"Basket of Cuties"

16 x 20

Oil on stretched canvas

purchase through Daily Paintworks

Happy New Year!

This hand woven basket of cuties and the pair of vine tomatoes were on my kitchen counter and caught my eye when the sun was "just right" for capturing the afternoon light. Love it when a painting "just happens"!
(The sides of this canvas is also painted allowing you to enjoy the painting without a frame.)

"First Christmas"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season.

"Ready To Set Sail"

11 x 14

oil on canvas panel

purchase on Daily Paintworks

There are no motor boats allowed on White Rock Lake in Dallas, so here you will find tons of sailboats in the various sailing clubs. Loved this anchored boat in the calm waters waiting for the wind to pick up. No wind, no sailing!

"Mountain Guard"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

purchase through DailyPaintworks
sold

A lone cowboy stands guard overlooking a mountain range. I actually spotted this cowboy at the cattle drive in the Ft. Worth Stockyards and just substituted the Stockyard buildings for the mountains. 

"Pelican Point"

9x12

oil on gesso board
sold

Headed to White Rock Lake early Monday morning to paint with our plein air group, driving in the most beautiful hazy fog. I arrived at this cove where you could see nothing but shades of gray with the dark outline of the trees and a few of the fall colors peeking through the mist. By the time we unloaded our cars and were set up to paint, we were greeted with this clear sunny day. There were numerous pelicans just off to the left, thus the name, Pelican Point.

"October Color"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard
sold

Painted this en plein air on a recent trip to Tennessee. Happy Halloween!

Cochran Home, 1895

11 x14

oil on canvas board

The oldest deeded church in Dallas County is the Cochran Chapel Methodist Church and on the church property still stands the original Cochran home that was built in 1895. Our Monday plein air group that paints historical sites in Dallas chose this site this past week. Lots of history on this small corner lot that also includes the family cemetery. 

By the way, thanks to my friend Carol who reminded me that I'm not posting very often these days. Still painting a lot, just dragging my heels on current post...will try to do better. Thanks to all who keep up with my work on this blog!  

" I Haul Bulls For A Livin' "

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

Love going to the farmer's market in small towns! Early Sunday morning in Monteagle, Tn. is the best time to find great character studies. This was the most charming gentleman who seemed thrilled to find out that we were from Texas and proceeded to tell me how he hauled bulls between all the rodeos in our area. Never really thought about how those bulls moved around...now I know! 

"Side by Side"

9 x 12

oil on panel painted in plein air
sold

We have just returned from a "perfect" week in the Smoky Mountains staying in an old Victorian home in Monteagle, Tennessee, with homes built in the late 1800's, early 1900's. The Fall colors were just beginning to turn while we were there..breathtaking.  The blue Adirondac chairs were the first plein air painting of the week. A lovely little gallery there, called The Gallery, has just started showing some of my Monteagle paintings from previous trips and I'm happy to say that two sold the first week. The ones that have found new homes are "Caged In" and "Monteagle Garden" and are shown left and right...

"Mission San Jose"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

plein air

Mission San Jose is the largest of the San Antonio missions and is considered "Queen of the Missions", founded in 1720 and restored in 1930. I'm ready to put my name on the list for another OPS paint out in San Antonio! Be sure and watch the youtube about the weekend that my husband put together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8iJYaIIgrg 

"Mission Espada"

9 x 12 plein air

oil on hardboard

Just got back from an Outdoor Painter's Society paint out in San Antonio. Had the joy of seeing, and painting, a few of these beautiful old missions. This is the first painting I did of the San Jose Mission, dated 1731. It is the southernmost mission along the San Antonio River trail of the five missions .

"Teepee Village"

9 x 12

oil on canvas board, en plein air
sold

Right next to the condos where we were staying in Estes Park, CO is this campground with teepees. Yes, there actually were people staying in them! Loved seeing these Indian tents set amongst the pine trees with the Rockies in the background. If you are a regular visitor to Estes Park, I'm sure you have seen these tepees near one of the entrances to the national park.

"Rockies at the YMCA'

9 x 12

oil on hardboard, plein air

Found this grouping of mountain foliage near the YMCA camp just west of Estes Park, CO. 

"Taos Adobe"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard, painted en plein air
Available at Adobe Western Art Gallery

We have just retuned from a wonderful two weeks vacation, first in Northern New Mexico, followed by a week in Estes Park, Co. Perfect time to escape the Texas heat. This is one of my plein air paintings in Taos, just around the corner from the house we rented. 

