Daily Paintings in Pastel

surreal raven painting

2012-01-26T13:52:00.001-05:00

"Trapped"
12" x 12" acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas, finished sides

It doesn't need to be labeled as a surreal piece. I've seen ravens about this size in Arizona and New Mexico. The room could be smaller than an average room. But it is surreal in that it has a dream like quality.
I was stuck with this painting for a while because I couldn't decide if I should add more detail, but in the end I wanted to suggest a feeling rather than create a photo-real painting.

I seem to enjoy the concept of painting birds in chairs. My painting "Raven" is one you might also want to see.

(photo reference for room from Tulay Palaz)
Thanks to Chelsea for naming this painting ;-)
Next painting - some olives in pastel or possibly acrylic. Please stay tuned!

$200 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

fight SOPA

2012-01-18T00:53:00.004-05:00

5" by 7" daily painting, acrylic on clayboard
framed in black

This was my version of week 9's challenge at Different Strokes from Different Folks. In solidarity with Wikipedia and others of the 24 hour blackout I was going to post a black square. I remembered this painting and it seemed to be an appropriate alternative.
The colors are a tad washed out in this image. They are a bit more vibrant in person.
Wikipedia has a page open For more information on SOPA and PIPA here.

$150 with free shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Tabby Cat - custom pet portrait

2012-01-16T11:38:00.000-05:00

6 1/2" x 9" pastel painting

SOLD - commissioned

The commissions for pet portraits are coming in slow yet steady. I'm hoping for more!
The reference photo for this painting was small and provided less detail than I would have wanted but I was able to work it out. The eyes were so dark that I used my creative license to paint them. My favorite part of the painting is the front paw. It looks so soft and strokable.
My least favorite part was the heart. The customer wanted the words placed somewhere in the painting but the area was way too small to work in. A number of times my mantra was "I wish I used acrylics".

Order your pet portrait at pastelpup.com

Wrapped Bagel pastel

2012-01-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

5" x 7.5" daily pastel painting

unframed

The bagel painting is back in my possession and for sale. This is one of my favorites from a few years ago.
I hope everyone had a good beginning in the new year! I'm setting some new goals related to my work.

$110 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

dog portrait

2012-01-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

Mars in goggles
5" x 7" daily pastel painting
SOLD

Meet Mars! Mars is a family dog who lives in Arizona with my son Ben and his wife Samantha. He's a pure mutt. He's so mixed I doubt that any one knows which breeds are in his family tree. He's extremely sweet, tolerant and dumb and we love him!

I had a discussion with a fellow painter recently about finding or having found a niche in your art. I'm not quite sure I've found mine yet although the dogs in goggles theme is one which I've explored with much fun! I'm also working towards painting many more pets. Commissions have been steered my way and they are easily embraced because pets are just fun to paint.

If you are interested in owning a painting of your dog in 'goggles' and don't have the photo just send me a regular shot and I'll add the goggles as I did here. You can visit pastelpup.com to place an order of your dog in goggles or email me.

The Whistle

2012-01-06T19:36:00.002-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting, unframed

I have some WIP's I'm busy with so I decided to post one of my early paintings when I first joined the Daily Painters group online. This is a personal favorite.

$75 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

The Long Journey - ladybug painting

2012-01-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

'The Long Journey'
30" x22" acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas
painted sides - framing optional

I started this ladybug painting a few months ago but other work delayed the progress. I was excited to get back to it this week. I'm getting hooked on painting large again. I'm working on trying to balance all the painting I want to do from small pastels to commissioned work.

The price of the painting is $450.

I decided not to include a Paypal link because the shipping prices vary depending on the ship location, time, etc. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing this painting and I will get a shipping quote for you. Please include your zip code in the email.

The sample room image to the right represents the approximate scale of the painting above a love seat.

apple slices

2011-12-31T13:53:00.000-05:00

7" x 5" daily pastel painting

I took a photo of one of my Mexican themed serving plates with these apple slices. Painting it was interesting because I wanted the apple pieces to seem more realistic than the plate, which would make them 'pop'. It seems I've succeeded.
Have a safe and happy New Years Eve! See you in 2012.

$60 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

bosc pear pastel painting

2011-12-30T12:56:00.001-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting
SOLD

I was going through my digital photos and found one of this pear which was back lit by the sun through the studio window. I love the play of light.
The holidays are almost past as is 2011. I'll end the year with some simple fruit paintings and start the new year with new commissioned work and some new concepts I'm working on. Stay tuned!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a great 2012!

Lucy the corgi

2011-12-24T21:42:00.002-05:00

11" x 13" daily pastel painting

SOLD

This was a commissioned painting that was completed this week just in time for christmas. The buyer had it painted for his wife. I think it's safe to post it today ;-)

It's slightly blurry because it did not fit in my scanner and I was too lazy to use a tripod. It's still very close to accurate.
Another fun painting. If you are interested in commissioning a dog or pet portrait you can visit my other website Pastel Pup for more information.

Custom Cat portrait El Gato

2011-12-12T13:17:00.000-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting
SOLD

It was fun to get back to my pastels.This is a commissioned painting. It's not to late to order a pet portrait painting for a Christmas present in pastel or acrylic! Just email me a high quality photo. $150.00 for a 5 x 7.

White Christmas

2011-12-12T10:58:00.000-05:00

6" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardboard panel

The last painting was such a relaxing process I decided to paint another. Besides, I'm working up to feel the magic of the season.

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

The Present

2011-12-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

5" x 5" daily acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas
SOLD

If I lived in a warm climate I think I'd have my tree outside, just like this, but maybe a few more gifts underneath. Now on to decorating our tree. It's in the stand but we haven't even put the lights up yet.

We found a great new (to us) christmas tree farm a couple of towns away. All the trees were perfect. It's owned by a retired couple who decided on the tree farm after all their kids moved out and on.

If you live anywhere near me in the northeast corner of Massachusetts check out Bear's Christmas Tree Farm. Really nice people! I suspect they will be around for years.

Festive cupcake and SALE painting contest

2011-12-10T13:44:00.001-05:00

8" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas w/painted black edges

I didn't have a 'model' for this painting which made it especially fun. I worked out a limited sketch in Photoshop so I could get the frosting layers right.

