Favorite Nest of 2018

Wishing you all a terrific and creative 2019.

Artist Note

This is my favorite nest of last year

I painted it three times.

The one above

 It is 8"x10" oil on canvas.

Lots of layering went on...

and on... and somehow 

I feel as if I built this nest -

instead of painting it!

It is a Bluejay nest.

Friends from Santa Fe gave it to me a couple

of years ago when they were having an addition

put on their house and found it. 

It is on a beautiful sycamore branch in my studio.

The one below was 24"x24"

HUGE for me. 

I LOVED painting it.

 Ladybugs, grasses, feathers, leaves, 

are all in there -  part of nest making!

.

Sunrise colors are behind the large one but 

I became creative with blue twigs

in the top one. I found I enjoyed playing

around with colors and glad I stuck to it.

So, as you see, the same nest provided me

with hours of pleasure

How many of you thought I meant the 

PAINTING at top was my favorite

and not the nest itself?

Interesting how we read things. 

Though I better put it right!

Both of them sold and I hope the owners 

enjoy finding little areas of interest 

that have my heart and soul

embedded in them.

Again....happiest of years ahead 

and thank you for following my blog.

Poinsettia Celebration

Poinsettia Celebration

8x6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note

This painting was one of a little series

of holiday-themed paintings.

the gallery had asked for.

They all sold fast so I just 

finished another one I have given them.

It is a 6"x6" gallery-wrap canvas

so it stands or can be hung.

 Sides are painted red.

If interested, please call the 

M Phillips Gallery

575-525-1367

This is my last post before Christmas.

My hubby and I are off to visit my daughter

who has a husband in Afganistan.

I am looking forward to seeing her 

and all my grand-pets.

I wish you all a very 

Peaceful and Blessed Christmas.

Be safe.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia

6"x 6" oil on Raymar panel SOLD.

Artist Note

This was a demo done during the workshop

last week. 

My last workshop from my own studio. 

I had a great group of talented artists

who did some wonderful

fracturing work.

It is not easy to break up 

a perfectly nice piece of work and 

I know that, but, with some 

encouragement, it was very rewarding to see

them beam with pleasure when they finally

got it!

They all traveled many miles to attend

and I am grateful and honored

they chose to learn from me.

A personal chat.

I have mixed feelings about not hosting

any more workshops because

I really enjoy teaching and have met some 

amazing artists from Hawaii, Canada, 

South America, Mexico and all areas of the US,

but I selfishly want to have more time for 

my own development. 

When I started fracturing 9 years ago,

very few oil painters were into 

any form of the 

"create, destroy, rebuild"

school and it took time for me to find 

my own way of doing it.

 It took me even longer to 

show the public, and that was 8 years ago,

but, it became noticed

and I was asked to make a video 

for Daily Paintworks!!

I still am gobsmacked at how successful

it has been.

Fast forward to the present time.

I see many, many more 

"messy" paintings 

- as my husband calls them - 

and I am excited to be mainstream

where people are not asking me 

why my lines are not smooth!!

I want to push myself further

and see what develops.

Santa Fe Gate

Santa Fe Gate

8"x6" oil on canvas panel $150.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

I found this delightful gate

on a trip to Museum Hill in Santa Fe.

The property must be old because 

the trees were very tall. 

Fall color were glowing through here and there

and the yellow was like a spotlight on the lens

...way too bright,

so bright the camera had to be adjusted

so they didn't bleach out.

Then it was important to decide, 

was the gate the focus

...or the golden trees?

I hope the gate is noticed first.

Tricky!

Sunrise Over The River

Sunrise Over The River

6x8" oil on canvas panel $150. SOLD

Artist Note

This was painted from a 

watercolor sketch.

which was very loosey-goosey

because it was such a fast rise. 

I tried to take my mind back to 

the actual time but it has been a few years.

Oh well...I enjoyed painting it

and that is the important thing...right?

Aspen Colors

Aspen Colors

8"x6"  oil on canvas panel $150. SOLD

Artist Note

A truly impressionist painting.

I obviously love the aspen tree

and my favorite way to capture them

 is to use this impressionistic 

use of colors.

I just had a three-day weekend trip

to see a friend. 

We are birthday buddies.

They fall on the same week

and throughout the many years

of our friendship, we make time

to enjoy a few days together

during the month of November,

 and we go shopping.

She picks her present and I pay, 

and I pick mine, and she pays!

It is quite wonderful.

Its pansy Time Again!

