Happy New Year

I recently saw the “Her Paris” exhibit at the Denver Art Museum.  It was an exhibit of women artists in the age of Impressionism.  I feel like I’m pretty knowledgeable in the field of art history, but I had not heard of many of the artists.  It was a wonderful show!  I learned so much.

One of my goals for 2017 was to see more art “in person”.   I see paintings online almost every day but it’s not the same as viewing work right in front of you.  I think that I did a pretty good job towards this goal.  I visited numerous museums during our trip to Ecuador last winter;  I went to several shows here at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center; we went to the Art Institute of Chicago when there over Thanksgiving.

How did you do with your 2017 goals?  What goals are you setting for 2018?

In Case You're A Procrastinator!

In case you're a procrastinator and live here in Colorado Springs, stop by 

Cooks Marketplace on Centennial for some last minute holiday shopping!

  They have an amazing array of gifts for cooks and kitchen lovers, 

cooking classes, and art work by local artists on 

the gallery walls.

These are the paintings that I have on one of the walls.

Merry Christmas to all!

It's Fun To See!

I recently received an email with this picture attached.  It's fun to see where a client 

hangs a painting.  This painting was in a show in Lone Tree, Colorado, near Denver.  

I so appreciated knowing where the piece went.  Often, when a painting sells, 

we have no idea where it is.  Now I know...sort of!!

Nearby Meadow

Nearby Meadow
plein air oil  8" x 10"
click here for PayPal
was $195.00

November/December Holiday 20% Off Special $174.00

As I do every Holiday season, my paintings are marked down.  While I can't go back and change every post, if there is a painting that you would like, please email me!  

Once again this meadow of sun flowers was at Bear Creek Park, right next to our house.  The sun flowers were amazing this summer and being right out my door I couldn't stay away!  I loved how almost the whole hillside was covered with flowers.  Some years there are only patches of flowers.  Some years there are hillsides of cerulean colored grasses.  Who knows what next summer will bring.  It seems to me that if there were that many sun flowers, that millions of seeds would have fallen to the ground and millions of flowers would return.  Who knows?

Up The Hill

Up The Hill

plein air oil  8" x 6"

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was $100.00

November/December Holiday 20% Off Special $80.00

As I do every Holiday season, my paintings are marked down.  While I can't go back and change every post, if there is a painting that you would like, please email me!  

This painting was done in Stratton Open Space, about 1/2 mile from my house.  The sun flowers in this park were not every where, but grew in random locations.  I focused in on the blooms and yellows at the top of the hill.

Over The Meadow

Over The Meadow

plein air oil  8" x 10"

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was $195.00

November/December Holiday 20% Off Special $174.00

As I do every Holiday season, my paintings are marked down.  While I can't go back and change every post, if there is a painting that you would like, please email me!  

I have several summer paintings that I haven't posted.  You'll be seeing those the next few days.  The big meadow in Bear Creek Park, right next to our house, was filled with sunflowers this summer.  It was wonderful to paint there.  I did many times while the blooms were out.

Side Porch

Side Porch
plein air oil  12" x 9"
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$295.00 + $10. s/h

This was painted earlier this summer in a neighborhood of mostly older houses here in Colorado Springs.  I love painting in this area.  I sometimes spend too much time walking around the neighborhood and in the alleys before I paint.  I'm not sure that you can spend "too" much time walking around before a painting.  This time always helps me find a great subject matter, get a feel for what I'm painting, and helps me with the composition and light source.

Golden Fall

Golden Fall
plein air oil  12" x 12"
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$395.00 + $10. /sh

I love the fall.  The colors are warm, glowing, beautiful.  It seems that no matter where you are autumn is a magical, colorful time.  The leaves are gone now from the aspens here in Colorado.

This plein air was done in September.  I had driven up to the nearby mountains to paint the yellow, gold leaves, but was drawn to the shadows and tree trunks.

In painting, and in life, it's good to be a bit flexible.

Granny Smiths

Granny Smiths

plein air oil  11" x 14"

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$395.00 + $10. s/h

I'm not sure if this counts as plein air.  My plan that day was to paint outside....but, the wind prevented that.  So, I asked at this orchard if I could set up inside their produce area.  Maybe that makes this an alla prima still life.  What do you think?  Either way, I'm happy with the results.  

Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery

I'm thrilled to have my painting, "In A Heart Beet" juried into the 1st annual "Passionate Color" Exhibit at Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery in Portland, Maine.

I met Susan Roux years ago through blogging.  She contacted me about the show.  It's exciting to have work some where far away where I'm not familiar with the art world.  The show hangs the month of October.  If you happen to be in Portland, Maine I hope you'll stop in to the gallery.

Gallery 113 Colorado Springs

I'm happy to be the guest artist for the month of October at Gallery 113, 125 1/2 North Tejon, 

here in Colorado Springs.  Stop by tonight, for First Friday, or any day in October.  

There are great artists and  great art work in this Gallery!

