"Red Sails at Sunset" was inspired by an afternoon of watching sail boats at Port Townsend, WA. I wanted to explore the shapes of the big sails as they moved along the water. I imagined the boats sailing on a red, midsummer evening at sunset.
102 - Red Sails at Sunset, $180 (Watercolor, 7" x 10")
"Jigsaw Landscape" is a study in dividing, subdividing and then dividing some more. To create unity, I glazed passages of shapes together. In the end, there is a feeling of an old village, without actually painting one.
104 - Jigsaw Landscape, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
In this paintings, I wanted to revisit one of my favorite subjects, butterflies, and imagine them emerging en masse in spring. I used color to refer to the vibrant, new growth of springtime. I purposely kept the size and shape of the butterflies the same to recreate the feeling of a coming upon a group of butterflies flitting along the foliage.
105 - Butterflies in Spring, $350 (Watercolor, 15" x 22")
"Red Sails on a Golden Sea" is a second painting inspired by a trip to Port Townsend, Washington. Boats with different colors and shapes of sails were out on the water. I used reds and golds to create the warm feeling of watching boats on a summer evening.
106 - Red Sails on a Golden Sea, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
I painted "Golden Disc" using primary colors: red, blue and yellow. I wanted a feeling of bursting, expanding geometric shapes. Color and shape overlap as they expand out from the golden disc. I like achieving unity through a simplified pallet, while at the same time building as many variations in the colors as possible.
107 - Golden Disc, $230 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
In this painting, I explore painting a variety of colors in varying intensities. I wanted to allude to bobbles, or circular forms. I keep the bobble shapes open to allow the shapes to overlap and weave a unified whole.
108 - Bobbles, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
This painting is another variation on one of my favorite themes: flocks of birds along the coast. There seems to be lots of activity among the birds and I enjoy my peek into another world.
109 - Coming in for a Landing, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
I delight in watching the flocks of pelicans as they soar barely above the surf. They often fly in close formation in what looks like synchronized flight. At such times, these otherwise ungainly birds are the epitome of grace and beauty.
110 - Pelican Quartet, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Medley in Blue" is an exploration in color and design. I like exploring geometric shapes by overlapping them then using line to collapse the depth created by the overlapping shape. Using line enhances the feeling of vibration caused by the contrasting, opposite color scheme. To me, it's a pleasing and intriguing abstraction.
111 - Medley in Blue and Orange, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Middle Earth" is an imaginary landscape. It does remind my of a trip I took by train through the "Gudbrandallen" in Norway. The hills and valley's of Gudbrandallen looked like they could be inhabited by fairies and trolls. In this painting, I wanted to invoke a feeling of a magical, mystical place.
119 - Middle Earth, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
"Staircase to the Boat Dock" is inspired by drawings of a nearby boat dock. I purposely abstracted, twisted, tilted and turned the steps to show the rhythms of the staircase.
121 - Staircase to the Boat Dock, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
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")
"She Read Science Fiction" is a painting about one of my sisters. I thought of some of our memorable experiences together and two ideas popped in my head: she took a science fiction class in high school and liked Daisies.
127 - She Read Science Fiction, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Still Life with Potted Plant and Candelabra" is another painting based on my work with the local Wednesday drawing group. I loved the curly-cues of the candelabra. In this painting, I reached that point where I let myself go and had fun.
128 - Still Life With Potted Plant and Candelabra, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
On our 2004 trip through Northern California, I made a quick sketch of Mt. Shasta. As we continued to drive across the mountains, I was intrigued by the waves of low hills and how they contrasted with the towering height of Mt. Shasta.
129 - Visions of Mt. Shasta, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Medford Oaks" is based on a drawing done of an oak grove outside of Medford, OR. I liked the way the young oaks intertwined with each other. The story is the shape and mass of the oaks so I kept the colors simple.
132 - Medford Oaks, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 9.5")
"Hoodoo Kings at Dawn" is part of a series I did on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. In painting the Hoodoo King formation, I thought about how water and frost and ice had helped to carve and form the rock. I liked this formation in particular because of its name and the angle of the connected hoodoos.
141 - Hoodoo Kings at Dawn, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
"Valley of the Hoodoos" is part of a series I did on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. In this version, the hoodoo landscape becomes surreal. The hoodoos started reminding me of pieces on a game board or giants of an ancient and mystical land.
142 - Valley of the Hoodoos, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
"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")
"Hoodoos" is part of a series I did on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. In this version, I included a pine tree to help show the scale of the hoodoos. The trees at Bryce Canyon provide a natural contrast to these huge stone figures.
144 - Hoodoos, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
"Afternoon Hoodoos" is part of a series I did on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. In this version, I emphasized the patterns of light and dark as might be seen on a late summer afternoon.
145 - Afternoon Hoodoos, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
"Hoodoos at Dusk" is part of a series I did on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. In this version, I imagined the hoodoos illuminated by a moody southwestern sunset. The big hoodoo shapes take on the look of ancient figures staring out along the landscape.
146 - Hoodoos at Dusk, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
"Southwest Sun" is based on a color study I did while we were visiting southwestern New Mexico. Inspired by big skies and colorful sunsets, the landscape emerged on the paper. The big forms might be trees, rocks or sisters gazing at the horizon.
147 - Southwest Sun, $150 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
The painting "Mask" was inspired by the mask-like shapes characteristic of some cats. I chose to alternate darks and lights to add to the rhythm and movement created by the lines of the mask. The watching, seeing, silent eyes add to the sense of mystery and play.
148 - Mask, $185 (Watercolor, 8" x 10")
In the painting "Flowers in Red", I emphasized the warm, light and the bright, bursting shapes of a summer floral bouquet. I felt like the bouquet wanted to burst out of the confines of the vase. The casual arrangement of the floral shapes adds to the feeling of exuberance.
149 - Flowers in Red, $185 (Watercolor, 8" x 10")
This painting is another in a series of shell and pebble paintings. I was experimenting with painting the motif using different color schemes. I added the multi-faceted shapes for fun and to emphasize that these small pebbles and shells are true beach treasures.
153 - Pebbles, Shells and Crab in Golden Light, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
I based "Sun Scape" on a color study I did while visiting New Mexico. Maybe it reflects my reaction to being back in the southwest environment. Or, maybe it reflects my memories of going to the "City of Rocks" as a child growing up in New Mexico. To me, it has the surreal quality of a desert not too long ago.
