River Bank

This 6x6 inch oil painting was inspired by a hike along the Dechutes River Trail near Bend, Oregon. It provided a lot of beautiful vistas for painting.  The painting is SOLD, but there are additional landscape oil paintings here or you can view all of the paintings in my shop at this link.

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Technorati tags:
6x6, American Painting, Canvas Panel Painting, Central Oregon, Central Oregon Landscape, Dechutes National Forest, Dechutes River, Dechutes River Trail, Forest, Landscape, Oil Painting, Original Painting, Pacific Northwest Artist

Fast and Fun

This little 5x7 inch painting has to be one of the fastest paintings I've ever created.  When I began, I was planning to spend a leisurely morning in the studio.  A wash of alizarin crimson, a rough sketch, and the distant mountain peaks were all that I had completed when my husband rushed in and told me we had a date to meet some friends in 30 minutes and I needed to get ready to go.  Totally unexpected, I filled in the color blocks, cleaned up, and called it good.  The funny part is, I actually like the painting with little detail, just color blocks.  It makes me think I'll have to try some more quick paintings. The painting is for sale online at Small Impressions Paintings. 

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Abstract Landscape Painting, Canvas Panel Painting, Color Blocks, Evening Light, fast painting, Oil Painting, Painting Effects of Light, Shadows

Limited Palette Abstract

For months I've had a box of 12x12 inch canvases sitting in my studio.  I haven't used but a few of them because I was waiting for just the right subject.  Yesterday morning I finally said, "What the heck--I'm never going to find just the right subject." So, I just pulled one out and decided to go for it.  I prefer landscape paintings with a slight abstraction.  That made my job a little easier not to worry about perfection.  With a limited palette of Burt Sienna, Yellow Ocher, Naples Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, and Ultramarine Blue, I began work.  There's definitely some abstraction, but what I like best about the painting is the feel of the autumn season that the limited palette brought to the canvas. It will be available for purchase in my Etsy Shop, Small Impressions Paintings, sometime this fall. 

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Technorati tags:
12x12, Abstract Landscape Painting, American Painting, Autumn Painting, Canvas, Contemporary Painting, Field Painting, Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Landscape, Limited Palette Painting, Long Shadows, Original Oil Painting

Autumn Birch

A little bit of autumn is creeping into the August air.  Some cool nights after warm sunshine and I know the summer season will be coming to a close in a few weeks.  This little 5x7 inch painting, inspired by the coming autumn season, is one that I painted a while ago, didn't like it, and did some reworking.  I like it a lot better now and listed it for sale today at my Etsy Shop, Small Impressions Paintings.  It can be purchased for $50.00 plus shipping by visiting this link. 

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Autumn Painting, Birch Tree Painting, Fall Painting, Landscape, Oil Painting, Small Art, Small Painting

Painting the Ponderosa Pine

In the Pacific Northwest, especially west of the Cascade Mountains, fir trees abound.  I've painted them my entire life and feel comfortable with their shape and color. This summer, however, I spent a lot of time in Central Oregon.  Ponderosa Pines are the evergreen of choice for the climate.  Their shape is different, their needles are different, and they often have a wonderful reddish color to their bark which the Douglas Fir Trees of coastal region lack.  It has taken practice through most of the summer to feel comfortable with painting pine trees.  This 8x10 inch oil painting feels like a success.  It is listed for sale in my Etsy Shop now that the paint is completely dry.  It feels good to finally feel satisfied with my ability to create those uniquely shaped limbs of the pine tree.  View the painting in the shop or purchase by clicking here.  The painting was created on a gallery wrapped canvas.  The price is $110.00 plus shipping.

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Technorati tags:
8x10, Bend, Oregon, Canvas, Central Oregon, Central Oregon Landscape, Evergreen Trees, Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Oil Painting, Oregon Landscape, Original Painting, Pacific Northwest Artist, Painting on Canvas, Ponderosa Pine Tree, Small Art, Small Painting

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

In the Cove

Today was a wonderful day of painting and this one is a little slice of summer fun that I had to preserve.  The painting is 5x7 inches, oil on canvas. 

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Art, Beach, Coastal Painting, Coastline, Original Beach Painting, Puget Sound Painting

Across the Tulip Field

Today's little painting is a scene I have painted before. Looking back through some of my references, I chose one of my favorites.  The photo was taken in the Skagit Valley of Washington State.  In the spring the community celebrates their Tulip Festival.  I have fond memories of this little scene; it begged to be painted again.  The painting is 6x6 inches is listed for sale at my Etsy Shop, Small Impressions Paintings and can be viewed or purchased by visiting this link.

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Technorati tags:
6x6, Abstract Landscape Painting, Canvas Panel Painting, Country Field Painting, Farm Scene, Field Painting, Impressionist Oil Painting, Oil Painting, Pacific Northwest Artist, Skagit Valley, Small Art, Small Painting, Tulip Art, Tulip Festival, Tulips

Single Girl

This summer I've been very fortunate because of the opportunities I've had to travel, visit friends, family, and wonderful vacation spots.  Even though travel has been frequent, I've tried to keep painting.  My paints and supplies go with me most places.  The challenge is that it takes some time for me to adjust to a new painting environment.  Wherever I go, the light is different, the working space is different, and the cleanup after each session is greater than at home in my studio.  However, the biggest challenge is trying to remember how to paint with all the new distractions.  Often I overwork a painting. With this painting I made a special effort to concentrate on painting shapes, colors, and keeping it loose.  The results were fun and a little abstract.  I'm satisfied.  The painting is 5x7 inches and reaffirmed that I can still paint amidst all the distractions of a new environment. It can be purchased at my Etsy Shop for $40.00 plus shipping by clicking on this link.