"Bambi"

6 x 6

oil on hardboard

sold

Bambi is a friend's "grand dog" and reminds me so much of our last pet. Still miss seeing those eyes looking up at you every day!

Hill Country Ranch

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

sold

This is a commission painted from a photograph of the client's Texas Hill Country Ranch. Can't get any more central Texas than bluebonnets, cactus, and rocky hills. Having the lake on the property is an added bonus.  

Texas Cowboy

oil on hardboard

sold

This was painted some time ago for a project in the Dallas Arts District. Because of it's shape, I thought it would be perfect for my Facebook cover page. Like it also because my husband was kind enough to pose for me, well, sorta made some changes, I added the mustache and dark hair. It has recently sold to a new Texan, moving here from out of state. Welcome to the Lone Star State!

"Naptime"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

purchase on DailyPaintworks

On our recent trip to Tennessee, we had the most fun with this yellow cat. It kept appearing on our porch, even though we made numerous attempts to return it to it's home across the complex. It would follow us on long walks just like a puppy, and thinking we had finally convinced it to go home, there it was when we returned, back on the porch taking a nap!

"Butterfly House"

8 x 10

oil on panel

Purchase through DailyPaintworks 

Another Monday painting with the Tutti I Lunedi group, and this week we went to the State Thomas District of Dallas, one of the largest collections of Victorian era homes in our area. I was attracted to the beautiful array of foliage and flowering plants in front of the "butterfly house".  The house had recently been featured in our local paper, a fact we weren't aware of until the owner came out to see what we were up to. We were rewarded with a tour of the house when we finished painting! Win, win...painting and a house tour in one stop!

"Highland Park Presbyterian Church"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard en plein air
sold

Joined the very talented plein air group, Tutti I Lunedi, on Monday to paint this well know Dallas church. I am amazed at all the Dallas landmarks they have captured in their outings.  

"Monteagle, Tennessee Paintings"

"Screen Porch"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

sold

Have just returned from a wonderful week in Monteagle, Tennessee, staying in a friend's 1907 summer Victorian home at the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (MSSA).  The entire area is filled with homes with these wonderful wrap-a-round porches with wicker furniture and blooming flowers, all nestled among these towering trees. If you ever get stressed, you can close your eyes and dream of "rockin" on one of these porches, a real step back in time! Following are the three paintings I did en plein air while at the Assembly.

"Hill Top Manor" painted en plein air

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

This house was near Moses Rock which was the original water supply back in the late 1800's, now I'm happy to say that there is running water in each house, along with air conditioning and all the other modern conveniences.

"Juniata Creek" painted en plein air

9 x 12

oil on canvas covered hardboard

These creek beds run all through the Assembly and have these wonderful old stone bridges that cross them for foot traffic as well as bikes and cars...oh yes, and golf carts.

"Millie's Garden" painted en plein air

9 x 12

oil on canvas covered hardboard

sold

The flowers throughout the Assembly were spectacular, a photograph or painting everywhere you looked.

"Summer Cabin"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas
sold

On our last trip to Estes Park, Colorado, our friends we were traveling with took us by this mountain cabin. Many fond memories were formed here where he spent each summer as a young boy vacationing with his family. We never know the impressions we make on our children, but this is definitely one that has lasted a life time.

"Hill Country Tractor"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

What is it about tractors that we find so intriguing? Maybe they wouldn't be so appealing if we actually had to use one for work! Saw this one last year on an OPS painting trip in Fredericksburg, Texas.

"Ready For Work"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard panel-$95
sold

Last summer in Estes Park, Colorado I saw these two trucks every day backed into the lot across from our condo where we were staying. The late afternoon sun gave them a personality of their own which was only enhanced by the dirt and rusty bumpers.

"First Light"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard panel

This was painted from an early morning walk in the Texas Hill Country, catching the sun's first rays through the trees and on the new Spring grasses.

Have added several paintings to the Daily Paintworks site, be sure and check them out on the right of this page.

"Bark 2"

6 x 6

oil on hardboard

sold

Number two in the "bark" series! Fine myself looking at dogs differently these days... 

"Bark 1"

6 x 6

oil on hardboard

I know, this is a switch from my recent plein air paintings. Thought I'd have some fun with some dog protraits and hope to do a series of "bark" paintings, so they will have numbers instead of names for these cute little guys! Look for them to be available on Daily Paintworks.

"Reflections"

9 x 12

oil on canvas hardboard

What a way to start the weekend, en plein air with three painting buddies at Curtis Park in University Park!