154 - Sun Scape, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
I had been thinking about the essence of a bird's form and decided that the egg was it. I figured I ought to do a still life study of eggs. In my cupboard, I have a set of egg cups given to me by a friend from Sweden. The hen sitting on her clutch of eggs seemed humorous to me; plus it repeated the form of the eggs. Why green and red? Why not?
160 - Red Hen and Eggs, $185
The gulls on the beach are a source of endless delight and wonder to me. Each encounter gives me a brief window into a different world. This particular painting is a study on the form of the bird. I painted wet-into-wet to give the feel of a soft, cloudy day.
164 - Stepping Out on a Cloudy Day, $225 (10" x 11')
"Flower Market in Gold and Red" started out as an intuitive painting in warm colors. I started with a layer of paint wet-into-wet, and then started painting around the lights. Soon, floral or leaf shapes emerged. They felt crammed together, merging one shape into another, like at a flower market.
165 - Flower Market in Gold and Red, $225 (Watercolor, 10" x 11")
"Indigo Lace" started out as another exercise in abstract design. I drizzled some pigment on the paper. Then, inspiration struck; I started "leap frogging" shape values. For example, if a shape #1 was lighter than the shape #2 next to it, I made it darker than shape #2. Shape #2 was now the lighter shape. One shape led to another and soon I was connected shapes with a lace pattern. The process was fun and stimulating. The result is another statement from my inner eye.
166 - Indigo Lace, $225 (Watercolor, 10" x 11")
"Abstract and Lace" is another in a series of intuitive painting studies. I drizzled and dropped in paint, then started "leap frogging" values - jumping darks over lights. What is it? The painting might depict a jumping shrimp, Kokopelli dancing, or a happy mind's eye. Meaning? Life is good.
169 - Abstract and Lace, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Toy Rocking Horse" is a study of light, shadows and reflections. I was looking for places where light alternates to dark along a line. I like the rhythm of alternating lights and dark. I purposely set up the still life in such a manner that I would have to deal with both the shadow and reflection of the toy horse. Mainly, this painting is about one of my favorite souvenirs brought back from trips in Europe.
170 - Toy Rocking Horse, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
I remember having tulips in our yard when I was growing up. They were my favorite type of flower as a child. When spring comes, it seems natural to explore the shapes of tulips in bloom.
172 - Pink Tulip Festival, $235 (Watercolor, 10" x 15")
"Tulip Time" is about exploring shapes and color intensity. The semi-mosaic approach to the painting enriches the tulip shapes. I like creating then collapsing depth by painting flat, overlapping shapes. Tulips are just fun to paint.
173 - Tulip Time, $235 (Watercolor, 10" x 15")
Spring brings out a desire to paint floral shapes. I see the flowers defying gravity in their urgent quest to get to the point of blooming. The act of flowering is a triumphant bursting of color, shape and movement. Put another way, painting simple tulip shapes is an uplifting experience.
174 - Tulips in Violet and Purple, $235 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
This painting is based on a shipwreck in Ocean Shores, WA. The ship was named the "Catala". At the time I did the study, only bits and pieces of rusted metal were revealed by the sand. I painted the wreck in a loose, rough manner as if to emphasize the rust and deterioration of the metal remains.
176 - Wreck of the Catala, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Dancing Daisies" is a study of wash and calligraphy. I thought using line and calligraphy would be a fun way of expressing the joy and life in a simple spring bouquet of daisies.
177 - Dancing Daisies, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Blue Fish" celebrates the free spirit in each of us. Sometimes, we just have to go against the crowd. In further celebration of the free spirit, I decided to depict the water in my own way, as a sort of mosaic of various blue shapes.
178 - Blue Fish, $250 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
This is another study of one of my favorite beach trail markers. This particular trailer marker had a beautiful shape, with its crossed wood and numerous floats hanging down in the breeze. It no longer exists except in memory and in these paintings.
182 - Beach Trail Marker With Eight Floats, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
This painting is second in a series of "Cats in Mask". It is about the weaving together of shapes and colors. I was thinking about how some cats' markings are shaped liked masks. I arranged the cats so one mask would lead to another.
183 - Cats in Mask, $350 (Watercolor, 16" x 20")
At one level, "Pulse" is about the heart: heart as symbol and heart as organ. Another way to look at it, it's about fluid lines and checked shapes. And yet, it's also about the contrast of red and green. Mostly, I did it because I love to paint; isn't that what it's all about?
184 - Pulse, $350 (Watercolor, 16" x 20")
I enjoyed painting this small study. It began with a simple question: what would a bouquet of flowers look like in the moonlight? I studied the question in my mind's eye and began painting. To me, the flowers still declare their life in the silent stillness of the night.
185 - Bouquet in Moonlight, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 10")
Seahorses have always fascinated me. I saw some small spotted seahorses in an aquarium once and I was intrigued. By painting the seahorse, I get to hold on to that special encounter.
186 - Spotted Seahorse, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 10")
My Dad used to say "the subject is an excuse to paint". I believe that statement. I also believe painting gives me an excuse to revisit favorite themes. Here is another study of my favorite beach trailmarker. I am especially fond of the simple, linked shapes in this small painting.
187 - Beach Trailmarker with Five Floats, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 10")
The painting "Eggs and Rooster" is inspired by a set of Swedish egg cups and a Norwegian rooster wall hanging that I have. I thought it was fun to put the Swedish and Norwegian souvenirs together.
188 - Eggs and Rooster, $185 (Watercolor, 8" x 10")
"Pears in Moonlight" is a study of color, light and mood. I did a drawing of a still life set up of pears then began experimenting with how color and light influence mood. I like how the violet and blue colors say something different about a common subject.
190 - Pears in Moonlight, $185 (Watercolor, 8" x 10")
"View Across the Valley" was based on a drawing I did of a valley near Medford, Oregon. I liked the spatial tension between the nearby tree and the small buildings across the valley.
191 - View Across the Valley, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 10")
"Double Tree at Neal Creek" was based on a drawing of trees along Neal Creek, south of Ashland, Oregon. The intertwined trunks of the trees along the right caught my eye.
192 - Double Tree at Neal Creek, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 10")
"Red Pears" is a study of light on form. I set up the still life to catch the bright afternoon light on the pears. When painting, I built up the red to emphasize the luscious forms.
193 - Red Pears, $185 (Watercolor, 8" x 10")
"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 drew the design for "Sapphire Arabesque" when I was in New Mexico. When I was a teenager studying ballet, I thought the arabesque was one of my favorite movements. As a painter, I find the arabesque shape interesting. In this work, I chose to highlight its beauty by making the shape the subject.