Pansy Time

8"x6" oil on canvas panel $150.

Purchase SOLD 

Artist Note.

The pansies are back

and I have planted them in pots

on our balcony.

Such a happy flower. 

They make me happy

thru the wintertime.

Anyone else like them?

Anemones

Anemones

9" x 8 1/2" oil on canvas panel  $225. SOLD

Artist Note.

This is a weird size and 

 I cannot think how 

to crop it in any other way -

so this is it!

This one was fun for me because 

I can see all the colors much

better, and, as you know...

I love color!

Regarding my computer woes, 

(see the previous post)

they were fixed with

a complete close-down. 

I had to download everything

onto a hard-drive and then

install them again.

The IPad was then able 

to get caught up with  

redoing settings after getting rid

of cookie cache and re-setting

Passwords and Accounts.

Not easy and very frustrating

for this computer challenged gal!

Thanks for all the hints 

and support from you guys.

Jennifer hit it right.😊

Pizza Time!

Pizza Time

8x6" oil on canvas panel $150.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

Inspired by a local restaurant.

Complaining session follows

so don't read any further

if you are not up for it!

I am having problems with

 my blogger site since the 

new update by Apple. 

Sheesh...

so much time spent trying to 

use it and replying to the comments

 from the last post was

daunting, to put it mildly. 

My iPad and computer had the issues 

 I would type everything I wanted to 

for a reply to a comment

 and enter.... and nothing...

and I mean NOTHING!

Finally, I had to do it all 

on my iPhone 6S. 

and THEN have to enter

my name and password

for each one. OUCH!

It took FOREVER...

not that you all are not worth it, 

but, I ain't a saint!

Lots of unladylike words flowing.

If anyone has a solution 

then please let me know.

I would like to reply to my 

blog on my iPad or computer.

Definitely not my phone.

Farmers Market - Pink Cap

Farmers Market - The Pink Cap!

8x6in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note

I came to an abrupt stop when I 

was passing this stall at the market.

The pink cap was glowing 

with the sun hitting it 

and 

wearing it was a manly man - 

bearded and muscular!

You have seen the type.

It reminded me how 

times have changed.

When I was growing up 

a man could not be even

found who would wear pink in any form.

I went over and bought some sweet onions

and told him I liked his cap color.

He told me very proudly 

he was wearing

it to support his sister who had

breast cancer.

So there you go.

HOW NEAT IS THAT!

Pomegranate Pair.

Pomegranate Pair 

8”x6” oil on canvas panel $150.

PurchaseHERE

Artist Note

An artist friend gave me some

beautiful poms right off her tree. 

I have painted them in

three different sizes and 

this is the first one I finished.

A bright glowing red can be 

very difficult 

to paint. 

Adding white can cool it too much. 

I used 

Grumbacher Red (napathol)

Naples Yellow

Alizarin Perm. 

Thalo Blue

I used white to make a purple

from the aliz and blue. 

The greens were made with 

that wonderful 

Perylene Black and yellow. 

Transparent Brown Oxide

is always on my palette. 

I looked back at the poms 

I paint every year. 

These are the first 

I have done with them

hanging from their branch. 

I enjoyed having the leaves

to help with the design. 

I have made a little video

I will be showing soon. 

Learning to edit!

Yellowstone Stream

Yellowstone Stream

6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150.

Artist Note

This is painted from sketches 

I made while on a trip to 

Yellowstone National Park.

What an incredible place.

I have a visitor - 

a very special blogging friend,

Lisa Graham.

She arrived for a weekend stay.

Lisa recently moved from Witchita, Kansas, to 

Castle Rock, Colorado. Just south of Denver.

Happy me...it is a much shorter drive 

and a straight shot down

to Las Cruces on I-25.

Those of you who have followed 

me for a long time will 

remember how our friendship 

developed while she took care 

of her ailing mother 

and then after she died

 I invited Lisa to visit in 2014💙

Then I visited her...💙

and now she is visiting me again...💙

I have always loved the honesty

in her work.

Totally and authentically, Lisa.

She is a storyteller with paint!

Here is her latest post and

I hope you check it out.

Lisa Graham art

Snowflake Dove

Snowflake Dove

6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150. SOLD. 

Artist Note. 

I have been wanting to paint 

this beautiful dove ever

since I since I first saw it. 

I have painted it seven times 

learning all about 

its shape, feathers, beak and that 

amazing eye...and this finally

is the closest to what it is like

and importantly...the one I like best.