$120 with shipping and handling included in the US.
Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

I'm really, really bad at naming paintings. You may have noticed ;-)
Give the cupcake painting a new name in a comment below and you can purchase the painting "Wrapped" at a sale price for $40 including shipping.
The winner will be picked for originality.

Holiday Poinsettia

2011-12-08T13:57:00.001-05:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting (unframed)
SOLD

The last time I visited my mother at the nursing home there were Poinsettias on every table so of course I had to take a photo and paint one! This may become a tradition since I also painted one last year.

Wrapped

2011-12-03T15:29:00.001-05:00

5" x 5" daily acrylic painting

surface - wrapped canvas

My painting for the Shoot and Paint art challenge. It always takes time for me to get into the holiday spirit. This is helping a bit. Getting a tree would probably speed things up also. I'm looking forward to getting a tree soon and the warmth that the lights bring into our home at night.

SALE - The 40% SALE on all my paintings is still on. You can view the available paintings here. If you find a painting you are interested in please email me the title of the painting and I'll send you a PayPal invoice.

Victorian Mansion and SALE

2011-12-02T13:21:00.001-05:00

12" x 16" acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas

If you are local and want to see the painting please come to "North Attleboro ~ An Artists Perspective" on Saturday, December 3rd from 7-10 at The Preservation Framer. You'll also get to see many amazing works by local artists. All work is for sale and a winner will be voted for by those attending.
This painting is framed in black. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing it.

The Preservation Framer
16 North Washington Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760

Rock and Roll Freedom

2011-12-01T13:53:00.001-05:00

11 1/2" x 17 1/2" pastel painting

professionally framed - 19 1/2 x 26 (double matted with dark brown wood frame)

I just picked this up from The Preservation Framer. It was the piece I submitted for their Rock n' Roll and Freedom show back in June. I had many ideas for this theme which I worked out in Photoshop. I still may paint a couple of the other ones.

By the way - If you live in Mass. or RI, The Preservation Framer is the place to go for framing. Their professionalism and prices can not be beat.

The colors in the non-framed image are more accurate.You can purchase this painting framed or not. The prices are below.

$450 with frame, includes shipping

$350 unframed, includes shipping

An Apple a Day

2011-11-04T12:55:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered a fun website created by Michel Oosterhout. He started an "Apple a Day" project on July 1, 2011. Michel's goal is to collect a years worth of apple art from different artists. I sent him an image of one of my apple paintings which you can see at this link. It's always interesting to see all the different approaches to painting a simple subject. Thanks for including me Michel!

My apple painting is still available and reduced in price!

8 1/2" by 11" (unframed)

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Pastel Seagull challenge

2011-11-01T11:17:00.000-04:00

7" x 6" daily pastel painting

unframed

I just had to paint another seagull for the art challenge in pastel before I went to sleep last night. My own personal challenge was to paint it without blending in 1/2 hour. I love the colors.

$60 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Seagull challenge

2011-10-31T23:55:00.000-04:00

5" x 5" daily acrylic painting

surface - 1 1/2" stretched canvas - painted sides and ready to hang

Painted from a photo we chose for our art challenge at Shoot and Paint. And it was a challenge. I really needed to concentrate on the values for this painting. The photo has a blue background which wasn't working for me so I went with sand.

Artists - we'd love it if you joined in on our challenge!

$60 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Ladybird

2011-10-30T13:20:00.001-04:00

5" x 5" daily acrylic painting

surface - 1 1/2" stretched canvas - painted sides and ready to hang

She's called a ladybug here in the states, but in England they call her ladybird.
I'm on a bug kick. I'm painting another one of these cute bugs on a 22" x 30" canvas! My job is just too much fun.

$80 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Ladybug

2011-10-29T16:47:00.001-04:00

5" x 5" daily acrylic painting

surface - 1 1/2" stretched canvas - painted sides and ready to hang
SOLD

It's snowing in Massachusetts and she's painting ladybugs? I'm not sure why either except I've been wanting to paint insects and my eyes can only handle the cute ones for a long stretch of time. I plan to graduate to the "uglier" ones. . in time.

It's already dark out at 4:30 and there's a huge snow storm brewing. Because of this I am using unnatural lighting which skews the colors a bit. The painting has a tad more contrast than you see here.

tiny pumpkin

2011-10-27T14:40:00.000-04:00

7" x 7" daily pastel painting (unframed)

Just a little pumpkin for the season. I had a bunch of photos on my hard drive that I took last year and this is from one of them.

$50 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Koi at Feeding Time

2011-10-23T15:09:00.000-04:00

Feeding Time

7" x 7" daily pastel painting (unframed)
SOLD

I love painting Koi but I never have enough images to choose from. It's time to seek out koi ponds, or Chinese restaurants! Painting koi is always a freeing process for me because I allow myself to play more with shapes and color.
This is one of those paintings where the real thing is better than the digital representation.

$75 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Artists: There's still time to contribute to the October challenge at http://shootandpaint.blogspot.com/

A Day in the Life

2011-10-22T15:27:00.000-04:00

"A Day in the Life"

5 x 7 pastel painting (unframed)

You should see my clothing at the end of the day! The plus side to using pastels is that they wash out. I painted this in response to an art challenge at dailypaintworks.com. And yes. . it's my hand.

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

In other news . . the winner of the painting giveaway was selected by my husband Gary. He came inside for a break from fall clean-up in the yard and was gracious enough to pick a name for me. Congratulations to Linsey from the UK! I will be sending you the painting soon.

Thanks for all who entered. It was wonderful to have so many comments and realize that my audience is larger than I sometimes think it is.

Stay tuned for the December giveaway. I'll be posting it December 1.

Salt Marsh at noon

2011-10-20T16:25:00.000-04:00

8" x 11" pastel painting (unframed)

surface - Wallis sanded pastel paper

Last week my husband and I took a day trip to Cape Cod. What an amazing day which included alone time together, 2 great meals and best of all visits to the various boardwalks at the salt marshes along the coast.
The photo which I used for a reference was taken from the Sandwich, MA boardwalk. There was a slight drizzle of rain for most of the day which enhanced the colors.

Artists! If you haven't checked out the new blog http://shootandpaint.blogspot.com/ please join us in our challenge!

