Duffy & Lilly

"Duffy & Lilly"
11" x 14"

Are these the cutest dogs or what? I did this portrait from a photo supplied by their dad as a Christmas gift for their mom!! Happy Holidays everyone!!

A Moment of Reflection

"A Moment of Reflection"
(8" x 10")

This was a commissioned piece just finished in time for Christmas. Love ya Suzaphone!!

Three White Ducks

Three White Ducks
(6" x 6")

Ducks have so much character. I loved this picture because of all the great color that the bright sunlight created in their white feathers.

Nauset Light

"Nauset Light"
(6" x 6")

This painting is all about the light. Wave light, water reflections, sky light and, of course, the Nauset Light.

Winter Blue

"Winter Blue"
(5" x 7")

When the snow finally falls on Cape Cod the color is amazing. The ocean becomes a clear turquoise. The snow collects in pockets on the dunes and becomes shades of blue and purple. The bare sticks of beach foliage are brick red, navy and violet. It's quiet except for the surf and the gulls. You always hear them.

Barnyard Kings

"Barnyard Kings"
(5" x 7")

Apparently roosters are very social and are often friendly with other roosters. They also like to perch in a high place that allows them to oversee the barnyard so they can keep an eye on the females and anything else going on. One of the websites I visited to read about the birds says that her chickens will get up on a pail if there's nothing else just to get a "birds eye" view of things. I also found an answer to the age old question: "What came first....the chicken or the egg?" Answer is "the rooster".

A Fall From the Blackthorn

"A Fall From the Blackthorn"
(5" x 7")

I like to imagine human traits for birds, bees and other assorted animalia. So today this hornet had a bad bloom day. Who knows she was probably up all night with the other queen hornets and had one too many glasses of nectar. We all have days like this don't we?!

Storm on the Horizon

"Storm on the Horizon"
(5" x 7")

This painting is based on some images I took on vacation in the Gulf back in September. We had one really stormy day and this was how the water looked just as the first big rollers started coming in. It was fantastic body surfing.

A Captured Bit of Summer

"A Captured Bit of Summer"
(5" x 7")

While we were in Florida in September, my brother built this cool sandcastle. I just wanted to keep it to remember our wonderful holiday especially when the snow finally starts flying. So I put it in a jar...don't worry I punched air holes in the top.

The Mud Room

"The Mud Room"
(8" x 10")

Our weather is beginning to get colder and I had to get all the winter clothes out of the cedar chest. Gone are the beach towels, wet bathing suits and beach bags. Now our mud room sports coats, scarves, collecting bags and galoshes.

Solitude

"Solitude"
(8" x 10")

I wanted a mate for the riding painting I did earlier this week call "Ride At First Light". I really liked  the color in the surf. They had the beach all to themselves.

Zombie Study

"Zombie Study"
(5" x 7")

This painting was done for our weekly Dailypaintworks challenge. The challenge being to paint our version of "zombiness". I had so much fun I can't even tell you. I painted my zombies on the sandpaper that I use in an unfinished style that reminded me of the scary comics I used to read when I was a kid. I left the background unpainted because I just really liked the graphic feel. What a blast!!

"Yellow in the Field"

"Yellow in the Field"
(5" x 7")

Another Autumn foliage installment. I never tire of painting the beautiful leaf colors.

Ride At First Light

"Ride At First Light"
(8" x 10")

I have been wanting to do this piece for quite some time. I didn't want to paint trees today so I took several of my favorite pictures and placed them face down on the table and chose one at random and this was the one I chose. It still feels like autumn, but misty and fresh. The light was what drew me to this piece. The light and the relationship between a rider and their horse. Such dedication.

Mount Timpanogos, Alpine Loop"

"Mount Timpanogos, Alpine Loop
(5" x 7")

This was a commissioned piece for one of my clients out in Utah. She wanted something reflecting Autumn and the West where she lives. I had travelled out there many years ago before my kids were born and taken lots of pictures. I totally lucked out with this one. Turns out my client can see this mountain range from her house. Sometimes things just happen for a reason.

Red Sky At Morning

"Red Sky At Morning"
(6" x 6")

This painting was created for this weeks Dailypaintworks challenge "The Sky's the Limit". The challenge being to create a painting with the sky as the focal point. My photo reference for this was taken off the coast of Florida last month. It was early morning and we were in for quite a storm that day so I guess the Sailor's saying of "red sky at morning ....sailor take warning" was very accurate.

The Last Leaves

"The Last Leaves"
(5" x 7")

We've had a lot of windy days on the Cape and today it is supposed to rain most of the day. Our beautiful leaves are already starting to get a bit threadbare on some of the trees, especially near the tops where the wind really whips the branches around. I caught a last bit of pretty color on these birches.

