Peppermints On Aqua, 6x6 Inches, Oil

SOLD

The past few days have been super-busy - I've been working on an interesting but challenging commission.  But I've been completely overwhelmed by the grace and generosity of friends, near and far, who have reached out and contacted me.  Amazing original and beautiful Holiday cards, emails in response to my Daily Posts, and little gifts arriving on my doorstep and in the mail.  Truly, I am humbled.  And so, so grateful.  That so many of you bothered to tell me that you enjoy reading the blog posts, as well as seeing the work, well, it meant a lot to me.

And soon this commission will be done, and I can reach back out to you and thank you.  For today, please just know - you matter to me.

Now... don't forget the Snow Globe Giveaway - sign up to get my Blog Posts in your Inbox, and respond by just hitting the Reply button before Saturday - just say "I'm a subscriber and I'd like the Snow Globe" - and some one of you will get it in the mail next week!  I'll announce it on Saturday.  Could be your lucky day!

Dreaming Of Harry Winston, 6x6 Acrylic

Well, it's that time again, when my Challenge Group posts their monthly interpretations of a theme or idea.  This month the theme was "Dream".  First of all, I'm completely lost when it comes to 'making stuff up' about a painting, and this is why I never thought of myself as a creative person for many years.  I started this and was really going places with it, till my loving husband told me I needed to make it 'sparkle' more.  OK.... I darkened the background, changed the color, changed it back, repainted the 'steps' on the inside of the stone, changed the shape of the diamond, gave it double claws like a 'real' HW, and then declared it completely dead.  If you check the Challenge Blog you'll see I did a Mermaid's Dream.  Just thought you'd get a chuckle out of this.  No, it's not something I own.  I just love sparkles, and.. let's be honest, in real life they're pretty sparkly!

As an aside, I've been paying more attention to my Studio Blog, and, well, Paco's Blog is featuring him and my MARTINI!

This one is NFS (not for sale)

Wild Strawberry Wedgewood Coffee Cup, 6x6 Oil

SOLD

This little china cup has always been a favorite.  I liked painting the cloth underneath, and the cloth underneath THAT.  No more cups or drinks this week, I think.  I'm a little exhausted by elipses (the way a circle flattens out as you view it from the side)!  So we'll see what I come up with.  It'll be fun (well, for me, anyway!) I sure!  Let's get through March weather with a smile on our faces!

Pink Carnations, Oil, 6x6

$100 & $10 Shipping and Handling, via Paypal

I used to dislike Carnations, and still am not too keen about most of them.  There seems to be a variety without fringe, and I like those, and then there are these oversized carnations with a deep pink color - I like these, too.  Working on the drinks paintings, and thank you all so MUCH for your suggestions.  Good thing I'm painting them and not drinking them, or nothing would get done!

Cat In A Box, 6x6 Acrylic

This is my boy cat, Harry, who had the idea that napping ON the cat food in the box would be  really great.  He kind of glowed orange and yellow, and it was fun to put the details on the Fancy Feast box.  I think I've got a good service to send out the posts to people's inboxes so I'll start uploading the emails from the group.  Till I can import their subscription box to my blog, just email me if you want to be put on the list.  Really, I'm hoping that happens within the week.  Thanks for your patience.

Fortune, Oil, 6x6

$100 & $10 Shipping & Handling via PayPal

"He who climbs the high tree has a right to the fruit".  And I love the background.. it's called "Radiant Violet" by Gamblin.  Good 'fortune' to you!

Baby Steps, Oil, 6x8

$100 & $10 Shipping & Handling via PayPal

My mom had a pink ceramic baby shoe for each baby.  I THINK this one was my sister's, as I seem to remember a big chip in mine.  But the pink was so delicate it was a bear to paint.  I suppose putting it in front of a pink background only made it more difficult, but I tried putting it on bright, neutral and white backgrounds, and none looked 'easy' (that's what I'm looking for...;).  So this is a sentimental piece, I wish I had these for my own babies....

Last Light Over The Sakonnet, 6x8, Acrylic

SOLD

This is a little painting of one of my many sunset views, overlooking the Sakonnet River.  The land mass is Aquidneck Island, which is home to Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport, RI.  I have always loved to paint these sunsets, but since the Fall I'd not been able to bring myself to.  A rejection of these paintings, which I said would not bother me, apparently did, more than I realized.  But now I'm able to put it behind me and move forward, and love this every changing view again.

And because you are so wonderful to me I'm going to share a photo from our Challenge Group's Meetup last week - with NO NAMES attached (because I value my life) - trust me these were fabulous 'grandma's'  - and the strudel was TDF.

Step On It, 8x8 Oil

The scariest thing just happened - I clicked on my blog title to go to my blog and post, and my blog showed up, but 30 seconds into it a different address showed up in the browser ON ITS OWN and then this spam page came up. I tried it again and again, and could not get IN to my blog. I had to get here from Paco's blog and hit the 'x' on the browser as soon as the SPAM address came in. Blogger is no help on this, either. So... here I am... having snuck in, hoping someone can see it. These shoes were done in Denise Zompa's studio, getting ready for a show in Newport. Tried to keep it loose. RESTRAINT is my guide these days.

PB&J, 6x6 Oil

SOLD

Lunch today. I was a little stymied because I still had the plein air paint in my portable easel and I painted at home. My Colin Page workshop had us use one red (ONE! My God I must have 15 reds at the studio!) and I find jelly to be so dimensional I like to layer a lot of reds. Bread was HARD (to paint... it was actually quite delicious, as I usually have a higher fiber bread, but wanted to paint the sandwich I ate at least 3 days a week for, like, 8 years.

