iris bouquet 8" x 8 " oil on panel

I wasn't sure how to fit this large bouquet on a small panel- my trick was to put it on a low table and view from above and using my viewfinder I made it fit! I liked the pattern of the shadow on the rumpled cloth.

 For some reason this reminded me of one of my favorite artists,Wanda Gag. She made shadows and atmosphere as much a part of the picture as the objects- and they had a wonderful way of undulating and creating a story.(She wrote and illustrated "Millions of Cats".) I am lucky - the museum where I work has several Wanda Gag lithographs in the permanent collection. I enjoy looking at them a lot.

(above: Wanda Gag, American, Winter Twilight, 1927, zinc plate lithograph on paper, 10 1/8 x 12 inches, ed.100. Gary and Dolly Harm Collection)

THIS PICTURE MAKES ME WANT IT TO SNOW!

Iris 8" x 8 " oil on panel

My friend Judy gave me a bunch of these gorgeous irises last night. I struggled with the center-its interesting how the more you look at something the more it slowly reveals itself to you.

Unable to spend the amount of time I needed to really delve into it- this is what I came up with...

Happy Birthday ( after Wayne Thiebaud) 8"x8" oil on panel

My oldest daughter turns 21 today- a milestone. Happy Birthday Markie! She is an interior design student at Syracuse University - shes got some great style!  Next semester she will be in London at the Syracuse design school there- I am so excited for her! I am very proud of my girl.

Markie in Martha's Vineyard- June 2009

Cozy morning nap 8" x 8" oil on panel

Its December-I can hardly believe it! I have LOADS of ornaments here to glitter-so its getting tough to get the painting in! But I am determined to do it. I have to paint first thing- and somehow everything else gets done(well ALMOST- not a lot of cleaning went on here today and I did not get to my bulb planting- running out of time there!). I find that if I wait its much harder. Here is my old boy Oliver- he's 13- and he loves my studio couch.

These pictures are taken under lights so the color is way off-oh well....

"Spring's promise" 8" x 8" oil on panel

Tomorrow I will plant these bulbs- I've been meaning to do it all fall- procrastinating. We planted a few of these at my stepfathers gravestone last month, and the remainder will be buried just outside my studio door.
I love the hope embodied in these simple bulbs, the delayed gratification in the process of planting them.
It's a joy to see the blossoms in spring and I am always grateful to myself for taking the effort to plant them.
I will be on my knees tomorrow digging in.
And speaking of knees- my love goes out to my friend Patty , who is now in rehab  recovering from a double knee replacement. What an inspiration Patty is-she took the plunge and went under the knife knowing the happiness that will come from having two new knees. I cant believe the pain she has endured and am glad she is on the healing end of the ordeal, but there is still a lot of physical therapy and healing yet to come. She has undergone such positive change this year and continues to amaze us all. She is funny as hell and a great person to know -I am blessed to have her in my life.

If you can't tell thats a bulb planter on the left....

geraniums in blue vase 8" x 8 " oil on panel

I tried something different here- I used a white panel and painted with transparent washes

to attempt to capture the translucent quality of the petals. Wiping with a rag, reapplying paint, and wiping again, Still struggling with the beautiful fuschia blue red color, just coming close....

Its fun to try something different- there are so many ways to approach paintings.

I was at my neighbor Tori Brega's house yesterday, letting her dogs out for a romp, and swiped this blossom from her plant. I am so lucky to have this very special person right across the street. She is an amazing artist and works, like me, in many different mediums, Anything she touches has that special "Toriness" about it- cookies and treats, lovely jeweled creations,sparkly gift-wrapped surprises.

A lot of people may know that Tori is a beautiful and talented woman creating beaded creations, but few know the depth of her abilities.

I snapped this picture of a perfectly magical snowy road that Tori painted  a while ago. Tori is an illustrator and I am sure someday she will publish a beautiful book. I hope she lives across the street for a long long time, for having a neighbor like Tori is a dream come true.

Sack o' Sunflower Seeds 8" x 8" oil on panel

I love to feed my birds. I am about to fill my feeders.

I don't feed them in the summer- I am under the impression that birds eat bugs and plants in the summer and don't need seed- plus its pretty pricey!

I did find this 50 lb sack at Ocean State Job Lot for $19.99 . No millet or other filler that birds just throw aside- 100% black oil sunflower seed.

I think there is nothing cuter than a chickadee with snow on its tiny head!

Another simple pleasure of life...