Happy 4th of July!

Iowa Landscape

8 x 10

oil on panel

Available for purchase in my etsy shop!

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!

Chew-Chew

Chewie

12 x 12

oil on canvas

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

Hello all! Wow, it's been too long! You would think I would blog more during the winter months, but apparently not. I have missed blogging a bit, but sometimes I think it might be good for me to take a step back from technology and focus on the real world :) Thank you to those of you that have become new followers! I'm excited to check out some new blogs and get all kinds of creative ideas from all you brilliant people out there!

The painting up above is my parent's cat, Chewie. (Yes, that is short for Chew-bacca). She is the best. A little loud and needy at times, but the cuddliest cat I've ever met! I am hesitant to put this one up for sale, but I know I can paint another one, if need be. So, for now it is listed on my etsy shop and it can also be seen here in Omaha at Long Dog Fat Cat.

Still working on those mini paintings from my previous post... they kinda got pushed aside as more pressing paintings came up! Hope you all have a great day! Spring is almost here!!

Water Lily

Water Lily

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

This was a fun one to paint. I am really hoping to paint many more botanicals this summer. Since I am working at a landscape design firm, I am getting really inspired by anything that grows!

Koi Painting

So, I know you haven't heard from me in a while... this koi painting is why. It was last week's "mystery painting" which Stacy guessed correctly! It is a painting that I have been working on for too long, but it is a 6' long painting so that makes me feel a little better about it. It is a commission for friends and luckily they were willing to wait for it. It is actually a triptych (painted on three separate canvases). They haven't seen it yet so don't tell them it's on my blog. I know they don't follow my blog... so as long as no one directs them here, I'm safe posting it! These pictures just give you a little taste of the final product... I still have to go back into some areas and add finishing details.

Poudre River

Poudre River

20 x 24

oil on canvas

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

It seems fitting that I post one of my paintings of boulders and water because I have just colored my first landscape design for Olive Branch which included many boulders and a very large water feature. I found that I really enjoy that type of drawing and coloring with markers and I am looking forward to learning more about it!

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." - Georgia O'Keefe

Water Study

Water Study I

7 x 9

Watercolor

This was a fairly quick watercolor study.  I really enjoy painting water so I decided I would start doing water studies.  I will be doing them in both oils and watercolor.  For my first one, I thought I would limit my palette to focus on values.  I am excited to do some in color. Hopefully, you will watch me improve as I go :)  My husband says this one is best viewed from far away.  hmm.  I agree.  

This particular water spot was in a hot spring near Salida, CO.  

Cosmo

Cosmo

8 x 8

oil on canvas

Sold

I've been wanting to paint this photo of Cosmo for years now! I finally got to it! I realized as I was posting this that I forgot his little pink nose! whoops. and my signature. So, I'll be amending that tomorrow.

I hope you don't mind Mackeys that I painted your cat! He is a good subject!

A Nap in the Sun (in progress)

A Nap in the Sun (in progress)

10 x 10

oil on canvas

Sold

I started this underpainting today, along with several others. My underpaintings are usually neutral although when I am doing portraits, I sometimes like to use a crimson color to warm up the skin tones. I really enjoy the process of making the underpainting disappear. There is something really satisfying about laying a luminous color on top of a muddy neutral. I am looking forward to finishing this painting of my cat. It was pretty cute today when she laid on my lap while I painted her. I think she was making sure it met her approval! I will be posting the finished product soon!

Gracy (in progress)

Gracy (in progress)

16 x 20

oil on canvas

I really thought I could finish this one by the end of the weekend but, alas, I am stuck.  I was going for a very simple composition with a background that just makes her face pop off the canvas.  I wanted most of the color to come from her face and hair.  I also wanted the background to have a lot of depth, but not distract from her face.  I thought I could achieve this by layering colors and mixing some different whites, but Mike (my husband) and I both agree it's not working.  So I stared at it tonight while we ate leftover pizza contemplating different background colors.  Grey/blue? A luminous yellow/orange?  Mike suggested maybe changing the color of the blanket. I am stumped.  I guess I'll have to stare at it a little longer and get some input from others.  I would appreciate any comments or suggestions!

Painting Preview

Gracy (in progress)

oil on canvas

I haven't quite finished this painting, but I am getting close.  I thought I would give you a preview before it's completed.  Her face came together pretty easily, but I wanted the background to have a lot of depth so it has taken a while to complete.  I've been layering colors, and we all know what that means when it comes to oils.  I am so impatient sometimes so I tend to rush it.  I've learned to work really thinly with my paint so that it will dry quickly.  I could never spend months on one painting. The background is actually really simple, I am just experimenting with layering colors to create depth.  I like how a simple background really frames the face.  Anyway, I hope it will be done by the end of the weekend and I will be able to post the final product!

Boating in Minnesota

Boating in Minnesota
18 x 20
oil on canvas

Sold

I worked in the flower shop today, so I didn't have a chance to paint something new. Thought I would post an older painting. This was a commission a few years back. I'm off tomorrow so I can finish up the painting I'm currently working on and have something new to post!

Costa Rican Kitten

Costa Rican Kitten

11 x 13

oil

For purchase information click here.

Here is a the more finished oil version of that kitten.  Totally different huh?  That's one thing I love about art... a person could continue studying the same subject and never do the same thing.  That's what is so cool about the world God created too.  There are countless works of art in the world and He could keep creating for eternity!  I consider it such an honor that I get to be creative too!

Camilla

Camilla
(detail)
Oil

This is one of my personal favorites. I love the simplicity of painting in black and white. She is a little Costa Rican girl that has the most adorable cheeks!

Sweet Smile

Sweet Smile
18 x 24
oil

This painting will be in an auction at the Mosaic in downtown Omaha, this weekend Sept 19th and 20th. It benefits Mosaic Community Development which helps fight poverty in Omaha. The show is called "Neighborhood" and will directly benefit the revitalization of Park Avenue. I am looking forward to it and hope it is a success!