New Vase with Tulips, 10x10, Acrylic

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I HAVE to have flowers in the house. Just seeing them lifts my spirits and reminds me that it won't be 19 degrees forever. Although I have to say that Paco and I had a wonderful time at the little beach across the street today - there was no wind, and it was comfortable to sit at the edge of the water and meditate. (Well, I meditated, I am not sure that he actually did.) So when I came home I dove into the acrylics and did this BEFORE I head to the studio to do the oils!

I would also like to invite you all to see the Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge, which is finally up for the month of December, with the topic of "Lamp, or Light". Page Railsback was the moderator and hostess of the gathering last night to view all these paintings in person - wow, they looked great! We missed Mary Sheehan Winn and Paula Villanova. And if any of you don't know, a 'Challenge' is where a group of artists decide to paint a different subject/topic each month, and the results are posted on a blog. We'd love your comments!

ReGift, 6x6, Oil

$100 plus $10 shipping & handling via PayPal

Well, technically not a real re-gift... I bought it to paint the week before Christmas, and.... here we are, finally! I love to paint the challenges - anything that scares me. So here we are - cellophane, a glittery ribbon, a logo! Getting ready for my workshop, AND for a trip to Austin next week, so it's busy, busy busy. Good busy, though, and I'm thankful.

Stuff On My Mantel, 6x6 Acrylic

6x6 inches, acrylic

$100 & $10 Shipping & Handling via Paypal

I'm trying to learn Photoshop, and it's not easy! Anyway, this painting is for my Challenge Group, the December topic being "Lamp", and there's my little pinecone painting and some winterberry branches. It's New Years' Eve, and I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. I'm still reorganizing my 'Group', but will be finished soon, and you'll be getting these images in your Inbox, if you desire!

Penguin Snow Globe, 6x6, Oil

Penguin Snow Globe, 6x6

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

I had a painting of the last (really!) rose from the garden, but at the last minute decided not to post it because I really think I need to work on 'roses'. The vase was OK, but the flower was not as rich in color as in real life, and I could see a real struggle with the petals.

THIS little guy, however, just sprang onto the board. I must really like painting little toys and such, you know? Anyway, just wondering... do you guys think I talk too much in my posts, and include information/subjects that are too personal? I'm thinking of applying (again!) to the Daily Painters.com. And I think my work ranks high enough to get in this time, but you never know what they'll reject you for. Just give me your honest opinion in the Comments section. I definitely can take it. And maybe I should reserve the more personal stuff for my 'Studio' blog, no?

YUM! 6x6, Oil

YUM!, 6x6

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

This is the last of the goodies from Allie's donuts! And I don't even know if it was TASTY, because it 'waited' it's turn at the studio.... so it was a few days old when I attempted it. Although I have to tell you, a little while under that light, and the studio smelled like someone was baking a cake! horrors! Sorry for the glare. And yesterday morning I woke up to the most beautiful morning.... view from my bed below! Now, just disregard those electrical wires, will you? It was such a soft blue with pinky light at the horizon. OK. I'm taking a couple of days 'off' at the end of this week to re-structure my email subscriber group. I'll try, but man, at this time of the year it's 'get-together' time!

One Clove, 6x6 Oil

One Clove, 6x6

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

**Please Note: Google has 'lost' my Subscription Group**

If you normally get these posts in the mail, I will probably be setting up a new 'group' to reinstate that. You will be getting an email asking you if you want to be part of the group. You'll just have to click on the link and we'll be back in business. So sorry!

Here's to making lots of 'sauce' this time of year for calzones, pizzas, and pasta! (And of course I use more than one clove!)

Trio, Oil, 6x6

Trio, 6x6

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

From Allie's Donuts! And I hope some of you who normally get my posts in their Inbox are checking in... I have no way to tell you I'm in Google Hell! Through some bug my 'Group' has become inaccessible to me, and there's a long process of recovery of the mailing list. Soooo... it may be a while, or I may have to ask people to sign up for a new group, due to this glitch. Enjoy your donuts, now...

Three Little Kisses, 5x5

$75 + $10 P&H - Happy Holidays

Oh, sometimes I just can't STOP myself! The colors on this trio were so intriguing. And I love the challenge of foil. The 'white' is white, for sure, in real life, but it also has yellow and a bit of pink in it. Doesn't show up in a photo no matter what I do.

And I got some wonderful news - My painting of "Blueberries" won an Honorable Mention at the Maryland Federation of Art's "Small Wonders" show!

I'm planning a Holiday Giveaway next week. Stay tuned!

Red Daisy, 5x7 Oil

Red Daisy, 5x7

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

Inspired by Sally Dean, I decided to paint a daisy today. The red color looked easy till I started - and then I ended up using 2 reds, a rose and orange! I save jars of all kinds (it should be fun to clean out my cabinets when I'm gone:}) and these tall hot pepper jars are perfect for one bloom.

Below is a photo I found, and have been looking for, literally, for 6 years. My son Conor took this photo of my cat, Max, on a snowy day when we lived in Hingham. It's my heartbreak that this beloved friend 'went missing' during a series of severe (think: they closed the airports...) thunderstorms while I was on a trip with my Dad. When I came home he'd been gone for 5 days. I spent that night in a lawn chair in the back yard, singing, because that's what he always came home to... but no luck. I could sing anything, show tunes, holiday music, whatever, and he would come running. He was my very best cat friend ever, and is very missed, still, 7 years later. This photo now has a place of honor in my studio.

Russian Teacup

Russian Teacup, 6x6

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

I have some teacups I'll be painting, and this first one is a Russian cup & saucer - the challenges being the semi-fluted shape of the ellipse of the lip, the deep indigo of the blue and the gold touches!

Below is what you'll find should you venture to Spring Bull Gallery in Newport, for their Les Petites Oeuvres Show for the month of December. One nice thing is that across the street is the DeBlois Gallery, where I have those 4 hung that I showed you!