196 - Sapphire Arabesque, $650 (Watercolor, 16.5" x 22")
"Rocket Flowers" is the second, and larger, painting using a design I did with the flower Scarlet Gilia as subject. I found out that Scarlet Gilia is sometimes called a Rocket Flower. I find it intriguing that this flower can be hard to see in the southwestern landscape. But, when I do see them, I find them delightful.
197 - Rocket Flowers, $650 (Watercolor, 22.6" x 14")
Usually when I see pictures or photos of sea dragons, I see them in portrait. I decided to try to imagine what they would look like in three quarter view, looking straight at me. This fanciful sea dragon looks a bit surprised. I set it in a colorful sea since sea dragons are southern hemisphere animals. I enjoyed playing with the form of delicate and beautiful sea dragon.
198 - Tropical Sea Dragon, $650 (Watercolor, 16" x 20")
One of my favorite mental exercises is to ask myself ìwhat are the visual clues that tell you a _____ is a _____. In this case the blank is filled in with tulip. I this painting, I explore the graceful shape of the tulip, overlapping the shape as if it were in a field. I made one white just for fun and for contrast.
199 - Ghost Tulip, $650 (Watercolor, 16" x 20")
This painting appeared in my mindís eye late in February. I started imagining the young shoots of plants emerging in early spring. Late winter and early spring are often dark and windy where I live. These tender shoots are struggling to gain a footing early in spring.
200 - Early Spring Plant Shoots, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
This painting is a second painting exploring the theme of young, newly sprouted plant shoots. In the dark days of March, the new sprouts are yet to turn green. The ghostly shapes anticipate the sun and green of spring.
201 - Plant Shoots in March, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
I started working on this painting on Veteranís Day or Armistice Day. As usual for the Pacific Northwest, the day was cold, windy and rainy. I was remembering my grandparents who served in World War I. The somber tones reflect my thoughts and remembrances. The shapes remind me of a lonely chapel on a gray day.
202 - November Chapel, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
Chai Tea is one of my favorite teas. I love the blend of tea and spice. In this painting, the colors look like the taste of cardamom and chai tea. I included my favorite tea cup given to me by my Mother.
204 - Chai Tea, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15"
"Mint Tea" is a second version of a still life featuring my favorite tea cup. It includes a small tea box that came in a tea sample gift that my Mother gave me. I enjoy arranging still life setups that include personal items with meaning to me.
205 - Mint Tea, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
One of my favorite places to visit and explore is Bryce Canyon in Utah. I found this wonderful formation along the Rim Trail toward Fairyland. I call it the Great Dames. In this version, I am using a color scheme that I saw one morning. The sky was golden at dawn and the formations in shadow were cool blues and purples. It was a spectacular site.
206 - Bryce Canyon: Great Dame Hoodoos at Dawn, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"The Great Dames" is my personal name for a hoodoo, or rock formation in Bryce Canyon, Utah. The formation reminds me of great matriarchs standing guard along the trail. The color scheme in this particular version of the Great Dames depicts the light and color at the middle of the day or noon.
207 - Bryce Canyon: Great Dame Hoodoos at Noon, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
A broken shell I found on the local beach was the inspiration for "Shell Nouveau". I love the spiraling twist along the main stem of the shell. After drawing the shell from life, I wanted to do a composition without looking at the shell. Working in this manner allows me to express my delight in the subject.
209 - Shell Nouveau, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 22")
"RV Park Afternoon" is based on a drawing I did while my husband and I were on a trip in our travel trailer. I was thinking about drawing subjects in interesting light. I looked around the RV park and saw the interesting patterns of light around me. This particular RV park was in Albuquerque, NM.
210 - RV Park Afternoon, $650 (Watercolor, 22" x 15")
"Dragonfly Square Dance" is a variation on a theme of dragonflies. I was interested in the overlapping of shapes. I purposely added drips and spatters for fun and contrast to the carefully controlled layers of paint.
211 - Dragonfly Square Dance, $650 (Watercolor, 16" x 20")
"Three Shells Abstracted" is inspired by the wonderful small shells my husband and I find on our beach. In drawing these shells, I pretended I was sculpting the shells. I thought about the rhythms created by the beautiful ridges, curves and spirals.
215 - Three Shells Abstracted, $450 (Watercolor, 15" x 9.5")
One day, after seeing many paintings about pears, I decided to paint a different kind of pear; a festive, royal pear. Perhaps the dots and other decorations allude to jewels that adorn the pear. Befitting its regal state, I crowned the pear with a lavender moon.
216 - Royal Pear, $850 (Watercolor, 21" x 29")
In this variation on the "Shell Nouveau" theme, I worked a double complimentary scheme. Though orange and blue dominate, I added yellow and purple for variety. I had fun orchestrating the colors and weaving the shapes.
220 - Multicolored Shell Nouveau VS, $175 (Watercolor, 5" x 7")
The "Shell Nouveau" drawings were based on the wonderful spirals of broken sea shells. I framed the shell with varied and overlapping rectangles. It was fun and allowed me to weave together the different parts of the composition.
221 - Shell Nouveau VS, $175 (Watercolor, 5" x 7.5")
Another in the espresso cup series, in this composition, the idea here is to depict heat! The day is as hot as the fresh cup of espresso. And, we take our espresso neat, no cream and sugar.
222 - Kaffe with Awning in Orange VS, $175 (Watercolor, 6" x 10")
Another in the espresso cup series, this composition is about two eight sided cups we have. I have drawn them several times. Then, I did a "what if" drawing - what if I were viewing these cups through a prism or kaleidoscope? I like the energy of the composition, sort of like a good, caffeinated cup of espresso.
225 - Fractured Espresso Cups VS, $175 (Watercolor, 6" x10")
One day I wondered what kind of wild, crazy pear I could draw. What if the pear were sitting on a table at night, under a pale lavender moon? And, what if it were a festive pear? This piece is the result of my wondering. Itís about the joy of the fruit!
228 - Royal Pear with Lavender Moon VS, $175 (Watercolor, 7" x 9")
This composition features two of my favorite sea shells. I collected these broken shells that I found on the beach because of the interesting coils and shapes. I enjoyed painting this pair in a loose, watery style.
231 - Two Broken Spiral Shells, $175 (Watercolor, 7.5" x 10")
"Torsten on Bass" is inspired by a photograph by my husband, Robert, of a friend of ours. Torsten is from Germany and was a bass player in a local band from the Heidelberg Swetzingen area. At one time, Torsten was voted the best rock and roll bass player in Germany by a jury of his peers. This painting is a response to the music of the bass.