"White Rock Meadow"

9 x 12

oil on canvas hardboard

available at Southwest Gallery

This is a heart stopping painting, or should I say nerve wracking better describes it! This past Saturday I participated in my first Quick Draw, which is a timed plein air paint out with lots of other artists. We all met at White Rock Lake and painted in the area for the two hour contest, quickly framed the piece and delivered it to the gallery which hosted the remainder of the Plein Air Southwest Salon juried show. It has been an honor for me to be accepted into this show with such an incredible list of fine artists from around the country. If you are in the area be sure to stop by the gallery to see the juried show as well as the special wall of quick draw paintings. 

"Texas Bluebonnets"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

In spite of our state's record setting heat wave and no rain last summer, we are being rewarded this spring with an incredibly beautiful crop of bluebonnets and other spring wildflowers. Will attach a couple of photos I took a little over a week ago along the 'bluebonnet trail' in Ennis, Texas, where the Outdoor Painters Society will have their April paint out in a couple of weeks. 

"Double Trouble"

11 x 14

oil on canvas covered hardboard 

click to bid

A couple of curious guys from a paint out near Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. 

"Lakeside at Cottonwood Park"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Saturday was a perfect plein air day and several friends met at Cottonwood Park to paint. A great way to start the weekend!

"Row Boat At Rest"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Headed to White Rock Lake in east Dallas for a little plein air and spotted this beached row boat "waiting to be painted". The wind picked up half way through the painting making me wonder if that's how the row boat ended up on dry ground...well maybe it wasn't that windy, but seemed like it at the time. 

I had been talking to a friend about the Anders Zorn limited palette of black, white, yellow ochre and cad red, so gave it a try with this, but did add a touch of viridian. Limited palettes can be very freeing!

"Spring Azaleas"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

Haven't painted this week with family here for Spring Break, so was delighted to have a friend put together a plein air group today...good timing...went straight to the park after a drop off at the airport. Dallas is so well known for our beautiful azaleas, especially at Turtle Creek where we met today. 

"Terlingua Ghost Town Chapel"

8 x 10

oil on canvas/hardboard

Many of the other stone buildings in Terlingua have been left to deteriorate while this chapel sits on a high hill as if to stand guard over the ghost town.

Big Bend Youtube

Thanks to my husband for putting together this great slideshow of our recent painting trip to Big Bend.

"Blue Door"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

One of the most unique and most isolated places in Big Bend is the Hot Springs area, complete with old adobe structures, palm trees, and old stone buildings like this one with the weathered blue door. Just down the path to the right is the Rio Grande and a 115 degree hot spring that is walled off just like a modern day hot tub, a favorite place for hikers and young children.

"Boquillas Canyon" in Big Bend National Park

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Have just returned from a paint out with the Outdoor Painters Society, all of the 28 attending artists making the long drive to The Big Bend National Park in far southwest Texas. On the first day we traveled over 30 miles into the park to Boquillas Canyon and had this fabulous view of the Rio Grand River separating the US from Mexico. I never dreamed there would be so much action in this remote part  of the world, hikers of course, but the Mexicans on horseback crossing the river about every hour to check on money that might have been left in the little craft areas they had set up on our side of the river. And then there was Victor standing on one of the large boulders on the Mexico side, serenading anyone who came into view in hopes of money being left in his cup on the US side. What an introduction to this part of the border!

"Duo"

 oil in 9 x 12 canvas sketchbook

Have been very remiss in posting lately, not sure why because I have been painting. Thought I would start with these two exercises from Bob Rohm's book "The Painterly Approach". If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it, especially if you are pursuing plein air painting. I have found lots of valuable information here, and practicing his exercises in my sketchbook has been extremely helpful. Here is a close up of the individual paintings.

 Love this hint of fall in the mountains! 

Reminds me of the Spring bluebonnets in Texas!

"Hill Country Sunset"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

This was painted from a plein air study from a trip to the Texas Hill Country just south of Glenrose. 

"Nash Farm Tractor"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

The Outdoor Painter's Society met for their monthly paint out in Grapevine, Texas yesterday and a big thanks goes to Randy Saffle for organizing the cold weather "paint in" with live models and still life setups, and also giving lots of suggestions for painting outside. Guess about half stayed inside while the other half painted outside in colder temps than we would have liked. This tractor was one of the many old pieces of farm equipment at Nash Farm, an old homestead preserved from the early settlement days of Grapevine.