Cottages at Venice Beach

Earlier this summer on one of my little vacations, I visited Venice Beach, California.  Although I have visited Southern California numerous times, the experience reminded me that it is a world apart from the environment of the Pacific Northwest where I can be in the wilderness in less than 15 minute and sit on an empty beach for hours without interruption. It was definitely a change for a native Washingtonian.  Venice Beach was full of little cottages that encouraged dreaming of vacation rentals and warm weather. While there, I snapped  a lot of pictures of  the unique little cottages that proliferate the area.  Painting this string of homes required a review of perspective drawing and careful attention to values. The painting, completed with oil paint, is 9x12 inches on a stretched canvas.  I can't decide whether to sell this one or keep it and create an entire series of  the cute little cottages that surround Venice Beach.  I'll let the paint dry and contemplate my next step.

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9x12, Beach Art, California, Canvas, Coastal Painting, Cottages, Oil Painting, Original Oil Painting, Venice Beach, California

Autumn River

With the advent of August, it is time I begin recognizing that fall is just around the corner. The flowers on my deck are beginning to fade, so I began to contemplate the colors of autumn that are coming soon. The thought of the changing season prompted this 8x10 inch oil painting.

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autumn river, Contemporary Impressionist Painting, Contemporary Painting, fall trees, Oil Painting, Original Oil Painting, Small Painting

Go Dog Go

After a week's vacation, I'm now painting memories. Over the 4th of July holiday I spent some time in the small beach town of Ocean Shores on the Washington State Coast. Several mornings we were up early and pedaled our bicycles five miles into town and bought coffee at this little road-side coffe stand. It is called Go Dog Go because they also sell gourmet hot dogs. It was a delightful way to start the day. This little oil painting is 5x7 inches on panel. I was struck by the wonderful light and shadows on the side of the building.

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American Painting, Beach Town, Bicycle Trip, Coastal Painting, Oil Painting, Original Beach Painting, Pacific Northwest Artist, Painting Effects of Light, Shadow Painting, Small Painting, Summer Vacation

Cascade Mountain Side--Washington State Oil Painting

This little 5x7 inch oil painting is one of my favorites. I like peeking at the mountain side through the evergreen trees. The painting is for sale at Small Impressions Gallery for $50.00 plus $6.50 for shipping. Click here to access the Gallery and put it in your shopping cart!

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Cascade Mountains, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Evergreen Forest Painting, Impressionist Landscape Painting, Mountain Hillside Painting, Pacific Northwest Artist, Pacific Northwest Painter, Pacific Northwest Painting, Woodland painting

Along the Prairie Road

Today's painting is not only another landscape, but one on the theme of travelling down a road. This painting was inspired by the vastness of prairies. In a sense looking across a prairie is like looking at the ocean. They seem to have no end even though we know logically that they are just wrapping around the curve of the earth. This painting is 8x10 inches on a gessoed hardboard panel.

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Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Gold Wheat Painting, Grasslands, Impressionist Landscape Painting, Prairie Landscape Painting, Small Oil Painting, spring meadow painting

Looking for Summer

Walking through this field on a warm summer day is where I want to be right now. This painting reminds me of leisurely summer days and makes me want to step right into it. It is 8x10 inches on a gessoed hardboard panel, but I'm really tempted to paint a larger version of it--the bigger the better. As it is, I can't quite fit myself through the opening--maybe a a bigger picture plane would allow me to hoist myself into the scene. Do you think it will work? Maybe a size like 24X36 inches? Maybe I would fit. I do wish it were so. There is so much fun in dreaming.

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Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Green Field Painting, hardboard panels, Impressionist Landscape Painting, Prairie Landscape, Spring Fields, Summer, Summertime Painting, Sunlight, tree

Cold--Original Winter Landscape Oil Painting

It has been cold in the Pacific Northwest, but in order to get snow, we have to travel to the mounatins. The Cascades and Olympic ranges are close by, so if the desire for snow surfaces, we head for the hills. My trip to the hills today was imaginary. I was perfectly happy sitting in my warm studio painting this show scene. It is 5x7 inches on a gessoed hardboard panel. When it is dry, it will join some of my other small oil paintings at Small Impressions Gallery.

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Blue, blue shadows, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Impressionist Landscape Painting, Miniature Landscape, Miniature Oil Painting, Miniature Painting, original artwork, Small Oil Painting, small study, small tree painting, Snow, Snow Fields, Snow Landscape, Snow Painting, Snow Road, tree painting, Winter landscape, Winter Landscape Painting, Winter Painting, winter tree painting

Reworking--Toning Down--Brightening Up

This is a 18x24 inch painting that I started last summer. I've never been satisfied with it. Today it came out of the closet and landed on my easel again. There were two problems that particularly bothered me. The road was too bright, too busy, and distracting, so I toned it down with an overcoat of warm gray. I like it much better now. In addition, the trees were dull and flat. I brightened up the trunks with a little cadmium orange and added some light to the left side of the left tree. I'm still not certain the trees are what I want, but the road is definitely an improvement. After it dries, I'll probably stare at it for a few more months before deciding its future. It may eventually enter Impressions Gallery with some of my other larger paintings.

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American Oil Painting, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Impressionist Landscape Painting, original artwork, Tree Group Painting, tree painting

Yellow Tree Group--Original Landscape Oil Painting

This group of trees held onto their leaves in spite of the shivery weather of winter. They stood out amongst the evergreens and I felt inspired to paint the bright color. The painting is 6x6 inches on a canvas panel and will eventually find its way to the Small Impressions Gallery with some of my other small landscape paintings.

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Abstract Landscape, Abstract Landscape Painting, American Oil Painting, Autumn Landscape Painting, Autumn Tree Painting, canvas panel, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, original artwork, Original small artwork, small format oil painting, small format painting, Small Oil Painting, small study, small tree painting, tree, Tree Group Painting, tree painting, Winter landscape, Winter painting, Yellow, Yellow Tree Painting

Sunshine on a Path--Original Landscape Tree Painting

With winter in full swing, I am longing for warm weather and sunshine. I dug around in my photos and found a reference from last summer that satisfied my urge for some sunshine. This is a large tree on the side of the road at Fort Steilacoom Park in Pierce County, Washington. The road circles a little lake and is one of my favorite places when the weather begins to warm up. Until spring arrives again, I'm going to have to be satisfied with painting sunshine. This oil painting is 5x7 inches on a canvas panel. It is for sale at Small Impressions Gallery and can be purchased for $35.00 plus $6.50 for shipping to US addresses if you click here.

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American Oil Painting, canvas panel, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Impressionist Landscape Painting, Original small artwork, small format oil painting, small format painting, small oil painting, Small Oil Painting, small tree painting, Sunlight, Sunshine, tree, tree painting

Riding-- American Bicycle Painting

Today was the first day of sunshine that we've had in a while. Even though it was chilly and damp, I took a bike ride. It felt great to get out after weeks of rain. Lots of leaves on the road made for a colorful path. That's my husband in the distance. I'm always trying to catch up. This painting is 5x7 inches on a hardboard panel and can be purchased for $50.00 plus $6.50 shipping to US addresses by clicking here.

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Technorati tags:
Abstract Landscape, Abstract Landscape Painting, American Oil Painting, Autumn Landscape Painting, Autumn Tree Painting, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Contemporary Oil Painting, Impressionist Landscape Painting, original artwork, Original small artwork, Small Oil Painting