Blog

Vintage Winter

Finished this small painting today - an abandoned auto in a winter aspen forest. Titled Vintage Winter, 6 inches square, $80 unframed.

Storm's Reveal

The mood of the mountains shift quickly. On a stormy day, the sun momentarily seeps through the clouds to reveal a bright cluster of aspens.

24 x 18 inches 

Oil on linen panel, unframed, $800.

Al fresco

My first painting since having our daughter in December! This is one I have been wanting to paint for some time and decided it would be the perfect painting to begin with after my absense from painting since baby Silvia's arrival. Although it took several more days than usual (painting during nap times of a new born...), I am happy with the results. It brings back wonderful memories of our trip to Italy. We were walking back to our bed and breakfast in Bergamo, Italy, when we spotted these beautiful hydrangeas lit up by this quaint cafe. Dining al fresco in Italy, what could be better?

Aspen Guardians - New large painting

I finished a large painting in my aspen series and thought it would be nice to post some progression photos as the painting evolved.

My first step is to sketch out the general layout/relationships in an oil wash.

After premixing a few colors, usually a light and shadow for each, I paint from top left to right.

After two days of painting.

At this stage, I have the entire canvas covered and let is sit for a few days while I decide what to change, add, etc.

I added some dark tones behind the mid-ground aspens and added a fir tree to the foreground to break up the stark tree trunks of the three aspens on the left half of the composition.

For the final touches, I added more dark tones behind the mid-ground aspens and filled out the fir tree in the foreground and gave it less detail so it would not compete with the Aspen Guardians.

Forest ACEO

Forest is a mini painting - an ACEO, which stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals (aka artist trading cards). This is an original oil on canvas paper with a 1 inch border for easy matting and framing. I painted this after a hike on the Inner Basin Trail in northern Arizona - in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff.

Available on my Etsy website: https://www.etsy.com/listing/117488082/original-aceo-oil-painting-impressionist

Holiday Boutique this weekend and new Zoo painting

Reminder for those local - I will have a booth at the Holiday House Peoria this Friday and Saturday (November 16 & 17), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The holiday boutique will feature my original artwork, prints and notecards, as well as works by many other artisans and crafters. The house is located at 73rd Avenue and Deer Valley Road in Peoria, Arizona; watch for the easy to follow signage.

http://theholidayhouseaz.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Holiday-House/409057269148579

This painting is of a young female Nyala Antelope based on a photo I took on a recent plein air painting outing to the World Wildlife Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Turtles at the Zoo

On Sunday, October 27, I went plein air painting with a group of artist friends from Art League West. We went to the World Wildlife Zoo in Litchfield, AZ. I painted the start in plein air and finished it up in the studio a fews days after the outing. Two slider turtles sunbathe in the October sunshine.

6 x 8 oil

Available here.

Through the Aspens

See the forest for the trees...the aspen trees! Similar to a recent painting, Summer Aspens, I painted a different background. I am experiementing with various compositions for a larger painting. This 8 x 8 square painting can be purchased through my website using PayPal or through my Etsy site.

Sierra's Radiant Aspens

I’m an avid hiking as well as an artist. Therefore I follow many art and artist’s blogs as well as hiking and outdoor blogs. I’ve recently started following Lady on a Rock. It’s a great blog about hiking and the author is also a teacher who is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in segments. Hiking a thru-trail such as the PCT or Appalachian Trail (AT) is a dream/goal of mine. But first on my bucket list, and much more manageable, will probably be the Wonderland Trail in Washington (93 miles) and the Tahoe Rim Trail (165 miles).

Anyway, Lady on a Rock created a beautiful photo slide show and video of the Eastern Sierras for a recent post entitled Falling for Fall. I was so inspired by her lovely images that I asked her if I could use some of them as inspiration for a painting and she graciously agreed. Over the weekend I painted this 8 x 10 study based on one of her photos. I think it captures the radiant glow of autumn nicely. It’s available here or on my Etsy page.

