Daily Painting Still Life, "Grapes & Magnolia"

"Grapes and Magnolia"
Border Design for Licensing
Acrylic on Paper



This is the crossover for the trained illustrator/commercial artist....always trying to put some amount of fine art into the more commercial purpose. With commercial art one is always trying to fit some parameter of speed and space into the art for some other printing application. With fine art, you just do it, without all those other considerations....and then if it works commercially, all the better! In this piece I had all of those parameters in my mind. Now that I have been doing more fine art of late, I find I am happier not thinking of those commercial uses until after the art is finished. Maybe a curse.. because I was in publishing for so long, I look at the fine art pieces and see all of those other applications.

A complicated mind.... putting all of the puzzle pieces together

Daily Painting Landscape, "Bohicket Drive"

Detail view of "Bohicket Drive"















"Bohicket Drive"
8X10
Oil on Canvas
Commissioned by the Owner
Click on picture to enlarge


Does it count if someone in the family commissions a painting for a Christmas present?

My in-laws used to live at Seabrook, in South Carolina. The last part of the drive is through a tunnel of gorgeous live oaks and, on a day such as this one, the sun streams through the trees and makes your heart skip with anticipation of the beauty you are approaching. My husband took a picture through the windshield of the car and this was the sight on the way. Now when I look at it, I can just imagine driving along in a little red sports car to Seabrook for the weekend.

My father-in-law passed away and my mother-in-law had to move closer to children for safe keeping, but she pines for the days they lived at Seabrook. She asked for a painting from me for her Christmas present this year.....so this is what I came up with. I hope when she looks as this painting she will remember the drive and the good life she had there.

Daily Painting Still Life, "Home From the Beach"

"Home from the Beach"
8X8
Acrylic on Paper
Available from the artist








Nope...haven't been to the beach this weekend. This is, once again, an interim piece while I am painting a commission....one ordered up for a Christmas present. This shell collection is also part of licensing endeavors..meant for address book covers, or guest book covers. Hope to have the commission done in a few days and will post it then.

Daily Painting Bird Study, "Not a Turkey"

"Early Bird"
Acrylic on Paper







Here is a companion to the Bluebird piece...another with the licensing projects. Due to the Holiday I will not post again til Sunday evening. I wish everyone a perfectly great Thanksgiving!!!

Daily Painting Still Life, "Speckled Pear"

"Speckled Pear"
5X7
Oil on Linen Panel
SOLD







One pear...a small one to sit on an easel on your desk or table.

Daily Painting Bird Study, "While Painting Pears"

"Bluebird"
Acrylic on Paper




While I am working on painting more of the pears, I am posting a design from my licensing projects. Maybe I should call this, "Song of the South." Hope there is a bluebird on your shoulder today!

Daily Painting Landscape, "Surprise on the Greenway"

"Surprise on the Greenway"
8X10
Acrylic on Canvas
Artist's Collection






This may look a bit fictional....it was from a memory, rather than reality. Walking on a greenway in Colorado Springs, while visiting my son and his family, there were wild hares running about, in and out of the brush. They were really very adorable. The scenery was gorgeous with wild flowers everywhere and foothills in the background. So, I came back to North Carolina thinking of the bunnies peeking up out of the scrub and flowers, and also thinking of my darling little grand-daughter, Ella. I was imagining how fun for our little baby girl to be surprised by these little animals as she toddled along on the greenway with her parents. Peek-a-Boo, Ella! I think I had my mind in storybook illustrations from the look of it.

I might also mention that I owned a stationery company for several years....I designed, published, and marketed nationally....my company name was "Wild Hare." Hmmm...there must be a connection there.

Blue Ribbon Cow

This painting was in a previous post....this photo doesn't do justice to the colors. You can see a better version of the painting on the October 20th posting. I don't every day get a chance to make a point about being an "award winning" artist...it's not the sort of thing you go around saying to people. Like, "Hey there, I am an award winning artist!" For one thing, I find it's all in the subjective opinions of judges. Eye of the beholder and all that. For another thing, as an artist, I find the process of painting very humbling. It's not as easy as it looks. I am always thinking to myself,...well, it took God seven days to create this entire universe we enjoy (evolutionary theories aside for a moment), and it takes me days to attempt to paint one small piece of it. If you want to be amazed at creation, just try to draw or paint one leaf, one flower, one person, one "oreo" cow.

