"Patty Cake"

8 x 8

oil on hardboard
sold

I was out shopping yesterday and saw this adorable child with her grandmother, who I quickly asked if she minded if I take a photograph. Gave her one of my cards so she wouldn't think I was a stalker! But I was instantly taken in by this happy little girl, and with so much hair at such a young age. She immediately started playing "patty cake" when I took my camera out. Had never painted dark skin tones, so refered to Color Mixing Recipes by William F. Powell for a good formula. A great reference book if you haven't read it.

"The Gifts"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

This painting is a set up of two gifts from friends. The stein was a surprise from an artist friend who knows I like to paint still life's and the peaches were given to my husband by a friend at church. The terra cotta rim around the stein seemed to be a perfect match with the peaches.Thanks, Angela and  Sandy.

Postcard

Just had these new postcards printed at Vistaprint. Not quite the moo.com card but similar. I've had "writer's block" lately or do you call it "painter's block". I have been painting but not anything I wanted to post, you know, something that would come back to haunt me in a year or two!

"Fishing In Pagosa Springs"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

The Some Texas Artists Like to Paint blog has a different theme each month and for September it's "fish". Not having any idea what I would contribute, I looked through some past photographs and found this, a guy fishing in the stream in downtown Pagosa Springs. We were fortunate to spend a week with friends in Colorado last year and I remember snapping this photo from a bridge along the river walk. Thought the overhead view and foreshortened figure looked a little abstract amidst the water and rocks.

"Morning Fruit"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

Some of the best grapefruit comes from the Texas Rio Grande Valley. This half never made it back to the refrigerator!

"Brass Vase"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas
available at Dutch Art Gallery

I'm real excited about this painting! Have finally seen some results in this still life in trying to achieve a looser style. I really don't know why that is so hard for some of us. Maybe it helped that I had a lot of time to "think" about this painting. Everything for this still life was set up at the end of last week, when I got a call from the painter ready to repair the ceiling in the breakfast room where I have my "studio" set up. We had had one of those "pesky little step through the ceiling accidents". So, the vegetables go back in the refrigerator until today, repairs done and it's time to paint again. Had mentally painted this for a couple of days, reminding myself to first block everything in very loosely with a large fan brush. My husband says golf is so hard and challenging because there's so much to remember and think about. Painting is just like that!

"Talavera Sunflowers"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas
available at Dutch Art Gallery

This is a talavera jar that I usually keep small packages of smarties in for my grandchildren, but thought it looked perfect as a vase for these sunflowers. The peppers will go in shrimp and grits tonight, still enjoying the tastes of Charleston!

"Dreaming"

7 1/2 x 8

oil on hardboard

This month the theme for the blog Some Texas Artists Like To Paint is "dreams", and I have painted this picture of my granddaughter napping at age 3 (she's now 13). Be sure and check out what my fellow Texas artist friends are posting.

"Last Putt of the Day"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Another golf shot inspired by the recent British Open.

I have a good friend who just started her blog, check it out http://suethompsonpaints.blogspot.com/ and welcome her to our blogging community.

"In The Rough"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

sold

Thought this was a great shot from the recent British Open. My golfer husband said a better title would have been "Out of the Rough" if the player hit the ball correctly. Which ever is correct, you get the idea!

"Texas Star"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

sold

Texas is known as the Lone Star state, and I think the real star (besides the one on the flag) is the Texas cowboy.

"Sunflowers in Blue and White"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

sold

Thanks to Qiang Huang and his help in painting a blue and white vase in a recent workshop, I find I am now drawn to these china pieces more and more for use in still lifes. Having fresh sunflowers is an added bonus!

"Summer Table"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Had fun with this "summer" setup of sunflowers and watermelon! Reminds me of a previous painting I did of my grandson last year. Thanks for all of your previous comments, hope you are all having a great summer!

"Red, White and Blue"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

"Bowl Full Of Cherries"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

Old books and blue and white, some of my favorite things!