Award at the Arizona State Fair

I am pleased to announce my painting, Hungarian Cottage, Village of Tihany received an honorable mention award in the Arizona State Fair's professional fine art division. The exhibition runs through Nov 4, 2012. I have 3 works juried in the show.

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Oil quick study/sketch of a hike in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Colorado.

Sketching with oil on canvas paper is a practice I have established to refine composition and value. The spontaneous character of these pieces have an artistry all their own.

Image size: 6" x 9", unframed
Paper size: 9 x 12
Executed in oil on canvas paper

Aspens of Inner Basin ACEO

Aspens of Inner Basin is a mini painting - an ACEO, which stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals (aka artist trading cards). This is an original oil on canvas paper with a 1/2 inch border for easy matting and framing. I painted this after a hike on the Inner Basin Trail in northern Arizona - in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff.

Aspen Hill ACEO

Aspen Hill is another mini painting - an ACEO, which stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals (aka artist trading cards). This is an original oil on canvas paper with a 1/2 inch border for easy matting and framing. I painted this after a late afternoon hike descending the Inner Basin Trail in northern Arizona - in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff.

First Glimpse of Fall

A few weeks ago we went hiking along the Inner Basin Trail in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, AZ. These were the first aspen leaves turning gold. Our first glimpse of fall.

Inner Basin Trail ACEO

This mini painting is of the Inner Basin Trail in the San Francisco Peaks area near Flagstaff, Arizona. The trail had been closed for several years due to the Schultz fire, but was recently reopened. We hiked the trail the weekend it reopened to find the aspens as beautiful as ever! This ACEO (art cards, editions, and orginals), also known as artist trading cards is painted on canvas paper with a 1/2 inch border to allow for easy matting and framing. It is up for auction on my DailyPaintworks site.

Winter Aspens

A peaceful winter moment in an aspen forest.

Aspen Grove ACEO

I painted another mini - ACEO over the weekend, this one is of an aspen grove.



2.5" x 3.5" ACEO (Art Card Edition and Original) original executed in oil on canvas paper with 1/2 inch white border for easy matting and framing.

New mini paintings

Over this past holiday weekend, I painted a couple minis - ACEO paintings. ACEO stands for Art Card, Editions and Originals - basically art trading cards. They are 2.5 x 3.5 inches with a .5 inch white border painted in oil on gesso coated canvas paper. I'm pleased they both have already sold on my Etsy website. Many thanks to my two newest collectors!

Aspen Trio ACEO

Indian Springs Trail ACEO

A Hike in the Woods

This is a small painting of a hike along Indian Springs Trail in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. A lovely summer afternoon before a monsoon storm.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

I approached this painting a little different than my normal process. First I used a stretched canvas instead of my usual mounted canvas. I also primed the canvas in a warm red to allow a glow to come through in certain areas. And I painted using a looser style. I had a lot of fun with this one. This scene is of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the more secluded, less touristy side of the canyon.

Grand Canyon Colorado River

Several years ago I took a week long adventure rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I painted this view from the river looking out at the canyon from one of the pictures I took during my trip.

Exhibit July 5 - September 8

I am pleased to announce I have three pieces juried into the "Straight from my easel" exhibition at Montage Gallery in Tempe, Arizona. Summer hours are Wed 11 am-4 pm, Fri 5-9 pm, Sat 1-5 pm, and third Thursdays 5-9 pm. Visit www.downtowntempe.com/montage for more information. The gallery is located in the vibrant Mill Avenue district of downtown Tempe (740 S. Mill Avenue). Please stop by and visit!

Summer Shades

During a mid summer hike along Abineau trail on the north slope of San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona the aspens provide cool shade and and the sound of soft rustling leaves.

