Thursday, January 31, 2013

A Midsummer's Eve



6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel
with Palette Knife
$50.00 + Shipping
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Summer evenings are magical times. As the setting sun casts cool colors on the countryside, the fireflies come out to play. This is a 6x6 version of a favorite painting I made this past summer. It think it is a fitting image to end this 30 paintings journey. As the project comes to a close, I look at what has happened over the last 30 days with amazement and gratitude. 

I am grateful to my family for their patience and support. I'm grateful for Leslie Saeta for initiating the challenge. Most importantly, I'm grateful for all of you. Your interest in my work is cherished more than you will ever know.

I have a feeling there may be many more of these little paintings to come. There is so much more I want to try to paint. There are still plenty of conceptual pieces I plan to paint as well. Tomorrow is new day. I wonder what new things that day will bring.



Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Pick Me



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




I almost forgot that I wanted to paint this little pumpkin for the 30 in 30 challenge. I picked it out at a local farm last fall. I love pumpkin picking, especially straight from the patch. Geeking out as an artist, I feel like a master sculptor looking for the perfect muse—waiting to be freed. When I picked this pumpkin, I knew that it could make a nice painting. Almost forgotten until today, my pumpkin has become my artistic muse once again.


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Blue Heron



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




The Great Blue Heron will always hold a special place in my heart. On the day that my son was born, the bird mysteriously showed up in a field that backed up to my yard. Ever since then,  the Great Blue Heron has made his presence known around milestones in my son's life. This graceful creature reminds me that my son is part of a larger community, and belongs to someone greater than all of us.


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