Color on the Forest Floor

"Color on the Forest Floor"
(5" x 7")

This painting was fun because all the color was on the ground instead of in the branches.

Birches & Red Sumac

"Birches & Red Sumac
(5" x 7")

I have had such a great response to my birch tree paintings that I decided to do a few more. They are such interesting trees and you can't beat the Fall color.

Raging Winds

"Raging Winds"
(6" x 6")

This painting was done in response to the Dailypaintworks challenge last week to depict an emotion. I chose Rage because it is such a strong out of control feeling to me. I really pushed myself to work in a more abstract manner than I usually would. I wasn't sure about the face at first. but the response I've had from viewers has pretty much agreed that it works. I thought this was a really great challenge to take an abstract feeling and make it come to life.

'Gator Trail

'Gator Trail
(5" x 7")

The reference for this painting comes from my trip to St. George Island in Florida. We spent one afternoon hiking through the St. George Conservation Area and it was full of marsh life. Lots of crabs, birds and butterflies. I don't know if a gator actually made this path through the marsh grass to the water, but some creature did.

A Host of Birches and One Red Maple

"A Host of Birches and One Red Maple"
(5" x 7")

Okay, this is my last Birch Tree installment for the DPW Challenge this week. I really enjoyed painting the tall white trees.

Falling Gold

"Falling Gold"
(6" x 6")

Another installment in my Birch Tree series:  

And every year there is a brief, startling moment When we pause in the middle of a long walk home and Suddenly feel something invisible and weightless Touching our shoulders, sweeping down from the air: It is the autumn wind pressing against our bodies; It is the changing light of fall falling on us. - Edward Hirsch, Fall

Autumn Spirits

"Autumn Spirits"
(5" x 7")

This painting was created for a Dailypaintworks weekly challenge. The challenge was to paint birch trees in some form or other. I never realized how birch bark is like a fingerprint for that particular tree. Their lovely white presence is like a spirit in the forest.

Sand Dweller

"Sand Dweller"
(5" x 7")

I just returned from a family reunion on St. George island off the coast of the Florida panhandle. I took tons of pictures and I think I have enough new material to last for a while. This is my first installment. There were lots of different creatures on the beach and my brother, Jon, and my sister, Suzanne, helped me by holding lights at night and catching little crabs so I could get up close and personal. This little guy did not want his picture taken, but at least he stood still long enough for me to get his face. I had a blast with my family and I think the work will show all the good energy from our trip.

Great Sippewissett Marsh

"Great Sippewissett Marsh"
(5" x 7")

Time for a Fall palette. The grass was a fantastic orange color set against a glorious blue sky. Fabulous!

Being Shadowed

"Being Shadowed"
(5" x 7")

I took the reference for this photo  in my old Atlanta garden. This little frog was sunning himself on a leaf and I got a great picture of his shadow by taking it from underneath the plant. I love his E.T. feet.

Buster

"Buster"
(20" x 20")

I just finished this commissioned portrait. Buster is a cutie pie, but gave his mom a serious face in this picture. I love painting people's pets. I always do the eyes first because if I don't get their personality captured there the portrait will not be successful. He had lovely brown eyes and so much to say with them.

Tidal Marsh Twilight

"Tidal Marsh Twilight"
(5" x 7")

After looking at the reference photo for this painting I was really attracted to the "layers" of marsh it seemed to capture. So I painted it emphasizing the different levels of color.

Summer's End

"Summer's End"
(5" x 7")

I found this old rowboat almost totally submerged in the river one morning while walking my dog. It seemed sad and forgotten, but still lovely with the reflections of all the Fall leaves and crisp blue sky. Quietly waiting.

Bees in the Barn

"Bees in the Barn"
(6" x 6")

I pictured this painting in my head before I painted it. I had a photo of the honeycomb that I used as the reference. I added bees after studying pictures of them. Once I got those two elements I had to decide where they lived and chose a barn because the red wood is easily recognizable when you only see a small piece of it. I have so much more respect for their ability to build these combs after trying to paint one.

The Wasp Nest

"The Wasp Nest"
(5" x 7")

Walking my dog in the park one morning, I kept getting dive bombed every time I passed a certain set of trees. Sure enough just above the lowest leafy branches was a beautiful enormous wasp nest. I watched it for the entire summer and at some point in the Autumn, a thunderstorm knocked it out of the tree. I waited several weeks to make sure the wasps were all gone before getting photos of it.