Rocky Fords

Rocky Fords
plein air oil  11" x 14"
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$395.00 + $10. s/h

Recently my plein air groups painted at Spencer's Produce, Lawn & Garden Center here in Colorado Springs.  Spencer's has been a neighborhood Center since 1934.  Their produce, plants, and garden supplies are great.  They have local Colorado fruits and vegetables all summer and fall.  My only problem with painting there was that my subject matter kept disappearing!  All morning customers, many regulars from the neighborhood, came for the ripe Rocky Ford melons (some of the last of this season!)

Barn Door

Barn Door

plein air oil  12" x 12"

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$395.00 + $10. s/h

This painting was done the last day of the recent South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Fairplay, CO  during the "Quick Draw" on the final morning.  For a "quick draw" you are usually limited to an area in which to paint, in this case Front Street or the South Park City Museum.  Also, you are limited to time, we had from 10:00 a.m. to 12.  We were allowed to walk around scouting a location from 9 on.  This barn is in the museum:  a street of old western buildings from around Colorado which have been moved to this outdoor museum.

I try to do a value study before I begin a painting.  That way, as the light changes I can use my study as a reference.  Because of the 2 hour time constraints, I did a very quick study (as you can see here.) Because of the study I realized that the center of interest, the stable rails in the light, were almost right in the center of the piece.  That became noticeable when I drew in my 1/3rd lines.  So, (in my head) I cropped the door, moved the light to the right, and the center of interest was now on the 1/3rd line and not in the middle.  All of that took me about 5 minutes, but saved my painting.  

Blackened Old Skillets

Blackened Old Skillets

plein air oil  14" x 11"

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$395.00 + $10. s/h

This is my 3rd painting from the day at the Platte Ranch.  The ranch is over 100 years old, all the buildings (except the house) are original, or re-built from original lumber.  The ranch is 8,000 acres.  Miles and miles of open range with breath taking views.

This painting was a bit of a challenge in that the weather was windy and rainy off and on.  I cleaned everything up twice and almost gave up.  I'm glad I stuck with it;  this is one of my favorites!

You can just see the skillets hanging on the side of the barn below.  It gives a good perspective of how large they are.  You wonder how many thousands of meals were prepared on them!

On The Ranch

On The Ranch

plein air oil  12" x 12"

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$345.00 + $10.00 s/h

The 2nd day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration we painted at the Platte Ranch.  This was a really fun day for me as this is the ranch we used to take our children to to horse back ride when they were little.  The ranch owner has since passed away, but I shared memories of him with his daughter.  

It was sunny and misty in the morning, windy in the afternoon, and rainy by dinner time.  We spent the whole day on the ranch.  One of the great things about this plein air event is that meals are all provided.  They're delivered to us when we're out on a ranch, (or elsewhere).  This night there was a huge ranch barbecue for artists and guests.  And a wonderful cowboy singer!

Below The Dam

Below The Dam

plein air oil  12" x 9"

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$295.00 + $10.00 s/h

This is the 2nd painting from the recent South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration.  The last post was painted from above the dam and Montgomery Reservoir.  For this one I was below the dam.  I love the fall colors.  It is so wonderful to paint near a stream or river and hear the sound of the water while painting.

Mountain Reservoir

Montgomery Reservoir
plein air oil  12" x 9"
SOLD
$295.00 + $10. s/h

Last week I painted in the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, in and around Fairplay, Colorado.  I've done this event for 4 years and love it!  It's one of the better plein air events in which I've participated.  Part of the reason I attend is because we have property in South Park and I can stay in our trailer.  But, also, the coordinators of the event go all out, far beyond what I've experienced in other events.

This mountain reservoir, Montgomery Reservoir, is outside of Alma, Colorado.  We painted there Wednesday, the first morning.  There is also an old mine, several water falls, and great willows and ponds below the dam.  The smoke from the fires in Montana and north was blowing over Colorado that week.  Many of the skies were misty and grayed.

Below are mine and water fall pictures:

Special Delivery

Special Delivery
plein air oil  8" x 10"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

I have a few more sunflower paintings to show, but you'll have to wait a bit.  I've got several older paintings that I haven't yet posted.

I love old trucks.  I think that a lot of us are charmed by them, whether they're old and rusty from sitting who knows where, or they've been fixed up and restored.  It seems that old trucks remind us of a simpler time, or maybe remind us of our grand parents.  No matter, I find myself painting and photoing them.  This one (I knew what it was when I painted it) lives somewhere near Florence, CO.

Anyone know what it is?

Small & Wild

Small &Wild

plein air oil  8" x 10"

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$195.00 + $10. s/h

The next few paintings in the sunflower series are also done in Bear Creek Park, but in a field across the street and a bit south from the last two.  I found it very challenging to photograph the painting in the exact yellow.  Anyone else have trouble photoing yellow?  If so, what do you do about it?

The fields of yellow seem to go on and on!  These aren't the large, big-faced sun flowers that one thinks of as sunflowers.  But they're small and grow wild.  They evoke happiness!

