Framing for the Show

Fresh Air

These last few months we have been traveling all around the country. We have seen so many beautiful things but there is beauty just around the corner too. It was so nice to be outside this weekend.

The Case for Mini's

I love doing small paintings. They are a wonderful way to explore an idea or object without delving into a larger work immediately. They also serves as a warm up before approaching a larger work already in progress. Here is my latest little mini-series.

Grapes and Tangerines in Blue Bowl 5 x 5

Blueberries and Lemons 6 x 8 

Tangerines and Grapes 6 x 8

Exploring new ideas

It is a new year and time for some new things. Over the last 25 years I have always loved drawing figure and have done loose gestures as a warm-up. The drawings end up in bins at my galleries and people have loved them. These works are larger versions on oil primed linen. Initially I put down a loose charcoal sketch then seal it with spray retouch varnish. When it is dry I come back on top with a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine. I use a soft viva towel like an eraser to soften and blend.

New Series

I have started new series from personal references I have the last few years. This is the first of the series "Evening Sky - Drifting Mist" 40 x 30. The location is the family farm July 4th. We had been shooting fireworks with the kids and I was shooting photos even though I had forgotten my tripod. So all the images are soft and fuzzy. That is the interpretation for this work.

Fall Approaching

As the seasons change so does then subject matter for my still lifes. My husband and I frequent his family farm in western Tennessee. It is a rich source of subject matter particularly the cotton fields. I pick the ripe open bolls and the this year for the first time I harvested some of the unopened ones. They are beautiful. The unripened boll is a beautiful shade of purple with shades of rich green. The leaves cupping the bolls are wispy and soft like tender feathers. This was the first time I tried to capture them.

Cotton Bouquet  - 12 x 12 Oil on Linen Panel

Spring Still Lifes

This spring I have continued to explore still lifes both outdoors and in the studio. My focus has been on a particular flower the peony. It has a short season here isn Arkansas and the beautiful shapes must be captured very quickly they change constantly and last maybe two days in a still life setup. Edges are very important on these florals and expressive texture.

Last Peony Pose 18 x 24 Oil on Linen

Peonies and Nectarine 20 x 16 Oil on Linen