Ball and Chain

"Ball and Chain"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas panel

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This was a color study for a larger piece - four times larger! You can check that out here. :)

Chocolate Eggs

"Chocolate Eggs"

12 x 19 inches, oil on canvas

$600

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Low key, or overall dark compositions are rather rare for me. I wanted to explore the brown-on-brown, and I do like the velvety darkness of that background.

Nest

"Nest"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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 I've been painting a lot and having a great time. Hope your August is off to a wonderful start as well!

Thanks for reading.

Emptiness - A New Tarot Series Painting

"Emptiness"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

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The card in this one is the five of cups. Not the world's happiest card, particularly in the upright position:

"Forgiveness is vital with the Five of Cups, both of yourself and others. If someone has disappointed you, find it within your heart to forgive that person, releasing yourself from the disappointment. And if you are frustrated with yourself, know that you did the best you could under the circumstances and have now learned from your mistakes. Remember, too, that hindsight is much clearer than foresight and wisdom in the present moment comes from the mistakes of the past....

It’s time to shift your mindset and focus on what can go right from this point onwards. Be open to the brighter side of life and know many blessings are in disguise right now."    (-Biddy Tarot)

So, not without hope! I love the ambiguity of Tarot cards. Something in every interpretation for every situation. ;)

California Pomegranates

 "California Pomegranates"

8 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

$400

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I was recently in Sacramento, teaching "Oil Painting Boot Camp" to a fantastic group of artists. One of them gave me these pomegranates, picked right in his own back yard! Nice people, beautiful weather, and the neighborhood I was in, Oak Park, was lovely. What a great visit!

Here's my value study, made with Procreate on the iPad:

If you're curious about just what "Oil Painting Boot Camp" might entail, you'll have several opportunities to find out in 2019 - including another in Sacramento in May, and on Bainbridge Island, Washington - a FOUR day version - in April.

And if you'd like me to visit your home town for a workshop, please get in touch. :)

Growth

 "Growth"

10 x 20 inches, oil on canvas

$600

Click to buy

This plant - which I've painted several times this year - is surely growing, and so am I. So are you! 

Life is beautiful.  

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The Sarah Bowl

 "The Sarah Bowl"

9.5 x 9 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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I don't actually eat out of this bowl anymore, but as you can see, it's gotten its share of use over the years. It's as old as I am, after all! It was a baby present to my parents....36 years ago. Every time I paint it, I think about the artist who painted the letters on the bowl - and wonder which is more nerve-wracking - painting letters on pottery or painting letters onto wet paint. At least I have the advantage of being able to scrape off and redo - or leave the letters out altogether.

I have a new workshop coming up this weekend, in Eugene, at Oregon Art Supply. Intro to Oil Painting - a great way to start off your artistic year. All levels are welcome - whether you're totally new to oils or returning after a break. Ages 15 and up. It's going to be fun! Details here.

Tempting Snow White

 

 "Tempting Snow White"

6 x 6 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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What kind of apples are these? I can't remember, and I took off their nametags. They aren't Red Delicious - they are even redder than that. Blood red! Not very good eating, but so beautiful.

We picked some delicious (but not so pretty) apples in the October sunshine today - one of my favorite fall activities. I can't resist eating them right off the tree, pesticides and all. I totally grossed out my family, but I'm ok with that.

Here's the cuteness - my own little snow white and her sticky temptation!