Farm Scene

Farm Scene

I often think of the gratitude I feel for the people who labor year round to produce the food that we eat as well as many other agricultural products.  This is in an area I pass through and I was attracted to it by the bright turquoise piece of equipment- wish I knew what it is used for.

I also love the old fire truck just barely visible in the background.

6 x 6 in. oil on archival panel

$100. includes shipping

Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty

I painted this lovely creature today because I was fascinated watching the birds flying in and out of our Holly trees and having a feast on the berries. I counted about forty birds at one point. There are still plenty of berries left so I hope they'll be back tomorrow!

6 x 6 oil on archival panel

$100 includes shipping

Maggie On The Stairs

Maggie On The Stairs

This is a little cutie wearing her Bijou Baby Boots, sitting on the stairs with sunlight coming through the window beside her.  I tried out some new, softer brushes today.  I really like these Monarch brushes by Windsor- Newton for painting on a very smooth surface like Gessobord panels.

5 x 7 in. oil on archival panel

NFS

Girl Talk

Gossip Girls

This is such a pretty farm located between Southern Pines and Raeford.  I have stopped many times to see the cows in this little pasture.  They always come toward me as if they are welcoming me but soon they get tired of my camera and wander off.

6 x 6 in. oil on archival panel

The Rose

The Rose    SOLD

I can't believe it but this is the first rose I have painted and it was really

fun to paint it from life, since my house seems to be full of flowers.

Thought you might enjoy this quote from Eleanor.

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.

Eleanor Roosevelt

6 x 6 in. oil painting

New Car

New Car

This is the thirtieth anniversary edition of the princess cozy coupe. Saves on gas by using foot power!

6 x 6 in. oil on archival panel

Toddler Music

Toddler Music

It was really fun to have baby toys under the tree again this year- I'll be painting another one tomorrow-Stay tuned!

6 x 6 in. oil on panel 

The Waltz

The Waltz

This is my favorite painting in the Biltmore House and it is by Swedish artist Anders Zorn (1860-1920). It has been moved since my visit last year and does not show as well in the new location.  The painting is quite a bit darker than this on the lower right side and looks sadly in need of restoration. In spite of that, it is still a beautiful painting. It is quite large, much taller than I am.

There are many more wonderful works of art here including portraits by John Singer Sargent.

Biltmore Christmas And Art

Biltmore Gate House

This is a photo looking back after we left the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC Friday. It is always fun to see the house decorated for Christmas and I had planned to show you a photo of one of my favorite paintings that hangs in the Biltmore, but unfortunately all photography, even without the use of flash, is no longer permitted.  Just across the street from this gatehouse, is the Grand Bohemian Hotel and I was able to see the recent work of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson and purchase some wonderful items, such as placemats and totebags, featuring her paintings. I have been a fan of hers for quite awhile and her work is amazing. Each of the Grand Bohemian's has an  art gallery. 

Ready To Be Filled!

Ready To Be Filled

These Christmas stockings are empty right now, but oh what goodies will soon be stuffed inside.

In need of ideas so please let me know what some of your favorite stocking stuffers are!

Up Close Cow

Up Close Cow

I used a slightly different approach to painting this cow because I wanted her to be soft looking and showing you those big cow eyes.  Using burnt sienna, T. white and dioxazine purple, I was able to get most of the colors of her body and head. I also used ultram. blue with the burnt sienna to get the darks.  It was tremendously fun to capture her look and personality or shall I say cowality.  Order this one now for delivery by Christmas- and here's a deal for you-twenty-five percent off!

6 x 6 oil on archival panel

$75. includes shipping

Miracle-Gro Really Works!

Miracle-Gro Really Works!

I was so happy when one of my collectors dropped off this painting with me this morning.

It is from when I was just starting out about six years ago and I had not taken a photo of it.  This is a 24x36" canvas so these truly are giant zinnias. I am going to varnish this one and can't wait to see the effect with a little bit of shine on the color.  I would love to hear from some of you artists on good varnish to use, and any tips you can give me.  Thanks!

