Single Stem Sunflower

Single Stem Sunflower  14"x 11"  oil

Balsam has started blooming in a few places here and they look like sunflowers, so it started me thinking about them. We have April showers and surely someone out there is planting sunflower seeds in little starter pots? Always one of my favorite subjects.

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Setting Over Water

Setting Over Water   oil   18"x18"

I had in mind a zigzag of color through the sky in this composition. Using a photo and sketch from a sky in B.C., the clouds were alternately dense and transparent and I liked that effect.

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Streamside

Streamside   oil   11"x14"

This painting will be a donation for a fundraising auction to support The Palouse chapter of the American Fisheries Society . The auction is in April and you can check out their site and find out more about their work at  www.cnr.uidaho.edu/afs .

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Desert Color

Desert Color  8"x10"  oil
This is a workshop painting from a class taken with DanYoung at SAS. We painted in the desert about an hour from Scottsdale. I liked this for it's immeadiacy and close values. It's tempting out in all that bright sun to paint everything either too dark or light...and can be very deceiving!! Pin It

Just Peachy

Just Peachy   oil    12"x12" 

Here's one similar to the apple branches that I've posted. It's a peach branch, but the fruit is in that stage of not quite ripeness, so the peaches had combinations of cool and warm yellow tones to play with. I also painted with softer edges on this one, it seemed right for the subject.

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Fly Tying Two

Fly Tying Two    8"x10"  oil

Here's a second take on the subject matter used in tying flies. It's interesting to compose with these almost abstract shapes and colors. The feather edges can be sharp, hidden, or blended and suggest alot of possibilities.

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Tying Flies

Tying Flies    11"x14"   oil

Here are more feathers, this time from my husbands fly tying table.

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Jewel Toned Rooster

Jewel Toned Rooster   12x12"  oil

I've been working on dark toned panels and the colors here turned out particularly vibrant. It does force me to use more paint. I used to use gouache on black for a really graphic style and haven't played with it for a long time, but this is similar. Judging value and color against black is an interesting change.

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Hollyhock Garden

Hollyhock Garden   10"x8"   oil    sold

More Hollyhocks, this time with a softer approach in both color and edges.

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Sunflower Sketch

Sunflower Sketch  oil  14"x 11" sold

This started as a burnt umber sketch, then I put in the opaque paint to lighten and emphasize the area around the sunflowe only.  I enjoy working this way and have generally been working off of darker backgrounds lately.

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Apple Branch in Green

Apple Branch in Green  12"x9"  oil

I have a selection of photos that are just fruit and flower branches. They are another favorite and in this one, I like the center of interest being just that spot of light . The limited color also works for me here.

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Rooster of a Different Kind

Rooster of a Different Kind   9"x9"  oil

This is a pottery rooster that belongs to my mother. It sits with several other colorful bowls and things in the kitchen. I'm sure I get my love of color from her, especially red .

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Scarlet Gerbera

Scarlet Gerbera  14"x11" oil

I bought this inviting Gerbera daisy stem on an impulse because of the color. Then, when I got home twisted the wire stem into the glass for the set-up. I think I enjoyed painting the twisty bit as much as the blossom on this one.

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