Summer Dreams

"Summer Dreams"
(5" x 7")

You just can't beat the summer flower combinations of bright red poppies and happy faced daisies. I like to paint paths and enjoyed putting in this subtle trail through a pretty summer pasture.

Autumn

"Autumn"
(10" x 20")

This painting was a commission. She is going to be hanging in the home of a sweet fisherman friend of my husband and I. He is an avid fisher guy who tells great stories and occasionally goes to Costa Rica to deep sea fish. I think she will be very happy with him. Can you tell I'm ready for Fall?

Stained Glass in the Garden

"Stained Glass in the Garden"
(6" x 6")

I took several photos of bees and butterflies in my garden last spring. The dark colored wings on this butterfly caught the sunlight in all kinds of colors. The spots of luminous pigment reminded me of church windows when the light shines through and makes them glow.

Nantucket Twilight

"Nantucket Twilight"
(6" x 6")

Caught this pretty sunset over Nantucket Harbor near Children's Beach.

Cliff Top View

"Cliff Top View"
(5" x 7")

The reference for this painting was taken from the cliff tops in Truro on the Cape. It feels like you can see forever. There was great color in the grasses and scrub brush so that's what I concentrated on.

Keeping the Faith

"Keeping the Faith"
(11" x 14")

I am really interested in the history and restoration of wooden boats. I have been reading about them and how it is only recently that people have really begun to see the value of restoring these beautiful boats and getting them back on the water. In past years, unused wooden boats were burned or dismantled and allowed to simply disintegrate with the years. I think they are a tribute to the courage and workmanship of the whaling and fishing industry that used to face the wide ocean storms and currents in the ships they built themselves. The lines are beautiful and they are now regarded as works of art and family heirlooms.  Keeping the faith is about keeping their stories alive from the tall sailing ships to the lowly wooden dinghy.

Patterns of Summer

"Patterns of Summer"
(6" x 6")

When all the family gets together for those summer reunions at the beach there are always clotheslines of towels and bathing suits hanging up to dry at day's end. The colors and patterns and clothespins were just too much to resist. These two suits belong to my niece Lucy and her Uncle Stephen.

Let's Go!!

"Let's Go!!"
(5" x 7")

These two are so ready for their last beach run of the day. I really liked the orange tint that the setting sun gave the distant grasses, the tips of the sand in the foreground and of course made the golden boy more golden.

Daisy

"Daisy"
(9" x 12")

I painted this portrait for my niece, Lucy. Sadly, it is in memoriam as Daisy passed away from cancer a few weeks ago. She was a sweet kitty and greatly loved.

Pride and Joy

"Pride and Joy"
(5" x 7")

This painting was created for our latest DPW painting challenge. It really could been titled "have fun with color" because that is just what I did!!

'Sconset Surf

'Sconset Surf
6" x 6"

There were great waves at 'Sconset Beach. I took several shots and luckily captured one just as it curled. I love the translucent quality in the top of the wave and the strong colors, especially the olive green, in the water.

Cisco Beach Dune

Cisco Beach Dune
5" x 7"

I liked this image for the diagonal eye play.

Glory in the Flower

"Glory in the Flower"
5" x 7"

This painting was done specifically for our Daily Paintworks weekly challenge to paint a rose up close and personal. I took the reference photo out on Nantucket island where the flowers are numerous and quite glorious.

Hollyhocks

"Hollyhocks"
(2.5" x 3.5")

I took the reference for this painting on Nantucket this past weekend where the flowers are unbelievably beautiful. Hollyhocks are a personal favorite.

Blue Cottage Garden

"Blue Cottage Garden"
(2.5" x 3.5")

I am still playing with these miniature sized paintings and in this one also doing the DPW challenge to incorporate the primary colors as the primary subject. Pretty fun!

Sunlight & Shadow

"Sunlight & Shadow"
(2.5" x 3.5")

I have decided to do a series of miniature pastels. I find the small size gives me all kinds of freedom to be more impressionistic simply because of size. It's more fun to work small and loosely than small and detailed. So here we go.....

Cranberry Harvest

"Cranberry Harvest"
(2.5" x 3.5")

This is the smallest painting I have ever done. It is an entry for my Daily Paintworks Challenge which you can view if you click on the DPW challenge icon in the right hand column. The challenge was to create a painting 2.5" x 3.5" subject of your choice. Painting in miniature was interesting. I felt every stroke was important and every bit of color has a voice. The size also makes you consider your subject more carefully as some things wouldn't translate well when reduced so tiny. I had fun.

Dune Cottage, Truro

"Dune Cottage, Truro"
(6" x 6")

The dunes around our area are full of color and rhythm. I tried to capture a bit of each here.