An interesting fact.

I cannot find a thing 

about Snowflake Doves.

I have tried Google and books.

Zip - nothing.

Here is a pic.

Any of you know anything about them?

(David Gascoigne - an expert on the avian world)

They are so truly beautiful 

with the snowflake markings on their wings.

Asian Pears

Asian Pears 

8x6' oil on panel SOLD

Artist Note

The fruit was a gift from a friends garden 

She is an artist so she left a 

couple with branches. Happy smiles!

I tried something different with this one.

I first painted the panel with gray gesso

and then I painted it as I would

a vignette in watercolor.

I really liked the effect in a frame - 

it kind of makes its own border

so I am going to do some more this way.

Here are some greens made

from the 

Windsor Newton Perylene Black

Look how natural they are.

Top row - Lemon and P Black

Middle row - Yellow deep and P Black

Bottom row - ochre and P Black

The 3 blue/gray spots are with white added.

You can see why it makes good greens. I think it 

would be perfect for the ZORN palette

(Vermillion, yellow ochre, black, white)

because it is a beautiful blue-black

I am picking up steam with my painting.

I will be posting more often as I continue

to get comfortable with paint again.

Thanks for sticking with me...

you are the BEST!

Video Demo - Landscape!

Artist Note.
I came across this old video of me painting a landscape.
It was painted on Senso linen. 6x8'
It is at a MUCH faster speed than I paint!
Hope you enjoy it.

Waterlily Light #2

Waterlily Light #2

6x8" oil on panel   $150.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

Here I am - back to the Lilypond. 

I am really captivated by the 

three components...

Water, plants, and light. 

It appears almost

 magical to me when

the sun casts through the shaded areas.

I can see why Monet devoted 

so many years to painting

his waterlily series. 

He bought the land and 

diverted water from a stream

to start designing what he wanted.

Seven years of planting, building

and creating.

Then he spent 30 years 

- the rest of his life-

painting it!

The two 80-ft oval rooms

in the 

Orangerie of the Tuileries. Paris,

where the enormous and stunning

murals of 

his water garden are shown

are often described as the

"Sistine Chapel of Impressionism."

Thinking about all the people

and animals who are 

suffering in

The Carolinas 

in the aftermath of Florence.

Sending heartfelt prayers

Anemones plus Hint

Anemones

8x6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note

I really enjoyed painting this one. 

I can see red again!

And painting every day 

I feel the old flow 

is coming back.

I sent out my Fall Newsletter

with this new painting in it and 

was really pleased with the response. 

I am going to paint it larger

and see if I can capture the same 

color harmony. 

Easier said than done!

Artist Hint

I have added to my palette

Windsor Newton/Perylene Black .

if you do not already use it,

TRY IT!

It makes fabulous greens 

with different yellows. 

It also makes a beautiful blue/black

when white is added.

I am excited to find a replacement 

for my LeFranc Cassel Earth black paint. 

which I previously used for olive greens.

This Perylene black produces a much 

greater range of beautiful greens...

and I still get the olive with adding ochre.

I was told LeFranc & Bourgeois had a fire

and that is why it is impossible to get their

paint anymore.  

They were the oldest 

European oil paint manufacturer

and their Titanium White was a joy to use.

Sure hope they come back.

Santa Fe Adobe

Santa Fe Adobe

6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150 SOLD

Artist Note.

Most of you know how much

I love living here in the southwest 

and this is the painting which

got me back into the flow

of painting again

after having cataracts removed.

I feel like a whole new person.

 I am enjoying seeing clearly.

Life is good

... but the painting part of my life

has only just starting to flow 

instead

of hit and miss.

I have completed

several paintings 

and I am going to 

show them first in my newsletter.

It has been sadly neglected

so I am hoping to make amends.

If you feel you would enjoy 

getting it about four times a year

you can sign up on my website 

using link below

Newsletter

Enjoy your week.

Maybe I will be back before then.

Fracturing from the Imagination. Step by Step.

Fracturing from the Imagination.

8x6in  oil on canvas panel   SOLD

This is a re-post I thought some of you would find interesting.
I am doing color charts galore...trying to rediscover my palette
since the cataracts removal


Artist Note

I love painting from my imagination.
Finally at the stage where I feel I know the lemon well enough
to paint without looking at one. I start off with a basic design
and then I respond to what the paint does on the canvas.
Here are the steps I took to do this piece.

