Monday, January 28, 2013

Smoky Mountain Stream


6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife
SOLD




A friend told me I should paint rocky streams form the Appalachians. Her suggestion reminded me of how much I love to paint rocks and water. Today's painting is from an image of a stream I took while hiking in the Smokey Mountains. I have painted it before with brushes, but this one is with the palette knife. Either way, I feel these mossy rocks are calling me back to to the mountains to paint plein air someday.


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Painting Petals



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife




Today, my daughter and I painted together. We found a photo that we took last summer of some wild petunias. She loved the color. I loved the cross-like symmetry of the leaves. She painted with acrylics and finished much faster and, in many ways, better than I. She came up with the title "Petals." It was a lot of fun, and great memories.








Saturday, January 26, 2013

Home



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife
SOLD



Every spring, from an upstairs bedroom window, we have the privilege of watching a family of birds make their nest and raise their young. With the birds, we wait over the nest. We watch the eggs hatch and the babies grow. One year, we were able to see them learn to fly. It is a special connection our two homes share.


Friday, January 25, 2013

Break of Day



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife
SOLD



Today's painting is inspired by a friend's in-flight photo of a sunrise over clouds. 
It reminds me of one of my favorite songs. 

“Sunrise in the morning.
Let all creation greet the dawn
And praise the Lord who created
Brother sun to open our eyes.
For all of us would be blind
If not for the light of the Lord.”
—John Michael Talbot based on writings of St Francis of Assisi


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Seaside Joy



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife




Our family loves the beach. We try to vacation there every year. There is something about the beach that just rejuvenates and livens the soul. As I long for the beach on this winter day, I painted an image of my youngest daughter splashing around on the shore. It sums up all of the feelings I love most about our vacations by the sea. 



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Going Swimming



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife

SOLD




By mid summer on the lake, the water temperature is perfect. Walking out onto a dock, you might find the lake calling you, with gentle ripples and sunny reflections, to go for a swim. And if you get in, you may never want to get out again.


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Cool Trees



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife
SOLD




Here is an impressionistic piece based on a favorite photograph I took while hiking in the fall. The shaded trees were a cool blue hue against a fiery backdrop of fall leaves. It was one of those scenes that I just knew would become a painting someday.