sold)

Every now and then, our plein air group goes to Volkening Heritage Farm to paint.  I was so lucky to stumble upon this scene of a young girl pausing in the doorway of a century-old barn in the middle of her very busy day. Naturally, she didn't linger there long.  Modern technology came to the rescue and I snapped a quick photo of her before she slipped away.

Nesting Time, 8x10" (Sold)

$60, Oil on Gessoboard

I painted this one for the Daily Paintworks challenge this week, which was to balance a stack of something and paint it.  I used tons of thick paint and a palette knife, which meant that I ended up with more paint on myself than on my canvas by the time it was all through.  I thought of the title "Nesting Time" as we prepare to send our youngest off to camp tomorrow.  Now it's nesting time for the empty nesters!

Lavender Hillside, Colorado 10x8"

$125, oil on gessoboard

Well, the lavender color on the side of the hill is actually from scrub oak, but scrub oak in a painting title does not evoke the romance that lavender does!  I have entered this painting in a new challenge for me-- A Day Not Wasted June challenge.  The photograph is supplied by a professional photographer, and artists interpret it and send in their entries.  Should be fun!

The Weeping Willow, 10x8" (Sold)

$125, oil on Raymar canvas panel.  

This is the second scene that I painted at Crabtree Forest Preserve on that hot and mosquito-y day.  

Morning on the Water, 8x10"

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Yesterday I joined my plein air friends in Crabtree Forest Preserve to paint next to the lagoon.  The temperature and the mosquito count climbed quickly.  We painted intently to make the most of our short time available.  Nothing could be heard but the calls of hundreds of birds.  What a great morning!

Betty's Houseguests, 6x6" (Sold)

What could be better than waking up one morning and seeing this scene right outside your window?  Lucky Betty did, just a few weeks ago!