Juicing The Lime

Juicing The Lime

This is similar to a painting I did a long time ago and I wanted to try it again.  I am happier with the shadows this time and also with the lime halves.  I think I was in the mood to paint this because I am getting ready to start baking for Christmas and I usually make lemon poppyseed bread and lemon squares, so I'll be juicing, but just not limes.

6 x 6 in. oil on archival panel

Farmhouse in Provence

Farmhouse In Provence

This painting is a donation to a favorite fundraiser this week-end.

FirstHealth Moore Regional Auxiliary Holiday Ball
Saturday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m.
The Carolina Ballroom, Pinehurst
Supporting the FirstHealth Dental Care Centers, which serve and provide dental care for the uninsured and under-served children in our community.
For more information, call (910) 695-7510.

I chaired this wonderful event for several years and it has long been a community tradition so I love being able to give a painting to a very worthy cause, and one that is close to my heart.

Baby Kicks

Baby Kicks

I was excited about painting these tiny little Nike's because they belong to one of my grand babies. I thought they would be fun to paint ( and they were).  I also thought they wouldn't be terribly difficult to paint (wrong!). I think it would have been easier to paint Tyler Zeller's size 19 basketball shoes than these little ones.  The most fun was doing the pink swoosh and envisioning Brynlee walking soon in these.

NFS

Sunny Door In Provence

Sunny Door In Provence

Several large pots of flowers and the sunlight falling on the door made this ordinary door on a side street take on a glowing prominence in the morning light.

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

The Old White TPC

  The Old White TPC

This is one of my favorite spots at the Greenbrier Hotel and is often included in our very early morning walk when we visit there.  The Old White TPC golf course opened in 1914.  It is legendary in Greenbrier golf history and was named for the Old White Hotel which stood on the grounds from 1858 to 1922.  Over the years, numerous golf greats played here and Sam Snead shot his final hole-in-one on The Old White Course's number 18 in 1995. In 2011 The Old White became The Old White TPC and joins the most prestigious courses in the nation as part of the PGA Tour's Tournament Player's Club Network.

6 x 6 in. oil on museum quality panel

The Miscreants

The Miscreants

Yes, this is one of my  paintings and you may be surprised to see a very different artistic side of me.  I used to do a great deal of painting from my imagination and this seemed to be an appropriate way to meet the challenge when I was invited to participate in a show at Duke University.

Twenty artists were chosen to submit a work representative of  some of the research on "Cheating" by  Dr. Dan Ariely, James B. Duke professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics. The artists then attended a Dishonesty Forum at The Center For Advanced Hindsight in Durham, where Dan spoke about some of his research.  In my painting, I considered various cheating behaviors, and characters involved in this behavior.  The Ten Commandments are in the painting, since one of the findings in the experiments on cheating was that some type of reminder of morals or ethics has the effect of lowering the incidence of cheating. Take a look at Dan Ariely's  blog- it is quite interesting.

The Center for Advanced Hindsight at Duke University is

Pleased to Coordinate and Host the exhibition

Creative Dishonesty: Cheat Codes

on display at 2024 W Main St, Bay C, Durham, NC from

December 3, 2011 to January 31, 2012.

with an opening reception on

December 16^th, 2011   6 – 10 PM

The Miscreants

30 x 40 in. oil on canvas

$795

available at 

The Center For Advanced Hindsight

2024 W. Main Street

Durham, N.C.

New Zealand Wool

New Zealand Wool

I could not resist taking a photo of this sweet little lamb while on a sheep farm tour and I have been wanting to paint this for a long time.  I find that it is more difficult to capture the face of a baby animal than a full grown one. It was fun in the attempt to create the look of fluffy wool.

