Two Pink Roses Square Glass on Gray SOLD

These delicate single pink roses are blooming on shoots of the rootstock that our species roses are grafted onto.  The rootstock is probably Rosa Canensis, or dog rose.  A very prosaic name for such a lovely rose.  I like how the gray background contrasts with the pink.

White Pitcher Blue Saucer Red Cherries

Another painting of cherries.  I put a narrow piece of cardboard between the light and the still life subject and this threw a shadow across the back of the still life.  This made the objects in the light more contrasted and the objects in shadow less contrasted.  It gives a sort of atmospheric perspective in a very short space. 

White Cup Cherries on Gold

I kept the palette simple to unify the composition. This still life is toplit, so the rim of the cup and the tabletop are light. And the light is reflected back up under the cup and under the cherries too.

Seabold Hall Bainbridge Island SOLD

Done at a class on Bainbridge Island at Seabold Hall.  This is the building in which the class was held.  I painted quickly but chased a few shadows across the page.  I am fond of the patch of blue sky in the trees;  I kept it dark so that it reads as part of the background.  After I finished I realized that the peak of the roof should not have been on the edge of the canvas. 

Two Sailboats

Two sailboats silhouetted against the dark green hill of Maury Island near Dockton, Washington.  Late afternoon sun casts a yellow light on the sailboat, and turns the shadows lavender. 

Pt. Robinson Lighthouse with driftwood SOLD

The old Point Robinson lighthouse on Vashon Island sits low on the beach close to the point.   There is an ugly modern tower just to the left of this view but it didn't seem to go with the mood of the painting so I left it out.  This July 4 is the low tide festival this year --between 10 and 3 the lowest tides of the year will uncover rocks, sandbars, and tidepools that are not visible for the rest of the year.

Yellow Centered Jonquil Charcoal Wall

Another jonquil painting from this spring.  I like to paint flowers with simple structure.  Also, jonquils hold their petals for several days as cut flowers.  I like the strong turquoise and charcoal colors.

Jonquil with Vertical Blue and Turquoise

This was painted this spring when the orange centered jonquils were blooming.  I have discovered I really like blue and white together.  The smidgeon of orange and green and gold  contrast with the dominant blues and make them seem even bluer.   

Single Cow SOLD

A very simplified background with sharp light outlining the cow's back and head.  I especially like the streak of orange in the background.

Cherries Cup and Bowl SOLD

A study in black and white and gray with some tasty cherries thrown in.  I especially like the white bowl which is painted light gray except for a few strokes on the rim of the bowl.  But it still reads as white!

Tall Silver Bowl Three Cherries

Another painting of cherries again on gessoboard.  Although the surface is smooth, it creates texture by showing every detail of every brush stroke.  I like the suggestion of shine and reflection. 

Three Red Cherries, Black ,White, Gray

I found cherries in the store and managed to paint a few paintings before I ate all the cherries.    This is smooth gessoboard rather than Raymar panel; the brush strokes are more apparent and maybe a little looser.  It also makes it easy to wipe out an area because there is no texture to hold pigment.

Twisp River Trees

Last fall on a visit to the east side of the Cascades we drove up the Methow Valley and found this stand of golden trees near Twisp.  It was a perfect fall day with warm sun shining through golden leaves.  The next day was overcast and rainy, and snow was falling in the passes as we scooted home before winter.  This painting is in my show in Anchorage this June at the Artique Ltd Gallery.

Nason Creek Fallen Log SOLD

A view of Nason Creek near Lake Wenatchee.  Low angled sun breaks through the spot where the tree has fallen.  This painting is in my show at the Artique Gallery in Anchorage this June.

Near Chiniak SOLD

View of a tidal creek on the road to Chiniak on Kodiak Island.  A very cool and misty scene with lush green grasses and very gray sand.  This painting is in my show at the Artique Gallery in Anchorage this month (June)

White Sand Beach SOLD

The white sand beach is at the end of the road at Monashka Bay on Kodiak.  Late afternoon sun turns the mountain pinkish orange.  This painting will be in my show at the ArtiqueLtd Gallery in Anchorage in June.

