"The Invitation"

I took the reference photo for this at the little marina down the street from where I live and have been wanting to paint it for quite awhile now...

In A Restless World

Last weekend I took a monotype class... something I've been wanting to try for a long time.  The background for this little painting is the ghost print from one of my monotypes.  It was inspired by looking at some Paul Klee paintings. 

Daily Paintworks Challenge...

This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  I drew it in pen then added transparent watercolors over the top.  Listening to Stevie Nick's "Stop Dragging My Heart Around"...

Finished Commission

Signed, sealed and delivered commissioned painting.

"Mike's Place"

Earlier this week I treated myself to dinner at a wonderful little diner on the south side of this island I live on.  I'm sure the waitress thought I was very odd taking pictures of the salt and pepper shakers but I thought it would be a fun painting and it was!

Give Us this Day Our Daily Red

My husband worked late tonight so I got in a little painting time...   a little 6"X6" whimsical watercolor painting.

Finger Pickin Good

I took the reference photo for this painting at this year's local art festival.  I loved how oblivious this man was to all the commotion going on around him as he sat on the curb playing his guitar.

Sleep Peacefully on Summer Lawns

This is my entry to the Daily Paintworks Challenge - this week the challenge was to do a painting in rectangles.

Inspired by Thomas Merton

"Wear your life like a peacock it's plume."   - Thomas Merton

Plein Air

Such a wonderful day this was - sitting on the beach painting with my dear friend, sister in law, amazing artist...  I still have a lot of work to do to be comfortable painting plein air style but really enjoyed every minute of it today and look forward to trying it again soon!

Starting at Zero

A little mid-week abstract.

Tea Love

"Tea Love" is my painting for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  This week the challenge was to paint your favorite mug.  I bought this mug from a local ceramic artist and it has been my favorite for years.  I also put in my favorite vase that I got at the same wonderful place...  they both remind me of that sunny spring afternoon my husband and I went for a motorcycle drive up winding Chuckanut Drive that follows the shoreline up to Bellingham.  Just before you get to town there is this great store/gallery that features local artists of all types...it is one of my favorite places on earth.

Building A Watercolor House...

Fortune Teller

"Fortune Teller" is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  The challenge was to use a black and white photo and pay close attention to values.  In order to do that I did a black and white graphite underdrawing before adding the layers of watercolor.  This challenge was put forth by one of my favorite watercolor artists, Belinda Del Pesco and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to give it a whirl!

Here is the graphite drawing:

Corner Chair

As soon as I first saw the sun spilling in on this lovely chair at my brother's condo I wanted to paint it.  That was in April and I finally got my chance today!

A study...

I finished this graphite and watercolor study of poppies just in time to go out and enjoy the reverence of watching the sun set behind the water... the best church of all:)

Two little cattle dog paintings...

 

"Wish You Were Here"

 

"Cool Blue"

I Carry Your Heart With Me

Inspired by one of my favorite poems by ee cummings.  One of the most beautiful love poems of all time.

Red, white and a little blue...

I'm always working on doing better portrait paintings - and the work continues...

Good Day Sunshine

I need to laugh, and when the sun is out I've got something to laugh about

I feel good, in a special way

I'm in love and it's a sunny day.

-The Beatles

It's raining here on Whidbey Island this July morning but this song about sunshine offered the perfect title for my new watercolor.

Ever made up your own creature?

This month's Nibblefest on Ebay has the them of imaginary creatures so I've been sketching some ideas...  it's much harder than you might think to make up a new creature... 

You are my sunshine

Here's a fun little sketch I did at work this week and added watercolor when I got home...

Nature

I painted this sitting outside enjoying this beautiful Pacific Northwest day.  It was really nice to paint by birdsong and the sound of the waves lapping on the shore. 

She Sells Seasmiles

 

Who doesn't love the sound of the ocean...  makes me smile just thinking about it:)

Whidbey Island study

 

I'm a home sick with a cold today and did a little watercolor study using some color mixing I just watched an online video about.  

