Christmas Truck

6 x 6

oil on panel

sold

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

"Frida"

12 x 12

oil with acrylic border

sold

We are still so astonished by the hospitality of the entire town of San Angelo during the recent EnPleinAirTexas show, especially the gracious hosts that housed us for the week. I wish I could share with you their spectacular house, decorated entirely with Mexican folk art. As a thank you I have painted this portrait of Frida Kahlo. If you are not familiar with her, please google and find out about her life...she's a real legend in the Mexican culture. Believe me, this will not be the only Frida in our host's home! I'm sure I saw dozens there!

The portrait is painted in oil with the frame-border serape design in acrylic. 

Thank you Lori and Pat for your hospitality! 

"San Angelo Collage"

Here is a "taste" of the paintings I had in the San Angelo En Plein Air Competition Show. Wow, what a week we had here in West Texas. This was the inaugural event and because of the outstanding promotions, organization, sales and acceptance from the community, I feel sure this will be an annual event.  Feel very fortunate to have been in the show with so many talented artists from around the country, even France. Next goal...getting accepted in the judging next year!

The first day as I was painting the above train, I was approached by a local news agency, interviewed, and was featured on the evening TV news. How cool is that!

All the artists were wined, dined and introduced to the entire area by way of planned paint out locations, including the downtown area which includes the Concho River and Fort Concho, beautiful residential area with homes dated from the early 1900's at the time of the Santa Rita oil discovery, a beautiful winery in the small community of Christoval, and two days of painting on area ranches (truly West Texas country). Think rocky terrain, live oak and mesquite trees, cattle, goats, cactus, oil and gas wells, lots of areas only approachable with a four-wheeler.

All in all, a fantastic week of painting, meeting all the West Texas charming people of San Angelo, and mixing with fabulous artists from around the country.
I'm sure I'll be posting lots more about this first time event!

"Play Ball"

12 x 12 x 2

oil on stretched gallery canvas
sold

This is a donation for auction to Treasure Street, benefiting the Scottish Rite Hospital here in Dallas. The hospital does wonders for children with disabilities, which is especially dear to my heart since I had a brother who was a paraplegic all of his life. He was the director for Easter Seals in his area and always gave more than he received. He was very active in promoting handicap access to public buildings, and I always think of him when I see ramps and cuts in sidewalk curbs. Hope this little "eager to play puppy" will be of some help for a very deserving child.

Thinking of you, Buddy, love you and miss you!

"Dog Days of Summer"

4 1/2 x 12

oil on canvas

Purchase

Something a little different...have a Happy Labor Day Weekend! 

"Creek Bed Discoveries"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas
sold

A good part of the fun in painting is trying to capture the feeling that you had the first time you see a scene that intrigues you, and trying to keep that freshness that drew you in, in the first place. I was driving across a country bridge when I spotted these two boys, stopped the car and took a couple of photographs, thinking about how much fun they were having on this summer afternoon without a care in the world. Then there were screeching tires, and a mom yelling that she had been looking all over for them, get home immediately. Oh well, end of their fun....and mine too!

"Happy Hours"

9x12

oil on canvas panel

sold

This is a commission painting that I did for a client in Monteagle, Tn. "Happy Hours" is the name of this summer home, and seemed very appropriate to paint over the fourth of July weekend. Can't you just imagine the fun times this family has on that screened-in porch. 

If you are interested in seeing a great youtube about Monteagle, here is a link to the video that my husband put together after his photography workshop there. Photos are his students as well as some of his own taken during the week we were there. Enjoy the music as well as the photos!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kioriYtmKKs  

"Orange and Sunflowers"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Sold

I've been concentrating on plein air paintings so much lately, it was nice to do something different. 

I have an upcoming plein air competition event this fall so will still be getting ready for that, but hope to do more fun pieces like this as well...altho, believe it or not, this too was painted outside from a still life set up. 

"Til The Cows Come Home"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Spotted these guys on a ranch outside of Dallas. Seems as they were very curious about me as I was determined to take their photograph. Found the back lighting on this late afternoon especially interesting. 

"White Rock Stables"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Had a great day out with some of my painting buddies for a day of plein air. White Rock Lake in the middle of Dallas offers wonderful painting opportunities away from the hustle of city life, not only the lake and boats, but hiking and bike trails, and a real hidden jewel is the stables. 

Wasn't sure how this photo would turn out, seems I've misplaced my camera charger, so took this was taken with my iPhone camera. Think it's pretty close to the original painting. Have new batteries and charger ordered so will retake when they arrive and compare the two photos.

"Heidi"

9 x 12

oil on stretched canvas

commission, sold

Meet Heidi, a friend's Schnauzer, and truly the "queen bee" and love of her family. Guess most family pets fit into that category! I had a ton of photos to paint from, but knew immediately that this was the pose that stood out of all the rest. She does look very queenly and proud of herself, don't you think! 

"Power to the Bluebonnets"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Spring is the best time to head south of Dallas to the Palmer/Ennis area to find the bluebonnets in bloom. Met several other plein air painter friends there last week to capture the beauty of our Texas state flower in full bloom. The rancher whose house is in the background came out to visit with us just as we were setting up. There is a designated Bluebonnet Trail in this area and the property owners are more than generous and welcoming.

Someone said that if you are a painter and live it Texas, you HAVE to paint the bluebonnets...it's the law!!!

"Hill Country Shadows"

16 x 20

oil on canvas

The hill country in Central Texas offers the most beautiful views!

"Hillside Siesta"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Knew immediately as we rounded a corner on a country road in the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee that this "had" to be a painting. Sometimes scenes just "speak to you"...I love when that happens!

"South Rim"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

This is my first view of the South rim of the Grand Canyon. It is so spectacular, no one can prepare you for the vast beauty, ever changing with light movement. 

We visited this past fall, and would have loved to have lingered longer for more photos, but the winds were blowing at 40 mph which made the temps freezing cold. Definitely not a good idea for getting too close to the edge. 

It's been fun revisiting this day, but in a warm studio. Hope you enjoy!

Barn at White Rock Lake

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Painted this barn on Goforth in the White Rock Lake area this past Monday when the temps were in the 70's. Can't pass up a plein air day like that in January. Today we are in the 20's, and so goes Texas weather. And a big thank you to all the welcoming neighbors who came out to see what our group was painting.