Cruciform Abstract Painting

A sloshing good rain storm hit my town this weekend.  Twelve hours without power.  I couldn't think of anything better than creating something exciting.  So, while the heat was off and the studio got colder, my paints kept me warm.  I painted and scraped and splotched, and dropped and concluded the day with this wonderful painting and a good attitude.  Reproductions are available in a variety of sizes up to 33x48 inches from my website here.  If you are interested in purchasing the original 9x12 inch painting, please contact me at smallimpressions@hotmail.com. You can view some of my other work at this link.

Go Bigger with Auditions

Using canvases with an aspect ratio that lets me easily scale up is a practice that helps me audition ideas for larger works.  I painted several little 4x5 inch paintings that are great for determining color and design.  These little paintings are fun and quick to do and gives me plenty of options when I want to go bigger.  A 4x5 scales up well to an 8x10, 16x20, or 32x40 inch painting.  I couldn't decide which  worked best, so I'm posting two of them.  You can see them in my Etsy Shop.  Click here to see the first one that I call "Field Light".  It has already SOLD, but the second one that I call "Dawn." is still available.  Both began with an under painting of Alizarin Crimson.  I love the warmth provided by the under painting.  I haven't decided yet whether to go bigger with these little ideas, so I will keep auditioning with my little paintings.  Visit here or here or here to see more of my small landscape auditions and a few slightly larger paintings.

Hope you like my little auditions and will stop by again soon.  Original and fine art reproductions of my larger paintings are available on my website.

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.

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.

Road Conditions

This is one of four paintings in a recent series I just completed that focuses on road conditions throughout the year.  This is an autumn road, a season of rain and slippery pavement.  Water trickles along the edge of the street and slops across the surface, providing plenty of opportunity for splashing.  The original painting is 6x6 inches and was created on a gallery canvas with professional grade acrylic paints.  The sides are painted black, so it can be hung with or without a frame.  The original can be purchased here and reproductions in larger sizes are available at this link. 

Last Light Twilight Landscape Painting

It has been a long time since I have painted on a black canvas.  I used to do it occasionally and the effects are often exciting, but it has been a long time since I've worked this way.  This acrylic landscape painting was created on a canvas prepared with black gesso. I wanted to increase the contrast between the sunny grass and trees and the dark and distant horizon.  It was fun and I like the effect. The painting is 9x12 inches on a gallery canvas.  Prints are available from my website.  Click here to view this painting on my website and select from fine art reproductions on paper, canvas, metal, or acrylic.  The print can also be framed and matted for a beautiful finishing. 

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.

Pear Shadows Still Life Oil Painting

I'm still on a fruit binge.  I couldn't resist the color of these luscious pears.  They come home colored green, sit on my counter for a few days and turn a wonderful, sweet yellow.  A bowl of them in my studio while the wind whips and the rain pours reminds me that there is sunshine stored in these fabulous little orbs.  The paint isn't quite dry on the original, but when it does, the 8x10 inch oil painting will be listed for sale in my Etsy Shop where I sell my small originals.  Prints are also available from my website in sizes from 6x8 inches through 36x48 inches.  The entire collection of prints is available here.  I hope you will stop by.

Fruit Binge

I'm on a binge; a binge for painting fruit.  I go through these stages where I want color.  Fresh fruit provides it for me.  Three red apples, one with only a half life left, were my subject for this original oil painting.  It was created on a 6x6 inch gallery canvas.  When it dries, I will sell the original in my Etsy Shop.  Reproduction prints on archival paper, canvas, acrylic, or metal are also available from my website in sizes up to 35x36 inches. 

Color in the Fog

The weather is typical October--a lot of fog and damp air that makes people stay inside and drink tea. The cold has made me long for some bright color and sunshine.  It is these colorful little fruits that finally brought the sunshine home.  Sitting in my studio, painting bright colors make me feel a little more cheerful on the gray days of autumn.  This painting was created on a 6x6 inch gallery canvas.  When the paint is dry, I will list it for sale in my Etsy Shop.  Now it is available as a fine art reproduction from my website. I hope you will enjoy the bright colors like I did. 

Loving the Landscape

My paintings seem to emerge in spurts. I will paint a still life paintings for weeks or months, then move to abstracts, then to landscapes, then cycle through again.  Right now it seems I am moving back to landscapes.  It isn't a conscience decision; it just seems to happen.

This painting was inspired by a trip to Central Oregon a couple of summers ago.  As part of the trip, my family and I ventured to Smith Rock State Park.  It is a very diverse landscape.  Rugged rocks and cliffs make up a portion of the park, but the Crooked River runs along the edge and provides enough water for Pine trees and grassy vegetation to make a life.  We started out hiking Misery Ridge, which is very aptly named.  It is steep, rocky, and not for people who get nervous with heights. But, once the summit is reached, there is a beautiful view and you can meander down to the River Trail.  This original painting was based on a view along the River Trail.  The painting is 8x10 inches, but larger reproduction prints are available for sale here along with some of my other Oregon landscape 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. 

Swirling Spiral

A little color, a little swirl, and a lot of drippy paint--it was fun creating this squiggled swirl that twists and turns.  Fine art reproduction prints are available in sizes 6x8 inches to 24x30 inches for a room that needs some spark.  Click here to view availability of print types and a full range of sizes:  canvas prints, framed prints, art prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, and greeting cards.

A Little City Life

Playing with lines, shapes, and colors resulted in this abstraction of a cityscape.  As I worked, I imagined early evening, just dark enough that the light from the interior broadcasts itself outside to passersby.  Some windows, a door, a little light from a basement are all in my imagination.  Canvas prints, framed prints, and fine art reproductions are available to purchase by visiting this link. 

Abstract Painting August Ground Squall

Working on creating new art and photography skills has been my focus for the past couple of weeks.  This painting was inspired by some really hot days in August, those days when the sky no longer feels blue and the sun feels like it is melting.  I created the painting on a 9x12 inch canvas with acrylic paint and my goal, when photographing it, was to fill the view finder.  With the magic of digital photography, I was able to create an image that is reproducible up to size 35x40.  Reproductions are available from my website.