234 - Torsten on Bass, $650 (Watercolor, 13.3" x 21.25")
This painting is based on a drawing I did of shells I collected from the local beach. I collect shells on morning visits to the beach based on their interesting shapes. Broken shells are fun to look at and draw because I get to see a little of the inside twists and turns of the shell. The orange and violet colors make me think of summer sunsets on the sand.
236 - Three Broken Shells in Violet and Orange, $250 (Watercolor, 8" x12")
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")
This painting is about the interplay of color, shape and line. I like building alternations into a composition. One of the fun alternations I did was to start by filling shapes (positive space); to painting the outline of the shapes; to painting outside and around the shapes (negative space). The composition reminds me of a tapestry.
238 - Alternations in Violet, Green and Orange, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14")
This painting is another in my group of seven shells series. In this version, I simplified the color plan to include only two colors: blue and orange. I layered the paints to create various tones of gray. The grays allow the blue and orange areas to glow. The tone reminds me of a foggy day at the beach.
239 - Group of Seven Shells in Blue and Orange, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14")
"Ms Maggie on the Rug" is the first in a series of studies and paintings inspired by my Auntís cat Maggie. The composition is based on a photo I took of Maggie on a rug at my Aunt Mary's house. The rug was on a tile floor and gave me the idea of introducing a grid. I introduced one of my favorite Cubist devices: Maggie from a frontal and portrait point of view.
240 - Ms Maggie on the Rug, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14")
Another in my "Ms Maggie" series, this painting offers a simplified cat design. I enjoy exploring the possibilities of simplified form and color. The colors chosen in this version allude to a dignified Ms. Maggie.
241 - KittyKitty in Blue and Orange, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14")
This is another painting of my most recent muse, Ms. Maggie the Cat. In this version, I depict the cat after a particularly satisfying stretch. The stretch is the prelude to this regal position. The spine is aligned and life is good. Again, I present multiple views of Ms. Maggie. Cats are mysterious. They can be aware of your presence even when they are not looking at you.
245 - Regal Kitty, $450 (Watercolor, 11.5" x 15.5")
This painting is another composition in my series of seven sea shells. I let me spirit free, so to speak, when I was drawing this design. The shells were a point of departure. I allowed myself to find shapes and lines based on how I responded to the shells. Some shapes I link; others I break up. I extend lines and shorten others. Perhaps, Iím thinking of fun summer days at the beach, full of sun and play.
246- Seven Sea Shells Abstracted, $650 (Watercolor, 13.5" x 21.5")
In this version of "KittyKitty", I fell in love with orange and yellow. Normally, I wouldn't work with such a limited, high key pallet. But, the power of acrylic paints allows the colors to assert themselves. Pale lavender and blue in the white shapes enables this little kitty to glow.
248 - KittyKitty in Orange and Yellow, $250 (Acrylic, 8" x 10")
My intention was for this to be a festive kitty — a different sort of kitty; not your everyday variety. She is lounging in front of a window. Outside shines a lavender moon. Like all cats, this cat is in tune with the cosmos and knows a thing or two about the nature of things.
250 - Cat Under a Lavender Moon, $650 (Watercolor, 14" 18.5")
“Cool Kitty” is so named because of color and expression. This kitty is the silent, strong type. It pretends not to look at you directly; that would be bad manners. But it knows you’re there and it sees you. I painted him blue to emphasize the cool, in control expression.
251 - Cool Kitty, $450 (Watercolor, 11.5" x 15.5")
In “Still Life with Pink Toy Pony D4”, I chose the two colors that were my favorite as a child: pink and green. This particular still life has me thinking about childhood relationships, thus the choice. To me, the pony is running in towards it’s guardians (the other objects), much as an excited child to it’s older siblings. Certainly, they will discuss the day’s adventures.
254 - Still Life with Rose Toy Pony D4, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14.5")
In this version of “Still Life with Toy Pony”, the light is soft and subdued. The objects are dark and muted too. The feeling reminds me of a gray day in late afternoon. All are in quiet contemplation.
255 - Still Life with Toy Pony On a Gray Day, D11a, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14.5")
Sometimes cats remind me of their regal heritage; of ancient Egypt and mythology. So it is with “Golden Kitty”. She has what I call a “sphinx-ette” attitude. She is above us mere mortals but honors us with her presence. We give good pets and food as gifts.
257 - Golden Kitty, $450 (Watercolor, 10.4" x 14.5")
Every once in awhile, kitties go to “full red alert”. They stare intently; fur erect, muscles taut. They maintain this position for a few moments, and then it’s either action or false alarm. I find it particularly amusing when I can’t figure out what caused the alert.
258 - KittyKitty Red Alert, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14")
“Odds & Ends with Silk Scarf” was done as a challenge. The idea was to create a painting using a scarf, candle, pen, feather and key. I chose items that were personal. I arranged and tied them together with a knot.
260 - Odds & Ends with Blue Scarf II, $175 (Watercolor, 6.5" x 10")
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")
My intention was to alternate the colors, values and shapes to weave an interesting pattern. Blue-ness should dominate. I like the bold, flat, angular strength; it gives the otherwise still life energy. In this particular version of the still life, all of the elements are given similar emphasis. It is the tight inter-relationship of the group that matters.
262 - Still Life with Toy Pony Linked In, D38, $450 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
KittyKitty is a bundle full of feline emotion! Have you ever noticed kitties when they’re sitting on their paws in a state between sitting and lying down? They look like hens sitting on eggs. There is a tension; the cat is not relaxed and could spring into action. Or, take a nap. This is the state I was thinking about when I designed this version of KittyKitty. And, that’s why she’s red!
263 - KittyKitty on Red Pillow, $450 (Watercolor, 14" x 10")
After the first version of design 23 was done, I wanted to try it again and re-work the color scheme. I seem to prefer an alternating scheme where color dominance is not quite so obvious. I wondered what it would feel like if I used just a little bit of blue to contrast with orange. I like both versions. I find it fascinating to see how the variations work. In person, these colors scintillate!
265 - Still Life with Toy Pony in Orange, D23b, $450 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
Still life compositions let me express something about the artifacts, ideas and experiences I collect throughout my life. Even though I chose the items based on shape, they all have personal meaning. The candlestick was a wedding gift; a friend gave me the espresso cup; the pony is a souvenir from a visit to my Aunt when she lived in San Francisco; the clay pot was something I bought in Germany and decorated with acrylic paint. Each item calls up personal experiences.
