WINTER SUNSHINE oil on panel, 4"x6"

Today is a beautiful day! It started out with a thick fog, but it lifted pretty fast. It lifted before I could get outside to paint, and there was just a little fog left in the distance when I painted this en plein air. I wanted to capture the cold, crisp morning with the warm sunshine.

BEYOND THE SHADOWS oil on canvas, 24"x30"

I've been working on this landscape the past few days and I think I'm finished. I'm intrigued by the bright light beyond the trees. That's what caught my eye here. I did a small painting of this scene a while back and have been wanting to paint a larger one.

BROWN EGGS oil on canvas on board, 5x7

SOLD I've been wanting to paint these eggs ever since I've had them and these are the last three. I really enjoyed painting them on the embroidered cloth in front of the window in my studio. I used a limited palette--only ultramarine blue, raw sienna, and white. It's a beautiful day, cold and clear. How wonderful to be able to paint!!!

BRIGHT PASTURE oil on canvas, 8x10

After I painted this, I realized that I had painted almost the exact scene before. I was looking through some previous paintings and, there it was--the same scene. It's a little different, but the same place. I used a palette knife for this and the paint is really thick. For some reason, I just kept piling it on. I'm not sure why.

BLUE VASE acrylic on board, 6x6

This is a demo for one of my museum Art Camp acrylic painting classes. I enjoy teaching painting, especially when I get to paint, too. I bought this bouquet of flowers on the way to the museum and it was painted by students in my 4 classes today.

FACING EAST oil on board, 8x10

I saw this scene with the sun coming through the trees one morning, but I didn't have my camrea with me. So, I went back to this location the next day and got several pictures. It was such a pretty day! I think that a lot of my paintings are of the effects of light. I'm fascinated by abstract light and shadow patterns. And this grabbed me. This one is really me.

Someone asked why I paint. Because I have to. It hurts not to.

THREE OF A KIND oil on canvas, 6x6

I went grocery shopping yesterday and lingered in the produce department! I came home with these luscious apples and some red grapes...maybe tomorrow's painting. Painting shiny, colorful things with light and reflections is lots of fun. I really like painting on canvas much better than painting on a gessoed board. This is a board that I glued canvas on. I've been painting on gessoed boards a lot lately just because it's easier to gesso than to cut and glue canvas. I need to get back to gluing canvas on my boards. I like the feel of the brush on canvas so much better. The gesso absorbs the paint too much and it just doesn't feel the same as canvas.

A NEW DAY oil on board, 4x6

2/8/09 I painted this from a photo I took a few weeks ago. I liked the way the trees were backlighted with shadows coming forward.

SUNNY ROAD oil on board, 6x8

I just love it when a painting turns out like I planned! Most paintings don't, but this one did. What fun I had painting this! I used a photo I took last Monday in Alto, Texas. Today, the weather is perfect--about 75 degrees, sunny and dry. I have the ac turned off and the windows of my studio open to feel the cool, fresh air as I paint. I also have wonderful quiet music playing. I'll tell you about the music later.

PEPPERS AND SHADOWS oil on board, 6x6

I placed these colorful peppers on my drawing table in front of a window and painted quickly before the light changed. The shadow in the upper right is from a vase of dried flowers and a glass of tea also on the table.

THREE PEARS oil on board, 6x6

SOLD I found these beautiful pears this morning while shopping, and I knew at that moment what my painting subject would be today. Even their scent is beautiful. When I began the painting, I had trouble with the shadow colors, but when the painting was finished, it all worked well. When you look at this, I hope you can smell the wonderful scent of fresh pears.

PEPPER COLOR WHEEL oil on board, 6x6

7/24/08 I'm back home. I looked at these 3 peppers and noticed that they have the color wheel colors except for blue and violet, so I added those. This is another palette knife painting. I still love the palette knife!

THE SECRET 4X6, oil on board

SOLD Here are some more figs. They are so nice to paint with all the beautiful colors.

BOWL OF FIGS 5x7, oil on board

Yes, these figs are from my Dad's tree. How did you guess? He's quite a farmer! I'm still loving the palette knife!

EARLY MORNING SHADOWS acrylic on board, 5x7

This was painted from a photo I took at my parents' farm a few months ago. It's a beautiful place--so quiet and peaceful.

RUSSELL'S POND oil on board, 5x7

This is the pond behind my son's home in the country. It's really beautiful there. I painted this from a picture I took several months ago. The ducks have since disappeared, probably victims of coyotes.

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.

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.

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.