"Quiet in the Cove"

First painting of the new year. I'm planning to focus on learning to use the palette knife and stop diddling with details. Hopefully the weather will be warm enough this coming week to get back into my studio. Painting in the livingroom is not the same. I miss all my "stuff".

Oil on linen canvas_____10" x 10"

Framed________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"U. G. White Mercantile, Athens, AL"

Painted plein air on the Courthouse Square in Athens, Alabama. Many small towns still have stores in operation that we remember from our childhood. Slick, modern mega stores have none of the charm and personal attention that you get in places like this.

Oil on linen panel_____9" x 12"

Framed________$625

Comments are appreciated.

"Austin"

This is a study that I painted in preparation for a group portrait of 3 little boys.

Oil on Linen______16" x 12"

Unframed______NFS

Comments are appreciated.

"Just Drifing By"

I love pelicans. I can watch them all day for entertainment. Those are shadows on the water - not oil. Just in case you are wondering!

Oil on linen canvas______10" x 10"

Framed________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Around the Bend"

Fall is in the air. Warm sunlight and brilliant colors in the leaves. My favorite time of year to paint.

Oil on linen canvas______10" x 10"

Framed________$475

Comments are appreciated.

"Cotton Pickin' Time"

High cotton in New Market, Alabama. Typical scene right now. Even though it is still hot outside, cotton picking time reminds me that fall and cooler weather will be here before long.

Oil on linen canvas________10" x 10"

Framed________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Boiled Peanuts"

Latest pastel painting from a photo I took about 5 years ago near Waynesville, NC. Everything about the scene speaks of the South. Sadly this location is now abandoned.

Pastel on Pastelbord _______18" x 24"
Framed__________$1450

Comments are appreciated.

"Fine Day at the Farm"

This little scene was painted last April in Franklin, TN. It was one of my early efforts in painting with a limited palatte - ultramarine blue, cadmium red deep, cadmium yellow deep and white. I truly amazes me the range of colors possible with these 4 paints.

Oil on linen panel__________9" x 12"

Framed__________$675

Comments are appreciated.

"Boat Dock on Lake Glenville, NC"

Scene from the path to the boat dock behind the home of my hosts during the Arts on the Green Plein Air Paintout in July. Gentle breezes and temps in the high 70's high in the mountains of North Carolina. It was a lovely place to stay for a week. I painted this as a Thank You gift for my hosts.

Oil on masonite________8" x 8"

Framed________NFS

Comments are appreciated.

"Lunch Time at Stillwater Farm"

View from Stillwater Farm in Cashiers, NC. Draft horses, miniature horses and burros are raised here. They even developed a new breed of draft horse - the "Gypsy Vanner". The problem with animals ( and children) is that they can't stay still!

Oil on Linen _________ 9" x 12"

Framed ___________$675

Comments are appreciated.

"It's All Down Hill From Here"

This is a scene from the 2nd tee at Mountain Top Country Club in Cashiers, NC. This is my first golf course painting. This painting sold 3 hours after I finished it. I wish all my paintings sold so fast! The course is high up in the mountains. My painting buddy Bill Farnsworth and I had some exciting times in the golf cart going to and from the painting site. Every hill is steep! I can't imagine walking this course.

Oil on Linen Panel _______12" x 9"

Framed_________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"High Hampton Inn in Cashiers, NC"

The second painting in 2 days - for me that is a lot. I usually have so many interruptions that it is difficult to find the time to paint on 2 consecutive days. The weather here in Cashiers is perfect and with such scenery it's hard to choose what to paint next.

Oil on linen panel _______9" x 12"

Framed _________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

Catelin's Cove, Lake Glenville, Cashires, NC

My first painting during the "Arts on the Green" Invitational Plein Air Paintout in Cashiers, NC. The scenery here is incredible - everywhere you look. Today we had thunderstorms, but most artists finished their paintings. Everyday will be a new location and new adventure.