$150 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Lonely Pear Painting giveaway

2011-10-15T21:31:00.002-04:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting (matted and unframed)

surface - pastel board

Comments are closed and the winner will be announced soon!

I'm giving away a painting for the week of Oct.15th through Oct. 22nd. If you leave a comment on this blog post, you'll be automatically entered to win this Lonely Pear pastel painting. If you haven't already, you will also be subscribed to my newsletter which you can undo at any time, although I hope you'll give it a try.
The deadline is Saturday, October 22nd at midnight EST. I will close comments to the post at that time and the winner, who will be randomly selected, will be notified and announced.
* I'll need to notify the winner by email so please do not post anonymously.

In the news: For all you artists out there, I started a new painting challenge blog with my friend Pamela. We hope you'll give it a try! You can take a peek here - http://shootandpaint.blogspot.com/
Artists of all levels of experience are welcomed to submit their work.

Orange Peony

2011-10-10T01:41:00.001-04:00

8" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardwood panel with slots in the back
sides are painted black

I didn't know that orange peonies existed until a friend gave me a photo of them years ago. I found the photo this morning and decided to paint it. I'm experimenting with washes of color and slight abstraction. I'm very happy with the results. Winter is approaching quickly and it's inspiring me to paint more flowers as a reminder of springs eventuality.

$75 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Indy remembered

2011-10-08T16:34:00.001-04:00

8" x 6" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardboard panel

I was looking through some old photos and found a picture of Indy. He was my daughters dog and a best friend to our dog Seamus. I can't tell you what breed he was but he was huge, slightly dumb and beautiful!

$60 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Woodland Mushroom

2011-10-02T14:33:00.000-04:00

8" x 6" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardboard panel

As promised (some might consider it a threat), here is the mushroom. I think mushrooms want to be back on the canvas again as they were in the 70's. Why else would there be so many growing on the lawns in New England?
While painting I had so many childhood memories float across my consciousness. As children our mother read us Grimm's fairy tales. The books were published in Holland and the illustrations were beautiful works of art. I remember being transported into the stories through the illustrations while my mother read to us.

$140 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Orgasmic Pastry

2011-10-01T14:43:00.000-04:00

8" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas
SOLD

The title describes this dessert painting well . . at least that's my guess. Another cupcake I didn't have the privilege to eat but it looks unbelievably delicious to me.
Thanks again to Pamela for the photo.
If I don't visit bakeries and ask for access to their cupcakes I'll probably be painting mushrooms next. This summer in New England has been so wet that everyone is experiencing a mushroom explosion in their yards!

Premiere Cupcake

2011-09-30T18:04:00.000-04:00

8" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas

Thanks to my friend Pamela's photo I was able to paint another cupcake. I frequently forget my camera.
I usually fill up more space on my surface but I wanted to try a different background. When I stepped back from the painting it looked like the cupcake was on a stage for it's premiere.

$140 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Just Desserts

2011-09-28T15:11:00.004-04:00

8" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

Wow, I'm back.
This painting has been sitting on my small easel for way too long! I've been busy doing everything but painting. It was an unplanned break which gave me the time to finish some much needed projects and spend more time with family and friends. I've been thinking about a possible new direction for my work. Please stay tuned . . more work will be coming soon!
Early this year I participated in the Just Desserts art show at Gallery 9. I asked these girls if I could take a photo of them viewing the show.

$140 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Blue and Orange - 3 pastel paintings

2011-08-08T23:26:00.007-04:00

click for larger view

7"x 5" 2 Clementines , 7"x 5" Orange & Bananas, 7"x 5" Cantaloupe

3 pastel paintings, unframed

$240 for 3 paintings.

This will be the last grouping for a while. I just love the way these look together. I didn't think the melon would work in the group until I brought it into Photoshop. The oranges and blues in all three paintings pull them together really well.

$240 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Shades of Spring, 3 in one pastel paintings sale

2011-08-07T12:56:00.004-04:00

click for larger view

6"x 6" Daffodil , 4"x 7" Early Tulip, 6"x 6" First Crocus

3 pastel paintings, frames not included

$240 for 3 paintings.

Spring passes so quickly as do the first flowers of the season. If you have the perfect spot in mind for this group of paintings you can purchase all three.
Looking for a specific theme for a grouping of art? Email me with your thoughts . . . I take commissioned work as well.

$240 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

three marble paintings

2011-08-06T14:25:00.011-04:00

click for larger view

sample framing

6"x 6" Six Marbles , 7"x 7" Mason Jar, 7"x 7" Three Marbles

pastel paintings, frames not included

Sometimes you'd rather buy a large painting for that empty wall you've been looking at but large pieces of art can be expensive. By placing three relatively small works together you save money and have a great looking collection!

$240 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Olives with pimentos

2011-08-02T13:28:00.004-04:00

7" x 7" daily pastel painting
SOLD

I'm cleaning the studio and came across this painting which I did in 2009, and it's still available! The olive series was one of my favorites and I'm considering painting some more. I just need to come up with some interesting compositions.

low tide at the salt marshes

2011-07-31T16:54:00.007-04:00

12" x 12" daily acrylic painting

surface - gallery wrapped stretched canvas

SOLD

I've been wanting to paint the salt marshes on Cape Cod for quite a while but I never created the opportunity to take photos. Pastel painter Eileen Casey took the reference photo at Bass Hole in Yarmouth, Ma. Thank you for the use of the photo Eileen!

For this painting I used a new set of acrylics by Atelier. They are interactive paints that can be worked with like oils because of a painting medium which when applied "opens up" the paint to a wet state. There was a bit of learning curve.

Fun piece to work on and I'm definitely planning a trip to Cape Cod for more reference material!

Far Niente vineyards

2011-07-28T15:12:00.002-04:00

'Far Niente, Oakville, CA"
10" x 3.75" pastel painting (unframed)

Far Niente winery owns 5 vineyards. According to the description on their website this view is part of their John C. Sullenger Vineyard which covers 42 acres. Their wine prices are a bit out of my range but I hear they make exceptional wine.
As far as the painting - I wanted to abstract this scene considering the limited view. I'm pleased with the feel of it.
My husband is away on business in northern Washington state and has been photographing vineyards for me. He's been taking some up-close shots which I can not get through Google street views. I'm very excited to see and paint them!
Please visit my vineyards blog to view the scene in Google street views.

