A Coastal Retreat

 "The Last Raspberries"

12 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

$500

Available here

Honest, I did not intend to be out of touch for the past week! But what a glorious week it was....

I rented a studio in Toledo, Oregon, and painted up a storm. It was a perfect little place: a renovated, historic building from the 1880's, which used to house the Justice of the Peace for this tiny coastal town. It's owned by Michael Gibbons, an artist who paints amazing Northwest landscapes. The light in the studio is sublime, and I think you'll see the evidence in all my work from the week!

Here's my block-in for this piece:

 And here's the approach to the studio:

Skylights, north-facing windows, peace and quiet. Lack of wifi kept me from blogging, but really, isn't an enforced internet break what we all need sometimes?

The weather was typical Oregon coast October: windy, windier, rainy, and chilly. I was perfectly satisfied to stay inside and focus on still life, painting my beach-walk finds and some antique store treasures. Stay tuned for much much more!

In Which I Do Performance Art

"In The Gallery"

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$200

available from The Gallery at the Watershed

With our crazy changeable Spring weather, it can be sunny one minute and pouring the next. So, when the plein-air itch hit this week, I opted for an indoor version - at my new gallery! I love painting interiors. I really don't do them often enough - mostly because I figure, meh, it's just my house. Well, my art now has a gorgeous house - which I hope to paint again very soon.

Shots of the Gallery and my work-in-progress. Click for a better view.

 Here's me. I never know what to do with my left hand when someone photographs me while painting! Normally, it would be holding a filthy, paint-soaked rag, but I like to hide the evidence when the camera approaches. Then what? Put my fist on my hip like the supermodel I am? I do always feel sexy in an apron. (True story!)

"A Quiet Summer Afternoon" interior scene still life original oil painting daily painting

 

11 x 14"

oil on canvas

click to bid  

I've started noticing "Grab my Button" graphics on several other blogs I read, and I thought it might be cool to try making my own. So, last night, for several hours - and with the patient assistance of my web developer husband - I made a few. If you'd like to add one to your blog, copy and paste the code under any of the three design options. You'll find them on the right------------>

(And if anyone is interested in making their own blog button, I'll be glad to share the code with you. Just email me!)

"The Checkerboard Table" *Revised*

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

Sold

I adjusted the flowers to look a bit more natural in the vase. Above is the revised version, below is the original. What do you think?

 

I rescued this funky table from Gabriella's tree lawn after her last studio move. I thought, what the hell, I might want to paint it someday.... and finally, a year later, that day has come! Here is her interpretation.

"Irises on a Low Table" still life floral interior scene fine art oil painting daily

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

(on hold) 

I had a really hard time getting started this morning. One of the best - and most difficult - things about painting still life is the incredibly wide range of possible subjects. Decision-making can really hold up the process! After several false starts, I took a giant step back from my setup, and the wider view helped me settle down to paint. See a work-in-progress shot here.

Green Couch

6 x 6"
oil on gessoboard
Sold
It's 95 degrees outside today, but inside it's shady and cool. I love the peace and quiet of long afternoons of painting. Brilliant green leaves shimmering outside the window, a good NPR podcast to listen to, a cat curled up in a patch of sunlight...what more could I ask for?

Cat on a Sunny Rug

Daily Painting Number 50!
5 x 5"
oil on gessoboard
$100
$5 s/h

This is a view of my living room, basically what I see when I look back over my left shoulder while painting each day. We've been in this apartment almost a year already, and we're moving out in three short weeks! Eeek. I'm looking forward to it, though.

Oh yeah, the model in the painting is Fredo, our oldest.