Oil on linen panel______9" x 12"

Framed________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Left Out to Graze"

I was able to paint this old truck courtesy of photographer Bill Wilson. The truck reminds me of "Mater" from the "Cars" movie. I tried to see if I could paint it start to finish in 2 hours -- I couldn't, but I did finish it in one day. I'm picking up speed though.

Oil on linen panel _______9" x 12"

Framed_________$675

Comments are appreciated.

"Tidepools in the Mist"

I started this last February and when I finished it, I put it in a silver frame with linen liner. I just wasn't satisfied with it until my husband suggested putting it in a darker frame. What a difference a frame makes!

Oil on linen panel________12" x 16"

Framed__________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"LLL Ranch, Franklin, TN"

I painted this scene along with some friends on a very hot summer day at a ranch near Franklin, TN. There were actually some cattle wading in the water to cool off, but they kept moving so I left them out. I might add them later from some of my photos. It was 97°F when I finally quit painting on the picture.

Oil on Linen panel________9" x 12"

Framed________$675

Comments are appreciated.

"Swapping the News"

After a recent painting trip to Courtland, AL, I finally got around to painting this scene on the town square that I photographed on a previous trip.

Oil on linen canvas panel_______9" x 12"

Framed________$625

Comments are appreciated.

"Little Red Caboose Chug Chug"

The last time I painted this caboose from Courtland, AL it quickly sold, so I decided to paint it again. It also quickly sold. Maybe I should paint more trains!

Oil on Linen panel______9" x 12"

Framed______ SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"San Juan Island Lighthouse, WA"

Oil on Linen Panel______12" x 16"

Framed__________$995

"Monte Sano State Park"

Pastel on Velour Mat Board ____10" x 8"

Framed_________SOLD

"Portals at Vizcaya"

This is a scene from the mansion "Vizcaya" in Miami, FL. The massive gardens surrounding the house were often separated by stone walls. The gardens were all in bloom while we were visiting. Each portal revealed new surprises. This painting was an experiment of painting with a very limited palette - cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red dark, ultramarine blue and white. I was amazed as the color range I was able to achieve. It will certainly make plein air painting easier if I don't have to lug around dozens of paint tubes. Dealing with weather and bugs is challenge enough!

Oil on canvas panel _______ 14" x 11"

Framed________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Low Tide"

Peaceful and relaxing is the feel I was striving for. Cool colors reinforce the feeling. Just enough warm colors for contrast. Painting the ropes and masts gave me fits though. It is hard to do on a painting this size.

Oil on linen panel 16" x 20"

Framed_______$1495

Comments are appreciated.

"Secret Hideaway"

Peaceful getaway. A change from my recent palette knife work.

Oil on canvas panel_____12" x 16"

Framed _____$995

Comments are appreciated.

"Cerulean Skies"

Another in my palette knife series. I really enjoy the energy and the texture I can create in a painting. I use significantly more paint with this technique, but clean up is a breeze! Just wipe off the palette knives. My goal this year is to complete a painting a week. So far I'm on track (just barely).

Oil on canvas panel_____9" x 12"

Framed_______$575

Comments are appreciated.

"Autumn Splendor #2"

My first painting of the new year. Using a canvas with a failed painting, I got out my palette knife and globs of paint and went to work. This is a variation of an earlier painting. It is a great way to use left over paint on my palette.

Oil on canvas _______11" x 14"

Framed _____$750

Comments are appreciated.

"Gourds A Plenty"

In this painting I tried a new canvas - clear primed linen. I sprayed it with fixative and tried to execute it in pastels. The surface didn't grab the pastels like I was used to. I just couldn't get clean edges on my gourds. I sprayed it again - this time with retouch varnish. I left the background like it was and painted over the gourds with oils. I liked my set up and I was determined to make it work. I mounted the painting in a dark frame with a white linen liner. I'm finally pleased with the results.

Oil and pastel on linen________ 8" x 20"

Framed _______$595

Comments are appreciated.

"Coosa River in the Fall"

Well, all I can say for my first day of plein air painting in a while is that I learned a lot and I need a lot more practice. The scene I painted is a section of the Coosa River in northeast Alabama. There is still some color in the trees. The weather couldn't have been any better. We start painting again at 8 tomorrow morning. Way too early for me, but I will manage.