Sneak Peek

These are my friend Shirley's dogs - wanting to participate in the garage sale we were having.  I've been wanting to paint this ever since I took the photo:)  It's 5"X7" watercolor on my new wonderful Kilimanjaro watercolor paper - I'm really loving this paper!

A little ACEO bunny painting

This little 2 1/2"X3 1/2" piece was commissioned by a friend of mine to give as a gift.

Star of the Chicken Coop

Just for fun on a Friday night:)

"Here a Chick There a Chick"

My latest watercolor painting.  I plan to paint a partner piece called "Everywhere a Chick Chick" this weekend.  These little chicks just make me smile:)

One hour sketch before running errands...

Starting off a three day weekend with a one hour watercolor sketch.  Trying to capture the feeling of the image with minimal colors and minimal brushstrokes...keeping work time to one hour so I can get my errands done and enjoy a little afternoon sunshine!

Nocturne

A doodle from my desk today...

A Poem to Childhood

Do you have a flower that symbolizes your childhood?  For me it would be the Trillium.  The white version of this beautiful wildflower grew wild in the woods new my childhood home.  All summer long we used to play in those woods from breakfast until dinner.  I saw some beautiful etchings of trillium at a local gallery yesterday and they wouldn't leave me alone until I painted one today.   I'm not a writer so this is my Poem to Childhood.

Free Bird

I had a request this week for a painting featuring shoes - this was the result "Free Bird Takes Flight".

Farmhouse on the road to the Sacred Saturday Morning Coffee Stand

 

I drive past this farmhouse every weekend we're staying at the campground in La Conner and have been wanting to paint it for awhile.  Today I did this 5"X7" study that I'd like to do as a larger painting.

Ruby's first painting...

It was inevitable that my sweet new dog Ruby would be painted...   certain to be the first of many:)

Longwood Cat

This is a Work in Progress...  from a photo I took at Longwood Gardens a few weeks ago.  I'm struggling with it but will keep going until it's finished.

Rapture

I've been hearing about The Rapture's prediction for this Saturday and then painted these sunflowers that also appeared to be in a state of rapture.  Painted between calls at work today...

Commissioned portrait...

This adorable baby girl is the daughter of one of my friends who commissioned me to do this watercolor portrait.  I just love it when I have a painting commission with a photo that's just perfect for painting like this one was!

National Harbor

 

The Lady Josephine departs daily from National Harbor just outside of Washington DC.  My brother and his family have a condo just blocks from this lovely view.

A little watercolor sketch from Harrisburg

 

I had such a wonderful time visiting my brother in Harrisburg, PA last month.  This is a little watercolor sketch I started in a bookstore and finished up on my brother's dining room table while he was at work.

I Was Born This Way

                           A new little ACEO colored pencil drawing from my desk this week. 
                                                         Will list on Ebay tomorrow...

Thinking of Van Gogh...

 

Last week was Vincent Van Gogh's birthday and in honor of that I decided to do a room painting - his room painting is one of my favorite all time paintings...

It's Raining Bones...Hallelujah

 

A little ACEO painting hoping to help Old Dog Haven with this one for Ebay.

The Meet and Greet

 

This is a commissioned watercolor I did over the weekend.  It was a great reference photo to start with.

Let Them Eat Cake...

I did this painting intending to send it for a birthday card but I wasn't really happy with it...today I used my photo program to tint it and I like it a lot better.  I just used the tinted version to make a birthday card design for sale on Zazzle.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of you March Babies!!

Thinking about a dog

I did the underpainting with Derwent Graphitint pencils then painted it with Windsor and Newton transparent watercolors.  We've been contemplating a campanion for our Australian Cattle Dog and because we are now living in a motorhome I'm been thinking a lot about a smaller dog...that was the inspiration for this sketch and painting.  It's for sale on ebay to raise money for one of my favorite local animal rescue places - Old Dog Haven.