Rugby Match

I was attempting to paint action and when I saw a photograph of a rugby match I was challenged to use it as my subject matter. Lots of action and color to paint here for sure.

Rugby is a form of football played with an oval ball but very unlike our American football.

I tried to set up a triangular composition to create tension which in turn would create a feeling of action. I guess I'll have to show my painting to a Rugby player to see if he thinks that I have accomplished my goal.

White Tail Deer

My husband and I have friends who have a beautiful ranch in Wyoming where wildlife abounds. I took tons of reference photos when we there and did a 6x8 inch painting of these two white tail teenage bucks.

I plan to give this little painting to her for her birthday this month. It will be a Happy Birthday and thank you for having us to your ranch all in one.

Regular and Super Size

Sometimes I paint a canvas just because the subject is so outrageous and fun. These two sunbathers were such a contrast in body types that I enjoyed applying every brushstroke.

So, here is "Regular and Super Size"

Dancing Lesson

This is a a painting I enjoy working on. These two little boys are getting ready for the St. Patrick's Day festivities coming up at their school. There will be a Irish Gig contest and they want to win first prize. Looks like they're getting some very good instruction that should pay off.

Polar Bear

It's been so hot these last few weeks that I decided it would be fun to paint something that made me feel cool. So, here is a polar bear in his icy habitat. This time I painted on a 8x10 inch canvas panel . I liked how it turned out so I think I'll paint a few more that size.

Ancestor Painting

Years ago I had a girlfriend who's Mother was full of fun and made it a real adventure for me when I would go visit her home. One of her collections included old fashioned portraits of men, women and children. When my girlfriend and I would ask about them she would call them her "ancestor paintings". Pressed further, she would regale us with the most outlandish and preposterous stories imaginable about these people in the portraits. My sides would ache from laughing at her tales. I painted this "ancestor" portrait that I will be selling at a local venue and I plan to do it as a silent auction item. I will explain to anyone interested my childhood story and urge them that if they are the high bid on the painting, to promise to hang it in their home and regale their children or grandchildren with outlandish stories about this gentleman.

Repainting Old Canvas

I have been looking at some of my old canvases and decided to see if I could do an entirely new painting on top of my first attempt. There was nothing to lose so I went for it. I was inspired with a William Merritt Chase portrait and wanted to see how my version would look. Not even close to the original but lots better than the first layer of paint.

Pier Cafe at Seaport Village

The San Diego Pier Cafe, is a San Diego landmark, established at Seaport Village in 1980. It has a quaint New England-style look to it that made it a likely candidate for me to attempt a painting. I hope to actually eat there someday when I'm down in that area.

Pier Fishing

My Grandad used to love to go serf fishing and I loved going with him. The most fun for me was walking on a near by pier to watch those anglers too. There was always so much action: bait flopping around in buckets, fish being hauled in, and seagulls everywhere looking for a hand out.

Brothers Fishing

Summertime and fishing just seem to go hand in hand. I loved the look of these two brothers deep in concentration. Obviously, the older has one on the line and the younger brother is not all that excited for him. I hope it's not too long until they both have caught a fish that they can take back to show off to their Mom and Dad at the campground.

The Docent

I've been inspired for years to do a painting where the people are being looked at from above. I got this idea from riding in an elevator with a mirrored ceiling. I was fascinated to look at people the way a bird would be able to see us. I used a photo that I found at a museum function and was able to use it as reference for my painting.

Goldfinch

There is a Niger bird feeder outside my studio that I can see when I am painting. I never tire looking at these very colorful little birds. There must be thirty of them eating out there right now. It was easy to take a photograph as reference for this painting that enabled me to get a good likeness. Aren't they just the sweetest little things ever!

Boys Fishing

Summer time is a perfect time for boys to go fishing. Here we have four friends enjoying themselves doing just that. Looks as if the boy on the left has hooked one and his buddy is getting ready with the net to bring him in.

Hors D'oeuvres

I love watching the cats who hang around the docks and wait for the fishing boats to arrive home. There is always some left over bait that is a prized tidbit for these Tabbies. This free meal varies depending on the days catch. Some days it's an hors d'oeuvre and some days a meal.

Farmer at the Barn Door

The challenge in this painting was to capture the expression on this farmers face and get a view of all the farm equipment in the barn in back of him. I really loved the jaunty way he was he was wearing his hat.

Case Tractor

This beautiful Case tractor was parked in a field at the North Fork Ranch where our family vacationed together this summer. It was a willing "model" that both my son Alex and I painted for fun.

Pony Ride

When I was at the San Diego Fair this year I had lots of fun taking photos over at the children's' fun zone. The pony ride had some of the most adorable kids riding and I took this photo to turn into a painting. The children were all so tiny that none of them had long enough legs to fit into the stirrups.