Oil on canvas panel____9" x 12"
Framed______SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Festival Girl"

Another of my recent attempts with pastels for portraits. I'm finding that I really enjoy working with skin tones though trying to find just the right shade of pastel can be daunting. The stick visual color is not necessarily what you expect when you apply it to paper next to other colors. There is a lot of trial and error. Now I want to see what I can do with oils.

Pastel on pastel paper _______ 14" x 11"

Framed _______ $850

Comments are appreciated.

"Life is Good"

A progress painting in pastel. Looking for a change from landscapes and still life, I attemped a portrait in pastels. This is a work in progress.

Pastel on pastel paper _______14" X 11"

Framed________SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Autumn Splendor"

I decided to break out of my comfort zone and try a painting with a palette knife for a change. I used gobs of paint - lots of paint! This one will take a long time to dry. It was fun using bold gestures to go with the energy of the warm colors. You can almost feel the wind blowing the leaves off the trees.

Oil on linen_____8" x 20"

Currently unframed_____SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Morning Mist on the Lake"

I tried to capture the mood of the scene of early morning mist using a limited palette of Indigo, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Indian Red and White. Working small gives me more freedom to experiment in case the painting doesn't work out. I think I will keep this one.

Oil on Gessobord_____8" x 8"

Framed______SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Old Truck and Barn"

After about two months, I have finally found my way back to my easel! Taking care of my new gallery among other things really is time consuming - leaving me too tired to paint in the evening. I started this one a while back but never found the time to finish it. It felt so good to fit it into a frame. This scene is typical north Alabama. As the city of Huntsville grows though, these farms are disappearing and turning into subdivisions. The first thing they do is plow down the trees!

Oil on canvas panel 16" x 20"

Framed_____SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Studio 100 Fine Art Gallery"

My gallery at its new location is now OPEN and ready for business. We only had 6 weeks to finalize the design, get bids and get the interior built out and moved from our old location. Nerve wracking, frustrating, messy, but we did it. We had a successful night during the Summer Gallery Tour on July 23rd. Lots of new patrons. It doesn't hurt that we are next door to a popular pizzaria and gelati shop. If you are in Huntsville, AL please stop by. We are located at 117 North Side Square. (256) 539-5845.

"Wild Billy Kirk"

A long time teacher and friend died recently. He was a special person who made a big impact on me and my painting. He died soon after he had a painting accepted in the Oil Painters of America national exhibit this year. He was so excited and I was proud of him. He loved western painting and went to reenactment events for resource material. This pastel painting is of him in his cowboy garb.

Pastel on velour mat board 24" x 18"
Framed _____$1750

Comments are appreciated.

"Santa Cruz by the Bay"

My daughter used to live in Santa Cruz, CA and this is a scene that was a block or two from her house. I understand why it was so hard for her to return to northern Alabama. The ocean has a mysterious pull.

Pastel on pastel paper 11" x 14"
Framed _____ SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Flowers and Cherries"

Pastel still life. Switching from oils is a bit of a stretch, but I love them both. Even though I have hundreds of pastel sticks, finding just the right color can be challenging. This forces me to be creative by applying the color in different ways to get the effect I want.

Pastel on pastelbord 24" x 18"

Framed  $1995

Comments are appreciated.

"Fairy Tale Dreams"

This pastel was recently accepted into the 2009 Southeastern Pastel Society Juried Exhibit in Athens, Georgia. This is truly a pastel painting and not a drawing. I sculpted the shapes of the fabric with the sides of the pastel sticks and thoroughly enjoyed the process. I've been away from pastels for a while, but have missed them. I've got several more pieces planned.

Pastel on pastelbord 18" x 24"

Framed $1750

Comments are appreciated.

"Study in Yellow & Blue"

After painting something very detailed, I decided to have fun with my paints and paint something more loose and sketchy. I had fun globbing on the paint! It was a nice change from my previous painting.