266 - Still Life with Toy Pony in Pink and Blue, D23a, $450 (Mixed Watermedia, 10" x 14")
In this particular design, KittyKitty is being polite; she is aware of your presence but doesn't look at you directly. That would be staring. She been caught in a serious mood; kitties can be most mysterious! Or perhaps she just woke up from a nap. A yawn, a stretch, and she’s off to insist on dinner! Purchased by Jörgen Jönnson, Sweden
268 - Seriously KittyKitty, $650 (Watercolor, 21" x 14")
The model for this composition is my Aunt Mary's cat Maggie. In their honor, I've title this version "Merry MsMaggie". The title refers to the symbolism of the colors too. Merry MsMaggie is drawn with a double face. Often cats have this type of look: looking at you and not quite at you. They're most polite! It's bad manners to stare too directly.
269 - Merry MsMaggie, $650 (Watercolor, 15.5" x 20")
This still life introduces three of the figures that are the subject for the series "Still Life with Toy Pony". The objects are close and share curves, shapes and colors. But, they have different personalities and functions.
270 - Still Life with Espresso Cup, Candlestick and Vase, $250 (Watercolor, 14" x 8")
The subject of the "MsKitty and Toy Pony" series is about childhood friendship. Childhood friends use their imagination to visit all sorts of interesting, fantastic places. They make up the rules as they go. Here, MsKitty and Toy Pony play tic-tac-toe, connect-the-dots, and perhaps checkers with tulips.
271 -MsKitty and Toy Pony at Play, $450 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
In this painting, MsKitty and Toy Pony take an excursion to "Blue Daisyland". The subject of MsKitty and Toy Pony's visits to fantastical lands is play and friendship, the type of friendship where all is possible. Each individual is quite different, but they share precious moments together.
272 - MsKitty and Toy Pony in Blue-Daisyland, $450 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
In design 32 of "Still Life with Toy Pony", Toy Pony has become the pillar supporting her siblings. The subject of the series is the relationship between siblings and Toy Pony is the youngest. Yet, her stature amongst the group grows as they all age. She becomes the strength that her sisters need and depend upon. Toy Pony is shown large in size to show her strength and importance as nurturer. Yet, she is on the lower level showing respect and consideration for her older siblings.
274 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D32, $650 (Watercolor, 21" x 13")
"Autumn Fire and Wind" was inspired by forest fires in the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. One fall, my husband and I were sitting in a campground watching the skies turn to smoke from forest fires off in the distance. I thought of the fragility of life around me as seen in the young aspen trees and fall butterflies. I thought of the wind and the fire it might carry. The idea sketch for this painting flowed out the pencil, capturing how the scene made me feel.
275 - Autumn Fire and Wind, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21")
This particular version of "Still Life with Toy Pony" is based on my 56 drawing of the still life. I was interested in showing that the siblings might have much in common, yet remain quite different in character. They are close, yet distinct.
276 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D56, $450 (Watercolor, 13.75" x 21.5")
As indicated in the title, this piece is from a blind contour drawing. I liked how the lines and shapes created a mysterious self portrait. The drawing impulse is open, blatant, intense. I’m staring at myself, trying to see. I thought it was fun!
277 - Blind Contour Self Portrait in Black & Red, $850 (Watercolor, 29.5" x 21.5")
This is one of a handful of compositions derived from a blind contour drawing. In this version, I cropped it close. I liked the feeling of being “up close and personal”. It’s an intimate, almost uncomfortably intense stare. And, I like the shapes and lines!
278 - Blind Contour Self Portrait - Up Close, $850 (Watercolor, 21.5" x 29.5")
"MsKitty with Pot-of-Tulips" is one of several works featuring a cat I call MsKitty. In this one, I wanted MsKitty and the tulips to be intertwined and interlocked. Coming out from behind, MsKitty stares at her audience. It’s the moment of discovery. Is she being coy? What has she been into?
279 - MsKitty with Pot-of-Tulips, $650 (Watercolor, 21" x 14")
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")
Design 54 in my “Still Life with Toy Pony” series is about contrasting curves and ovals with straight lines and corners. The objects are overlapping in order to allow movement to flow from left to right. I wanted to create a feeling of closeness and harmony.
281 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D54, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21")
“MsKitty and Toy Pony At Play” is all about interlocking fun shapes and colors. I wanted to capture the feeling of energy, exuberance and joy! They’re playing, after all!
282 - MsKitty & Toy Pony Still Playing, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14")
“Reclamation” is inspired by Natural processes. I was inspired by plants growing out of a man-made hole in a rock. I liked the idea of the simple plant reclaiming the rock and finding a home.
283 - Reclamation, $250 (Watercolor, 13.5" x 9")
“Fire Dance” is the second in a series of improvisations inspired by the forces of “Nature”. The organic shapes might be fingers of fire, leaves in fall, or warm winds. Energy is released and consumed. Also, the improvisation was fun.
284 - Fire Dance, $450 (Watercolor, 15" x 11")
MsKitty & Toy Pony “chill out” on a hot summer day. They’re cool and have had lots of time playing in all sorts of places. Sometimes, you just have to be and let the colors groove.
285 - MsKitty & Toy Pony Chill Out $250 (Watercolor, 8.5" x 11")
MsKitty and friend Toy Pony find themselves lost amongst the chaos of “Corporate Ladder Land”. Ladders lead to nowhere. The corporate spiral goes to know-where. There is much activity but nothing getting done. MsKitty and ToyPony connect the dots and escape the land of glass ceilings.
286 - MsKitty & Toy Pony in Corporate Ladder Land, $175 (Watercolor, 9.5" x 7")286
“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")
My “Reclamation Series” is about how things are returned to a natural state. Leaves, in their last burst of color, seem to embody this process for me. In this particular painting, I created depth by painting overlapping feathery leaf shapes. Imagine the richness under the pile of leaves!
290 - Feathery Leaves, $450 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 14.5")
The pieces in my “Reclamation” series are improvisations, as is the case here. I started with the idea of leaf shapes overlapping in depth, from light to dark. As the piece evolved, I started seeing underwater plants reaching gracefully toward the light above.
291 - Toward the Light, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 14.5")
“Leaf Bouquet” is an experiment in “negative” painting. I focused on painting around shapes, working from light to dark. As the painting grew, it looked like a leaf bouquet to me, complete with ribbon and bow.
292 - Leaf Bouquet, $450 (Watercolor, 14" x 10.5")
In this painting, my intention is to create the feel of late autumn in an RV park. It’s a warm, quiet afternoon. The subject was an RV park my husband and I stayed at in Albuquerque, NM.