"Antique Book"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

sold

Enjoyed incorporating this old Shakespearean book, dated 1858, into this painting. It's a beautiful book with a gold embossed cover and spine, but is so fragile that just by opening it causes pages to loosen, so it's not handled very often.

"Surfing"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

There's a different kind of surfing going on at the beaches these days! This sun worshiper at Hilton Head Island was staying connected to the outside world by "surfing the internet".

"Hilton Head Beach"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

The beaches on Hilton Head Island were incredibly beautiful and pristine.

On another subject, my "Johnny Appleseed" painting has been purchased by the Toby Jug Museum in Evanston, Il. Check out the museum's site to learn more about the history of these unique ceramics.

"Beaufort Bay"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Just returned from a tour of the Low Country around Charleston and Savannah; loved everything we saw, but especially Beaufort, South Carolina. This is a view of the bay in Beaufort with the lush marshes in the foreground. These are the grasses that are used in the gullah baskets handwoven in the area. Beaufort was also one of the cities used in the filming of Forrest Gump.

"NEW BLOG"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

Some Texas Artists Like To Paint is a new blog that officially kicks off June 1, so I invite you to visit our new group of Texas artists who will paint a different assigned theme each month. Of course we had to start out with "anything Texas" for this first month. When I saw this longhorn steer skull hanging on the front of a bar-b-q joint in Glen Rose, Texas, I thought this had to be my first entry. The longhorn, the Lone Star flag, the weathered wood siding...all screamed TEXAS to me. So visit often and see the many interpretations that all the different artists have to share.

"Texas Pickup"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Don't you think the pickup truck should be the official Texas state vehicle! On the highway outside of Lampasas, I spotted this one with cactus planted in the bed of the truck and sitting in a field of spring wildflowers and bluebonnets.

"Out To Pasture"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas
sold

Spotted this old rusty tractor out in a field on the back roads of the Texas Hill Country. It might have been put out to pasture as a work horse, but it still holds lots of beauty for an artist's eye.

ACA Award "Santa Fe Vendor"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

The Dallas Associated Creative Artists (ACA) Annual Awards Show was last night and I feel very fortunate to have won one of the Merit Awards with my "Santa Fe Vendor" entry. He is a favorite of mine painted from a photo taken at the train station marketplace in Santa Fe. The show will hang at the Artist's Showplace for the month of May and I encourage anyone in the area to drop by to see some outstanding paintings. I'll attach my other two entries in the show.

11 x 14

"Johnny Appleseed"

sold

11 x 14

"Fruit Basket Turnover"

"Texas Pastures"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

A couple of weeks ago we were heading south on highway 281 in the Texas Hill Country and were awestruck when we saw these fields of yellow wildflowers. A quick u-turn produced this lazy afternoon scene.

"Copper Tray"

11 x 14 (canvas size)

oil on stretched canvas

Decided to post this most recent painting in the frame. We've been out of town and it was great to get back home to paint. While we were gone I ran across this copper tray at an estate sale. I could just picture it in a still life setting, so couldn't resist bringing it home.

"Copper Teapot"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas
sold

Just found this teapot at an estate sale, and the cantaloupe and grapes were a part of our dinner. My husband says he can't tell if I'm buying food to eat or to paint! How about both!

"Herbs"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

These parsley, rosemary, and basil plants were nice enough to "pose" for me before I repotted them! They will definitely end up in some summer dishes before long.

"Azalea Trail"

11 x 14

oil on hardboard

My second plein air painting! Our group went back to the Turtle Creek area in Dallas since the azaleas are in full bloom. There were only four of us today, but lots of fun to see the different interpretations of almost the same scene. I quit a little early to run out to SouthWest Galleries to see the plein air exhibit there. Be sure to go by if you are in the Dallas area.

"Pansies" and I'm a Winner!

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

The pansies this Spring have been "out of sight" beautiful! Hope they last a little longer, but I'm afraid they won't be happy with the approaching Texas heat.

