"eat your brussel sprouts" 8" x 8: oil on panel

I got these brussel sprouts at the best food store in the world-TRADER JOES!
I love that place and its always an adventure to go. There were these amazing brussel sprouts on the stalk and there was a feeding frenzy of middle aged women there- sharing recipes and frothing over these things. I HATED them as a child (who didn't?) but now I love them. I thought they would be cool to paint but it turns out they are hard as hell to do.

I made it abstract and then it was more fun,

Here is what they looked like

I propped my painting on the floor and went in the house, when I returned it looked a little smoooshy...

I wonder why?

Oliver has green paint on his butt!

"wheres my sushi?" 12" x 12"Oil on canvas

Today I did a demo with artist extrodinaire and partner in crime Mary Sheehan -Winn at the Middle School in Marshfield, for their  monthly artist in residence program. We did the same set up and the kids came in sessions to observe and ask questions.
It's really fun and I talked a lot about all sorts of stuff with the kids- I am a ham in front of a captive audience! The kids are great and asked lots of excellent questions.

It is a wonderful program and has been going strong since spearheaded by Liz Haywood- Sullivan and others several years ago.

This is my painting...

students watching...

and MSW in action...

and here is one of the students artworks hanging in the hallway- lovely! I wanted to say I did it!

"Gail's Hunting" oil on panel 8" x 8"

I love a good caper- and here's one- this lovely black tin was stolen last night from my friends kitchen  after a wonderful gathering . I admired it, and upon leaving, swiped it !
Of course- I plan on returning it- but I think it would be fun to steal from my friends and surprise them with the missing item on my blog! A whole new twist the aquisition of floral objects!
I hope you didn't worry too much about it Gail- I did remove the tea that was in it but found a few stray bags at the bottom- I had a nice cup of jasmine tea-sip- aaahhhh.

For some reason the tin appears to be levitating....probably adjusting the shadow might be the trick.
Well, it was "lifted"!

surprise inside 8" x 10" oil on panel

Who doesn't love a present? The anticipation is everything-as is the presentation.
What's inside is the lasting remembrance-not always living up to it's expectations...but hopefully just right.

I often find that painting something with the intention of giving it away to someone is much better than thinking about selling or competing. I have that person in mind and it fuels the creative act.
My husband didn't see flowers here.
Ha! Men.
They are there- in the wrapping paper-just budding.

Marsh 8"x 10" oil on canvas

this was done off Rt 3A- its a busy road but there is a pull off and a place to set up across the road.

Lovely day. A few tiny flowers here and there left- mostly clover.

Sparkling water. I just  enjoyed being there!

"Charlie" 8''x 10'' oil on canvas

This is Charlie.
He is actually white-but I made him extremely blue. My Mom adopted him from an animal shelter in Scituate. We looked at all the available cats and she thought this one spoke to her. He is about 1 year old- he'd been there since July.

He is very friendly and loves attention. He is a great companion for my Mom.

Dark Side of the Lemon "7 x 10" oil on canvas

Okay-what the heck is it with yellow?

 Why so hard to paint? I think purple is the shadow color but somehow it didn't read ..I threw cerulean blue in hoping...then I scratched through to the grey underpainting..still not working- shape off too-.but it was still fun to paint.Artists out there please tell me what I am missing here!

I am learning so much about color and paint with these dailies,,,but sometimes I have to go back to the drawing board. The flowers are hiding under the plate in the floral placemat.

What a beautiful balmy weekend- last night halloween was just lovely-my friends and I dressed up and walked around Marshfield hills and had so much fun- it is just classic there- full moon, ghosts and goblins,spooky lit up houses- mummies hanging from trees- pumpkins, crunchy leaves, cider and donuts at the general store..Loved it.Ok we are a little old to trick or treat-no candy for us- just fun. I think grown ups should be allowed to have fun too- don't you?