Peacock Walkin'

Peacock Walkin'

Oil on Linen, 10" x 20"

The reason this was so intense to paint was that I was in Love with the photograph,

and I didn't want to mess it up!

I painted the Grackle first to practice iridescence.

Now of course I plan to paint all things shiny. Maybe not oil spills.

Oyster shells? Who knows?

Ps. It's a tiny bit unfinished, but I'll worry about that later. He has these beautiful

drooping feathers from his tail, but the painting has to be dry first.

This will be in my show with Lavinia Wiggins at the Croton Free Library.

We're installing tomorrow. Opening: Sunday, May 6.

Baked goods & live music, drop by!

Click to Bid

"Grackle"

"Grackle"

Oil on Wood, 6" x 6"

I wanted to try iridescence.

Not only the blue head was luminescent, but so were the copper colored body feathers.

I just found the right name of this guy thanks to my dear cousin Donna!

"Eastern Rock Nuthatch"

"Eastern Rock Nuthatch"

Oil on Wood, 6" x 6"

Anyway, I think it's an eastern rock nuthatch. Any birders out there?

I just love these birds serious expressions. Although if I was a bug I might not be so enamoured.

"Apple"

Oil on Canvas, 5" x 7"

This is a painting from 2 years ago that I really liked but didn't have the right pizazz.

So I painted over, and then the moment of truth: decide now because if the original

is better, I can wipe away the wet paint.

Enter my unsuspecting son Mike - always good for an opinion.

"I like this one better cuz it has more red." 

Aha! The new paint stays. Of course, after a bit more tweaking.

"Peekskill Homes by the Hudson"

"Peekskill Homes by the Hudson"

Oil on Canvas, 10" x 8"

I started this, then abandoned it for a horizontal format.

So a year later I'm returning to this original painting.

I love the road leading past these houses glowing in the sun

and ending up by the lovely Hudson River.

"Maple Avenue, Croton on Hudson"

"Maple Avenue, Croton on Hudson"

Oil on Canvas, 8" x 6"

This is an earlier painting that just needed something.

I think it works now!

"Block Island Homes"

"Block Island Homes"

Oil on Wood, 6" x 8"

This from a photo I took on a painting workshop with Andrew Lattimore.

As I've said before, there is something about a house with water behind it that

 just seems a little mystical, whether it's the Atlantic Ocean or the Hudson River.

"Oregon Field"

"Oregon Field"

Oil on Canvas, 9" x 12"

Starting to feel less rusty with landscape. I love how these buildings are dwarfed by the

grandeur of these mountains. I'm from Illinois. The first time I saw Mount Hood in 

Portland Oregon, it looked fake , like a screen projection of a mountain!

Then I climbed South Sister, and I realized just how real 

- and huge - these guys are. Plus a sweltering July day turned into windy and 40 degrees. 

And back to sweltering when we finally got down.

"Block Island Cottage"

Oil om wood, 12" x 9"

So it's not signed and not quite finished - the little house needs windows! 

But it's come a long way and I'm pretty happy with it.

I'm putting together some landscapes and bird paintings for a show with Lavinia Wiggins

at the Croton Library in Croton on Hudson. If you happen to be around,

come to the opening Sunday, May 6 from 2-4 p.m!

"Oregon Farm"

 It's hard to switch from birds, I had to try to get the same precision with trees that I had with wings! So here is my first landscape in awhile. Mexico is next.

"Bird With Russet Wings"

"Bird with Russet Wings"

Oil on Wood, 6" x 6"

I wanted to call this "The Bird With the Russet Wing" like it was film noir, but figured that was weird. Still, you only see one...

Anyway, I'm painting up a storm for our May show "Summer Dreams." (It's been a hard winter but we can dream, can't we?)

I plan to do several more birds, including a walking peacock!

But first...a series of landscapes. Beautiful Mexican scenes from our trip to Baja,

plus a picture from Columbia that my nephew took.

And of course, more Oregon scenery.