Christmas Bulbs 8"x8" oil on canvas

We got our tree up and put a few ornaments on it last night- we have a lot more to go!

Its always fun and magical to pull out the old favorite ornaments . My mom and Al's mom and gave us some sweet homemade ones we cherish, as well as these vintage bulbs. The kindergarten pictures of my girls mounted on metal juice can tops always bring me to tears. We let our oldest don the tree with the golden glittery angel she made as a child.  It is tradition that marks the time and brings us together.

Tomorrow is a big day for me- it is my 100th post and to celebrate I am doing a GIVEAWAY!

If you email me  by Wednesday, Dec 9, by 9 PM- I will put your names in a flowerpot and do a drawing. I will send the winner a replica of the ornament I made for the White House Christmas tree last year.

Good luck and Happy Holidays- whatever it is you celebrate- CELEBRATE!

Here are the two sides of the ornament- from photos of the ball. I replicated it as a flat two sided ornament.

red alstroemeria 8" x 8 " oil on panel

IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT! I got my wish!

I started this in the morning and had to finish it about 1/2 an hour ago-I am a bit tired! Todays sale went really well- the line was so long- lots of sales all around! I am happy so many people turned out to support Kate. I enjoyed seeing a lot of my old friends there....thanks everyone!

One last hurrah 8"x8" oil on panel

This has a bit of glare( it rained today- tough photo shoot)

I loved theses irises but they only last a couple of days...

I was out straight today getting stuff ready for Kates Sale. If you are anywhere near the Pembroke area please come by- I have 21 flower paintings for sale, there is a fabulous raffle and lots of incredible artisan goods. All this will help Kate and her family as she recovers from a brain tumor. It is December 6, at 145 Plymouth Street in Pembroke.

Hours are 1-5.

Hope to see you there!

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....