First I randomly applied color
in two stages.
A thin underneath wash of colors
see the cool mauve and transp
yellow oxide.
Then I did the drawing of shapes
with a rigger  brush and dark paint.
Next I painted the warm red, lifting off
with the handy tool to expose underneath colors
leaving random areas and fruit, plain.

I added the dark at the top
and made a slightly darker
square at bottom right.
This was intuitive.
At this stage they were all going to be
lemons.

When I had put in the dark top
and moved down to place the darker area
I realized it was because I need another dark
so I made the lemon into a plum.
This is the great thing about painting
from the imagination. You have time to
listen to your inner art voice and
respond accordingly.
I paint at this stage in complete silence.
No music or story going on.

I usually start with the lightest and
focal point area as I did here.

Anyway, at this stage I feel  confident
that I can solve the rest of the painting
and as I feel the fracturing technique becoming
more and more natural

This post was in 2012 so by now the
fracturing has certainly become as natural as breathing.

Sunflowers and Daisies

Sunflowers & Daisies

10"x 8" oil on canvas panel  $250. SOLD

Artist Note

This is my first painting

with my new pupils!

Notice it is larger than my usual 6x8.

I am having a bit of trouble 

with the small size. 

Out of practice!

This is not my first painting

since cataract surgery

by any means,

 but it is my first completed one.

 My depth perception is

slightly askew.

 and I am having

to learn color without a 

seeing a green haze

Meaning lots of tossers! 

The only way to stop me

from painting over and over

on the same canvas, 

(trying to get it right,)

has been to razor it!

Bet you are saying...

been there, done that!

Anyway, I am very excited.

with my new vision

and 

look forward 

to the joys of painting

once more.

A Little Vacation!

A trip to Portland, Oregon. 

with a day outing to Cannon Beach.

Surely one of the most 

beautiful beaches anywhere.

Four days after my second cataract surgery

I flew to Portland for a week.

A wonderful and much-needed visit

to see dear friends.

The sketches are from a previous trip...

one, where my eyes were not blurry from

all the drops I needed to put in!!

I painted from the balcony of the 

Hallmark Hotel,

chosen

so I could capture the

different atmospheric moods.

of Haystack, 

the amazing

monolith rock formation.

I was thrilled to meet two 

BLOGGING FRIENDS.

First, on the trip to Cannon Beach

Lauren Nelson was kind enough 

to drive up and meet me 

and my friend, Jan, for brunch.

           She is as delightful, warm and fun as

the person I know from the years

following her blog. 

(We share a love and respect for animal life.)

 A marvelous hour or so was spent in the 

Dragonfly Gallery, sharing what we 

liked and why...she is smart!

It was stimulating.

Thank you, Lauren, for making the time

to meet me. It will be a treasured memory.

Link to Lauren's blog HERE

A couple of days later I had the 

pleasure of a studio visit with 

another artist

 I have followed for many years.

Randall Tipton

What a guy!

Knowledgeable, articulate, generous and fun!

Patiently, he allowed me and my friend, Jan,

  to pour over his inspiring work,

answering questions and sharing painting

info. I felt like I was in heaven!

Jan and I left both carrying treasured

pieces of art.

Thank you, Randall, for the wonderful visit.

Link to Randall and I recommend his blog

Randall Tipton

Poppies!

Poppies!

6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150

Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

I really love this type of poppy

with the white next to 

the dark center.

I painted it a while ago

keeping it close because I

 really liked the touch of blue!

Personal Note

Many thanks for the wonderful 

sharing of ideas and hints regarding 

my vision needs

 after cataract surgery.

Apparently, many of you have 

experienced the issue.

I am having my other cataract 

removed in the morning. YAY!

The first one has revealed

a crisp, bright new view

of the world

- amazing -

BUT

My brain has NOT co-operated

with the other eye which is 

close-sighted so the monovision

 is totally out 

and "readers" will be needed.

One in every room!

BUT

another blogger has shared 

what she has done 

and it has me all excited. 

I have to wait a couple of months

for the eyes to settle then 

I will pass it on it it works!

Waterlily Pleasure!

Waterlily Pleasure
10" x  8" oil on panel  $225.SOLD

Artist Note
This is another with lots of greens and blues.
The two colors I seem to gauge the best atthe moment.
 I love painting the
waterlily ponds so it has been a pleasure.
 It has gone through
lots of changes though
and I learned from each change.
 It was all about the values of the water.
Too light and it competed with the main lily.


