"Close Encounter"

3 x 11"
oil on masonite
sold

After a nine hour stretch of painting today, I caught a second wind and jumped right into this. Here's the thing - I ended the last piece with a palette that looked like it had its run - a thousand blended color combinations with no spare room - and I just can't pass it up because every color I would want was right there. I love that. And it's liberating to work fast and furious with a fat, spent brush - especially after a marathon of paintings that took days. I imagine a chef, who creates entrees all day, loves to come home to whipping up scrambled eggs and toast. Same thing.


Quick mention ...... I am holding a workshop in May, in New York City and there is one opening left - a student switched over to next May, when I'll be doing the same thing. I think it'll be a great experience, so if you are interested in signing up, click here for the details.

"Raring To Go"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Once I knew the date for my show in March, it's been full steam ahead - although you won't be seeing those pieces I've been working on for about a month. I hate that. I'm always anxious to get feedback. Hopefully ..... you won't be disappointed, come March.

I've had this little guy half finished for a couple of weeks, he sat close by and wondered why I abandoned him. It was the hands I gave up on, the hardest part of anatomy in my opinion. After working all morning and afternoon on another, I put him back on my easel. And it just worked. I love the whole thing. So he was not only patiently waiting on his wife, he was patiently waiting on me.

"Wine Cooler"

5 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

I was in need of some warming up this morning - there's been a stretch of days without being able to paint. Part of that is I live in the Deep South and constantly brag that I don't need a winter coat. Well..... not this winter. My little studio isn't built for such temperatures. I've had to find other things to get done. I gave that up today after surrounding myself with space heaters. A girl's gotta work.

This is loose, fluid and rich in oils. Just how I love to paint. From the Art Institute of Chicago, during an evening event, a young lady cooling her heels with a glass of wine.

While I've got you here....... I've got an official date for the opening of a dual show with Ken Auster, who's work has been a huge influence for me and a painter whom I've admired for years. And let me entice you a little more - it's at the beach. Maybe you can pitch your winter coat and join us March 26th, at the Morris & Whiteside Gallery on Hilton Head Island.

"Scarfed Down"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Recently, I've used my iPhone for inspiration - very much a tool for exercise or what I would call warm-ups. I observe from webcams all over the world, and when my brain sees interesting patterns or colors, I freeze frame the moment and paint. Most are landscapes, a lot turn out to be very abstract in a sense - much like this one. Once I've passed the point of not needing a reference, I play with the color until I'm happy.

This painting pleased me - very much a glimpse, a split second somewhere else far away - on a busy street corner in downtown Manhattan a few days before Christmas day.

Different Folks

First, a Happy New Year to you ~

My day went a lot different then I expected. Frankly I was hoping to watch some holiday epic movie in my pj's but the TV programmers have all lost their minds or their jobs because nothing was on but the usual football and lousy movies. Alas.... but I did enjoy the day, ended up painting four of the artists who participated in my year-end portrait swap on my Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. Truly, I need the practice and it was my pleasure.

The first four were done today, happy to say in my pj's - filling in for four artists who did not carry through with the commitment. It should be said, there were a couple of painters who offered to back these up too, only it is a holiday today and I wanted those folks to enjoy some leisure. The fifth portrait, the one on the bottom, was my assigned swap, done a few weeks back.

I think you'd really enjoy scrolling through the whole 180 finished portraits - I'm so very proud of everyone who participated.











I think I'll take the weekend off ~ hope to see you back here next week.