Lemon and Leaves

“Lemon and Leaves”

Oil on Canvas, 4” x 6”

I will probably tweak this in the future but here it is. I haven’t painted since before Thanksgiving and feel quite rusty. Still, I like the fresh, sketchy look this has.I like a painting that is loose but accurate at the same time, able to emit a feeling of light from our beloved sun, although this is a lamp. In these times I am thankful for sanity, unimaginable things are going on in the world, incredible chaos and suffering. I hope that beauty and love can find its way in the lives of everyone.

 

“Behind Asbury”

“Behind Asbury”

Oil on Canvas, 6”x6”

I was just walking to my car and this group of buildings grabbed my attention.

 

“Lemon and a Slice”

“Lemon and a Slice.”

Oil on Canvas, 5”x7”

When I see a lemon backlit from my window, I can’t help but paint it.

 

“U PIck, Sauvie Island”

“U Pick, Sauvie Island”

Oil on Linen, 6”x8”

I went with my sister in law Patricia Kullberg to pick blackberries, and the farm was SO beautiful! We got a variety of things and chatted with one of the owners. It seems a challenge to run a farm these days, and I’m so grateful for those that do. I do plan to paint a bigger one of these - as a matter of fact, I have an unfinished one that I put on hold.

 

Henny Penny Walkin’

“Henny Penny Walkin’ ”

6”x6”, Oil on Canvas

This hen belonged to a friend of mine, and I chased her all around the lawn trying to get a picture of her in the sun, haha. Her name wasn’t Henny Penny but my friend Tracy couldn’t resist calling her that.

 

Houses by the Sea: Block Island

 

“Houses by the Sea”

Oil on Canvas, 6”x8”

This was done as a practice for a demo I am doing. I always love painting houses that are near bodies of water.

Tower in the Sky

“Tower in the Sky”

Oil on Board, 8”x10”

This is a painting of a local Methodist church tower that I see many times in many different light situations, and the green patina against the sky is just so beautiful! It gives me a feeling of serenity. I was advised to get rid of the traffic light, but I just feel it is a part of the picture.

 

Oscawana Park for Garrison

 

“Oscawana Park for Garrison”

Oil on Linen, 9”x12”

Finished just in time for my dear friend to pick up and bring to the Garrison Art Auction.

“Snail Shell”

“Snail Shell”

4”x4”

 

“Waiting”

“Waiting”

Oil on Canvas, 8”x10”

 

“Walkin’ ”

“Walkin’ ”

Oil on Board, 6”x6”

 

“Any Food Left?

“Any Food Left?”

Oil on Wood, 6”x8”

 

Masked Bandit

“Masked Bandit”

Oil on Canvas, 6”x8”

Not sure what kind of bird this is, I painted it thinking sparrow but not at all!

 

Edward Hopper’s New York at the Whitney

 

I was so excited about seeing the Hopper show yesterday and it exceeded all my expectations. 

This painting, “New York Office, 1962” impressed me, and I just looked and looked at the edges. They are really sensitive, which cause his paintings to be so luscious. I’m convinced Mark Rothko was heavily influenced by Hopper.

Add to that the gentle interplay of colors with an occasional jewel that stands out. Here, soft greens and cold and warm blues juxtaposed with a little polygon of bright orange is stunning. But that orange is made up of at least three or four colors with a dash of red at the edges so it isn’t jarring, just beautiful. I was on sensory overload! The photograph doesn’t capture the variations in color and edges, but it does show the impact his work has.

This is a little detail of the painting above.

Just a sampling of work at the show.

Woodpecker

“Woodpecker”

Oil on Board, 8” x 6”

I did a bird series back in the fall, and didn’t post most of them so I’ll do it now. Most of the birds, maybe all of them, were begun with a raw umber underpainting where I nail down my values. (Lights and darks.) Thanks for looking! I’m beginning a landscape series and will post those later. 

 

“American Goldfinch”

Oil on Wood, 8”x6”

 

Masked Bandit

“Masked Bandit”

Oil on Canvas 6”x6”

This little guy is so out there with his outfit!

 

Pair of Eggs

“Pair of Eggs”

Oil on Canvas, 4”x6”

When you paint eggs, precision is called for. Whenever I paint eggs, I promise myself it will be a very long time before I do it again. The last time was a long time ago, lol.

 

“Crane”

Oil on Wood, 6”x9”

Here is the beginning of a bird series…and we just put up a bird feeder, what a riot! I mean it, it’s a riot of birds on our deck.

 

“Field in Provence”

Oil on Linen, 9” x 12”

This is the first landscape I’ve done in awhile, and I finished it before breakfast. I’m starving. :)

I painted a small version yesterday, it didn’t turn out. I’m happy with this one. There are some things I would possibly change but hey, that’ll be for the next painting.

 

“Peony & Hydrangeas”

“Peony & Hydrangeas”

Oil on Board, 8” x 8”

I painted this in 2016 but it bothered me…until I cropped it to an 8” x 8” painting. Now I love it! 

 

Hangin’

 

“Hangin’ “

Oil on Canvas, 8” x 10”

Orange Pear and Celadon Bowl

“Orange Pear and Celadon Bowl”

Oil on Canvas, 6” x 4”

I keep saying I need to paint larger, but here I am at 6x4 inches - oh well, I really like a 

small painting!!

This reminds me of the German Expressionists. I used to think I would 

paint like them especially having studied German, but I ended up being more realistic. 

Well, maybe this is a new beginning.

 

White Rose

 

"White Rose"

Oil on Canvas, 8" x 6"

 

“Venetian Doorway”

Oil on Canvas, 8” x 6”

Is this finished? Well, I do see something that needs changing, but it’s late, I will do it tomorrow, and I am posting anyway! So we took this trip to Italy, Florence & Venice. Americans are so taken with the beautiful architecture in Europe, combined with the stunning light in Italy, and I am no exception. How can I Not paint these lovely doorways. One imagines, “who lives here, and who loves to tend to their window plants so well?” I will never know…but will always enjoy looking at this picture.

 

Back to Italy

“Back to Italy”

Oil on Canvas, 8”x6”

We’ve been back long enough to recover from jet lag. Is my door crooked? I guess I can fix that. What a place Venice was, and we took in 2 days of the Venice Biennale. I love how the grid on the left window is light, and on the right window is dark. More cool door fronts to come.

 

Five Zinnias in a Bottle

 

“Five Zinnias in a Bottle”

Oil on Wood, 6”x6”

This took 2 days, and I’m exhausted! I grew these flowers several years ago, and never get tired of painting them.

A Single Rose

 

“A Single Rose”

Oil on Linen, 8”x6”

Three Zinnias

“Three Zinnias”

Oil on Canvas, 6” x 4”

These were from my garden, zinnias are the best!

 

Marshlands

“Marshlands”

Oil on Canvas, 8” x 10”