Christmastime at the Little Yellow House

I actually painted this a couple of years ago on New Year's Eve but I came across it in my studio and decide to hang it back up inside my house, and re-post to my blog. Wishing you warmth and serenity this Christmas and New Year.

Guardian Spirit 10"x10"

The theme for December's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge is "Spirit." This, of course could be interpreted in a number of ways. I chose to use for my model an angel lawn ornament that I bought from the clearance rack at Lowe's at the end of the summer. Not that the event was so spiritual mind you, however, it's just that I like angels, and I thought she was pretty cool looking. She's guarding my studio now though, not my garden so much...maybe I'll find another. (And geez...I do need to rephotograph her...the complexities in the background to the upper right are not quite so dark...I am using borrowed cameras at the moment to shoot my paintings and photographing them late at night after work and painting...I am going to try to reshoot a couple this weekend).

China Pearl

This painting was done on location in Chinatown in Boston one Saturday with a few other painters. I don't paint in the city enough.

Trio 6"x6"

In coming up with an idea for the theme "Fashion" for the Girls Just Wanna Paint Blog for the October Challenge, I kept leaning towards clothing, shoes, and models, and I ended up painting nail polish (plus a painting of a sewing machine...maybe I'll post it, haven't decided yet). I wish I spent more time and attempted all of the above, I still can, it just won't be in time for the challenge!

Midday, Guanajuato 22"x28"

This is from a photograph I took while on a day trip to the city of Guanajuato in central Mexico while on a weeklong painting trip to San Miguel a couple of years ago. I liked the activity in the photo so I decided to paint the scene.

Louie the Lobster

Louie was the result of a day of diving for some friends of my daughter...the result was some very good lobster and scallops. So good! Anyway, as Louie was languishing, I thought he should be painted.

"Sol" 6"x6"

For our August Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge, the topic was simply, (or not so simply) the sun. I wasn't sure what approach to use or how I wished to portray, or at least indicate the sun...so I just sat at my easel and started painting...it was fun. Very different from how I have been approaching subject matter where I often have something sitting in front of me to reference. Nice to take a different direction sometimes.

Sunflowers

Moment of Zen 6"x6"

For our July "Girls Just Wanna Paint" challenge, the theme of "Fin, Fur, or Feather" begged many options...I even considered an alligator from some photos from Florida. I opted for a more domestic choice, and painted my cat, while she's asleep.

Summer Flavors

I needed to paint a summer dessert for my challenge group, and I had begun a painting as part of a lesson with some fantastic flowers and a very colorful background. It just looked like it needed some fruit, one of the original summer desserts, so it all pulled together.

Miss Sally

My entry for the April "Girls Just Wanna Paint" challenge. Sally Dean was my subject and I love her colorful paintings...I hope she likes my take on her. This was my 3rd attempt. I won't lie.

Taking Off

I love to fly...most of the time. Every time I see a plane, I wonder where it's going and I dream of travelling again. I almost called this "Cheap Sunglasses," but "Taking Off" made more sense. I painted this for our on-line challege group, "Girls Just Wanna Paint." and the challenge was "Dream."

Artists Who Blog

Kelley MacDonald, Sally Dean, and I will be talking about blogging this Thursday night at the Art Complex in Duxbury, MA. The three of us feature our art through our blogs, but we each have different individual goals and focus in our process. It will be fun, informal, and in a beautiful setting with wonderful art. And it's free.

Little Light

This little 6"x6" painting was for last month's "Girls Just Wanna Paint" Challenge...It's the only time I paint this small, but I have to say, it's been a good experience. Because I'm not accustomed to painting real small sizes, I made my own little challenge up and decided I wouldn't use any small brushes...well, I do start with a large round and I keep with that for the most part. I have used smaller brushes, but not tiny...I just don't want the image to get "uptight..." an easy thing to do.