I love the photo of this cute little dog in the doorway and wanted to paint him. I challenged myself to see if I could paint him using only a pallet knife so I could get some nice juicy paint on the canvas. I did pretty well with my goal. I only resorted to a big brush for a few strokes. I thought the expression was captured in the one exposed eye so I had to switch to a small round for that stroke.

I wanted a Louisa May Alcott look to this painting with Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy and their friends having a picnic. I found a still photograph searching for movies on Netflix that was just what I was looking for. It was a 1975 movie called Picnic at Hanging Rock. The story is about an austere Australian boarding school where teachers take a group of students on an outing to the mysterious Hanging Rock. Soon after the party starts, the headmistress and three girls go exploring and mysteriously disappear. One week later, a sole survivor returns to school__ with hardly any memory of the incident.
Sounds like something I should rent now that I've done a painting about it.

This was a fun little painting to do even though all the horse's tack was a bit of a challenge. The Percheron horse is indeed a gentle giant and the young boy leading him is in full control. He is probably taking him to join the rest of the team for a little farm work in the field.

Calvin Barel on Mine That Bird

With this painting I wanted to capture the excitement of the Jockey, the horse, the outrider and the crowd. There is a lot of action in this painting and it reminds me of the feeling I had that day watching the race and cheering the outcome. Calvin Barel and Mine that Bird were quite a team!

50 to 1 longshot

This years Kentucky Derby winner ran the most excieting race I have watched in a long long time. The little know Birdstone gelding who cost $ 9,500 as a yearling and who came 1800 miles in a one horse trailer from New Mexico, negotiated the sloppy Churchill Dows ractrack under a deft rail skimming ride by jockey Calvin Borrel. Left in his wake were multimillion dollar priced horses owned by sheiks, captains of industry, large breeding operations,and their high profile Eclipse Award winning trainers. Trained by former rodeo performer Chip Wooley Jr. who hobbled into the winners circle on crutches because of a motorcycle wreck two months earlier,and who was widely criticized by the elite horsemen because it was inferred his little gelding did'nt belong in the race, MIne That Bird registered the second highest payoff in the history of the Kentucky Derby with his stunning $ 103.20 mutuel. What a race!!!

Sunday Picnic

I found this photograph of three models who were posing in costume and I loved the design. I knew it would be a lovely subject to paint and I was amazed how fast it came together.

Another small 6x8 oil.

At the Punch and Judy Show

This was such fun to paint. Each little face was a separate portrait with a particular emotional expression. Some children are wild about the show and some not too sure.

Painting people looking at paintings at a museum is fun because you not only do portraits of the people but a mini portrait of the Museum art work. The frame can be a tricky part to paint because of the highlights. They have to be just right on the ornate molding to make it look convincing.

Sherlock Holmes

I struggle with profiles so this was a challenge and a lesson for me. I do think I like the way old boy turned out. I'm sure he will solve the mystery he's working on.

First Ballet Lesson

I guess I was inspired with Dancing With The Stars to paint a dance theme. Here is this little girl at her first ballet lesson trying to assume her position in front of the mirror while the rest of the class looks on. I predict she will win on that show in 2020.

Best Friend

I love painting cute kids and adorable animals so I paired these two for this painting. I like the fact that she is as big as her "best friend" so they are eye to eye. She with her inocent little girl look and the dog with his blissfully happy look of being adored by her.

The Way We Were

I love painting shadows and I started thinking why not make a shadow that reflects what the person is thinking. So here are two people who are thinking of their dancing days and the shadows tell the story. Somehow I wish they could get to know each other and go dancing once again.

Bit and Spur Maker

John C. Ennis believes he may have been born a century too late. He says he would have loved to have known real cowboys of that bygone era. But his love of cowboy gear—especially leather and metal work—and his unique talent have made him a much sought-after artisan. And his heroes, he says, have always been cowboys.
I got this photo of John from Persimmon Hill a wonderful magazine that the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum publishes. He has such a great face, I just had to paint him

Morning Commute News

I love to travel on a subway or train because you can get an amount done while you're traveling to your destination. I like to think these ladies are reading W the fashion newspaper instead of the dreary Wall Street Journal that the men are reading across the aisle.

Pet Piglet

Here is a little farm boy whose Father has just given him his first pig to raise. Big responsibility for this little guy but he assures his Dad he can do it.

I love to think up stories about the people I paint because I think I can get more expression in their faces.

I have a friend who wanted me to do a painting of a Jersey Cow so here she is.

6x8 inch oil

Here is another race horse running to the finish line. Now this horse either won or was dead last since there is not another horse in sight. You decide'

6x8 inch oil

Here is a 6x8 inch oil of the San Diego Trolly at the Station. One day I'm actually going to ride on it to the end of the line and back just for the experience.

Crab Baskets

I loved this photo of an elderly man sitting in front of his home with a stack of crab baskets on his front step.

I can't tell you how much fun I had painting this subject.

It is a 6x8 oil.