Simply Skipping

The Csárdás is a traditional Hungarian dance. I captured this young girl skipping after a dance festival in the main square in Pécs, Hungary. Pecs (pronounced like Page) is a charming university town a couple hours south of Budapest.  This painting is being auctioned on my Daily Paintworks site. Click here to bid.

Beans, the calico kitty

This little calico is named Beans after our first family calico 30+ years ago. I rescued her from the humane society and nursed her back to health then gave her to my mom. My mom loves this little girl so much so I painted this sketch of Beans for a Mother's Day present (shhh). I know she will love it.

Sunny Dell

Sunny Dell

I finished another 6 x 6 in my aspens series. This one is called Sunny Dell and it is inspired by the inner basin of Arizona's San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. It is available on my Etsy site.

Brotherhood

Brotherhood

I dipicted this aspen clone, or brotherhood, using vibrant broken color to give a rich density to this small 4 x 6 painting. It is available for on my Etsy site.

Presiding Aspen

Presiding Aspen

SOLD

A mature aspen presides over its aspen forest! This is another painting in my small aspen series of 6 x 6 paintings. I have it up for auction on my daily paintworks site.

Colorado Rocks

Colorado Rocks - Mount Evans Ascent

Colorado Rocks. I “bagged” my first Colorado 14,000 foot peaks a few years back. Colorado has over 50 peaks that are 14,000 feet or higher. This painting is of Mount Evans, number 14 in elevation of the 53 Colorado 14ers. There is a road to the top, but I hiked the short northeast face trail (1,400 foot elevation gain) from the Summit Lake Trailhead as my acclimation hike for the following day, when I summited Mount Bierstadt. I tried to capture the awesome beauty of the alpine tundra from my ascent of Mount Evans.  Available for purchase here.

Glade in Aspen Forest

This is another in my 6 x 6 aspen series and is up for auction here.

Youth Painting Studio Class

sample of a "realism" project for the class

I will be teaching an oil painting class for youth, ages 11-16 through the City of Glendale beginning April 2. The class meets on Mondays from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm for eight weeks (April 2-May 21) at the Foothills Recreation Center.  Projects will take two to three sessions to complete, so that each student can create three projects in total for his or her portfolio. Projects will include realism to abstract; impressionist landscapes, and painting from observation.

This class offers students with or without painting experience the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of painting with oils and of drawing.  Students will use a limited color palette and learn painting techniques, including color mixing, paint application, and color theory. Working from observation and photo references, students will explore the possibilities of oils and the concepts of color, composition, and perception. 

To register, go to the Glendale Parks and Recreation site and search for activity number 222258-01. The title of the class is Painting studio in the Youth Cultural Arts section.

Special Recognition

Aspen View

I am pleased to announce that my painting "Aspen View" received Special Recognition in the Februray Light Space & Time online gallery painting competition themed "Landscapes".

Aspen Path

Aspen Path

Another in my 6 x 6 aspen series. I continue to be inspired by aspen trees. I really enjoy the many colors and reflective light within the tree trunks. I picked up several archival quality panels from RayMarArt and this is painted on one of them. This one is up for auction on my Daily Paintworks site. Click here to bid.

Aspen Duo

Aspen Duo

Another in my aspens series. This 6 x 6 is a summer scene along the Kachina Trail near Flagstaff, Arizona looking out from this lovely aspen duo. Available for $75, click here to buy.

Exhibit Announcement

Robber's Roost

I am pleased to announce that Robber's Roost has been juried into the Avondale Civic Center Library Exhibit in Avondale, Arizona. The exhibit will begin February 22 and will be on display for three months.

Fallen Aspen

Fallen Aspen, 6 x 6, oil

I recently joined Art League West and at last night's meeting I won third place in the monthly challenge. The challenge was a 6 x 6 with an Arizona theme. Fallen Aspen derives from a hike along the Kachina Trail near Flagstaff, Arizona. I have already sold this piece but am inspired to paint a series of small paintings with one of my favorite subjects - aspen trees!