Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Knowing Hands

Lovely knowing hands hold a stack of small papers (photos, perhaps). They have so much to tell--many stitches they have sewn, brows they have caressed, foods they have lovingly created. They hold a place of honor and respect.

11" x 14" 
Watercolor on paper
$450 (framed)

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Love Reaches For Me

I love to jump from a serious painting to one a little more light hearted and intuitive in nature. Someone asked me recently "what exactly is your style?" I guess I have multiple styles and that all these images represent the multiple moods and emotions. A rather perceptive acquaintance once told me that they could see the same rhythm and flow in my work no matter what the subject matter or style. Even the master painter's work represents this evolution and dichotomy of style. I find myself attracted to diverse aspects of many different paintings. Such as, the beauty and luminosity of Lord Leighton's draped figure: "Solitude", to Van Gogh's heralding of modern art

8.5" x 11.5"
Mixed media on paper
Sold

Emergent Growth

I was told that grapes represent vitality and long life, and so the picker's hand emerges from the vines. Could this be seen as something much deeper -- the divinity we hold within? I try not to verbally define it too much, allowing for the viewers own interpretation.
16" x 20"
mixed media on paper
$600 (framed)

Monday, November 12, 2007

Morning Fog

It's getting on about sunrise in the Pacific Northwest. The fog lightly dusts the treetops, while the sunlight gets tangled in the moisture there. The air is crisp, the water is a melodious tone of blue and gold and pink. An ethereal glow cloaks the landscape.

11" x 14" 
Watercolor
- SOLD -

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Valley Vineyard

Beyond the hills from where I live, the hillsides are lush with vineyards. The viticulture regions are growing as fast as the vines that cover them. Many wineries sit in the midst of these gregarious vines, welcoming many visitors. This one in particular, with it's serene landscape greets the gentle river as it laces throughout the other surrounding hills. My "backyard" is quite welcoming.

My dear friend Joline has found a space for this painting in her home. The golds and russet colors will harmonize well there. Coming from a farmland home in Nebraska, I am sure she is drawn to the earthy farming qualities it portrays.

18” x 24”
Oil on canvas
SOLD

Monday, October 15, 2007

Mystic Dancing River

From the local scenery series... as I traveled along the banks of the Yakima River, the beauty of the Autumn season surrounded me. The trees were filled with birds spreading wide their wings, a white Egret perches on the sandbar. This image is of a restful, idyllic afternoon along the banks of the "Mystic Dancing River" -- title is from Hiawatha's poem by Robert Lewis Stevenson.

18" x 24"
Oil on Canvas
available for sale

Friday, October 12, 2007

Blades of Scented Grasses

This is another painting in my local scenery series. I spent an afternoon last autumn taking photographs along the Yakima River which runs parallel to Benton City (up the road about 10 minutes). Elements from several photos were merged together to create this landscape. It has a very soft and welcoming quality.

18" x 24"
Oil on canvas
available for sale

Thursday, October 11, 2007

River Bend

A crisp Autumn day was the perfect time to attend a plein air workshop at the Cave B Winery in George, Washington. I awoke to the scent of freshly brewed coffee, while swaddled in down comforter, head resting upon pillows so full and delightful. While out-of-doors, I was greeted by the scent of the grapes after harvest and during crush, the beautiful sunrises, and the fantastic company.

8" x 24"
Oil on gallery wrap canvas
$525

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Radiance

Inspiration comes in many forms. I came across this bust of a Grecian maiden while traveling with my sister. Once settled in the studio, it brought about this visage of "Radiance". She was born around the holidays--her colors of pale golds, reds and soft blues heighten the sense of peace and serenity.

12" x 12"
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
$315

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Merlot

A cluster of red grapes, burgeoning with juice and sweetness, are revealed from the shadowy background. They were painted from a still life, focusing on chiarascuro (light/dark).
5” x 7”
Oil on Board
SOLD

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Crowns of Gold

These magnificent heads signal the bounty of harvest, and a time of transition. Like a lion’s mane, the golden petals surround the tapestry of seeds at the center. My mentor says to explore series development and exhaust personal themes. Therefore, this is the tenth sunflower painting to come off my easel. They are more than simple floral paintings. They are yin and yang, my roots--growing deep.

16" x 20"
Oil on board
$580

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Chaos Series II - Leaf

Having fun with golds and black backgrounds - eventually warmed into deep prussian blues. I started with a leaf gathered on the morning walk, it's outline formed on the canvas. From there, abstract, flowing lines filled with color completed the small painting.
8x8 inches
Acrylic on canvas
$135

Chaos Series I - Leaf

Here is a short series I did of small, intuitive painting based on leaf forms. This was the initial painting. Another will be posted soon.

8" x 8"
Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas
$135

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Tulip Montage

This series of 5 interconnected canvases began as separate paintings in my springtime tulip series. They evolved into a unified montage of color & overlapping images--my first painted canvas "sculpture". I love it's motion and mystery.

24" x 24" edge to edge pentaptych
Acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Solitude

On a bed of green cloth, the tomato rests…relishing a future of salsa and sauces. This signals the continuation of a "daily" painting process I began last Fall. I seem to settle more deeply in the studio this time of year. Look for more quick studies and some more-involved still lifes in the days to come.

6” x 6”, Oil on board, SOLD

Monday, September 24, 2007

Bird Woman


Modeled loosely after a grandmother named Tempest, she mysteriously forms from the vapors. Yet the title suggests a correlation to Lewis and Clark's bird woman. Her golds and magentas dance lightly on the surface of the board.
8" x 10"
Mixed media on board
SOLD

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Inner Journey

This painting has gone through several versions and titles, arriving at its present state after I spattered gold paint from atop a ladder to add brighteness. Intertwined with symbolism, its story is deep and emotional, which I will let the viewer discover and interpret for themselves.
24" x 36"
Acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Friday, September 21, 2007

Bacchus

Adorned with a halo of grapes and holding a goblet reminiscent of Michelangelo's sculpture of the same name, this god of wine was modeled after a Grecian bust I have in the studio. The image was used to promote this year's Legends Gala--a fund raiser for the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center. It was auctioned at the event, and purchased by the Williams family. They have it on display in their Kiona Winery.
18" x 24"
Oil on canvas
Sold

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Granny Smith and Friends

Do you think that fruit has a personality? While painting this family of apples, I envisioned which was the father, mother, rebellious teenager and what feelings they might portray? What do you see?
16" x 20"
Acrylic on canvas
$630

Monday, September 17, 2007

Sea Side Stroll

On a windy day in Lincoln City, Oregon, an intimate couple bows forward as they walk into the wind. This small watercolor was created as a study for a future larger piece. I am revisiting this image, painted 2 years ago as a 5x7 oil painting.

2"x 11"
Watercolor on paper
SOLD 
prints available

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Transitions

Two bow low, as though honoring or releasing, while one earnestly reaches up. This trio of sunflowers signal change and transition.
Conjoined Triptycht: Each canvas 10"x20"
acrylic on gallery wrap canvas
SOLD