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

St. Helena Hwy, Napa

2011-07-18T22:23:00.002-04:00

'St. Helena Highway, Napa, California, US"
8.5" x 3.75" pastel painting

I found these vineyards while "driving" on the highway in Napa, California. I took a few liberties in the painting by omitting a building in the background and also the support stakes for the plants. I didn't want to crowd the small painting surface with sticks so I decided to only place stakes in the front for suggestion. It seems to work.

I believe these vineyards are part of Silver Oak Cellars. One wine which I haven't tried yet, but I will.
All this virtual travel is giving me a thirst for touring all these beautiful spots. I can only get as close to the wineries and vineyards as Google lets me. I'm open to receiving up-close photos if you want to share them!

You can see the Google street view and explore the area at my new blog.

Available at Preservation Framer

Via Scopeti, Italy

2011-07-16T12:03:00.003-04:00

'Via Scopeti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa Florence, Italia"
10" x 3" daily pastel painting

I love the rows of cypress trees! You can see the Google street view and explore the area at my new blog.

The buildings on the horizon and the vineyards are part of the Villa Mangiacane. The review at Google stated "At the heart of an estate that reigns over 300 hectares of vineyard, olive groves and majestic Tuscan forest, in the famed winemaking region of Chianto Classico."

Available at Preservation Framer

In other news: There's a temporary hold on the Alzheimer's portrait project. I need to get permission to photograph the residents. I have a meeting with someone next week at the nursing home to address this. 'Keeping my fingers crossed' as my mother always used to say.

Henry Rd. in Napa

2011-07-13T21:04:00.002-04:00

"Henry Road"
Artesa Vineyards & Winery, Napa CA
7.50" x 9" pastel painting

I lived in Berkeley, CA in the 70's and loved it. Driving through Napa Valley seemed magical . . . there were many places in California that felt magical. The terrain is so beautiful in spots. As far as I know it's the closest place in the US where one will experience a similar beauty to France and Italy. Someone I know who is french told me that and I agreed once I started driving around France in Google's 'street view'. Traveling has never been a huge priority for me but I recently started a list of places to go and France and Italy are at the top. Actually they are the only ones on the list!

Be sure to visit my new blog of Painted Vineyards! It's my new project and I include the Google 'street view' of the reference for the painting.

here's a link to Artesa Winery - http://www.artesawinery.com/index1.html

Available at Preservation Framer

La Grande Rue

2011-07-10T14:09:00.001-04:00

7" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

Another painting to submit to Virtual Paintout. I had fun with the colors. I generally blend my pastels but I resisted on this one and tried to stay focused on the shapes and colors rather than details.
My favorite part of the painting is the sky holes.
I found this scene on the Island of Jersey with Google maps street view. The road is La Grande Rue and I believe that it's part of a vineyard.

$110 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Netherlands canal

2011-07-08T13:35:00.001-04:00

After the last post I thought I'd use google maps to travel through my country of birth - The Netherlands. Canals are everywhere in Holland. Scenes like this are common place and although the landscape is flat the countryside is beautiful! Once I established my shapes and put the reference photo aside the painting literally blossomed. In the original image there were rows of crops but I wanted this painting to feel more like Holland so I added the flowers.

10.25" x 3.75" daily pastel painting

$110 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

vineyard by the sea

2011-07-07T21:46:00.001-04:00

'La Mare Wine Estate' Saint Mary, United Kingdom
10.25" x 2.75" daily pastel painting
unframed

Vineyards are my favorite landscape scenes. I suppose farms would come next. It's the rows of the plants that captures me. And this one is by the sea, another favorite place although I haven't been to the ocean in quite some time. It's only a little over 1/2 an hours drive but I'm lazy.
This piece was painted in response to the Virtual Paintout challenge. The reference image was found on Google maps on the island of Jersey which sits off the coast of Normandy, France and southern Great Britain. If you want to see a beautifully landscaped island with some amazing architecture, this is one to check out!

$110 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

fractured - a portrait of Alzheimer's

2011-06-29T15:01:00.001-04:00

16" x 16" acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas
(unframed and ready to hang)

Another painting in the Alzheimer's portrait series, but I will be not using this one for the planned show. My hope is that the residents and their families will be able to attend. I'll paint her entire face for that reason.
It's fascinating that although many 'blocks' of their lives may be misplaced or missing, that each person, depending on the severity of the illness, maintains much of her/his personality. Yes, as the disease progresses the fade increases and physical problems become more acute, yet each person remains unique.
I read about a study which showed how important it is to visit loved ones in nursing homes. The study found that even though they might not remember your visit an hour later (for some five minutes), the effects of the time spent with loved ones remain for hours past their actual memory of the visit.

$325 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Portrait of M

2011-06-25T14:49:00.004-04:00

16" x 16" acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas

First in a series of Alzheimer's patients entitled Faces of Alzheimer's . . maybe. I'm still mulling over what the series will be named.

As some of you know my mother lives in a nursing home with Alzheimer's disease. M is one of the residents on my mother's floor. Residents are free to roam within the confinements of their floor and M is one of the top walkers. She's also quite sassy in a spirited sense.

I've been struggling with subjects to paint and what keeps resounding is "paint what you know". I certainly have come to know many folks who are victims of this disease by visiting my mother almost daily for the past year or so. I've learned much about myself in the process.

blue rose

2011-06-16T00:40:00.000-04:00

8" x 8" acrylic painting

surface - stretched canvas
SOLD

This painting was commissioned because the buyer wanted to give someone special a single blue rose. Apparently they are grown but it's not likely that you'll find one in the flower shop down the street unless it's been dyed.
In 2004 the blue rose was created through genetic engineering.by a company in Japan.
I thought the painting was a wonderful replacement for the real thing - it will last much longer!

waiting 2

2011-05-25T02:01:00.000-04:00

9" by 7 1/2" daily pastel painting, unframed

An older painting from 2007. I will occasionally post an older painting especially when my schedule doesn't allow time for a small work. This is one of those weeks. I'm working on a painting for a show on the 4th of June. I'll post it when I complete it along with more information about the show.

The style is very unlike most of my work. I remember fighting the urge to blend the pastels with my fingers. I like the colors and light in this one.