293 - Big Shade, Autumn Afternoon, $650 (Watercolor, 12" x 20.5")
My “Reclamation” series is about natural life cycles. It’s about how plants can find a foothold to live in seemingly unlikely places: a crack in the sidewalk; a hole drilled into a rock. The particular subject was a hearty desert plant that had established itself in a hole drilled into a rock. The red alludes to the color of the rock. The green represents the thriving plant life.
294 - Reclamation in Green V2, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21.5")
In this version of “Still Life with Toy Pony”, I was interested in creating a quiet, evening light. The objects, which I consider surrogates for siblings in my mind, are close together as if lending each other mutual support. In spite of their differences, they are linked as one.
295 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D41, $650 (Watercolor, 12.5" x 21.5")
“Toy Pony” was a fun experiment in shape and texture. I want to show a lively young pony. I used some of my favorite devises, big shapes, line and texture.
296 - Toy Pony, $650 (Watercolor, 21" x 13.5")
To create this pile of “feathery” leaves, I used a negative painting technique. It’s great fun; starting from the lightest shape, I paint around or behind it. With each subsequent leaf, I layer more color behind the subject. The painting becomes almost a record of the layers of paint. The result in this case is rich color that reminds me of late autumn.
297 - Feathery Leaves, v2, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21")
Sometimes inspiration comes from funny places. One day, when painting a “MsKitty and Toy Pony” painting, I saw a small shape that interested me. I decided to use the shape as a basis for an abstract design. And, with abstract design, I never know exactly where I’ll go. In the end, it looks like I have a “beacon” for the mushroom people in a land of grids and waves.
298 - Watercolor on Arches 140lb Cold Press Paper, $650 (Watercolor, 19" x 13")
“MsKitty and Toy Pony” are lost in the chaos of corporate ladder land; they’re not really the executive type. Meaning? Sometimes the world can be a strange, bizarre place. Meaning #2: drawing and painting can be great fun! MsKitty and Toy Pony are traveling companions, wandering through mysterious and exotic places.
299 - MsKitty & Toy Pony in Corporate Ladder Land V2, $850 (Watercolor, 21.5" x 29.5")
Sometimes I do multiple versions of the same design in order to explore meaning. In this version of an RV park, I wanted cool colors (blues) to dominate. The cool colors create a feeling of a quiet place in late fall.
300 - Big Shade in Blue, $250 (Watercolor, 8" x 11")
I live in an area of the country that has lots of alder trees. They have wonderful, interesting shaped leaves. One day I did a small sketch of some of the neighborhood trees, inspiring this small painting.
301 - Alder Leaves, $175 (Watercolor, 9.5" x 7")
Afternoon heat and autumn color are what this painting is about. This particular painting is one of several done of the same subject. I’m exploring how color influences the “story” of a painting. This one is warm color dominant (orange and yellow) reminding me of autumn.
303 - Big Shade, Hot Afternoon, $250 (Watercolor, 8" x 11")
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")
What can be more romantic than a mermaid alone at night? I imagined that a mermaid in today's seas would find lots of debris, some being quite useful. In this case, she is examining a net. Is she using it for herself, or was she caught in it? The story might go either way.
305 - Mermaid with Net at Night, $175 (Watercolor, 10" x 7")
I used my favorite broken seashells as my inspiration for "Sea Swirls". What I like about the seashells are the swirling and spiraling shapes I see when I look inside. I liked the juxtaposition of the curves of the swirls and waves against the straight lines of my "frames within a frame" and grid.
306 - Sea Swirls, $450 (Watercolor, 21" x 11")
This painting was inspired by the crash of waves on rocks. It's about the forces of nature, which sometimes can be beautiful and violent. I had fun using color symbolically, using just about every blue on my pallet to refer to water.
307 - Splash, $175 (Watercolor, 6.5" x 10.5")
I have several souvenirs from Holland and it struck me that they could be my own version of a "Dutch Interior". Often, I do drawings and paintings just because they make me feel good, as is the case here.
308 - Still Life with Dutch Souvenirs, v2, $175 (Watercolor, 10" x 7.5")
When I created the design for "Lighthouse, D9" I was interested in exploring pattern. When I say pattern, I am referring to repetition of a shape such that it "reads" visually as one larger shape, such as the cloud shapes or the "v" grass clump shapes. In this case, the pattern took on a whimsical feel, so I added a candle for the light and embraced the whimsey!
309 - Lighthouse, D9, $250 (Watercolor, 14.5" x 8")
For some reason, the color scheme in this small painting took on an immediate "southwestern" feel for me. I can almost see bits and pieces of inlaid color, much as you might see on a piece of jewelry. When I created this particular "Toy Pony" design, I was interested in simple, geometric shapes. You will notice that three of the still life pieces interlock (the cup, candlestick and vase, from left to right). Meanwhile, Toy Pony stands slightly apart, looking back at his companion shapes. He's one of them, but a little bit different! I sometimes feel like that myself.
310 - Still Life with Toy Pony, v39a, $250 (Watercolor, 7.5" x 13.5")
This is a third version of one of my Toy Pony designs. The variations were done to examine how color effects mood. The dominance of the blues in this version are intended to create a cool, calm mood, perhaps like one might feel at night or early morning.
311 - Still Life with Toy Pony, v23c, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21.5")
In this RV park painting, I was interested in created a cool, deep summer, lush green feel. Sometimes in the Northwest, the greens can be so dark and dense. In the air, one can feel the wetness of frequent rains. When the sun appears, everything sparkles!
325 - Big Shade, Cool Day, $250 (Watercolor, 8" x 10")
Color can be so much fun and exciting! And, darn tricky too! I drew these RVs in an Albuquerque, NM, RV park. The sun is hot, even in the shade. In the sunlight, the whites of the RVs are blinding. Meanwhile, the shady side is cool and dark. In this case, I wanted the colors of the shade to be cool reds to contrast with the warm greens of the big trees.
326 - Late Summer RV Park, $175 (Watercolor, 6.5" x 10")
With design 13 of my lighthouse series, I decided to include local seashell shapes. My favorite bit of inspiration was to repeat the spiral of the seashells in the lighthouse. This was just pure fun and I combined two favorite subjects: lighthouses and seashells!
327 - Still Life with Lighthouse & Seashells, D13, $175 (Watercolor, 10" x 6")
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")
In this variation on the "Still Life with Toy Pony" theme, I was interested in simple, bold geometric shapes. My intention was to create movement in this otherwise static arrangement through a diagonal flow to the light and dark pattern. When I look at this painting, I see a cool, formal modern design. Yet, the warm, shifting colors suggest to me that perhaps there is more going on. Any moment now, Toy Pony will twist, turn and leap across the still life!