Personal Note
I want to thank all of you who took the time to
pass on information regarding
the lens choice for cataract surgery.
The doctor believes that regular
distance vision would be best...
mentioning that dreadedword...AGE as the reason.
He found monovision to be
less successful
in his more"mature" patients.
Stab to the heart!
I thought cataracts only happened
to mature folk!
so now we know there are
levels of mature, my friends!

So goodbye visions of
having no reading glasses
and I will be forever
searching for them...
unless any of you can pass on helpful hints.

Light On the Lily Pond

Light On The Lily Pond

6"x6" oil on canvas panel $110. SOLD

Artist Note

This is a beautiful lily pond 

which was illuminated

by a

single ray of sunshine.

Although I painted this from 

the photo I took, 

it was still 

very clear in my mind

making it so much easier 

to capture the mood.

I have always been grateful

for my visual memory.

My hubby, bless him, has not

much visual recall.

For him,  directions are given

 by miles and compass, north, south etc,

whereas I see the blue fence,

the yellow house, the big tree, etc.

I bet most of you are the same

as I am.

A little personal note.

As you probably have noticed,

 I have not been posting

anywhere near as frequently

during this past year.

Paintings are taking 

MUCH longer

because I am having  some

problems (quite a bit) with my vision 

but it will be corrected 

in a couple of weeks

when I will be having 

cataract surgery. 

Second eye early next month

Alleluia!

I wonder if any of you have had 

or know anyone who has had

experience with the monovision - 

where one eye is corrected for distance 

and one for close up?

Would you share with me, please?

I have been posting my older work

on Instagram and Facebook.

I hate to have worked so hard 

to build up to build up a following

only to have it all disappear due to 

age and mother nature.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Meet Miss Nova Rae

Meet Miss Nova Rae
8"x8" oil on canvas - gifted

Artist Note

Yes, I know,
this is a bit of a surprise
as I do not do portraits...

BUT

this is the
precious granddaughter
of a dear friend

who has done me a
special and generous favor.

I knew I wanted to
show my appreciation
BUT,
what can you give someone
who has everything?
A painting?

Taste is so subjective
so the choice
had to be right.
What better than to capture
a moment in time
of her Special Treasure.

I loved painting Nova Rae.
It was a challenge for sure
but every time
 I would see this child
I’d catch my breath.
Her eyes were large and thoughtful.
Her skin - perfect
and
she had the neatest outfits!!!
 I knew I wanted to paint her.

My friend got teary-eyed when
I gave it to her.
It meant she liked it💕

The Rio Chama, Abiquiu, N.M.

The Rio Chama, Abiquiu, N.M.

6”x8”  oil on canvas panel. $150. SOLD

Artist Note

One of the most gorgeous spots 

I have ever painted. 

 Over the years I have captured it

in all seasons but the monsoon season

  with cloudy skies casting random shadows

has to be my favorite. 

There is a particular time when

the sun cuts through a gap and

shines across the river. 

It is magical.

Photographing this painting was
rather difficult due to the blue of the
mountains appearing far 
bluer than on the paintings.
It took forever to get it close.
seriously...
I could have painted another painting!

Anyone know a solution to this problem?

Round Nest in Square!

Nest in Square

24"x24"  oil on canvas SOLD

Artist Nest.

I LOVE this one!

This nest took a while and I enjoyed 

having something to paint on

between my busy schedule.

Can you spot the ladybugs?

I am in a great gallery here in Las Cruces.

-they carry my larger works -

and although my art sales 

have been going

rather well during

the last couple of months,

 I was still really surprised 

when they called to say it had sold 

after only a couple of days.

Why?

No special show and

it was still on the floor 

propped against

a chair leg!

The only reason I am relating this 

is because I hear some artists getting

 all hung up about what they perceive to 

be a poor placement

of their painting

 in a show or gallery

but, I have been everywhere

in many different galleries...

in  the back room, 

the corridor, dark corners, 

even left out for days on a patio...

BUT

all it takes is for the right person to see it.

Because when someone sees a painting 

that resonates in their heart

 they will usually buy it or remember it.

That is why the internet has opened

up such wonderful opportunities

for artists and especially the ones 

who cannot find an established gallery

or place to show their work.

A far larger audience gives 

artists a much better chance to be seen.

There is a discussion about not needing

galleries now with the internet. 

I think for some that may be true 

but I want galleries to survive 

because there is nothing

like actually putting your eyes close up 

to the painting and absorbing the 

artists technique.

Any thoughts?