$150 with free shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Rosie - commissioned dog portrait

2011-05-20T00:01:00.002-04:00

5" x 7" commissioned pastel painting

SOLD

A dog portrait which my son Ben commissioned for his friend who's dog died recently. I had a fairly bad reference photo to work from but it turned out to look like Rosie anyway. It's not as detailed as some of my dogs mostly because of the photo.
The most troublesome spot was just under her nose. Her sweetness came through . . of course I never met her but I'm assuming she was a sweet dog.
Interested in a painting of your dog or other pet?
You can either email me directly at rh@riahills.com or visit my dog portrait website where I have more samples of my work and information on commissioning a painting.
By the way . . .I love painting pets! Click here to see pet portraits on this blog.

last hurrah

2011-05-18T11:56:00.003-04:00

6" x 6" daily pastel painting

unframed

This onion's final moment of glory before I chopped it up and threw it in the pan for stir fry.
Another 'paint from life' challenge completed for DailyPaintWorks. I really enjoy on-line challenges when I struggle with thinking of a subject to paint.
Painting from life is so different than from a photo. There are subtleties that a camera just can't pick up. Reflected light tends to be softer than in a photo where contrast stands out more unrealistically. The day was overcast and rainy which made this more of a challenge to paint. What saved me was the skylight which provided just enough light to allow for contrast. The onion had an abnormal shape and I had to fight the urge to perfect the roundness.

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

organic pepper

2011-05-16T16:55:00.004-04:00

5" x 5" daily acrylic painting

unframed

I thought I'd paint another DailyPaintWorks challenge today. The challenge is to pick a vegetable and paint it from life. Adding to the challenge I gave myself under a 1/2 hour to paint it since I was short on time today.
This was a bit tricky . . . the light kept changing because it's raining and I kept losing my natural light. Fortunately in that amount of time the shadows remained the same.
Yes! The stem was huge.

$80 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

DPW Challenge - the whole cat . .

2011-05-15T13:46:00.004-04:00

6" x 6" daily pastel painting

unframed

DailyPaintWorks has a new challenge and it was just what I was up for today! I've been too busy thinking of new conceptual compositions and not painting. I resisted blending the pastels for the cat . . that alone was a challenge.
The Whole Cat and Kaboodle Challenge was posted by Dreama Tolle Perry. Thanks Dreama . . it was a relaxing process and the kitten is too cute!

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Babushka Dolls

2011-05-09T11:38:00.001-04:00

10" x 7" pastel painting

detail

Fun! It's been a while since I've worked on a surreal painting. I have many ideas which keep piling up but never seem to find the time to translate them to paper or canvas.
The Babushka dolls are my mother's. When she was still in her home and too forgetful to be alone, I occasionally gathered objects and photographed them to use as references for paintings.
This is one of those paintings that looks even better in person. The crouching woman is less than 3 inches tall and the detail is lost a bit in the photo. The most challenging (and frustrating) part of this painting was the woman's face. It's so small!

$220 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

WIPs

2011-05-07T15:10:00.005-04:00

oil painting

surface - hardboard panel

Works in progress. I have some more work to do on the reflection which is on the mug. I'll post the story behind this painting when I finish it. Stay tuned for an update!
I'm also working on a surreal pastel painting. It's been a long time since I've painted a surreal piece and I'm thoroughly enjoying the process.

7" x 10" pastel - possible completed upload tomorrow

The "Just Desserts" show was fun! I met some really good people and shared the walls with some amazing artists. Here's a link to Gallery9.

teacup kitchen art painting

2011-05-05T14:55:00.003-04:00

7" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

With Mother's Day right around the corner I decided to paint another tribute to my mother. Although physically she is still alive, Alzheimer's disease has robbed her and our family of the person we once knew.
A tradition in our house was to always, without fail, have tea around 3:00pm. The dutch are similar to the British in that way.
The teacup is one of my mother's and I found the artificial flowers in one of her sewing baskets.
I left some of the details out because I was going for a looser style this morning.

$150 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

pin cushion

2011-05-03T11:52:00.001-04:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

A tribute to my mother for Mother's Day.
Being someone who sewed a good percentage of our clothing, my mother had many tin candy boxes and cushions filled with pins and needles. Sewing was one of the first crafts my mother taught me. Although I am capable of making my own clothing the interest died years ago mostly because it takes up too much time. It seems to be a dying art.
The contrast is just a tad off on this image. My scanner wasn't duplicating the colors well so I used my camera instead. Sometimes I spend more time getting the image to correctly represent the painting than actually painting it!

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

red apple

2011-04-30T00:17:00.002-04:00

8" x 6" daily acrylic painting - SOLD

surface - hardboard panel

Day 2 of painting small acrylic pieces. I almost didn't finish but I'm determined to reach my goal of finishing one a day for three weeks at $100 a piece. Hmmm . . . maybe an apple a day?

red onion

2011-04-28T20:29:00.001-04:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardboard panel

For the next few weeks I hope to finish an acrylic painting each day of a simple subject like this one. That's my goal at least . . wish me success.
I may sneak in a pastel somewhere but for now, because of limited time, I'll be keeping it a bit more simple by translating the subject into basic blocks of color without the detail that you may be used to seeing.
I had fun working on this painting. My favorite part is the onion skin on top. I am always amazed at what a simple block of color is capable of suggesting to the eye.

$100 with shipping and handling included in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

just desserts

2011-04-27T16:00:00.003-04:00

6" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardboard

I recently found out about a local show at Gallery9 in Norwood, MA. The shows theme is desserts - just up my alley. With all that's going on between caring for my parents and working on too many paintings at once I wasn't sure I'd finish this in time. But as you can see I did!

Soft serve ice cream, although I hardly ever have it, is one of my favorite treats. As a child we often went to Carvel on a Sunday after dinner. With my children it was also an outing.

For more information on the show please visit Gallery9's calendar of events.

lotus leaves

2011-04-20T16:25:00.002-04:00

8" x 8" daily pastel painting

SOLD

I have been working on some sketches for a large painting of lotus leaves. Since I shudder at the commitment to painting large I practiced on this piece. In the beginning stages I had many more leaves but since the painting is small I started eliminating leaves in the background for a cleaner feel. I also changed the colors of the leaves which are normally green.

side by side

2011-04-17T17:41:00.001-04:00

6" x 6" daily pastel painting

I'm working on 3 paintings . . each a different medium.

