Little Memories

Another year has passed and I continue to paint! January has been a month of looking back, reviewing photos from my travels, and then creating sweet little paintings.  It is a joy to turn on a little music and revisit my adventures this way.  One in this collection has already sold, but most will be available in my Etsy Shop until mid April. All are 6x6 inch oil paintings on stretched canvas. Hope you will stop by and take a look.

Nice Day for Ducks

As a native Northwesterner, I am well versed in the culture of rain. When the days of endless drizzle get to be too much, we imagine we have webbed feet, put on a raincoat, and try to pretend we don't mind. Often, when the moisture is heavy, I've heard people comment that it is, "a nice day for ducks." With this in mind, I had a fun afternoon last week painting some little web footed creatures. This is one of my favorites. I placed this fellow on a sunny bank, gave him a shadow, and tried to imagine a little warm weather. In my world, it was definitely a nice day for ducks. The little painting was created with oil paints on a small 4x6 canvas panel. He's for sale in my Etsy Shop where I will be listing the rest of his friends as soon as the paint is dry.

Getting Ready for Snow

This week I've been doing some more small studies, auditioning my ideas for something larger. Both of these paintings were inspired by a series of photographs I took while on a snowshoeing adventure in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State last winter. Both are oil paintings, the top one 8x10 and the smaller one 6x6. I have some canvases that are 24x30 and 30x30 that need to be covered with paint, so these little ones might go big, or might stay small. Undecided at this point.

You can find my original work at Smallimpressions and at Ugallery, or click on any of the links to the right.

Little Birds

Spring is coming and I can't wait. Too much wind, rain, and winter this year, so this past week I celebrated the coming of warm weather by painting some little bird portraits. All were created with oil paints on small canvas panels. I will begin listing them in my Etsy Shop today. As the paint dries, more will be added. Hope you have a warm and sunny spring!

Winter Season Study

Winter by the River

8x8

oil

This is a small study of a scene from the banks of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon where the region experienced a record breaking snowfall last month. I am finishing up a larger version of this scene which should be dry fairly soon. Both are completed with oil paints on stretched canvas. This original study is for sale in my Etsy shop and reproduction fine art prints of the study are available at my print shop for a reasonable price. Eventually I hope that the larger original will be accepted by Ugallery along with some of my other larger landscape paintings. For all who have experienced a similar snowy winter, though beautiful scenery emerges, my hopes are for some warm weather in the coming days.

Curator's Pick

Winter Road

16x16

Oil on Canvas

The exciting news this week is that my painting, Winter Road, has been selected as a Curator's Pick at Ugallery.  This is a very special honor and I was thrilled to learn of the selection. The square format oil painting was inspired by the colors of winter and the contrast of light and dark on a snowy road. Blue and brown provide a delightful combination of warm and cool colors and remind me of many winter trips down remote forest service roads of the Pacific Northwest in pursuit of winter adventures. The original painting has been sold, but reproduction fine art prints are available from my print shop in the Landscape Gallery.

Last of the Sunsets

After a glorious summer, the rains have returned to the Pacific Northwest. A severe windstorm that toppled trees, days of dark gloomy skies, and lots of shower activity mark the return to the usual weather pattern. It makes me glad that I painted some summer sunsets because they remind me that the weather won't always be gray. Today's painting is the last of a trio of 11x14 inch oil painting on stretched canvas. The paint is almost dry, so the original will be available in my Etsy Shop soon along with some miniature sunsets in smaller sizes. Reproductions are available from my print shop. Check out my Sea Gallery for more West Coast Seascapes, boats, and ocean creatures.

Beach Time

Just got back from a week at the beach where I spent a lot of time studying the sky and the clouds and the local way of life. The result is a series of paintings featuring clouds, sky, and sea. It was a wonderful experience and I was able to participate in what the locals call, "Beach Time." From what I've discerned "Beach Time" is a relaxed attitude that isn't overly concerned about time. Things get done when they get done. Usually there is no rush. Hurry is a foreign thought. Thus, lots of time observing the environment. This painting was created in oils on an 11x14 inch stretched canvas. When the paint is dry, the original will be available in my Etsy Shop, where I sell my small format originals. If you are in a hurry, reproductions on paper or canvas are available from my print shop, here.

Evergreen Sentinel

Recently, while walking the dog, I meandered toward a proud Evergreen. The lone fir tree stood tall in the middle of a meadow. It was strong and grizzled having apparently withstood wind, rain, and snow without the support of any other trees. As the breezes tossed its branches and the sun made it sparkle, I knew I had to paint the fellow. I loved the texture and color of the bark and the multitude of greens apparent in its branches. After I finished, I was glad to have taken the time to capture the portrait of this soldier.  The painting is 11x14 inches on stretched canvas and was created with oils. The original painting is available for purchase here at my Etsy shop.  Reproduction fine art prints are available in a variety of sizes on paper and canvas at my website here.  