Dip In The Meadow

Dip In The Meadow

plein air oil  8" x 10"

SOLD

$195.00 + $10. s/h

This is the 2nd of 5 sunflower paintings that I've done in the last week.  I guess that I'm channeling Van Gogh's sun flowers and Monet's series.  This meadow is along a path that I walk on regularly in near by Bear Creek Park.  I love the way the dip causes movement in the grasses, bushes, and colors. 

The photo below shows my set-up.  This was about the only patch of shade that day.  I focused in on just the dip area and not the whole hill side.  The challenge with this piece was the abundance of color.  Yes, there were lots of sunflowers but also lots of sage, different colored grasses, a variety of bushes, etc.  If I were to go back and paint this again I might try another approach...ie:  simplify all of the grasses and focus on the sunflowers.  What do you think? 

Meadow Of Gold

Meadow Of Gold

plein air oil  8" x 10"

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$195.00 + $10. s/h

We have been having monsoon rains here in Colorado for much of the last 5 weeks.  Our meadows are greener than ever and filled with wild flowers, especially these little sun flowers.

I live near Bear Creek Park, an almost 700 acre county park, which is filled with these flowers right now.  Whole hillsides look yellow from a distance.  It is so beautiful!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th!
8" x 8" oil
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

This is a painting of the flag that was given to my dad upon the death of my grand father.  I like patriotic holidays.  I think it's important to remember all that we have here in the U.S.  I heard on the news it being said that we should not be "too patriotic" today.  I don't understand.  I'm glad that I was born in the USA!

Happy 4th!

Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock
plein air oil  8" x 10"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

Eagle Rock is tucked away behind Pulpit Rock on the backside of UCCS.  It sits behind the Heller Center For Humanities.  I love all of the hoodoo like spires that protrude from the base.  One can imagine an eagle, or other raptor, perched on a warm rock in the late afternoon looking for dinner.

Through The Wringer

Through The Wringer
plein air oil  10'" x 8"
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$195.00 + $10. s/h

When I was a little girl we had a summer cottage on Lake Michigan.  There was an old wringer washing machine in the basement.  I remember helping my mom lift the laundry from the machine and wringing it through the wringer.  (Not sure that I've ever used the word "wringing" before.  And, since no one wrings laundry any more, I may never use that word again!)  I think that today I would say squeeze.

I actually looked "wring" up to make sure that it's still a word.  Here is what I found:

wring

riNG/

verb

1. 1. 

   squeeze and twist (something) to force liquid from it.

   "she wrung the cloth out in the sink"

   synonyms:

   twist, squeeze, screw, scrunch, knead, press, mangle "wring out the clothes"

   
   

   I also don't think that I would say "mangling" the laundry!

Restored To Perfection

Restored To Perfection
plein air oil  9" x 12"
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$295.00 + $10. s/h

This trailer was parked in front of an architectural salvage store in Florence, CO.  The store owner had spent a long time restoring the trailer top to bottom.  So many people stopped me while painting and asked if I was selling my trailer.  It's not mine, and it's not for sale!

The Next Day

The Next Day

plein air oil  10" x 8"

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$195.00 + $10. s/h

As those of you who are gardeners or flower lovers know, you have a short time in which to enjoy, and in my case paint, the flowers while they are perfectly blooming.  So, I painted these last tow one day after the other.  Makes the set up pretty easy!

In The Back Yard

In The Garden

plein air oil  10" x 8"

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$195.00 + $10. s/h

Several years ago we bought some incredible iris from IRIS4U in Denver.  They continue to bloom in the most incredible deep violet.  We've divided them and moved them around the yard as needed.  I love seeing them each spring!

Spring Lilacs

Spring Lilacs
plein air oil  14" x 11"
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$395.00 + $10. s/h

This spring (seems like just the other day, but the calendar says that it's summer!) my plein air group painted at Summerland Gardens here in Colorado Springs.  They have several large, beautiful lilac bushes that were perfect that day.  I was drawn to the bush due to the more magenta leaning purple.  I wanted the lilacs to be a "lilac" color, but I painted what I saw.

Happy Father's Day

Good Cheer
plein air oil from my back yard:  6" x 6"
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$100.00 + $10. s/h

Today is Father's Day.  I want to wish a great day to all Father's out there!  Especially to my dad, and to my husband, the father of our kids!

I have many memories of my dad, but one that stands out is the gardens, and especially roses that were always in our yard.  So, I thought I'd post these 2 from our yard.

Back Yard Roses
plein air oil on wood panel  10" x 8"
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This one's marked down for Father's Day...$100. + $10. s/h

Garden Hat

Garden Hat
12" x 12" oil on wrapped canvas
$295.00 + $10. s/h
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I recently realized that I take a lot of photos of people in hats.  Maybe it was seeing all of the people in Ecuador wearing hats and taking so many photos of them that made me aware of this.  When looking back through my reference pictures I've got hats galore!  Cowboy hats, garden hats, baseball caps, painting hats, Panama hats.  You'll be seeing more hat paintings in the future!