When I started today I really wanted to focus on completing a pastel painting. I took this photo last summer. I bumped up the color saturation which makes the avocados pop.
There are days when I'm not sure what to paint and food seems like a mundane subject. It isn't until I start painting that I remember that the enjoyment comes from the process more than the subject. And who doesn't like avocados!
Actually . . I never did until I found Alton Brown's recipe for guacamole at The Food Network.

$150 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

cloud mass

2011-04-16T17:14:00.002-04:00

8" x 8" daily acrylic painting

surface - clayboard

You may have noticed that I've taken a break from pastels. I felt the urge to use another medium for a while.
If you miss my pastel work please let me know. I'll get back to it sooner if I receive comments.

I've always been a cloud watcher. I'm the person who pulls off the road quickly to snap a photo so I don't get distracted while driving.

$150 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

blue apple 2

2011-04-11T09:23:00.002-04:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardwood panel
SOLD

This is the second blue apple I've painted. I've had a number of requests for another so here it is!
I don't know if I'd eat a blue apple but I love the way it looks.
Blue is one of the few colors my colorblind husband can see. A red apple would appear as khaki colored to him. The day they change the order of traffic lights will be a bad day for him and anyone he shares the road with.

desktop toys

2011-04-09T23:47:00.002-04:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting

surface - hardwood panel

I love rubberband balls! The last time I painted one was a number of years ago.
These are part of my desktop collection of toys. I have a thing for robots and wind-up toys. I'm not exactly sure why.
As much as I enjoyed painting this I'm glad to be done. My neck and shoulders are sore from carrying the stress of working on the small detail. I must say that it was worth it for the result.

$150 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

The Zippo Challenge

2011-04-07T19:42:00.003-04:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting

surface - clayboard
SOLD

"Olfactory Memory"

The reference photo was provided by Michael Naples for DailyPaintWorks.com as part of an art challenge. The challenge is to use only 3 colors, which is part of the reason I decided to use acrylics rather than pastels . . although I may still paint it again in pastel.

The surface I used is a very smooth one which changed the way I used the paint. I primed the surface in black before painting and I'm very pleased with the results.

Painting this evoked the smell of lighter fluid for almost the entire time I was working on it. My grandfathers both had beautiful lighters and I always loved the smell of the lighter fluid combined with the flint when it was sparked.

exotic flowers

2011-04-05T16:07:00.002-04:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting

gallery wrapped canvas

I had a birthday last week and my friend Nancy brought me this beautiful bouquet of flowers. Bird of Paradise is the only flower in the arrangement which I am familiar with and will be the next one to paint. There are various leaves, none of which I could identify. Possibly banana leaves.

As you can probably tell I'm really bad at naming paintings. That's probably why some artists number their works. Any ideas for a better name?

The edges of the canvas are also painted so it is ready to hang.

$110 shipping and handling included in the US.
Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

The Help Japan Challenge

2011-03-29T11:02:00.002-04:00

5" by 5" daily acrylic painting
SOLD

Painted on a 3/8" thickness hardboard panel with a hanging slot on the back.

I recently found out about the "Help Japan Challenge at DailyPaintworks.com.
Please check out all the wonderful works that are being auctioned to benefit the victims of the devastation in Japan.
This painting was added today.

The proceeds of the sale for this painting will be donated to the Japanese "Aid for Bed" - Directly Helping by Providing Shelter for the Displaced.

Verification of the donation will be provided to the buyer.

arbor wisteria

2011-03-26T17:33:00.002-04:00

5" x 7" pastel painting

unframed

A somewhat abstract pastel "sketch" for a possible larger painting.
Springtime with the arbor overflowing with wisteria is a time of year that I always look forward to.

When we first moved into the house there was a small wisteria bush on the inside of the pool fence. Every year the kids and I would weave the growing shoots through the fence. 20 years later the fence has become invisible and the pool is surrounded by wisteria blooms and leaves. It's become such a monster that it's threatening to take over much of our property but it's so beautiful that I hardly mind. A good gardener would be able to keep it at bay but I score low on maintenance.

$100 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

purple crocus

2011-03-19T19:50:00.000-04:00

6" x 6" daily acrylic painting

unframed

Another spring gem. They appear for such a short time that sometimes I notice them only in their wilt stage.

$110 including shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

single tulip

2011-03-18T14:07:00.000-04:00

4" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

Another painting celebrating spring.
It's close to 70 degrees out today and sunny! The tulips are peeking through the earth and will soon be in full bloom.

Where has my time gone? I've been struggling with a commissioned painting and also with time management. I greatly admire the daily painters who actually finish a painting each day. It's still my goal.

$110 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

first of the season daffodil

2011-03-12T14:21:00.000-05:00

6" x 6" daily pastel painting

unframed

Daylight savings starts tonight, it's 60 degrees out, the sun is shining and spring fever is setting in. No, the daffodils aren't in bloom yet but those of us living with winter are all anxiously anticipating the blooms of spring.

Although spring brings it's own headaches like cleaning the yard and weeding the garden, I greatly welcome it. The older I get the lower my tolerance for cold gets.

I'm also looking forward to having some bright subjects to paint.
$100 with shipping included in the US

overflow chocolate fudge

2011-03-09T23:44:00.003-05:00

7" x 8" daily pastel painting

unframed

My son Jesse was mindful enough to photograph the spill in the microwave when he was preparing an ice cream sundae. He thought it would make an interesting photograph and I knew it needed to be painted!

Now that it's finished I want to create some more spills.
I decided against painting the details of the label partly because I don't want to advertise and I also like the cleaner look of it.

$130 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

calla lily 3

2011-03-08T13:40:00.001-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting

SOLD

The last of the Calla lily series . . at least for now.

The Women in the Arts show was quite a success! I especially enjoyed meeting the other painters, all who's work I admire.

censored nude

2011-03-05T11:01:00.003-05:00

14 1/2" by 19" pastel painting, unframed

painted on Canson Mi-Teintes paper

I have a blog for my larger works and am moving those paintings here. It seems a bit redundant.
I painted this a few years back in response to censorship in the art world, particularly on the internet. If I painted it today I'd work a bit more on her left shoulder which seems a bit flat to me now. Overall I was and am still pleased with it. It would be an interesting exercise to paint it again since I believe my skills have improved over the years. hmmmm . . .