415 - Still Life with Toy Pony, v39b, $650 (Watercolor, 12" x 21")
This painting was based on the 12th drawing I did of the local lighthouse. I imagined the lighthouse as a beacon in the night…perhaps during a strong storm when things seem to go sideways. Inspired by Cubism, I fractured and played with the lighthouse shapes just for fun.
416 - Lighthouse, D12, $175 (Watercolor, 10" x 6")
The "Just Sayin'..." series of paintings is inspired by the ubiquitous cell phone. One can scarcely be in public without noticing someone talking on the cell phone and overhearing the conversation. In this variation, my subject is an "upscale" lady, perhaps dressed for a special occasion like afternoon tea. Even she has a finger to her ear as she talks on her cell phone.
432 - Just Sayin'...V8, $175 (Watercolor, 10.5" x 7")
This painting was based on my ninth drawing in the "Just Sayin'..." series. I am fascinated by how the use of a cell phone has effected our culture. One of the more amusing gestures I notice is the finger put to the ear in order to hear better. In this painting, my thoroughly modern lady is talking on her cell phone, using the thoroughly modern gesture of finger to her ear.
433 - I Can't Hear You, $450 (Watercolor, 15" x 12")
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")
I like the grace of spiraling curves. I am fascinated by how often the shape shows up in Nature. I thought it appropriate that my Toy Pony character should visit the land of Spiral Nights. Its a place of dreams and imagination.
436 - Toy Pony On a Spiral Night, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 14")
In design 25 of my Still Life with Toy Pony series, I rearranged the placement of my still life objects. I purposely "flipped them", with Toy Pony being placed at the left side of the paintings. The order of the other objects, the vase, candlestick and espresso cup, is reversed as well. I wanted to see how the different arrangement effected the composition. I added rings as if the light came from the lit candlestick and tying the objects together.
437 - Still Life with Toy Pony D25, $650 (Watercolor, 13" x 21")
My love affair with kitties continues. I find their expressions mysterious and delightful. This particular kitty is lying on a pillow; well it was lying until someone called "kitty kitty" off in the distance. Her nap disturbed, she views the world with one alert eye. Not too concerned, though; her paws remain crossed and relaxed.
438 - Kitty Kit..., $650 (Watercolor, 21" x 14.5")
The title "Ocean Gypsy" was inspired by the musical group "Renaissance" and their piece titled "Ocean Gypsy" on the album "Scherazade and Other Stories". My imaginary ocean gypsy lives in a world of myth and mystery. Mute and elusive, she lives off our grid and on her own.
439 - Ocean Gypsy, $650 (Watercolor, 20.5" x 13.5")
I love doing drawings and paintings that include the souvenirs of my life. In this particular still life, I include a small, wooden candle holder from Sweden, in addition to two espresso cups. The candle holder was given to me by one of my sister's after she came home from being a Swedish exchange student. I have kept the candle holder for many years. Unfortunately, I no longer have candles that fit. But, I love the shape and design!
441 - Still Life with Espresso Cups & Swedish Candle Holder, $250 (Watercolor, 13" x 8.5")
My "Billy Goat" is inspired by the goats the live in the fields outside of the town where I live. Seeing the goats as I drive by with my husband always makes me smile. Tails up, the goats go about their business grazing and napping. Every once in awhile, we see the young ones play. This painting is about the simple delight of seeing goats in the field.
442 - Billy Goat, NFS (Watercolor, 14" x 8")
When I created the design for "Just A Taste", I was thinking about art walks, receptions and openings. Galleries are looking their best with artists on hand and musicians playing. I image the local people coming out for an evening of art and culture. Naturally, one would enjoy just a taste of wine and hors d'oeuvres to make the feast for the senses complete.
443 - Just A Taste, $650 (Watercolor, 20.5" x 14")
This painting was inspired by a recent visit to a cafe. I watched as a group of people came in, sat down to a table and immediately brought out their smart phones. I was amused. It seems that the people on the other end of the line were as much a part of the conversation as the people at the table.
444 - Coffee Break Conversations, NFS (Watercolor, 13" x 21")
I am amazed at the growth of personal digital media in our society. Laptops, cell phones, tablets and digital books are common place. I wanted to portray new media next to old media. My friends are at a coffee shop, enjoying a reading break. Old school is reading a traditional hard cover book; new school is reading on her laptop screen. As an echo, I added two different kind of coffee cups: the old school porcelain cup and the new school paper cup.
445 - Old School, New School, NFS (Watercolor, 15" x 21")" x 8.5")
My three friends at the Black Cat Cafe are in their own worlds. I find it amusing how we can be together yet separated by our electronic devices. Ah, but they are enjoying a cup of coffee, with the black kitty looking on!
451 - Coffee at Black Cat Café, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21.5")
If there are mermaids, are there mer-angels? I like to imagine such fantastical figures as being angels of the plants and animals of our deep, underwater world.
459 - Angel of the Deep, NFS (Watercolor, 9.25" x 6")
In version nine of the Three Minute Egg series, the forms of the subject re-assert themselves. You might notice that I'm paying close attention to the orchestration of my two dominant colors: blue and yellowish.
474 - The Local Coffee Kiosk, $450 (Watercolor, 11" x 15")
"Ms Kitty" is a watercolor painted "wet-on-wet" with the opaque, granulating pigments. The resulting painting has the softness associated with pastels. I chose the cat form to develop my ideas, since cats are one of my favorite subjects.
48 - Ms. Kitty, $210 (Watercolor, 9" x 12")
I painted "Refracted Reflections" shortly after attending a workshop by Ms. Barbara Nechis. I drew a shape and repeated it through out the painted. The shape reminded my of a mountains or flowers, depending on orientation. I offset the shapes to add interest and create new shapes.
49 - Refracted Reflections, $210 (Watercolor, 9" x 12")
My favorite things: egg cups, espresso cups, a timer and a spoon. I am reminded of special family breakfasts we had when I was young. It just seemed exotic to have an egg served in an egg cup. I loved dunking my toast in the egg yolk. The design of the painting perhaps emphasizes the idea of remembering the past. The items are simplified and expressive rather than realistic. Its about playing with shapes and color to create something joyful.
