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.

Photographing Art

When I photograph my paintings, I try to use natural light.  The best is a cloudy, overcast day.  The trouble is that this time of year it is hard to find just the right day.  It has been two weeks since the light has worked for me.  It has either been pouring rain, windy, or bright and sunny.  A nice overcast day was a long time coming.  Fortunately, the weather cooperated yesterday and I was able to capture the images of a dozen little paintings.  This painting is an original oil painting on a canvas panel, sized 4x5 inches.  It has already SOLD, but you can find more little paintings in my Etsy shop.  Please visit to see all of my little tropical fruit paintings and still life paintings.

Carbon River Miniature Oil Painting

Last fall on one of my bicycle trips through the Orting Valley in Pierce County, Washington State, I snapped a picture of trees on the bank of the Carbon River. Eventually, the photograph came forward and inspired this little 3x5 inch oil painting. The size is smaller than my usual small format paintings. There are many artists that paint even smaller using brushes with only one or two bristles and a toothpick. I don't have quite that much patience. Nevertheless, it took me a long time to develop this one to my liking. At first, the paint sunk in and created dull results. Since I like my paintings vibrant, I reworked it a second time after it was dry. The results were much better the second time over, but my next challenge was the photography. Not being a professional photographer by any means, I kept getting blurry results and the colors still seemed dull. Perhaps it is the size, perhaps the lighting in the gray depths of winter, but I've finally settled on this photo of my little painting. It is still much more attractive in person. When it finally dries, it will be listed for sale at Small Impressions Gallery . I still have several of these 3x5 inch canvases in my studio. Perhaps I'll have to invest in some toothpicks and small brushes.

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Abstract Pear--Original Still Life Oil Painting

Painting small is a great way to test ideas for larger paintings. I paint often which gives me the opportunity to try out a lot of different designs. This is a small 5x7 inch abstract oil painting was great for working on color and value in a very simple design. For it to work as a large painting, it would have to be very large. I'd love to create in about a 5x6 foot format. Unfortunately, my studio isn't big enough for me to work on something that large. Maybe someday I'll have room to create some ambitious sizes. For now, about half that size is all I can accomodate. Therefore, I'm selling this little piece of art at Small Impressions Gallery for $50.00 plus $6.50 for shipping to US addresses.

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Breakfast--Original Cow Painting

An early morning painting of a snacking bovine is my subject today. This oil painting is 5x7 inches on a hardboard panel. The palette I used was Sap Green, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Raw Sienna, Alizarine Crimson, Cadmium Orange, and Titanium White. Still working on stocking Small Impressions Gallery with small animal paintings. This painting has joined the others and can be purchased for $50.00 plus $6.50 for shipping to US addresses.

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Burrito Boy--Original Cityscape Painting

Today's painting is a 6x12 inch oil painting on a canvas panel. It is based on a visit to a local art fair last summer. I loved the funky burrito van that parked along the road. The day was hot and the crowds were hungry. The 11th annual Art on the Ave Festival is coming up again this Sunday, July 12. There is all kinds of art, food vendors, and fun. You might even have a chance to buy a burrito from the Burrito Boy van. If you are in Pierce County, Washington, it isn't a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Carbon River Bluff--Original Landscape Oil Painting

I'm still working on inspiration from my jaunt up the Foothills Trail in Pierce County, Washington. There is a portion of the trail that parallels the Carbon River which is where this painting garnered its beginning. The painting is 5x7 inches on a hardboard panel. When it has dry, I will put it in the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy along with some of my other small landscape oil paintings.