There's another calla lily in the works so if you liked the last two please stay tuned.

$325 including shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

calla lily 2

2011-02-27T14:22:00.000-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

The flower symbolism associated with the calla lily is magnificent beauty. I'm amazed at the different shapes this flower takes.

I have a few more photos of the calla lily so I may paint a few more this week. I'm very tempted to paint one on a large canvas. What do you think?

$110 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

calla lily

2011-02-26T14:22:00.001-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

Thankfully my daughter-in-law Samantha had an awesome photo she posted to her facebook page! I had limited time today and needed a subject which didn't require much detail work. This was the perfect subject.
Thank you Sam!

Speaking of facebook I recently created a page for my art. Facebook requires 25 "likes" for the page to have a name for the url. I would appreciate it so much if you would "like" my page at this link if you have a facebook account. That is if you like my work ;-)

I also have an update on that page of the "Women in the Arts" show which will take place next month.
As always, thanks for stopping by!

$110 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

stuffed olives

2011-02-20T22:20:00.002-05:00

5" x 5" pastel painting

unframed

The white light on the glass is coming from a window on the right. We have dark walls in the kitchen but I was still surprised with the amount of contrast that the direct light provided. The glass almost looks like a can.

Trying to juggle . . . that's not news is it? I've been visiting my mom more to encourage her to eat. The post surgery drugs have increased her dementia.
I only hope it's temporary.

The "Women in the Arts" show is only two weeks away. I'll be sending out postcards tomorrow.

$100 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

3 clementines

2011-02-17T12:02:00.002-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

I bought a few lace runners at the salvation army. I'm always looking for additional props for paintings and these were a real find at $1 each.

Some of you know that my mother had surgery last week. She's doing well and back in her room at the nursing home. It was only a week since surgery and they already have her sitting with all her friends.

More lace runners to come . . .

$120 including shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

chocolate tart

2011-02-12T15:54:00.002-05:00

5" x 5" daily pastel painting

unframed

I knew I'd find the perfect cake at Whole Foods Market. This one was a chocolate cheese cake tart - a tiny single person one. My husband said it was delicious!

I wanted to buy more but at $1.99 a pop it would have been an imprudent purchase, especially considering that no one was coming for dinner. Next time I'll bring my camera and beg to take pastry photos . . maybe in exchange for a painting?

Last week I thought I'd get started on a regular daily painting schedule but alas . . life always seem to get in the way. My mother broke her hip and needed surgery. I could have made the choice to visit less and paint more but that would be heartless. She's recovered amazing well for a 94 year old woman and will be back in the nursing home tonight.

$110 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

silver thimble

2011-02-03T00:44:00.002-05:00

5" x 7" daily pastel painting

unframed

This antique silver thimble belongs to my mother. I'm guessing it was purchased in the late 1930's in Holland or Indonesia. I can't ask her because she has Alzheimer's disease and her memories are quite skewed. There are many things I wish I had asked about.

I have many wonderful memories of my mother sewing and learning to sew myself. When I was high school I made most of my clothing but always intentionally left unfinished projects for my mother to complete for me. Maybe that's why I don't sew anymore ;-)

$120 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

strawberry heart

2011-02-01T15:29:00.001-05:00

5" x 5"daily pastel painting

unframed

I thought a valentine theme might be fun for a few paintings this month. When is it anyway? I think the last time I celebrated this holiday was when I passed out cards in my grammar school class. My husband and I love each other nonetheless.
I think the strawberry should be the fruit icon for Valentine's Day. It's such a voluptuous fruit.
I couldn't find a heart shaped strawberry so I altered the shape as I went along. I wanted to make it subtle enough so it still would maintain its integrity as a strawberry. What a wonderful fruit it is!

$110 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

stangl ware still life

2011-01-30T14:36:00.003-05:00

5" by 5" daily acrylic painting

painted on a 3/8" thickness hardboard panel with a hanging slot on the back

Last week I went shopping for still life props and found some treasures. The plate is from TJMaxx. The cup and saucer, along with some others were at a local antique consignment store.
I've collected Stangl ware for years but I never saw this particular pattern. Love it!

It took a bit longer than I would normally spend on a daily painting but I couldn't stop adding detail. Fun!

Foiled chocolate bar

2011-01-26T23:16:00.005-05:00

8" x 8" daily pastel painting

unframed

Well almost foiled! I had quite a setback with this painting. The foil used for the candy bar was so thin that it tore when I unwrapped it and it wrinkled immediately. It was more of a challenge to paint than what I would have liked.

For a week I would look at it waiting for me, but every time I'd turn to another project or just leave the studio telling myself that I forgot how to paint. Today I had to force myself to face my fears and tackled that damn foil. I think it (the foil) has a bit of an abstract feel to it . . .not my plan but I'm still pleased with the outcome. Pheew! Onto the next challenge.
$180.00 including shipping and handling. Please email me for international rates.

NEWS - The painting "Days of Snow" of my daughter in the snow was used for the cover of Spirit Seeker Magazine. A publication in St. Louis, Missouri.

You can view the painting here on my blog.

updated orange spiral

2011-01-18T10:58:00.001-05:00

7" x 15" daily pastel painting

surface - Wallis pastel paper

After finishing the painting Orange Spiral 2 I became dissatisfied with the background of Orange Spiral. I think the blue background was a distraction from the orange. I'm much happier with the newer background.

I also decided to make this painting available for sale. I was going to save it for the art show but I have more orange paintings in mind for that.

$250 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

The Gift - orange slices

2011-01-17T01:42:00.006-05:00

8" x 8" daily pastel painting
SOLD

Today . . actually yesterday, I was in a painting frenzy! Two small works completed in one day is a record for me.
The bowl was a gift from Linda. She went to Dubai during the holidays and brought our family the most beautiful presents. Thanks Linda!
If I had known that beautiful bowls could make a painting so lovely I would have used them as a subject a long time ago. Now I'll need to go on a bowl hunt for more.

orange spiral 2

2011-01-16T14:34:00.003-05:00

5.5" x 10" daily pastel painting
SOLD

Another painting of the orange where I peeled the skin as a spiral. I think this is my favorite of the many compositions. I like the way the white pulp turned out in this one better than the previous painting.
The colors in the original piece are a bit more vivid than what you see. Seeing it in person is so much better!