On another note! Not long ago I discovered the wonderful artwork of Lisa Daria, and signed up to follow her blog. To my great surprise, this morning there was an email from Lisa announcing that in a drawing (by her dog, no less) that I had won her 300th daily painting. Check out her blog and enjoy her colorful, fresh style. Can't wait to receive my new painting...my birthday's next week, I'll consider it an early gift!!! Thank you, Lisa, and Brie (the dog)!!!

6 x 6 acrylic by Lisa Daria

Happy Easter

11 x 14

oil on canvas

Thought that I would paint something this week with an Easter theme, but never got around to it, so decided to post these bunnies that I painted over 20 years ago. Vladan Stiha (1908-1992) had a showroom at the LaFonda Hotel in Santa Fe and I remember being very inspired by his work. He mainly painted art of the Southwest but also created the most memorable works with ducks, and also rabbits. Thanks to Mr. Stiha for the inspiration for this Easter greeting to each of you!

"Fruit with Blue and White"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Since I collect a lot of blue and white china, it's always easy to find a piece or two worthy of incorporating into a painting.

"Chinese Bowl"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

sold

When our son was first married, he and his wife were lucky enough to make a trip to China. Before they left, my daughter in law asked if there was something special she could bring back for me, and I told her anything blue and white would be great. Well, to my surprise, she hand carried this beautiful bowl back home to me. It is one of my special treasures! Thanks, Mallory!

"Solo Daisy"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Just realized that I started this blog one year ago. It's been a great year for artistic growth and especially for meeting and connecting with other artists in the blogging community. Thanks to each of you who have been so loyal with your comments and the wealth of information that you are so willing to share. I appreciate your friendship more than you know!

"Grapes Galore"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Started this with the canvas primed with red, something I've done in the past, and like hints of the red background "peeking" through. Have you seen the price of grapes lately, wow!

"Flavors"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

Had fun painting all the layers of this purple onion, and do the green sprouts on the garlic mean that it's been "around too long"? Even so, I was happy to have that touch of green.

On another subject: Met a very talented artist, Carol Carmichael, at my last workshop and thought you would like to check out her new blog. Join me in welcoming her to the blogging community.

"Exall Lake"

9 x 12

oil on gessoed hardboard

Today was tailored made for plein air painting, which was fortunate because it was my first attempt. Perfect Spring temperature and very little wind...I think that's what makes for a good plein air day...that, and fun and creative artists to share the day with! Joined about 7-8 local painters who get together once a month at different locations around Dallas. Today they chose Exall lake, part of Turtle Creek in Highland Park, and also a popular picnic and walking area for locals since the late 1800's. Spring is definitely bursting out, starting with this flowering Bradford Pear tree. Will look forward to another outing with this talented group!

"Fruit Basket Turnover"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

Isn't "fruit basket turnover" a childhood game, it rings a bell with me from the past! Wanted to try one more still life after my workshop, but will now start thinking "plein air" since a local group has asked me to join them this weekend for one of the first outings this year. It will also be a first for me, so will have to downsize my gear from "u-haul" size to something I can carry!

"I'm Guarding The Fruit"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

sold

This ceramic rooster seems to be in charge of all the fruit!

"Qiang Huang Workshop # 3"

9 x 12

oil on stretched canvas

sold

The workshop with Qiang Huang has been a fantastic three days, all so well run...and filled with a wealth of information and hands on instruction. I would encourage anyone who has a chance to study with Qiang to not miss the opportunity. He is so well organized, very giving with his knowledge and has a gift for sharing his talent with each student. He is hoping to have his class demos posted to his blog within the next few days after he returns home. Be sure to check out his work. It is magical to see him "in action" at the easel!

"Qiang Huang Workshop #2"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

sold

Qiang paints the most beautiful roses and many in the workshop today requested that his demo include roses. So when it was time for the students to paint, I felt that I should follow his lead and give it a try. My hats off to all you floral painters! This was another great day in the workshop with lots of valuable information given in a power point presentation, followed by Qiang's demo and then the class doing a still life of their choosing from a number of available props.

Thanks to each of you who have shown interest in these workshop posts, hope to have one more post tomorrow after the last day of the class. It's been a blast!