Workshop in Asheville NC

These three paintings were created 

while attending a workshop with 

Mark Bettis in his studio gallery.

  

This painting was created on paper.  













My attraction to this technique of using oil with cold wax was brewing for almost three years.......decided to head down to NC to get some hands on experience.  I loved it.

WORK IN PROGRESS also started on this road trip.

Thinking of going back and forth creating paintings using these techniques.

VERY EXCITED

Work In Progress

The values of the painting have been established.  The color fields are still being developed throughout the lower half of the painting.   The final process to complete this painting will be developing the center of interest and moving you through the painting using contrasting edges and values.

Work In Progress

White Peonies

Just completed a 20 x 16 original oil on hardboard.  A still life looks good with any decor and never goes out of style.  

Scattered Trees

SOLD

A new painting using a new technique.  I have been messing around with cold wax oils for over a year and I'm very excited with the results of this painting and all ready have others started.

My favorite place, in the woods, come into my world.

Want To Go Skiing

Available for Purchase

For the third year, one of my snowmen have posed for a painting.   This joyful fella is the newest addition to my collection.   A snowman dressed in holiday cheer brings a smile to my face and fond memories of winters past.

Winter's playing hockey, sledding, skating, skiing and hiking along with Hot Dam.  More recently Fireball Whiskey has been added for warmth and courage, oh ....it doesn't have to be winter.

Bowled Over

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It must have been a great raspberry season some where the fruit was spectacular recently.  They were getting gobbled up so fast almost forgot to stop and paint them.

Line Up

Available for Purchase

Drawn to the peaches for the color, shapes and shadows, oh and they taste good.

Lately my paintings have been 16 x 20 and up in size,  Selecting this small composition was more difficult.

Some artist's work is always recognizable they may use the same pallet, subject or size, mixing things up is part of my artistic process and keeps me challenged .... or maybe it's A.D.D.?

Hat With Lace

Available for Purchase

20 x 24 inches oil on hardboard.   Loved the lace cascading down onto the dress the shapes and angles created from this pose.

Believe

Nearing completion on a still life and working on another figure painting then an opportunity to bring this idea to fruition presented itself.  The intent gaze of a father and the wink of a child.

Once the paint dry's I am going to try a technique that will tone down the whites and give the painting an aged look.

NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBIT

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
In Association with the Smithsonian Institution
13480 Dowell Rd.
Dowell, MD 20629

www.annmariegarden.org

Two of my paintings are in this exhibit.  My brother is getting married at the Outer Banks, NC Oct.17th,, I will be stopping by the exhibit on my way home to Michigan.   Luck is with me.... every time we stop for gas I am buying a lotto ticket.

If your in the area stop by and see this exhibit, 4 of my daily paintings are in the show.

Riverside Arts Center
76 North Huron Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Look Out

Available for Purchase

This is a 11 x 14 oil painting on hardboard.  A view from Clingsmans Dome in the the Smoky Mountains.   Clouds drifting, land and sky converging.   The highest elevation in the park.    Each year for the last five we have made a trip to the park to enjoy the beauty and history.

Flower keeper

Available

This flower is a new addition to my garden this year and the name escapes me, they were planted from a seed package.  If you know please comment.  They grow 3-4 feet tall and produce lots of blooms.    This vase was a great keeper for the flowers and added complementing shapes.

From the Garden

Available

The garden seemed to take forever this year.  Once it started producing it has been a great crop.  Our cucumbers are 18 inches long, no kidding.  There are two tomatoes plants .  When they started ripening there were so many tomatoes it made 8 quarts of spaghetti sauce.   We have been so busy eating everything this is the first painting of my vegetables.  

Cracked Eggs

Available

While making breakfast here it was ...right in front of me.  My little egg beater who roams around the kitchen happened to catch the scene.   What a character...he pops up in my paintings every now and then.

Crooked Tree Arts Center 

Petoskey, Michigan

September 20 - November 15, 2014

OPENING RECEPTION: 2014 JURIED FINE ART EXHIBITION AND GLPAPA EXHIBIT

September 20, 4-6 pm.

I

WHITE RIVER LIGHTHOUSE IS IN THE EXHIBIT, HOPE YOU CAN STOP BY AND SEE ALL THE GREAT PAINTINGS.

Red beauty

Available

The simple beauty of an object brought to life by the paint.   This depth of color is amazing and why I paint with oil colors.  

August

Spent most of this month traveling to the Smoky Mountains and up-north Michigan.   Although this was a time of fun and family as an artist you are always gathering insight for your work.

The Smoky Mountains has captivated me for the last five years.   Recently I started a landscape which is a view from Clingmans Dome the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet and crosses the Appalachian trail.  Learning the history of the area keeps me going back for the beauty of the mountains and the valleys where the settlers lived.  There are a lot of historical places to visit in the park.

Deck and I with our granddaughter Kaylee stopping on the Blue Ridge Parkway after our rafting trip.

Us girls were in the front the best place for the ride.

Peach slices

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The peach was packed full of sweetness and amazing color.  It began with slicing the peaches for the painting now I always cut my fruit.  When the fruit is really juicy it's easier to eat.

Strawberries II

Available

A family tradition of picking fruits beginning with strawberries then blueberries and sometimes apples.  One of these days were going to try cherries they aren't grown in the immediate area.   My strawberries were made into compote for crepe's my new fun food.  The fruit is displayed in clear glass which allowed for the shadows to ad some additional shapes and color.

Peony and copper pot underpainting

The under painting is close to being done the bottom half is giving me a nice cozy feeling and I want the top half to do the same thing, so almost done with the value study.

Work in progress

Painting this still life 16x20 and there is another portrait off to the left in the background that is 20x24 in progress.  Another painting  24x48 is also on an easel.  There haven't been any daily paintings lately this rotation is keeping me pretty busy.

Anyway hope you all are having a great summer get outside. and do some fun stuff.

Reds of summer

Available

It has been warm and sunny the month of June and raining during the week which is great for the weekend.   Everything is green and lush from mother nature no watering required from the hose.  Sounding pretty good... yet these conditions weren't the best for ripening strawberry's a little moist on the ground and rotting some fruit.  Still managed to pick some good berries. This year froze compote so that we can enjoy it on crepes whenever out sweet tooth needs a fix.

White River Lighthouse

Available

Another painting started while I was plein air painting with friends.  This lighthouse is tucked snugly between the channel on the north, the nearby Lake Michigan shore on the West.  Inside you can stroll through a fine nautical museum, which includes the Fourth Order Fresnel lens originally used at this location.  You  can also climb a beautiful iron staircase into the light tower for a sprawling view of Lake Michigan.and bordering sand dunes.

I painted the lighthouse from across the river and didn't get the tour so next time I will have to visit the museum.

Lake Michigan Wandering

Available

Recently my travels took me to a friends house near Lake Michigan.  We spent a few days together painting the area.   This morning started out with thunder and lightening and turned into a beautiful hot afternoon.   The waves were rather choppy from the earlier storms and those that came again overnight.  Summer hasn't officially begun it was rather quiet give it another week the summer season will start.

Apple blues

Available

Is it abstract or real?  Watercolor or oil ?

It is an oil painting with some colorful shadows and shapes.  It is a painting that grows on you at least it has me.  Fruit is a daily snack my bowl always has something in it, as the seasons change so does my fruit.  It use to be available locally grown in season now it comes from all over the world.  We have so many more choices.

U of M Peony Garden

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This is a beautiful peony garden tucked away on campus. Met up with a local art group to paint the scene.   Many families came for a stroll and loved the kids who walked right up and wanted to see the painting on my easel.  The parents would apologized for the intrusion as the kids dragged them over to have a look.  How wonderful to be an artist and encouraging children.

Kaylee II work in progress

The beginning of the second portrait in my series.  In this pose Kaylee is wearing the hat and a dress from sometime between 1930-1940.  Her face, hat and dress create great gentle flowing shapes complimenting her serenity.

Marsh marigold

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These came from the wetlands in my yard they are drinking from a shot glass.   It is amazing to go hiking for wild flowers they are everywhere and often missed if your not looking.

Fruit bowl

Availablel

What a happy surprise to get home from the grocery store and pull this beautiful cluster of grapes out of the bag.  Quickly they were hidden in the frig for later. 

This composition works really well with the roundness of the bowl and the curving cluster of grapes to keep your eye in the painting, this is one colorful painting.