WIP

?
8" x 10"
oil on canvas board

This is what is currently on my easel. I doodled it on there and now I'm not terribly sure how to finish it. I feel like all the colors are too close to basic, so there is not much variety.

I'll play with it some more and see what happens.

Some more oldies but goodies

8"x 10"
Oil on canvas board

I had a favorite painting spot outside of Grand Junction. It was surrounded by nothing, full of sky, and all mine. Most of my skyscapes were painted out there. This particular evening gave me a wealth of reference photos. A storm was blowing in, it was right around sunset- the golden hour. There is always such a wonderful surge of energy that comes with a big storm like that. Seems to wake up every cell in the body.

This was one of my favorites at the time, but I am not so impressed with the painting itself now. It must have been the emotional experience attached to the piece. It was bought by The Gallery Bed and Breakfast in Grand Junction, Colorado. .. I think... If you get a chance, check them out. That place is awesome, just vibrating with creativity. They have some of my favorite artists renting studio spaces there.

8"x 10"

Oil on canvas board

This was a little stone shack on the edge of some orchards in Palisade, Colorado. The cherry trees were in bloom and that big blue mass in the background is the Mesa. I took my glasses off for the first half of the painting process, and really tried to concentrate on the tonal values rather than familiar shapes. I was quite happy with this one at the time, and am pleased to find that I still am.

8"x 10"

Oil on canvas board

This one was not very popular, but I like it. It is very moody. I see things in it now that I didn't before. My absolute favorite part of this painting is the wet sand, where the waves are pulling back after swallowing the beach. This was painted on tide-pooling trip to Oregon a couple of years ago. It was my first experience painting in the Oregon drizzle. Believe it or not, painting in the rain was somewhat exhilarating. Like nothing could stop me from doing what I enjoy- not even the weather!

Oh how exciting!

8"x 10"
Oil on Canvas Board

I thought these photos were lost forever, but I found them today! These were some of my favorites. I was so proud of them. Some realtor in Grand Junction bought them.

8"x 10"
Oil on Canvas Board

I cannot remember their names for the life of me. I took the reference photos when Brad and I were summer vacationing in Squamish, BC.

I loved the Squamish Yacht Club. It had rusty old fishing boats docked next to prim little sailboats. I ran around taking photos and trying to paint in the wind and cold while Brad was climbing. These three were done in the studio from photos. All of the on-site paintings were wipers.

16"x 20"
Oil on Canvas

It was summer, but it was cold. I loved it.

Looking at these makes me want to paint more boats.
The first painting is my favorite.

Sea Chicken

Sea Chicken I
8"x 10" oil on canvas board

I had fun with this one. I had a dream a long long time ago that I lived in the sea, and my Sea Chickens were blooming. I have always wanted to paint one of them. My chickens always have a pigeon-ish quality about them... Hubby says its the thick neck. I think he is right.

It was still fun. And I still like the finished piece.

I worked this one in a very different way than I usually do. I started out with a canvas board painted red. I mixed a very dark color to draw with and started doodling. I had to make some minor changes to the drawing during the painting process, but I think it worked because I liked the overall composition. Having everything drawn out in big dark lines just begged the kid in me to color it!

It was fun.