SOLD BUNCH OF CARROTS
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

No, these didn't come out of my Dad's garden. He usually grows carrots, but not this year. I bought these today. I went to the produce department of the grocery store to find a subject and these carrots called my name.

FOUR TOMATOES
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

Yes, these delicious tomatoes came from my Dad's garden. They are such a pretty color and I love painting them. This is a palette knife painting.

TOUCHING THE WATER
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I did this from a picture I took at the hospital. It was pretty and listening to the splash of water from the fountain was very refreshing. This little girl walked by and just couldn't help but put her hand in the water.

Wednesday, 6/25/08
HORSES GRAZING
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I painted this from a picture I took on the way home from my parents' house. Yes, I stopped the car to take pictures of these horses.

Tuesday, 6/24/08
WORKING CROSSWORDS
watercolor on paper, 7"x9"

This is my mother in the hospital waiting and keeping her mind busy working crossword puzzles. She was there for an outpatient procedure, so I spent the day with her and painted this from life right there in the hospital.

Monday, 6/23/08
IVY AND RED RIBBON
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

This is a clear vase with ivy growing in it and a red ribbon tied around it that was sitting on my parents' coffee talbe. Under it is a crocheted doily. Yes, I used a palette knife on this one.

6/22/08 APPLE AND COFFEE POT
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

Actually, I painted this one before I left, but didn't photograph it. It's a palette knife painting of a coffee pot my Dad gave me. I'm not sure how old it is, but it isn't new. I really enjoyed painting the somewhat shiny coffee pot. It's fun painting reflections.

JENNY IN RED
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I painted this with a combination of brush and palette knife. I started with a brush drawing, then put in the basic values with a brush. Then, I painted most of the face with the brush. I then decided to finish it with the palette knife. I went over most of what I did with the brush with the palette knife and added the background. I painted from a picture I took of Jenny when she was here at Christmas. I may do a little touching up of this and take another photo. Jenny has a beautiful delicate face and I didn't quite capture that.

Here's a new photo. Although this isn't perfect, I like it better.

PATTY
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

This is my daughter, Patty. I painted this from a picture I took of her a few months ago.

APPLES ON SILVER
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

This was an experiment. I love the looseness of palette knife paintings, but I like the "feel" of a bristle brush. So, I used a #6 bristle flat brush as if it were a palette knife. I had to keep thinking to myself, "This a palette knife. Use thick paint." I'm not entirely pleased with the result, but I do like it. Maybe I'll do another brush/palette knife painting tomorrow and maybe it will turn out better. It was fun to do, anyway.

BIG TOMATO IN BOWL
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

This is the biggest of all the tomatoes I brought home from my Dad's garden. I bought the handmade pottery bowl in a flea market last weekend. Yes, I used a palette knife here.

BOWL OF TOMATOES
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

6/17/08 Yes, these tomatoes came from my Dad's garden. It's wonderful to have such delicious tomatoes, especially at a time when it is difficult to buy tomatoes at the grocery store because of the health danger. I used a paint brush for this.

KATIE NAPPING
oil on canvas, appr 6"X6"

Yes, another palette knife painting. It's just so much fun! This is our longhaired calico cat, Katie who was taking a nap on the drawing table in my studio, so I thought I'd try to paint her from life. I knew I was taking a chance on her getting up and leaving or just changing positions, but I painted fast with the palette knife and I finished before she moved. I've always used a photo to paint animals before, but I felt adventurous this time.

THREE TOMATOES
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

Yes, these tomatoes are from my Dad's garden. And, they're delicious! And, yes, this is another palette knife painting. I'm having so much fun that I might just do another one!

HORSES AFTER THE STORM
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

This is my first daily painting done with a palette knife . I haven't painted with a palette knife in many years, but when I saw some of Tom Brown's palette knife paintings I became imspired to try it again. It was really fun. I combined 2 photos I took today on the way home from visiting my parents. One photo was of the horses and the other was of the storm clouds.

GRAPE SUNDAE
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I love to paint grapes! The colors are so warm and luscious. I've painted grapes several times, so I thought I'd put them in a sundae glass this time.

LEMON SLICES ON RED
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I love to smell lemon! And, I was able to do that while I painted this little still life. Although it's "finished", I'm not completely satisfied with it, yet. I'll probably do a little more painting on it after I decide what it needs. It's just not quite there yet.

ORANGE IN ORANGE CUP
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I've painted this orange cup by itself, but this time I thought I'd add another color. Actually, the cup looks red with the orange in it. Guess it's red-orange, almost cad red. As you know, colors are affected by the colors around them.

BIRD PITCHER
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

My husband bought me this pretty little pitcher thinking I might want to paint it. He was right!

PALM TREES AT THE BEACH
oil on panel, appr 5"x7"

This was painted from a picture I took when we were in the Rio Grande Valley. There was this little group of palm trees on the side of a hill, but there wasn't any water there. I just thought this scene needed water.

HOPE FOR TOMORROW
oil on canvas, appr 4"x6"

I painted this from a photo I took at my parents' farm in Leon County, Texas. It's a beautiful place with the house on the hill and the pond below. This is looking up the hill from near the pond. My grandparents lived here and I get a wonderful feeling when I visit.

GRAPES ON A BLUE PLATE
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

Yes, today was the last day of our garage sale. I painted grapes again, this time on a blue plate. It was very hot again today and I'm very glad the sale is over.

GRAPES AND GREEN APPLE
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

I set up this little still life out in my garage while having a garage sale today. It was very hot, but I enjoyed painting this.

SAYING GOODBYE TO FRIENDS
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

6/5/08 This is painted from a photo taken on the last day of school. This little girl was waving to her friends.

WAITING IN THE SHADE 2
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

6/4/08 These people were waiting in front of the school for the final bell to ring for summer vacation. I think they were school employees. This is one of the big beautiful trees on the campus.

PLAY BALL
oil on canvas, appr 6"x4"

6/3/08 I painted this little boy from a picture taken by his family.

OKRA DANCERS
oil on canvas, 6x6, 6/2/08

Yes, these okra pods are from my Dad's garden. I couldn't resist painting them before I cook them. The one on the right caught my attention because of the shape. It just looks like it's dancing.

WAITING IN THE SHADE
oil on canvas, appr 6"x6"

This is painted from another photo I took at the school Friday. The school has been there many years and there are some huge trees on the campus.