Oil on wood panel 10" x 10"

Framed   SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"New York City Red Hots"

Just finished! I normally don't post my paintings in a frame, but I was anxious to see how it would look. It is easier to tell if it is finished or not with a frame or mat. This scene is from a recent visit to NYC with some friends who were giving us a tour. I was intrigued by the colorful hot dog stands that seemed to be everywhere.

Oil on canvas 16" x 20"

Framed   $1495

Comments are appreciated.

"Old Country Church, Bethel, TN"

Plein air painting from recent workshop in central Tennessee west of Nashville. It was an overcast day, threatening to rain. Luckily we were able to paint under a covered pavillion.

Oil on canvas panel 9" x 12"

Framed   $675

Comments are appreciated.

"Nashville Farmer's Market"

Another of my plein air workshop paintings. We traveled to the Nashville Farmer's Market which is a wonderful place to visit. As it turned out, it was a great place to be for outdoor painting since it is covered and we had a tremendous rain storm pass through while we were there. It was difficult to decide what to paint - every direction was a feast of color. The vendors seemed to enjoy having artists paint their booths.

Oil on canvas panel 12" x 9"

Framed          SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Reed's Produce & Garden Center"

This is my first painting this week from a plein air workshop I am participating in in Franklin, TN. It was a cloudy day, but the bright flowers could not be dimmed. I'm still travel weary from my trip to Reston, VA, but I persevered and finished the painting. The garden center is lively with patrons, but sadly will be gone soon due to the city's plan for "progress".

Oil on canvas panel 9" x 12"

Framed      $675

Comments are appreciated.

"Quick Portrait Sketch"

I am in Reston, VA right now attending a Portrait Conference. I took part in a quick drawing class and was reminded how important drawing on a regular basis is to painters. My sketch pad that I grabbed for the trip had drawings dated 2001.

Graphite sketch on Strathmore paper

NFS

Comments are appreciated.

"Lonely Little Boat"

One last painting before I go on the road - first to Washington, DC and then to a plein air painting workshop in Franklin, TN. I'm both excited and stressed - I hate packing and living out of a suitcase. I love to go new places and see, taste and feel new things. I also enjoy the people I meet along the way. I hope the weather cooperates.

Oil on masonite 6" x 6"

Framed SOLD

Comments are Appreciated.

"Just Picked"

Another of one of my favorite themes - peaches. I've been struggling along on a larger piece that seems destined to never be completed, so took a break and painted something I knew I could finish in a reasonable time - only 2 painting sessions.

Oil on wood panel 8 " x 8"

Framed SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Fruitful Bounty"

Luscious fruit and the bold colors of the table linens drew me to this picture. The warm, bright colors remind me of summer meals on the patio with friends and a cool glass of wine.

Pastel on pastel paper 12" x 16"
Framed    $625

Comments are appreciated.

"Can't Tie Me Down"

This isn't a recent painting, but one I did while in art school many years ago. A bit of beginner's luck I guess. It is very popular when I display in my gallery. It is not for sale, but I do make high quality prints on matte photo paper (13" x 19"). My kids are already fighting over who will get the original when I croak!

Unframed prints available

11.75" x 17.75" actual image size

$65 plus shipping

"Pitcher with Forsythia"

Spring time is slowly arriving and I needed a break from 2 large paintings that I am working on, so decided to paint something that I could finish in one sitting. I need closure sometimes.

Oil on masonite _______6" x 6"

Unframed _______SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Wading Beauties"

Just west of the Ft. Lauderdale airport in Florida are the Flamingo Gardens which is actually a rehab/rescue site for wild birds. The gracefulness of the flamingos and their lucious pink feathers were a pleasure to paint. My biggest challenge was capturing their reflections in the water.

Pastel 24" x 18"

Framed   SOLD

Comments are appreciated.

"Coneflowers in the Sun"

These flowers with their bright yellow and blue remind me that this dreary, rainy winter won't last forever. Each flower seems to have its own personality, which is why this was fun (or at least interesting!) to paint. Sometimes I would get confused as to which flower I was looking at.

Oil on canvas 12" x 16"

Framed   SOLD

Comments are appreciated.