Golden Light Pear Art

Yesterday was a great day!  Sometimes I stand in front of my easel and my mind is blank, but yesterday I was in the zone.  For five hours straight everything that came off my brush delighted me.  Now I have several little oil paintings drying in my studio.  As soon as they are dry, they will be listed for sale in my Etsy Shop.  In the meantime, I've listed this little 6x6 original.  When I created it, I was working on producing the warm light that reflected off the skin of the pears.  I rather like the effect and now that the oil paint is finally dry, it can be purchased.  Click here for a direct link.  I have quite a few other small originals that are still available.  Visit this link to view my original small fruit paintings.

Violet Shapes

A friend of mine gave me an African Violet that he grew from a leaf.  He said the plant from which he took the leaf had been around for years.  The plant was healthy and happy, so I was inspired to paint.  This is a bird's eye view of one of several African Violets that I now own.  The original painting was created on an 8x10 inch gallery canvas with oil paints.  I began with a red under painting and added layers of color to develop the image.  Reproduction prints are available for sale at my website, and when the paint dries on this I will probably sell it in my Etsy Shop with some of my other still life paintings.

In the Mist

As those of you who follow my blog know, I've been on an abstract kick for a while now.  What can I say, the paint takes me where it wants to go, but recently I moved back to oils and landscape painting.  This 11x14 inch painting was the result.  I was working on creating depth, trying to create that feeling of the background receding.  It was nice for a change.  Change seems to come around whether we are ready for it or not.  Reproduction prints of this painting are available for purchase here.  If you are interested in the original, contact me here by clicking on the contact link. 

Little Oak Trees

It has been a while since I've painted small.  Although that is what I used to do all the time, I've kind of drifted away until these little creations.  Each little oak tree painting was created in oil paints on a 4x4 inch canvas.  They are for sale at my Etsy Shop and make a cute little collection.  Visit the shop here, or view them closeup here, here, or here. 

Nisqually Delta

If you've ever been to the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge in Thurston County, Washington State, then you will recognize one of the remaining barns from the Brown Family Farm.  It is a classic barn in a beautiful rural landscape.  It is a blessing that this area is shared with public and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Nisqually Delta.  I am inspired to paint every time I visit.  This oil painting is 8x10 inches and was based on a photo taken last spring.  I loved the contrast of the sunlit barn and the tree shadow.  The painting is for sale at my Etsy Shop.  Click this link to view it in the shop or make a purchase. 

The Palouse

Recently I've been working on a series of paintings that were inspired by the Palouse Region of Eastern Washington and Idaho.  I lived there for four years and grew to love the rolling grasslands.  At first it felt bare and empty.  After all, I was a girl raised amongst the evergreen trees of Western Washington.  We seldom saw the sky because of towering trees and endless gray clouds.  But, after having lived on the prairies of the Palouse for a while, I found a longing for them.  This painting is 5x7 inches on a canvas panel.  You can view it or make a purchase here.  Along with this painting are others of the same size, with a third  featuring a long dirt road.  In addition, I painted a larger, heavily textured 11x14 inch painting of the prairie that was a lot of fun and can be viewed or purchased here.  The collection is currently available in my Etsy Shop along with many of my other landscape oil paintings. 

Red Brush

Another from the Dechutes River Trail series has come off the easel.  If anyone is familiar with the red brush that grows along the river at this Central Oregon destination, I'd love to know.  When everything has turned pretty desolate, these beautiful red shrubs poke their heads out and brighten the day.  This 8x10 inch oil painting SOLD at my Etsy Shop, but prints are available at my gallery at Fine Art America.  Click here to view available formats and sizes.

Hiking the Winter Trail

Today's painting is one of a series I've been working on. Last April my husband and I spent a week in Bend,Oregon. It is a great time of year to visit because by the time we cross the mountains into the high desert of Central Oregon, we are water soaked, skin wrinkled, pale shells of our former selves.  It is a delight to leave the drenching rains of Washington's coast and see a place where the sun comes out frequently and patches of snow still lay on the ground.  This 8x10 inch oil painting was inspired by a ten-mile hike up the River Trail in the Dechutes National Forest.  It was still cold and winter like, but we were amazed that we could be outside for an extended period of time, see beautiful landscapes, and not get wet. The painting SOLD at  my Etsy Shop, but there are other original landscape paintings available at  my Etsy Shop.  If you would like to purchase a reproduction of this painting, visit this link to view prices and available sizes.

Red with Green

Today's 11x14 inch oil painting is a study in green, but to avoid a monochromatic result, I tossed a few red apples.  When the weather gets damp and ugly, I love to sit in my studio with the radio on and paint still life subjects.  This one is for sale and can be purchased from either my Etsy Shop or my Daily Paintworks Gallery. 

Ready to Hunt

It is the last day of the month, Halloween, and this cat is ready for the hunt.  He was created on a 5x7 inch Raymar canvas panel with professional grade oil paints. If you would like to adopt him, visit here.  I'm sure he's pretty good at keeping the mouse population down. 

Jack Rabbit

This is Jack. He lives in my neighborhood.  On sunny days passersby can sometimes catch a glimpse of him and his relatives.  He knows his way around and avoids the backyards where big dogs live.  He likes fresh grass and dandelions. This portrait of him is 5x7 inches and has already SOLD, but more of my little animal paintings are still available here.