"Yellow Mums" 10x8 oil

I set up this scene of mums thinking that I didn't have much time till the flowers were going to droop. I wanted to touch up some areas a few days later and they still looked as fresh as when I first  placed them there. I wanted to keep the colors simple using different combinations of yellows and greens. These mums were in my backyard, brought them in and plopped them in a jar, they fell in place perfectly. Love when that happens!

Photo Shoot 8x10 oil

I studied values for about a year and this painting with the black camera was a challenge not to go over board with the value range. Even though the picture in the background is lighter than the camera, the black next to the white table brings your eye to that area. My favorite way to paint is all about values, they all need to balance. How many times do I take a photo of my paintings to get at least one good one, a lot! My scanner is so great for the small paintings, just one scan and it is done!

Zeldas Restaurant on the Beach, Capitola, CA alla prima 7x5 oil

This is a Restaurant in Capitola that sits on the beach. I did this small painting alla prima as a study for a larger one that I just finished. A lot of bright colors on the building but the light is what got me to want to paint it. Capitola is in the Santa Cruz area, as I mentioned before in another blog, I grew up down the hill from Santa Cruz. A fun place to visit!

Creamy Hydrangeas 5x5 oil Sold

This is another painting I did from memory without looking at anything. Fun but challenging. My goal was as usual to capture the light. To make the back petals recede, I softened them and used some of the background color. I then painted the foreground petals with a harder edge and higher value to come forward. I remember when I first started painting flowers, I would study each petal and was in awe how God made each petal so unique. The veins, the color, the shapes, I could never match what He has done. It goes beyond my comprehension and He did it all for us.

Sunshine After the Rain, Denmark 5x7 oil Sold

Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, CA 7x5 oil Sold

This lighthouse is at the Santa Cruz Harbor in California. With the contributions of many people, including a major donation from Charles Walton, enough money was raised to construct this new lighthouse in 2001. It stand 41.5 ft. tall and is built to withstand a quarter million pounds of wave energy. This is a view looking out from the Crows Nest Restaurant. I grew up down the hills of Santa Cruz, in a town called Saratoga. We, (six sisters and a brother), spent many wonderful times in Santa Cruz. 

To Do List, Paint! 5x7 oil Sold

My favorite thing in painting is working with values. I studied values for about a year on what they can do throughout a painting. In fact before I started my painting career, I would visit museums and thought to myself, what is it that attracts me to certain paintings. I finally figured out that it was the intense study and configuration of values that went into a painting that pleased my eye. I don't use any chart, I go by what feels right when applying the paint.  With this painting I started out with a lighter background, didn't feel right at all, so I darkened the value and it all came together. This painting was on my to do list.

The Blue Cup 6x6 oil Sold

This is a still life that I had set up from life. I sometimes bring the value down in some areas to have it play more on the center of interest. I have done other paintings with this cup, I just love the colors and patterns on it.  









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Fallen Leaves 7x5 oil

Summer is over and fall is here, one more time to show off their beauty as they turn brilliant colors of reds, oranges and yellows. What a wonderful site to absorb while they hang on until they fall.

Take Notes from Times Past 6x6 oil SOLD

I set up this still life with the book, glasses and pencil, I added the paperclips as an after thought, it seemed to fit the title. I love painting old objects in a classical style. There have been many definitions on the subject of classical art. I always thought it to be a rendering that is painted to produce the subjects true form, more in a technical order. But then you have the word contemporary art, if you look that up it means now, in this time period. Different definitions for that subject also. Who knows?