493 - Three Minute Egg #12, $650 (Watercolor, 14" x 21")
This is the 13th painting in the "Three Minute Egg" series of paintings. I am inspired by memories of Saturday morning breakfasts with three minute eggs. It was always sort of exotic. The egg cups came from our parent's time in Europe. It made breakfasts a little more special. I chose the colors to emphasize the idea of morning and happy memories.
496 - Three Minute Egg, Espresso and Timer, $650 (Watercolor, 18.5" x 13.5")
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")
This is my 14th painting in the "Three Minute Egg" series. The defining moment was when I decided to make the espresso cup blue. It makes the small espresso cup seem more assertive. Plus, it was a fun exercise in orchestrating blues!
498 - Three Minute Egg #14 , Blue Espresso Cup, $450 (Watercolor 17" x 14")
I used two different sources of inspiration for this painting, a trip through the canyon lands of Arizona and Utah, and the memory of the mountains of southwestern New Mexico. One of my favorite memories is the brilliant reds reflected on the rocky mountain cliffs at sunset in southwestern New Mexico. I used these reds against a dark, blue sky to capture the colors of the southwest.
50 - Canyonlands, $210 (Watercolor, 9" x 12")
While imagining my next series of paintings, a spiral theme popped into my mind. I like the idea that life sometimes resembles a spiral. Much like a circle, it seems like we come to places that we have been before in our lives. But, theses places are not exactly the same because the context is different. Hence the spiral seems appropriate to me. And,it is fitting for me to resurrect the title "Spiral Gyre" from a 2008 painting and turn it into a series. The spiral continues and more to come!
506 - Spiral Gyre #2, $650 (Watercolor,21 x 15)
The Washington coast has great razor clams. One evening, I went with my husband and a friend to the beach to hunt for clams. My husband and friend did the clam hunting and I did drawings of the scenery, as long as the cold wind would allow. Stomping for the clams is an important part of a successful clam dig.
51 - Stomping for Clams, $210 (Watercolor, 9" x 12")
"When the Music Begins" started with a squiggle drawn in my sketchbook. Then, I started to build the drawing by adding lines, shapes, and tone. I imagine the process as being like jazz music improvisations. I riff on the shape of spirals, dots, and grids. The next thing I know, I see an image that reminds me of the music playing in my mind, complete with black and white piano keys.
511 - When the Music Begins, $850 (Watercolor, 14 x 20)
"Secret Garden" is about a special place of beauty and joy that perhaps resides within each of us. Sometimes, it is hidden by the events of everyday living. Other times, it reveals itself in surprising ways and when it's least expected.
513 - Secret Garden, $250 (Watercolor, 8.5" x 11.5")
One morning as I was heading down the beach for my daily run, I noticed a woman sitting on a log having a cup of coffee. To me, that is the epitome of a great coffee break.
53 - Morning Coffee Break, $230 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
I like the bright colors and shapes of kites. In this painting, I imagined I was above the kites, looking down on the beach, and wove together a pattern of kites dancing in the breeze.
55 - Kite Festival, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
I often paint shells, much as other paint flowers. I can free my imagination when thinking of the shapes and colors. They are a great subject to experiment on and enjoy the experience of painting.
56 - Shells on the Beach, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
"Florence's Glassware" was inspired by a still life set up by Florence of the Wednesday Drawing Group. I was especially attracted to the interesting shapes of the wine decanters.
57 - Florence's Glassware, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
I was attracted to the nicely shaped leaves and brightly colored flower heads of our Kalanchoe in bloom.
59 - Kalanchoe, $230 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
Another variation of the blooming kalanchoe. I thought the subject presented an excellent opportunity to explore lights and darks, reds and greens.
60 - Kalanchoe II, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
One of the advantages of living by the ocean is walking or running on the beach. On my frequent runs on the beach at Ocean Shores, I like to watch the groups of sea gulls and other birds along the shore line. I am inspired by the interesting shapes and movements among the birds.
63 - Sea Gulls, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
On trips to Ashland, OR, my husband and I like to visit Lithia Park's duck ponds. After one of the trips, I did a drawing based on my impression of the activity of the ducks on the ponds. The drawing became the inspiration for this painting.
64 - Duck Pond, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
There are many trail markers along our beach that people have erected to highlight their trail. This painting was inspired by one such trail marker in Ocean Shores.
73 - Beach Trailmarker, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
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")
When I was doing the initial drawing for this painting, I was remembering back to childhood in New Mexico. I loved it when the community had a fiesta, especially with Mariachi bands. Much like word association, I drew the forms as I remembered the feeling of being at a fiesta.
76 - Fiesta, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
"Butterflies" is simply a play of color and form, using the butterfly shape as subject. But, I did keep having thoughts of scores of butterflies emerging from metamorphosis at the same time, an image that might be both beautiful and surreal.
77 - Butterflies, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
"Zonker" is another painting based on remembering fiestas I went to as a child in New Mexico. However, this painting took on a life of its own. Along the way, I did not include any green. Oddly, I feel it contributes most by being absent. The title comes from my husband who saw the silhouette of Zonker Harris from the Garry Trudeau's cartoon strip. So, take a look yourself and see what you see.
84 - Zonker, $230 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
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")
"Four Cats" depicts the various moods of a cat throughout any given day. Cats can seem to be contemplative one minute then playful the next. I used line and shape to frame and link the cats, separating and joining at the same time.
87 - Four Cats, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
One of my favorite views along the beach is the apparently effortless flight of the brown pelicans. The pelicans fly just above the crest of the waves, often in close formation. Rarely are the pelicans the only birds in view. I purposely contrasted the moving grace of the pelicans with a stand of sandpipers. While the birds are the main story, I used lines and squares along with the movement of waves to weave the different parts of the painting together.
88 - Evening Pelicans and Sandpipers, $300 (Watercolor, 14" x 20")
I painted "Still Life with Poppies and Apples" in an expressive, exuberant manner. To me, the red poppies are fragile, joyful flowers. I wanted to capture their ephemeral beauty.
89 - Still Life with Poppies and Apple, $275 (Watercolor, 12" x 16")
In "Sandpipers in Afternoon Light", I wanted to capture the long reflections caused by the sunlight fading over the horizon. I like the contrast of the movement suggested by the sandpipers and waves opposed to the long, soft reflections.
90 - Sandpipers in Afternoon Light, $230 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
"Sanderling Along the Surf" was painted primarily wet into wet. I think this method is a fun way to capture the movement of the surf and sanderling. The softness of wet into wet creates an interesting contrast with the movement of the waves and bird.
91 - Sanderling Along the Surf, $230 (Watercolor, 10" x 14")