6 x 6 in. oil on Gessobord

EAT MOR CHIKIN

EAT MOR CHIKIN

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Welcome to the final and finest month of 2011.  Did this year ever go by quickly!

I am having fun painting animals and cows are a favorite subject of mine right now. There is so much variety in the colors and patterns on the bodies of these wonderful creatures.  This one is a Moore County, North Carolina resident and shares a home with some other fine bovine specimens.

The title is a nod to a very successful ad campaign by a well known restaurant chain. Almost everyone is familiar with these three famous words.

Ready For Christmas!

Ready For Christmas?   SOLD

Of course I am not ready yet-but with this flower blooming in the house, I feel as if I am.

Fun to grow, fun to watch, and fun to paint!

16 x 20 in. oil on canvas

Pierre Lapin

Pierre Lapin

I have just begun working on a small project for someone and this is the first painting. I may try this one again tomorrow with some variations in attire and background, but isn't he cute?

6 x 8 in. oil on canvas panel

Mother And Son

Mother And Son   SOLD

What a joy it was for me to be asked to paint this for someone to give as a gift!  My greatest desire was to capture the happiness that both the young man and his mother were feeling on his wedding day.  I think you can see this in her beautiful face and the closeness of his embrace. It began as a black and white painting, using just three colors: ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, and white. I chose to make the skin tones less gray and warmer so that there would be more radiance.

Chloe

Chloe

This is a commission and will be a special gift for the dog's owner. This is Chloe on her treadmill before she crossed over the bridge.  It is such a privilege to be asked to paint subject matter that will be so loved by the recipient.


Sold

Turnip

Turnip

The turnip is such a beautiful vegetable with its creamy white and almost magenta colors.

Add to that the vibrant greens of the leaves and stems and you have an interesting still life subject.

I will probably be painting more of these and experimenting with adding other objects to the composition. These may become "turnip salad" after they pose for my paintings.

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Confederate Roses

Confederate Roses

I'm having fun painting these and I meant to tell you that they are a member of the Hibiscus family and not actually a rose at all.  Some people also call them "cotton roses".

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Now Open

Now Open

This unusual flower is a Confederate Rose.  When it opens it is white and as it ages it becomes a pink flower.  You can see that this one is already beginning to change. The plant that produced this bloom is about ten feet tall and loaded with flowers in various stages of color.  I hope to have some growing in my yard by next spring, and blooming next fall.  My friend Teej, who is an excellent, highly published author on Civil War history, is giving me some cuttings from hers. There are several versions of a legend about these flowers and Confederate soldiers.

 6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Opening Soon

Opening Soon

Just wait 'til you see this flower when it is open- you won't believe it. When I post

the painting of the open bloom, I will tell you the name of the plant.

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Pomegranate Study

Pomegranate Study

It's really fun choosing these at the grocery store because of the color, shape and size variations. it's even more fun to paint them as I discovered on this first attempt, painting this fast and loose.  The most fun however, is eating them afterward.  Who was it that said, "eat is part of the word create"?

6 x 6 in. oil on Gessobord

Sunny Day Near Brantome

Sunny Day Near Brantome

Perhaps you can tell that I am unable to recall the name of the town I was in when I spotted this cute little building. I am not sure what it was used for but I love the peachy color of the bricks.

6 x 6 oil on panel

Gift From A Friend

Gift From A Friend

This painting is by my good friend Sara and I received it today in the mail. It is an oil painting, done entirely with a painting knife.  I decided that I would like to try painting and Sara was my first teacher when I began with water color.  She recently switched form watercolor to oils and paints every day.  I don't get to see her anymore because she has gone to live near one of her daughters in Wisconsin. Sara is almost 89 years old now. You can imagine how thrilled I was to receive this.  It is a scene from a very famous tulip garden,  taken a few years ago when Sara and I traveled with a group to the Netherlands. We met the woman in the painting at Keukenhof Gardens, where she works with the tulips every day.

I hope that I am still painting when I am eighty-nine!