Dance Stella Dance

I do an ongoing painting series of small everyday scenes.

This is one of paintings from that series!

My friend took a photo of her daughter dancing on

their freshly mopped floor, posted it to FaceBook

and I knew right then and there I

just had to paint it!

The color and energy inspired me to pick up my

pallet knife to create this painting.

"Dance Stella Dance" oil on board

I also used pallet knife to create this painting of

another one of my friend's kiddos!

She had snapped this photo of her kids while 

vacationing in the Caribbean and posted to FaceBook!

Can you see a trend on where I find much of my inspiration?

"Caribbean Blue and Toe Shoes" Oil on Canvas

Thank you for visiting!

Dee Dee

And the Camera now connects to the PC!

Photos on the PC,,,,

Great thing when you want to Blog!

After a year of maneuvering this process with

little to no results, I am excited to say

I have figured this out and

I can now once again get my photos from my IPhone

to my computer!

Which means I can return to some blogging!

While away from blogging I have

taken to sharing on FaceBook.  This has been quick way

to post both my family updates and weekly art work.

I am still getting to paint at least once a week!

I thought today I would share some of my recent

pieces of portrait art!

"Practice Face #4"  Oil on canvas board

"Girl with Red Knit Hat" or "Practice Face #7"

oil on canvas board

Commission Piece "Harrison"- oil on board

Commission Piece "Grace"- oil on board

"Mom Mom"- oil on canvas Board

I have been trying to paint a variety of subjects

and hope to share more with you over time!

Hope all is well!

Blessings and Happy Easter 

Quick post

Hi!

Just wanted to post one of my newest little painting!

We came across this old house last week

while on vacation in South East PA.

She was sitting back in the woods and

would have made a great candidate for

a haunted house.

I just had to paint her, of course I took

an artist liberty and changed her fading soft gray

stucco to green.

oil on gesso board- 5x7

Little Blue Bird

~Another  little painting~

"Turning a Corner" Oil on Gesso Board

Just a quick update!

Life has been so busy with work and kids!

Madison just turned 18 and I just can't believe that

Zac turns 21 on Saturday.

Where does the time go?

My job turned full time at the beginning of the year

and I still get to paint in the studio once a week!

Wayne also built me a small studio 

here in the house and I try to 

get in there when I can.

Sweet Moo

Newest Painting!

Sweet Moo

6x6 Oil on Canvas

Old Glory and Flag Challenge

This week is all about Flags.

Old Glory- Oil on canvas board

To all those that have served or are serving our county

in Military service- Thank you.

Prayers for Paris- Oil on Canvas Board

And to all those in Paris...

my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Same little Bird- Take 2

I found an old copy of Black Beauty

at the Thrift Store a few months back.

Three books for a dime provided

me with the perfect back drop

for a second attempt at the

little bird I painted for my 3 color challenge.

"South for the Winter"- Acrylic on Board

7" x 3 1/2"

I decoupaged a page from the book onto the piece of board

then lightly painted over it with a thin coat of wall paint. 

My last bird was done in oil, however I wanted

the wording to show in the background,

so I opted to keep this one tighter and use

acrylic!  

Chickadee 3

I was so excited to be able to participate in this weeks

Daily Paintworks Challenge!

The challenge this week was to create a picture using only 3 colors.

Those three colors could be used along with White

to make a total of 6 colors.

I decided to keep my pallet very neutral and used

Burnt Umber

Yellow Ochre

Unbleached Titanium

and

Titanium White!

Chickadee 3- oil on gesso board- 6"x 6"

Dreaming of Florence

Ahhhh... wishing I were back in Florence, Italy!

Florence- Oil on Canvas

Mom's Favorite Painting

This is my Mom's favorite painting

 I have painted to date!

Up Past Midnight- Oil on Canvas

I am not always sure what will end up on the canvas...

A little secret.... 

this one started out as cherries!

Sandwich, Sandwich

I have enjoyed getting to practice so many skills

while learning to become a better painter.

For instance:

How can I make an object "read" as shiny?

See how the jelly and the ends of the knife are shiny?

In order to create this "illusion" on canvas with paint

you have to make everything surrounding the highlighted

area darker!

Afternoon Snack- Oil on Canvas

This is my attempt of painting the

photo above.  I keep debating

if I want to go back in and add a few highlights

to the jelly on the sandwich, but half

of me likes the way it looks

like the jelly and peanut butter have smeared

together.  Anyone remember Smucker's Goober?

 I also took creative license

with the photo and removed the glass of milk.

Last week I tried another sandwich!

My husband's BLT!

Wayne's BLT- Oil on Gesso Board

Not only was I trying to create the illusion

of shiny, I was also trying to keep my brush strokes

loose and "painterly"!

Here I decided to removed the deep shadow

from the other half of the sandwich 

in the upper left hand corner, instead opting

to fade out that corner with a highlight.

It is neat just how many decisions 

a painting can take before you complete it!

And as always....

So many things to paint... so little time!

Waiting....

I have just loved painting.

This painting started off as a group

of little girls running across

a field, but evolved into this...

one  sitting, reflecting and

"Waiting" - oil on canvas

waiting...

Last Weeks Painting

"Reflective"    oil on canvas

Wishing you a week of Blessings!

Tokyo

My friends pup!

"Tokyo"   Oil on Canvas-  Gifted

Black and White

These are two of seven black and white studies

for a series of little dresses I am painting

called "Monday's Child".

These small paintings are only about

4 by 6 inches and painted on primed panel board.

Monday's Child                            oil on board

Thursday's Child                   oil on board

Thank you for allowing me to share my work with you.

As a artist, and blogger, I have to muster the courage

to share this piece of myself with each post.

Your kind words of encouragement mean more to me

than I could ever find to put into words,

Have a wonderful day and God Bless!

Sweet!

A New Painting! 

"Sweet!"       oil on canvas

I hope you are having a beautiful week!

Breakfast Clean-Up

A new painting!

Breakfast Clean-Up

Expression in Paint

 For years this blog has been a creative outlet,

but this fall, I felt called back to 

a different kind of creative expression.

My first love so to speak!

"Spring Sky"  - Oil on Board          Not for Sale

Every Wednesday morning from 9-12 since September, 

I have packed up my

art supplies and headed to a local

studio to paint, draw, and dream!

I have the privilege of working with a very talented local artist

here in Cincinnati- Greg Storer! 

I highly encourage you to click over to his website and

check out his studio and art work!

"First Dance"   -   Oil on Board      Sold

Greg encourage me to find something I could

paint a series of and I found dresses,

or... maybe they found me!

"Kate"   Oil on Canvas  

I graduated from college with a Fine Arts Degree,

but art had taken a back seat to life.

Not any more!

Wayne built me a wonderful new studio

here at the house so I can brake out the supplies

and paint to my hearts content!

I am hoping to occasionally share these

paintings with you.

Have a beautiful day!

"Oh, the new header photo is also on of my original paintings!"

Talented Jun

We had a wonderful steward on our cruise, Jun!

Every evening he surprised us with the

most creative towel animals!

Thought you might get a kick seeing

what Jun created with two towels!

Bunny

Bunny with Carrot!

Seated Elephant

Adorable standing Elephant

Seal

Monkey!

What a face!

3 Barn Farm

A new painting....

"The 3 Barn Farm"

Linking to:

Feathered Nest Friday @

French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday @

 AtThe Picket Fence