'Spirits in Stone'

For the past two weeks I've been painting 'Spirits in Stone' for my upcoming solo show.  Let me explain.  I take a stone as I find it in nature and look at the shapes, textures and colors that I find... much like looking for images in clouds.  Then I paint what I see without altering the stone... no chipping allowed!  I hesitate to present them in photographs because the only way to truly experience them is to put your hands on them.  Feel them.  Each stone is a gift, waiting to tell us something of our connection to the Earth, to Time and to the Creator... I am just an interpreter.  Here are a few:

"Avoiding the Badger"

8" x 25"

"Elephant Walk"

8" x 14"

"Polar Scent"

10" x 18"

So far I have 14 with high hopes of having 24 to offer at my show.

One Down, Two to Go

"One Down, Two to Go"
16" x 20" oil on gallery-wrap canvas

I can just see this young man saying "Whew!" as he finishes up preparing his lamb for the local 4-H show. The 4-year-old daughter of a friend actually took the reference photo that I used. I would never have dreamed of cropping the boy's head, but Willow did it and it intrigued me. It's only human nature to immediately look into the eyes, so without them the viewer can focus on the activity instead, which is the subject of the painting. It bends the rules. Thanks, Willow!

Buckskin & Baby

"Buckskin & Baby"
8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite
Art on the Avenue

When I'm working on commissions, I find I need to intermix some small paintings 'for me' to keep me from getting too tight. So yesterday I put aside the oil portrait in favor of this horse painting that I've been mulling for some time. I also wanted to put something fresh in Art on the Avenue. My monitor shows it a bit more orange than the true buttery buckskin color on the mare, but maybe yours has it just right... hope so. Paintings always look better in person anyway.

Tucker in Tinsel

"Tucker in Tinsel"
8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite

Welcome to an early peek at this year's Christmas card. I put other things aside and actually got it done today. My son's cat, Tucker, was so fascinated with the tinsel that we had to remove it that Christmas. Nothing could dilate his eyes more than that shiny stuff!

Henry in Sunshine

Henry in Sunshine
8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite

I can't tell you how good it feels to post a new painting! It has taken me a few days to reorganize the studio and get back in the saddle, so to speak. The ideas are coming fast and furious now! This is my old Henry...always a good subject to warm me up. I have to admit...this one looks much better in person. Photography, even scanning, just can't replicate the glow of the multiple layers of transparent paint.

Baby Face

"Baby Face" SOLD
8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed masonite

Seems I've been doing a lot of serious painting of late, so I really needed to pull back and do a "funsy". This is one of my favorite poses of our kitty, Baby Face. She loves to 'hook on' over my husband's shoulder and nap. It's a good thing he's wearing his old faded flannel overshirt... those side claws are sharp!