Anyway, I won a blue ribbon!

Daily Painting Still Life, "Autumn Pears"

"Bronze Pear, Yellow Pear"
9X12
Oil on Linen Panel
Available from the artist
Price: $350.00
Contact Me









My first art instructor showed up at the very first class with a table full of pears. He told us to choose one for ourselves and paint our pear. That pear painting lesson lasted several weeks...several pears....lots of fun. I haven't yet grown tired of painting pears. And since the store is now abundant with them, I think I will be painting pears for a time, again.

My friend and "other mother," Claire, encouraged me to take that class with her. So I always think of her when painting pears.

Daily Painting Pet Portrait, "Butte"

"Butte" 11X14
Oil on Linen Panel
Commissioned by the Owner

This is the dog with "the eyes!!!" He is a mix between Golden Retriever and Malamute or Australian Shepherd....and a very good dog he is. A husband commissioned this painting for his wife's birthday. I had the delicious fun of being invited to the party and unveiling the painting for her. This being the first experience of that kind for me, I was just a bit nervous and when pulling the veil I realized I had placed the painting upside down. Can you imagine my red face?? In front of a room full of anxiously waiting friends?? I quickly turned it upright and begged for another glass of wine....


All ended well. I think she was surprised and pleased. He looks great in the frame!

Daily Painting Still Life, "Not Just Sunflowers"

"Not Just Sunflowers"
6X6
Acrylic on Paper
Available from the artist
$125.00
Contact Me






Began as a product illustration....now available for purchase. This design, Southwestern in color and feel, is meant for licensing, on a trivet, a linen towel, a card, etc. Think hot peppers, tacos, fajitas. (note: I retain reproduction rights.)

Daily Painting Still Life, "Sucker for a Pretty Dish"

"Sucker for a Pretty Dish"
12X16
Oil on Canvas
Price: 425.00
Contact Me





Well, I could have called it, "Rome Apples in an Italian Dish." Italy...Rome....get it? The dish is the latest splurge at the monthly antique extravaganze. When someone buys my paintings, I just go looking for more fun stuff to paint....sort of a circular exercise, I admit, but it feeds the painting fool. I'd be healthier if I actually ate the apples instead of painting them.
Hope you like them!!!

Daily Painting Pet Portrait, "Must Love Dogs"

"Bailey" 11X14
Oil on Linen Panel
Artist's Collection














This is the one and only Bailey. He was our true and wonderful Scottie, no longer with us, the precursor to Bosley. As you can see, he had a happy smile and was the best of company. He owned the place and we were happy to share it with him. (Bosley is improving greatly and we actually went for a walk today!)


I have "hit the wall" for just a couple of days. I'm going to take a short break. Every now and then one has to "sharpen the saw," as they say. Stay tuned!

Daily Painting Still Life, "Autumn Reward"

"Autumn Reward"
8X8
Oil on Linen Panel
Available from the artist
Contact me






Two Dahlias surviving before the frost...
I grabbed them before they were gone. The mums are just coming along.

Daily Painting Landscape, "Nursery on Rt. 321"

"Nursery on Route 321"
6 1/2X12
Oil on Canvas
Artist's Collection




There is this plant nursery by the side of the road on the way to the mountains from here. We passed it many times and always someone in the car would make the comment, "Isn't that such a pretty sight!" Finally, camera in my hand, I said, "Stop the car, I'm taking the picture!"
And this is the result..
Hope you like it!

Daily Painting landscape, "Down the Street"

"Down the Street"
5X7 Oil on Linen Panel
Available from the artist
Contact Me











For Laurie....
She moved away to Maryland several years ago, my next door neighbor, friend, and dog walking partner. This is the view down the street as we would leave to go on our walks and what it looks like on a beautiful Fall day. As I painted this, those walks and taking off with our four footed friends were foremost in my mind. Thanks, Laurie!