For the next month I'll be busy working on more still life pastels in preparation for the group show at Preservation Framers in North Attleboro, MA. The show is entitled "Women in the Arts" with the opening reception on March 5th.

If you live in or near Massachusetts you may want to stop in. Matt and Rob put on amazing shows!

orange spiral

2011-01-15T13:33:00.003-05:00

7" x 15" daily pastel painting

surface - Wallis pastel paper

Preparation for this painting was fun. I first had to figure out how to peel the skin in a spiral. After that I took various composition photos of the orange, some of which you will see in later posts this week. For this painting my husband held the top of the peel for the photo.

My daughter said that it reminds her of a seahorse.

For the next month I'll be busy working on more still life pastels in preparation for the group show at Preservation Framers in North Attleboro, MA. The show is entitled "Women in the Arts" with the opening reception on March 5th.
If you live in or near Massachusetts you may want to stop in. Matt and Rob put on amazing shows!

If you have an interest in purchasing this painting please contact me and we can mark it sold. It will be sold as a framed piece through the gallery.

breakfast egg

2011-01-12T16:19:00.004-05:00

5" by 7" daily pastel painting

It's quite a challenge to get the composition right with an egg. I cracked two eggs this morning and the yolks kept moving around to the side. And getting those shells to stay where I placed them in the albumen . . . I must have taken at least 30 photos for this little painting before the composition worked for me!

And yes, I had a hearty breakfast this morning!

Anyway, I saturated the colors once I started painting. All the white snow outside is making me crave intensity of color.

Snow. . that's right. A few hours ago we had 17" and it continues to fall. It's a perfect day for painting.

$120 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Big Sky2

2011-01-09T15:37:00.001-05:00

18" x 24" daily acrylic painting

SOLD

For the past few years or so I've been reluctant to make a commitment to painting large. What was I thinking? These last two pieces were very satisfying to paint, mostly because I didn't use any references. I'm beginning to realize that I love painting landscapes. There's a simplicity in them, and a sense of serenity.

This piece has a bit more color and contrast than what you see. I wish I could fit it in my scanner!
For the next month I'll be busy working on realistic, still life pastels in preparation for a group show which I've been invited to participate in. Details will follow soon!

footprints in the snow

2011-01-05T13:43:00.003-05:00

24" by `18" daily acrylic painting

unframed stretched canvas

This was so much fun to paint. No references . . just my imagination. My daughter inspired the beginning of this painting and it just kept evolving until the last stroke of paint. As much as I hate the cold I love the look of fresh snow on the ground.
Photographing this painting was tricky. The colors are represented quite well although there's slightly more contrast between the whites and blues in the actual painting. And then theres' the monitor calibration between your pc and mine. I'm very pleased with the outcome of this painting!

$375 including shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

My EBay sale is still ongoing with some listings ending soon. Some paintings start as low as $50. Click here to view the paintings.

Dreamland - swing in the clouds

2011-01-01T18:08:00.002-05:00

5" by 7" daily pastel painting

As promised, a small pastel painting.
I've been working on clouds in a larger acrylic painting and I'm hooked for now. I almost wish I had painted this in oil or acrylics just for the detail of the swing. On a scale this small details can be grueling so I kept it simple. The rope is a bit thick but the swing is guaranteed to hold you.
I like the feel of this piece.

$75. Includes shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

You may want to take a peak at my EBay sales since they are reduced quite a bit. Some paintings start as low as $50. Click here to view the paintings.

Alone portrait

2010-12-31T10:53:00.003-05:00

8.5" by 11.5" daily pastel painting
SOLD

An older piece but one which was never posted on this blog or at daily painters.

Between the holidays, family stuff happenings and working on larger pieces, I've had little time for my daily paintings. I'm in awe of the daily painters who find the time to finish a painting every day and juggle the rest of their lives.
My new years resolution is to become more proficient at juggling!

Poinsettia

2010-12-11T17:24:00.008-05:00

5" by 5" daily acrylic painting
3/8" thickness/edges painted black
painted on a hardboard panel with a hanging slot on the back
SOLD

While visiting my mother in the nursing home I saw poinsettia's at almost every turn. It reminded me that I wanted to paint one. I took a photo with my cell phone which doesn't take the best shots but it was enough to work with for this painting.

days of snow

2010-12-08T15:09:00.002-05:00

5" by 7" daily acrylic painting, unframed
painted on gallery wrapped canvas and ready to hang
SOLD

Another reference photo was found on my hard drive. This is a painting of my daughter Melissa enjoying the snow when we lived on Long Island, NY., sometime in the 1980's.

I think her coat was a bit large for her or it may have been frozen stiff ;-)

snowman acrylic painting

2010-12-05T14:05:00.002-05:00

6" by 6" daily acrylic painting, unframed
painted on heavyweight linen paper SOLD

One of the art challenge groups I participate in is having a winter theme. Maximum painting time on this was an hour.
I looked through my files and found this little guy in a photo taken about 28 years ago when the "kids" were just toddlers. Anyone remember him?

County Clare, Ireland

2010-12-04T16:34:00.002-05:00

10.5" by 4.5" daily pastel painting, unframed

This months response to the Virtual Paintout art challenge. What a beautiful country! I spent about an hour "driving" around on Google maps to find this spot but each view I passed was gorgeous.

$90 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Another Cloud in a Coffee and SALE

2010-11-30T14:22:00.004-05:00

6" by 6" daily pastel painting, unframed
SOLD

It must be that I'm a coffee addict and I love clouds, because this isn't the first cloud in a coffee that I've painted. I love the way it looks. It's surreal yet it could be a dollop of whipped cream.

It's a good thing I ordered a set of "white" pastels a few months ago because I used quite a number of them.

Virtual Paintout- Rio de Janeiro

2010-11-29T13:45:00.002-05:00

11.75" by 6" daily pastel painting, unframed

My submission for Virtual Paintout's Rio de Janeiro month.I haven't had the time to paint this challenge for many months and it's the last day of the month. I hope Bill can still post it ;-)

Fun piece to work on. Here's the location - Avenida Estado da Guanabara, Rio De Janeiro.

$100 with free shipping and handling in the US. Please email me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.