Nympheas

This was painted for a challenge on Daily Paintworks.  It's a subject I've painted before and always enjoy.  The challenge is trying to make all the lilypads recede in perspective and to lay flat on the water.  The trick is to remember that no matter the shape of the lilypad, it is an oval on a plane and the oval doesn't really tilt to the right or the left unless the plane also tilts. Its the same problem as drawing a bowl or cup on a tabletop- ovals that are closer to the horizon become thinner and flatter, and ovals that are at the bottom of the page in bird's eye view are closer to a circle.  A bit larger 24" x 30".  On my ETSY store

Hillside Fireweed

A painting of a hillside covered with fireweed in bloom.  Fireweed thrives in disturbed soil and burned areas and is one of the first plants to reestablish after a forest fire.  I like the mix of saturated and less saturated colors.  This one will be in a show at Artique Ltd Gallery in Anchorage in September. 

Gold Ferry

A painting of the Vashon-Fauntleroy ferry near sunset when the distant hills dissolve in yellow light​, The sky is light enough to put sparkles on the water and the far side of the ferry is hit with light.15" x 12" oil on panel.

Silver Bowl, Lemons, Lavender -giveaway!

This week I'm the Daily Paintworks featured artist!  I'll be giving away this lovely painting of "Silver Bowl, Lemons, Lavender" to a person who has been a Daily Paintworks buyer during the last 30 days.  Daily Paintworks is a website for artists who paint and blog on a daily basis (or nearly daily basis).  There is a gallery of each day's work and links to individual artists and their stores.  Here's the link

Misty Day and Pushki

Another small  painting of pushki.  These large plants have white umbrella shaped clusters of flowers and are common in Alaska.  This painting will be in a show at Artique Ltd gallery in Anchorage in September.

Yellow Sunflowers on Blue

This painting was originally Yellow Sunflowers on Gold, but I was looking at it last week and decided the Gold had to go.  Now I have a turquoise background and blue/lavender shadows which I like better.  I think the colors express the idea of "sunniness" that sunflowers imply. Here's a link to the previous version.

Blue Harbor and Sailboats

A view of sailboats at anchor on a sunny day in Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island.  The dark green hills are reflected in the water and sunlight bounces off the white decks.  I like the overall light and the saturated colors.  (Every now and then it's fund to use the colors undiluted.)  Painted from photos I took on location.   This painting will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow Washington in September 2014.  Click here to send me your post office mailing address if you'd like me to add you to my postcard mailing list for the show.  (The mailing list will be used for show postcards only)

Silver Bowl Lemons Lavender

Another painting of a bowl of lemons, this time on a lavender tabletop.  I placed the bowl on a piece of glass on top of a sheet of paper.  There are some lovely reflections in the silver bowl.
On my ETSY store.

Green Onions on Gray

Scallions on a light gray tabletop with a darker gray shadow across.  Even though the tabletop is gray, I see green and purple and gold in the neutral grays.  When arranging the scallions I try to come up with a good division of space and some interesting shapes.  
On my ETSY store.

Green Grapes, Glass Reflections on Lavender

When I paint grapes, I do a bit of trimming with a pair of scissors in the clusters of grapes so that I have "holes" to paint.  These empty spaces add interest and give the viewer a path into the middle of the action.  I put a piece of clear glass on top a piece of lavender paper for the tabletop.  And I used a cardboard shield with my lamp to throw a dark shadow across the back of the set up.
 On my ETSY store

Top Lit Limes in a Silver Bowl

Another exploration of dramatic lighting and deep shadows.  The limes are top lit, the tabletop is lavender and a small orange reflection from an unseen object adds contrast and drama.  I especially like the shape of the reflection of the cast shadow on the underside of the bowl.
On my Etsy Store

Glass Bowl with Clementines

The lighting is directly above these small tangerines, giving strong shadows and bright highlights.  The bowl was hard to paint because  both sides were visible.  I kept going from side to side; trim a little here, even it up on the other side, add some more, take more off. Sometimes when I have a problem I will make a paper pattern, fold it in two and work on it until it is symmetrical and then unfold it and trace it back on to the painting.
On my ETSY store.

Ferns and Foxglove

Foxglove and bracken ferns filled the meadow on my neighbor's property.  It is a  non-native flower that likes our cool climate.  It is beautiful in early summer when it blooms along roadsides and in open areas. 
30x30 oil on canvas

Dappled Madronas

One of my favorite subjects: the madronas in my yard, with a view towards Talequah. A large painting with a strong green-gold hue dominating much of the painting.  I like the sense of light.  Painted in my studio. 
36" x 48"

Yellow Sunflowers on Gold

How much more of this gorgeous weather can we take?  The sunflowers are begging me to paint them.  And the dahlias and cosmos and bachelors buttons and calendulas.  Thank goodness, the daisies are spent!

10" x 10" oil on panel
to purchase

Cool Day Madronas

Even though we've been having incredible sunny weather for the longest time,  when the plein air painters from Bainbridge came for a visit, it was cool and overcast.  We painted the trees in my yard.  This is the view looking south towards Tacoma through a hillside of madronas.  I demonstrated how I spend equal time applying paint and wiping away the paint I just applied.

Artichoke on Plum and Brown

Another one of Joe's artichokes.  I like the cool lavenders in the shadows, and the warm yellow greens where the light shines through the leaves. 

Artichoke, Square Glass Jar. on Black

One of Joe's artichokes.  They keep well if you put them in water.  I like the reflections and colors inside the glass jar. 

Daffodil Bouquet in a Canning Jar SOLD

The grocery store had a special on daffodils so I bought bunches and am painting daffodils like mad.  I like how this becomes just one large mass of light and dark yellows.  I tried to keep it high key to match the lightness of the flowers.

Green Grapes on Lavender

I bought a scanner to take digital images of my small paintings, but it picks up a lot more of the canvas texture than a photograph does.  I can get rid of some of the excess texture by blurring the photo, but then I have a blurry photo.  Oh well.
I like the spot of light and dark and turquoise in the upper left hand corner.  It keeps the painting from being all about the lavender.