Beach Path

Original oil painting, 8" x 10" of a secluded beach on the Oregon coast. We had been driving through a canyon of trees for miles with glimpses of light but no view of the water. And it was only after we stopped in the trees and stepped off the road and found the path that the view opened up.   On my Etsy Store

Sailboats at the Dock

8 x 10 oil from Seattle at Lake Union at the Center for Wooden Boats.  A spot to rent a small sailboat or take a sailing lesson.  This was painted from photographs I took on location.  On my ETSY store

Vashon Ferry at the North End Dock SOLD

I walked a little ways down Bunker Trail to get this view of the North End ferry at Vashon.  The view is north towards Blake Island and the Kitsap Peninsula.  Late afternoon sunlight lights up the ferry against the blue water. In my ETSY shop.

VIVA Membership show at Hardware Store SOLD

     A bouquet of late summer cosmos and zinnias gathered from our garden.  The light was placed directly overhead and added dramatic lighting to the bright pinks and reds.  Painting light reds can be a fun challenge.  If you add white to the mixture to make the red light, it turns a pasty pink, not at all like the intense red of the velvety zinnias.  I borrow a technique from watercolor and  paint the bright reds with transparently to allow the light of the painting panel to brighten the color. 
     This painting will be in the VIVA members show at the Hardware Store restaurant on Vashon.  The show opens on Friday June 7 from 6-9 p.m. The address is 17601 Vashon Hwy SW.  

Autumn Bouquet Zinnias and Cosmos SOLD

Zinnias and Cosmos in a small glass jar against a gray background.  An exuberant explosions of color for the end of summer.  I used strong top lighting to define and organize the shapes of the flowers.  And I positioned the tabletop at eye level to simplify the table.  This one will be in the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour the first two weekends in December - showing at the Pink House in Burton 23819 Vashon Hwy SW.  Everyone invited. 

Cove Motel SOLD

The old Cove Motel - the Mosquito Fleet stopped here.  This painting will be at Vashon Island Visual Artists Spring Art Tour at Dockton Pottery (opposite the former Dockton Store) 25913 99th Ave SW.  This weedend May 5 & 6 and next weekend May 12 & 13th from 10 to 5.  Visit Dockton, see art!

Pt. Robinson Lighthouse SOLD

A sunny day view of the Point Robinson lighthouse looking up from the beach.  I will be showing this one at the Art Studio Tour at Stop # 8, Dockton Pottery - opposite the old Dockton store.  First two weekends in May.   May 5 & 6 and May 12 & 13, from 10am to 5 p.m.  Please stop by.

Six Rowboats SOLD

I had fun playing with the colors in this piece.  Small rowboats are tied to the dock to enable folks to get back and forth to their boats moored offshore.  Painted from photographs.

Pt Robinson Lighthouse from the West

A painting of the Point Robinson Lighthouse on Maury Island Washington as seen from the west. There are actually two buildings in this view, one in front of the other. The building in the front is a small shed that was used to store the flammable fuel that powered the lighthouse beacon in the olden days. There is still a light at the lighthouse, but it is plastic, automated and mounted outside the lantern room. Next to the buildings in the painting, there is also a newer 100 foot tower for radar and gps signals. I moved that tower slightly until it was just out of the picture. It's OK, I have a license to do that.   ON my ETSY store

Two Boats Ashore SOLD

While on a trip along the Pacific Coast we happened on the boat yard at Port Orford.  I thought these two boats were beautiful, silhouetted against the bright blue sky.  Though both boats were white, in the shadow of bright sun they appeared quite dark and dramatic.
This painting will be in the Vashon Art Studio Tour,  May 6th and 7th and May 13th and 14th, Stop # 23 at Dockton Pottery, 25913 99th Ave SW, Vashon.  See you there.  

Deer Against the Light, Deer in my Yard,

Vashon Island Art Studio Tour,  first two weekends in May.  I'll be showing paintings at Stop # 23 in Dockton.    When we first moved to the island and saw the deer, I said "Oooh, quiet, don't spook, them, how cool!" Now when I go out in the yard they just ignore me.   They eat everything, there are NO deer-proof plants.  Still,  they do make an interesting painting subject.  8" x 10" oil on panel

Sunset Over Talequah

A plein air painting from several years ago.  This one is the view looking from Maury Island across Quartermaster Harbor to the tip of Tahlequah and beyond to the hills of Tacoma.  The sun was setting and I was painting very quickly to get all the colors as the sun moved not only from top to bottom but also from left to right.  I had to hold my hand up to squint near the sun without actually looking directly at it.   This was probably painted in November because the sun sets far to the right in the summer time.  8" x 10" oil on panel.  This one will be in the 2017 Spring Art Tour - I'll be at stop # 23 in Dockton -First two weekends in May.

Mt. Rainier in Blue and Pink

An 8 x 0 original oil painting of Mt. Rainier in late afternoon.   The mountain is viewed across the water as the sunlight turns pink and lavender.  The painting is characterized by saturated color and loose bold brushwork.  On my ETSY store

Copalis River SOLD

A view of the Copalis River on its path to the sea on the Washington coast.  It was the last opening of spring clam tides and we parked next to a guy who was selling clam guns.  His season was over so he was in a chatty mood.  We both agreed this was a million dollar view.  

Apple Blossoms and Jelly Jar SOLD

Actually I think these are crabapple blossoms; they're a little early for apples, and the flowers are smaller and more abundant on the stem.  These were a gift - a few of my apple trees have started to bloom, but I hesitate to trim any of my flowers because that means less fruit in the fall.  I like how the flowers are suggested rather than individually painted.  And I like the quilted design in the jelly jar.   On my ETSY store

Dolphin Point

View from the Vashon -Fauntleroy ferry.  I like the last tree on the point--it is very distinctive- like the dot on an exclamation point!  The day was hazy, the  Northwest version of sunny.  8"x10" 

Lighthouse from the Beach

The Point Robinson Lighthouse on Vashon as seen from the beach at low tide.  Strong light from a hazy day casts a shadow on the roof of the lighthouse, leaving just small patches of bright sunlight on the roof and on the driftwood.  This one will be at Plum Lodge Painters in the Vashon Island Studio Tour the first two weekends of December. 

The Burn and Fireweed

A familiar site in the interior in Alaska.  An area burned by fire, but showing new growth with pink blossoms of fireweed.  I like the pink patches and the dark area of spruce trunks in the distance.  This one will be in a show in Anchorage at the ArtiqueLtd Gallery in September

Beach Ripples Ninilchik

Cook Inlet has large razor clams, wide sandy beaches and extreme tides. I spent one summer at a set-net site not far from here.  I liked the ripples on the beach and wanted to convey the idea but still keep it loose.  I was very interested in the feel of the gray beach and the distant bit of blue sky.

Castle Rock Cape Blanco

Another plein air sunset painting from our recent trip along Highway 101.  This was painted atCape Blanco State Park near the Sixes River.  Evening mist was gathering, the sky was changing color rapidly, and Cape Blanco was casting a shadow across the marsh. I like the suggestion of a last bit of warmth on Castle Rock.