Emma

Emma
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas panel
SOLD

A friend threw a challenge at me, if I could do a picture of her dog, that maybe I could make a sale. Honestly, this was more about the challenge part than the sale part. I had fun with it, though I am not sure I am done, I may work on the face some more. She had a great picture to work from, so that was good too! Here is Emma (I think that is her name...hopefully I have not gotten it wrong!) at this point!

Gigi

I decided to paint a picture of my oldest son's favorite friend, Gigi the Giraffe. It turned out quite cute. Maybe I can become a stuffed animal portrait painter...

Another mountain scene

Western Mountains
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
Not Available


This is loosely based on a photo my sister-in-law took on a trip out west. I say loosely because even if I thought I has done a good job on it, I am not sure I could rival the pure majesty of the scene and Kelli's photography skills... I might try it again one day...

The duck!

My youngest son, when he came home from the hospital after seven weeks (he was born at 31 weeks) was pretty much dependent on the soothie pacifier. So, I found these neat pacies with little stuffed animals attached to them, and got a frog and a duck. I thought it would be easier to keep a hold of them with the animals. Within two weeks of being home, he stopped using the pacifier part and started sucking on the animal itself. Until the last few months, the duck and frog had become interchangeable, but then the duck became his favorite. He LOVES this thing. I got a new one and he refused it. He likes the smell of the old one. EW! So, here is a painting of the new one. If I can get the old one from him long enough to paint it I will do that one as well. I decided to do this after painting my oldest son's giraffe last week. The youngest keeps looking at the painting and saying "mine!"

I've attached a picture of Benjamin at about four months with a still clean and non-smelly duck, the two ducks side by side (might have to paint this picture if I cannot get the old duck from him) and him with his smelly old duck...ah, lovies.

Fall Trees

The Days of Fall
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
$60, free shipping in continental US

I did this from a picture from a magazine. Most of my inspiration is such, since I am the stay at home mother of two small boys, doing some plein air painting is difficult. This turned out a bit darker than I wanted, but I am still pleased with it.

Yet another attempt at the Magnolia tree down the street

Magnolia and Friends
14 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas board
Not available

I tried once again to paint the magnolia tree down the street, and two other trees nearby and I think I just need to give up. My husband likes this one but not me! Sigh. I think I need to do the magnolia ALONE and once I have mastered that, move onto the entire group.

Blue Ridge Tree

Blue Ridge
14 x 18 inches
oil on canvas board
NOT AVAILABLE

My work seems to come in spurts these days...I did three paintings two days ago, finished this one yesterday. I am waiting for the others to dry enough for me to get a decent photo, so this is the only one I am posting today. It is from a photo a friend took (thanks Wendy!) I am not 100% sure where it is, but I would bet from somewhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love the idea of doing plein air painting around here, but that cannot happen... no way I can handle it with the boys! Maybe one day in the future. So, in the meantime, photos provide most of my inspiration. Though one of the paintings I did the other day and have yet to post was of my four-year-olds very favorite stuffed animal.

I really like the way this one turned out, though I realized after I started it I have done this sort of composition before, landscape, tree on the left, and probably need to get more creative!