Ninilchik Church with Gold Fireweed SOLD

A view of the Russian Orthodox church in Ninilchik Alaska with autumn fireweed turning reddish gold.  This painting will be in a show in the Artique Ltd gallery in Anchorage in June. 

Near Slana

A view of the Copper River drainage along the Alaska Highway, somewhere between Slana and Tok.  Fall colors turn the hills red and purple and gold.   This painting will be in my show at the Artique Ltd. Gallery in Anchorage, Alaska in June.

Near Eklutna

Late afternoon of a day's fishing near Eklutna.   This painting will be in my June show at the Artique Ltd. Gallery in Anchorage.

Nabesna Road View

A view of the mountains seen from the Nabesna Road in the interior of Alaska.  The area is part of the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. This painting will be part of a show at the Artique Ltd. Gallery in Anchorage Alaska in June.

Near Island Meadow SOLD

Near Island is next to the town of Kodiak, where we used to live, and is connected to the town by a tall bridge.  It's a perfect place to picnic and stroll on a sunny day.  This painting will be in my June show at the ArtiqueLtd gallery in Anchorage AK.

Columbia River Sunset

This is a view of the Columbia River somewhere near Kalama, Washington - just a quick glimpse seen from the highway late in the day.  This painting will be in my June show at the ArtiqueLtd. gallery in Anchorage Alaska. 

One Red Apple on Gray

This was painted in a workshop taught by Carol Marine.  The object was to paint a very quick study.  The beauty of painting quickly is that it forces you to abandon detail and see the larger shapes and values, and to loosen your brushstrokes.   Even with time constraints, I still managed to get some lovely reflected lights into the underside of the apple.  I like the colors, too. 

Three Cherries on White SOLD

This is another painting that I reworked.  The background was crowding the cherries so I simplified it and pushed it back.  It's fun to look back and "correct" unsuccessful images.  It gives me a feeling of accomplishment - one of those UFP's resolved.

Red Pepper on Black and White SOLD

I've worked on this painting several times.  It's really a very simple painting but I just couldn't get it right.  I finally decided to completely neutralize the background - I've made it black and white and shades of gray. That contrast made the red pepper much more dramatic and important.  The background was originally reddish - I like how the red tone breaks through the newly painted whites and grays in several places. 

Silver Bowl Tangerines on Lavender and Pink SOLD

The light is coming from the side and creating interesting shadows and reflections on the tangerines.  But the reflection in the bowl is simplified by being just one thing instead of three separate objects.  I like the little touches of blue in the reflection- they add excitement.

Window in the Green Room SOLD

This is an interior view of the Green Room in the White House, painted for the Daily Paintworks Challenge.  The subject was taken from a Google tour of the White House.    Click here to see other entries in the Daily Paint Works White House challenge.  The challenges are a fun way to share and to learn from other artists across the country.

Silver Bowl Tangerines on Blue

The colors in this paintings are complementary - orange and blue.  And the neutralized greenish tones on the wall are a mix of the two colors, which adds harmony. There is a lot of medium value, a small amount of dark and the smallest amount of light value. The main subject of the painting is  two and a half tangerines -  divided into two unequal groups.  The reflection is subordinated to the tangerines,  The reflection is simplified as one shape, reduced in value and reduced in saturation. I like the shape of the metal bowl - it makes good reflections.

Window in the Red Room SOLD

This is an interior view of the Red Room in the White House, painted for the Daily Paintworks Challenge.  The subject was taken from a Google tour of the White House.   Click here to see other submissions for the White House Challenge.    The challenges are a fun way to share and to learn from other artists across the country.

Silver Bowl Tangerines on Magenta

This feels luscious - lots of saturated colors, all reflected in a shiny silver bowl.  The areas of gray and charcoal make the colors more interesting by adding contrast.  I like the shadow in the foreground that is magenta on the pink table cover and turns to blue on the gray table cover. 

Single Daffodil Orange Strip SOLD

Another daffodil, this time in a vertical format.  I like how the silhouette of the daffodil breaks up the background into interesting shapes.