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Abstract Lemon Painting, Lemon, Original Painting, Painting on Canvas, Still Life, travel, travelling with paint

Across the Field

It seems my inspiration comes in runs of still life work, then landscape, then some animals.  My attention on a particular subject seems unable to stay focused on one genre for more than a few weeks or so lately.  Luckily I can paint more than one thing!  This week I have begun  landscape work again.  My intention this summer was to paint some larger landscapes, but I've strayed into other directions.  Maybe this little sprint of small landscapes will lead to something larger.  This painting is a 5x7 inch oil study that may have some potential for larger work if I can keep my attention focused.  Too much summer fun seems to be getting in the way. The painting can be viewed in the Small Impressions Gallery here and purchased for $40.00 plus shipping to US addresses.

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Canvas, Country Field Painting, oil sketch, Summer Fields Painting

Hosta Bloom

The flowers in my yard are prolific right now.  I've had a fun day picking and painting some of the blooms.  I know they will fade soon, so it has been fun to take advantage of the season.  This bloom was picked from one of my Hosta plants.  The large colorful leaves are what most people enjoy about these delightful plants, but they also produce a delicate little stalk of flowers.  The strange thing is, I noticed on each stalk that all the flowers face the same direction.  They must be looking at the sun.  It was tempting to take some artistic license and place some of the blooms on the opposite side of the stalk, but I painted them as they were and enjoyed adding the shadow they produced on the wall behind the vase.  This painting and several other little floral paintings I've produced the last couple of days are for sale at my Etsy shop, Small Impressions Paintings. Visit this link to view the painting in the shop and make a purchase or click here to see all of my small floral paintings for sale.

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Floral Painting, Flower Painting, Garden, Glass, Hosta, Original Painting, Plant

Sunshine and Glass

The one thing nice about Southern California was the dependability of the weather.  You know it is most likely going to be sunny, unlike Washington State where it is most likely going to be cloudy or rain.  I've  been back for a almost a week and have only experienced one day of sunshine.  The day before yesterday, I went on a bike ride and was drenched by an unexpected rain shower.  Because I'm so longing for some more sunshine, I decided to create my own.  This painting is 9x12 inches on a stretched canvas.  When it dries, it will be listed for sale with some of my other still life oil paintings in the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy. 

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Technorati tags:
9x12, Canvas, Citrus Fruit Painting, Contemporary Fruit Painting, Floral Art, Fruit, Gallery Wrapped, Oil Painting, Orange Still Life, Oranges, Original Oil Painting, Painting Glass

Hollywood Hills

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Los Angeles.  Three days, four nights, and lots of activity.  The first day in the city my son decided he wanted to hike up to the iconic Hollywood sign in Griffith Park.  Armed with a GPS and an address, we headed out.  After we parked, and without a map or the GPS, we took the first trail that headed up hill.  The views of the city became more beautiful as we ascended.  Four mile of uphill grade and we reached the top of the mountain, but there was no Hollywood sign in view.  A friendly couple gave us a map and showed us where to go to get to the Hollywood sign.  Unfortunately, we were about three mountain peaks away and on the opposite side of the park.  It would have been another seven miles of up hill hiking and it was almost 90 degrees, so we decided to chalk it up to a good time and head back down the mountain.  This painting is a 5x7 inch rendition of a viewpoint along the trail.  As I painted, it was fun to relive the adventure.

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Technorati tags:
5x7, Art, California, Griffith Park, Hollywood Hills, Landscape, Los Angeles, Oil Painting, Original Painting

Painting Glass

This is another in this series that has been jumping off my brush the past few days.  I've enjoyed rendering the glass, but have fought with that yellow daisy every time.  The glass is easy.  It is mostly the background color with  highlights.  I paint shapes and it turns out looking like glass.  But the daisy, she keeps talking back.  It is hard to give the impression of a many petaled flower without painting each spoiled little petal.  This one is the best of the lot and can be purchased at my Etsy Shop, Small Impressions Paintings, by clicking on this link.

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Technorati tags:
11x14, Blue and Yellow Still Life Painting, Canvas, Contemporary Still Life Painting, Floral Art, Floral Painting, Glass, Oil Painting, Original Flower Painting

Glass and Daisy

A few weeks ago, I began to run out of the small 5x7 inch canvas panels that I usually use for my daily painting.  Usually I order them in bulk and have them sent to my house rather than going to the local discount craft shop where they charge way too much for panels of poor quality.  But, because it is summer and I've been traveling quite a bit, I haven't been home long enough for any kind of delivery.  I didn't want a large order to sit on my front porch for a week or more until I got home.  Consequently, I've been painting larger on  canvases that have been sitting in my closet waiting for just the right subject. It has been a real pleasure to move to bigger canvases and I've decided that "the right subject" is the one that inspires me at the moment.  The size is really not important.  I especially enjoyed painting these little glass jars and had to place a flower in one just to add a little spice.  The painting is 9x 12 inches and will be offered for sale this fall when I begin focusing on sales in my Etsy Shop again. 

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Technorati tags:
9x12, Calendula, Canvas, Contemporary Still Life Painting, Daisy Painting, Flower Painting, Glass, Oil Painting, Spring Flowers, Sunflower Painting, Yellow Flower Painting