"Beach Family"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Several weeks ago I discovered Karin Jarick's blog Different Strokes from Different Folks. Every two weeks Karin posts a photo for other artists to paint and submit their interpretation of her photo. This is my first entry to her site and look forward to seeing "what's next"! I have found the network and support of other artist on the web quite incredible.

"Red Peppers"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

There is a wealth of subjects to paint from the grocery store and I have done several new paintings after spending way too much time in the produce department, trying to decide what would look good on a canvas as well as on the dinner plate! These peppers became a delicious roasted red pepper soup!

"Annie and Bella"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Annie and Bella live in our neighborhood and "sit in the lap of luxury" as most of ours pets do! They were great models for their portraits.

"Rainy Days"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

I'm sure every artist is constantly trying to improve their style, and my attempt is always to "loosen up" my strokes, to have a more impressionistic, softer feel to the subject. When your natural instinct is to be detailed and linear, you keep that inner voice saying, "simplify, less is more, use those lost and found lines and minimal number of strokes". I think this background is getting "there"!

"The Reader"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Our granddaughter loves to read and never shows up at our house without a book. I loved capturing her at our breakfast room table one morning, the morning sunlight highlighting her features.

"Ready, Aim,..."

9 x 12

oil on masonite

If you are an artist viewing this, you know how sometimes you can work on a subject for hours just hoping to capture the moment, maybe even put the brushes down and try another day. Well, for some reason, this painting just "flew" onto the canvas. These are the times that keep bringing you back to the easel. I loved this moment when our oldest grandson was learning about gun safety from his father and uncle...the first BB gun shot.

My first blog entry!

Here are two street artists from the Montmartre area in Paris. A couple of years ago my husband and I were touring the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and afterwards walked through the town square in the village of Montmarte. It was filled with artists at work, some painting from photographs and others using live models. I thought these paintings captured the Bohemian lifestyle of the French art colony. They are both 8x10 on gessoed masonite.