Coming Soon!

I am excited to share that my work will be on exhibit in the 6 Inch Square Gallery Exhibit.

Fresh Air

6x6, pastel

Another day on the trail and observing the locals enjoying a hike.

Santiago Creek Trail

16x12, Pastel on Wallis, sold

This is a trail my husband and I take often.  It takes us to many trails in Santiago Oaks Regional Park.  Hiking has become one of our favorite past times together and this park is too.  It is a hidden jewel only 7 minutes from home.

With Thought of Bischoff

12x12, oil, sold

Sunday was the last day of the Bischoff show in Pasadena.  My husband and I drove up in the rain and the down pour on the way back.  It was a show I so enjoyed with some of the most beautiful rose painting s I have ever seen.  I went for the landscapes and was delighted with the roses.  Just a gorgeous exhibit.

Painting From Life

"Resting"

6x6 oil

"The Pose"

6x6 oil

TEXT

City Light

6x6, oil

This was a night scene in Chicago from one of our many walk about last summer on vacation.

Stood Up

12x9, oil

Spent a Saturday in Irvine at Art and Frame enjoying a wonderful model day.  I loved the pose.  It seemed a bit commercial and she looked stood up with distant thought.  I liked the gesture and the boots.  

Dazed

12x12, pastel

This was one that evolved with lots of changes along the way.

Blood Orange

6x6, oil, 

Available through the Randy Higbee Gallery

6"Square Exhibit and Sale, April 16 to May 6

We have blood oranges in our yard.  They are beautiful in color and tasty to eat.

Red House

6x6, pastel

Available through the Randy Higbee Gallery, Irvine, Ca.

6" Square Exhibit and Sale, April 16 to May 6

Another view of Crystal Cove and the Red house at the end.

Sold

Golden Hours

9x6, pastel

The hours in the late afternoon when everything is rich with color is called the golden hours.  It is like the curtain call before the end of a play.  I first heard this reference was from my son who studied film in college.  These are the hours when the light is doing all the work.  No need to fill or bounce.  It is cheaper too.  Less to rent.  

So as an artist I find light to be my best friend and at times my worst enemy.  In plein air it is hard to capture.  I need to take that mental picture and paint fast without losing my vision or concept which always involves the light.  In my studio it is a little easier to control, but again it effect what and how I see.  The best hours for me to paint in studio is morning.  Outside it is morning and afternoon, because mid day light can flatten contrasts.  Shadows are important in my painting and come into play early in the game.  I find I look for light always with her best friend shadow for a little drama.

Far Far Away

10x8, oil, $120.

Such a lovely girl.

Still

12x6, pastel

Being still for a model session always amazes me as I can't stay still for 30 minutes and that includes sleeping.  One thing that does happen to the model is the lack of expression.  To sit for a period of time takes it right out and I find the model is far far away in thought and separate from there bodies in a way.  The goal along with being a good model is to stay as still as possible.  I just find we lose just a little of that spark or spirit that as an artist I hope to bring to my painting.  Can't have it all.

When In Back Bay...

9x12, pastel

When I think of the back bay, I think of this bluff.  It jets out into the bay and can be seen from the south shore very well.

Good Afternoon

9x12, pastel

Enjoying the afternoon in Laguna is often spent by walking the park above the beach.  It is lush and a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the Laguna coastline.

Walking In The Back Bay

12x9, Pastel

Back bay has so many beautiful vistas.  I love paths to lead into a painting.

Weathered Charm

6x6, pastel

Available through the Randy Higbee Gallery, Irvine, Ca.

6" Square Exhibit and Sale, April 16 to May 6

Love going down to Crystal Cove.  Great place to paint and there is so much to paint and enjoy.

This is one of the old bungalows waiting refurbishing.  It is charming and right on the beach.  Someones dream vacation in weathered charm.

SWEET AND SOUR

8x6, oil, $90.00

Love this combination.  The flowers are so sweet to see, the lemon is sour on its way to lemonaid and both get me thinking spring.

ALTA'S

6x6, oil, $75.00

Alta's is the place to be if you are looking for a great cup of coffee,  They have great food and entertainment too.  They are located down on the Newport Peninsula at 506 31st.  I am looking forward to exhibiting my work at Alta Coffee in June and July.  

COUNTING FENCE POST II

12x18, pastel, framed and museum glass

Here is another pastel I did from a smaller oil I painted a few weeks ago.  

METABOLIC RUSH

12x12, pastel on wallis

I did this scene in oil in a 6x6 few weeks ago and thought I would try it in pastel with a cooler palette.  I am a heavy handed pastelist and tend to lay down color heavy with wide strokes.  My problem is then I want to fuss.  Yesterday I took this to a meeting of a group I belong to that is nurturing and filled with wonderful people.  The purpose of the group started with the idea of being a monthly critique.  So for years I have brought my work and enjoyed the feed back.  Along with the wonderful friendships that have been made.  

So I started this yesterday and did not feel done and everyone said stop.  It was fresh and loose with confident application.  I can be stubborn and insisted I needed to continue working.  Well I am here to say I liked it better before.  Mostly I liked the surface quality.  Lesson learned to sit with something that does not feel comfortable until it settles in and the wisdom shared is utilized to the best interest of the painting.  It made me think that I was not in the moment of what was happening before me and more lost in an idea or concept without a clear plan.  I think some call that noodling.