Opatija Sun

I saw this woman in Opatija, Croatia which we visited in May of this year. It was a beautiful spot, not a lot of tourists yet and this woman who was a local seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the sun.

There was also something familiar about her, she resembled my mom and my aunts, it made me miss my mom very much.

I actually painted this picture earlier this summer but I'm still undecided about the backround.

6" x 6" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas NFS

Japanese Mandarin

When I was growing up, one of the first signs of Christmas was getting a box of Japanese oranges.

Yesterday when I bought this box and peeled my first orange of the season, the smell brought back all those childhood memories.

4" x 6" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

Bird of Paradise

It was a frustrating painting day, the painting I had planned just didn't come together.

So I did a quick loose painting of the Bird of Paradise that I had received on a special occasion

6" x 6" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

In Search of Gauguin

When I studied Paul Gauguin in university, I didn't appreciate his art as I do now. It's interesting how as we change and grow, so does our taste in art.

The pot is from Oaxaca, famous for its "black pottery". While painting, I was reminded of good times spent in Mexico.

6" x 8" acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

Coffee Table Collection

One of the perks when I worked in a bookstore was ordering books out of a catalogue for a very good price, needless to say I have a whole collection of big coffee table books.

I almost always chose the book for it's cover.

6" x 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Indulgence

This painting is about indulgence, an expensive half bottle of wine on our recent trip.

It continued (the indulgence) today, my day off, with coffee, the cat and laptop in bed. I then wandered over to the studio and painted all day, neglecting to pay the bills, do the laundry and grocery shop.

I started the painting in a much more realistic detailed way and after taking a break decided it wasn't working for me and loosened up adding more colour and taking out the detail. I like it much better.

8" x 10" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas - NFS

Thirst Quenching

On our trip to San Francisco we were treated to a beautiful room on the ocean. The glass of water came with room service, I indulged and it was wonderful.
This painting was a bit of an experiment. I painted the glass and table with depth while leaving the curtains and chair as decorative backround. I was quite pleased with the outcome.
8" x 10" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Fisherman with Pelican

This is a quick painting of the pelican waiting for his treat. It was a cool, misty day on the pier.

6" x 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Pelican

He was the star on the pier in Santa Cruz. We don't have pelicans where I live, so I found him quite fascinating. He strutted around and posed for people taking pictures.

He also waited for treats from the nearby fisherman. If I can get my act together, you might see that tomorrow.


6"x 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Venice Musicians

When we were having lunch in Venice, these two musicians showed up and played for us. I am quite pleased with this painting, there are a few things I would like to change but thought I would leave it for now as I'm going away for a week.

I am tagging along on a business trip to San Francisco, I hope to be inspired, have some fun and check out some of the art galleries while I'm there.

8" x 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

Venice Alley

I was very fortunate to be able to spend some time in Venice this past Spring.

This painting is a more traditional painting and the warmth of the Venetian sun that day, found it's way into my studio on a rainy Saturday morning.

8" x 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas - sold

Masks of Venice

It's probably not what most artists paint when they visit Venice, but I have found it always interesting to watch people. This group was looking at the kiosks of masks that were being sold.

It is one of my regrets that I didn't buy a mask. I had one all picked out that I found in a little artisan shop but it was the beginning of the day and I thought I'd pick it up on the way back. It never happened.

I painted random bright colours as an under-painting and then filled in the masks and people.

6" x 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

LIMES

I was making Adzuki Bean soup and these limes were one of the last ingredients.

Well OK, to be totally honest one of the wedges was saved for my husband's Corona. For a cool autumn day this was a very strange mix, healthy nourishing soup and a Corona.

4" x 6" acrylic on a gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

Kiwi

I looked at the kiwi and thought it would be interesting to try and paint, it isn't pretty to look at, plain, brown and rather prickly. The inside though is quite different, bright green, translucent and juicy.

When I sat down to paint, I didn't have a plan. It was one of those paintings that just happened and it was a very enjoyable morning.

4 x 6 inch acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Lemons 2

This is a simplistic composition with lemons. When painting fruit it's easy to get lost in the abstraction of shapes and colour which can be very satisfying.


4" x 6 "acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Lemons

I drink lemon juice almost everyday, it's supposed to be good for you, cleansing and all that.

In the last year lemons have become a staple in my kitchen. I use them for a variety of things, but my favourite use of lemons is as decoration. A bowl full of lemons on a table or counter is a visual delight and mine are usually in a beautiful deep blue pottery bowl.

5 x 7 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Waterfront Walk

I finished this painting today? I say that as a question because it was one of those paintings that I really enjoyed, capturing a couple on a walk.

Well it also became one of those paintings where I start thinking "mmm, if I changed this or added that, it will be soo... much better"and now as I am looking at it, I'm not sure it's finished because I want to make changes.

But, I also know that it's important for me to let things go, to start another painting and that is the best reason for me to blog and to paint daily. It keeps me moving on and learning.

6 x 8 acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas

Kodak Memories

When my son went back to college this Fall he left behind two little Kodak film canisters, they were part of my Dad’s collection.

Inside I found negatives of travel trailers, my older sisters as little girls and a mystery wedding.

Painting the film became possible only when I concentrated on the shapes and colour.

5" x 7" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Fresh Produce

One of my many dreams has been to travel and paint the places I’ve seen. I have done some of that and hope to do more but right now I’m traveling in my own neighborhood.

The other night my husband and I were going for an evening walk, I was disappointed that it was getting dark but it was a beautiful crisp Fall evening and the lights and colours of our corner store challenged me into painting my first night scene.

6 x 8 acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD