"Pile of Leaves" is an exploration of leave forms. In the fall, I enjoy looking at the over-lapping leaves on the ground. My favorite places to look are along paths were the leaves are contrasted with their after-images printed on the concrete.
195 - Pile of Leaves, $200 (Watercolor, 8" x 11")
I had fun painting Bucket of Flowers. The bucket of flowers exists in my head. It is a compilation of many kind and thoughtful bouquets I've received in the past from family and friends. I just had an urge to paint the flowers and it wouldn't let up until the flowers were on paper.
125 - Bucket of Flowers, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Shells and More Shells" was derived from drawings I did of shells I found on the Gulf Coast in Alabama. I was impressed by the large number of little shells washed up together on the beach. I over-lapped the forms to emphasize the crowded, jumbled look of the shells on the beach.
42 - Shells & More Shells, $210 (Watercolor, 9" x 12")
I have a lifelong fascination with lighthouses. I grew up looking at lighthouse paintings created by my father. With this particular design, I simplified the shapes to create a pattern, then imagined the lighthouse at night.
329 - Storm Approaching, Lighthouse D10, $450 (Watercolor, 16.5" x 9.5")
What can be more fun that a lighthouse, seashells and paint? This fractured still life was based on some small local souvenirs: seashells from the beach and a lighthouse ornament. I like the contrast of the long, straight lines of the lighthouse with the curves of the shells. The muted greens and blues refer to my home in the Pacific Northwest.
304 - Still Life with Lighthouse, D4, $175 (Watercolor, 10" x 7")
366 - Study
This painting is one of a series of paintings based on a theme of seven shells. I took several of my favorite local broken shells and arranged them into a still life. In this version, I wanted to contrast the curves of the shells with a modified grid background. The grid reminds me of the surface of the beach. The colors I chose are a study in muted tones and grays such as one might find on the coast in late winter.
237 - Group of Seven Shells, $250 (Watercolor, 8" x 12")
361 - Study
502 - Study, NFS
“Reclamation in Green” is inspired by the nature of plants to reclaim the environment. The circles allude to a hole drilled into a rock that I saw. I was struck by the tenacity of plants growing out of the drilled hole. It will not be long until the plants reclaim the rock for nature.
287 - Reclamation in Green, $250 (Watercolor, 11.5" x 8.5")
Design #53 is the thirteenth painting in my “Still Life with Toy Pony” series. With this design I am playing with one of my favorite devices: creating depth then collapsing it again. I like the movement it brings to what otherwise looks to be a stoic still life.
280 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D53, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21")
Painting "Butterfly Quartet" was a fun challenge. I used layers of paint and texture to build the paintings of the butterflies. I use the colors of the butterflies to create diagonal movement, with light butterflies on the upper left and lower right positions, and orange butterflies in the lower left and upper right positions. I used line, shape and texture to push and pull the colors forward and backward to keep the painting flat and yet energized. Most of all, I enjoyed working the paint and thinking of the grace of butterflies.
134 - Butterfly Quartet, $210 (Acrylic, 11.75" x 9.5")
"Hoodoo Vista" is part of a series I did on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. In this version, the hoodoos are shown facing distant mountains. I wanted to show the vastness of the landscape at Bryce Canyon.
143 - Hoodoo Vista, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
472 - Study
In this second version of “Odds & Ends with Silk Scarf” I simplified the color scheme. I wanted to emphasize that it is the blue scarf that ties the odds and ends together.
261 - Odds & Ends with Blue Scarf II, $175 (Watercolor, 6.5" x 10")
While running along the bike path in Medford, OR, during a fall visit, I became intrigued by the colors and patterns of the fallen leaves. There was a variety of colors and shapes of leaves all haphazardly strewn along the dark blue of the bike path. In this painting, I focused on the rhythm of the leaves on the sidewalk.
86 - Fallen Leaves, $450 (Watercolor, 22" x 30")
495- Study, NFS
This watercolor is the second in a series about Irish Breakfast Tea. As I understand it, Irish Breakfast Tea is served with milk so it seemed natural to add a milk pitcher to the composition. When I grew up in small town New Mexico, what I knew of Ireland was through St. Patrick's Day. In other words, the colors green and orange plus a shamrock. Since my youth, I've learned a few more symbols associated with Irish culture, like the triskele. That is the three joined swirls in the orange tea. And, then, I added greens and a shamrock to the painting for a tribute to Irish Breakfast Tea. Oh yes, I do like the tea.
497 - Irish Breakfast Tea 2, $275 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 7")
384 - Study
I frequently see harbor seals around my home town. I see them either in the surf popping their heads up to check out the beach, or basking as a group on a sand bar. In this painting, I wanted to catch the grace of intertwined line and form as I imagine them in a group.
74 - Harbor Seals, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
"Backyard Birds Along the Fence Line" was inspired by the variety of song birds that come and go in our back yard. We often see ravens, jays, warblers, robins, flickers, chick-a-dees, and thrushes. I liked the contrasting shapes of the sharp fence line opposed to the bird shapes.
93 - Backyard Birds Along The Fence Line, $250 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 11" x 15")
373 - Study
Recently, I have been exploring ideas and subjects in a series. This painting is the second in a series about a friend, Torsten, playing bass. My husband and I met Torsten when we lived in Germany. Torsten played bass for a local hard rock band. It was when he was performing that my husband took the photo I used as inspiration. The blues allude to the cool, deep tones of the bass. The oranges remind me of the hot, loud sounds of the band in concert.
244 - Torsten on Bass - Rock and Roll, NFS
393 - Study
In this still life painting, I re-visited some of my favorite subjects: broken seashells and a knotted napkin. The folds of the napkin reminded me of waves water which fit my seashell theme. I liked the rhythm of the wave so much I repeated them in the background. The star of the composition is the broken seashell up front with it gracefully curved chambers.
435 - Three Broken Shells and a Knot, $450 (Watercolor, 10" x 13")
