Temple Bottle with Irish Pear

Since taking private painting mentoring classes with Abbey Ryan, I've grown to love painting handmade pottery. It is so inspiring for me to see our landscape appear in the highlight, and it is always a challenge for me to paint.

Don't forget to wear green tomorrow! Wishing you a happy St. Patrick's Day!

Simplicity

Available for Purchase

I was inspired by the way the dappled sunlight fell across this single pomegranate. I painted this piece in December, but I wasn't sure about posting it. Sometimes, I have to look at things for a while to decide if they are finished. In the end (at least for today), I like the simplicity and quietness of the moment.

It has been a chilly day here, but winter sunsets make up for the cold. Ours was so pretty this evening. I hope your week is off to a great beginning!

Temple Bottle with Red Onion and Crape Myrtle Berries

Available for Purchase

This is another beautiful bottle from Jury Smith's Bottle and Bowl collection.  It sparkled like a tiny gem in the early autumn light.  Such fun to paint!

I hope you're having a wonderful week!

Sun Ripened Tomato

Private Collection - New York

A very sweet neighbor shared his tomato crop with us, and they are so good!  I love to grow flowers, but I can't grow a decent tomato to save my life.  Thank goodness for generous friends!

I hope you're having a great week!

Overboard

I finished this painting just as the afternoon light began to fade, so I am posting late.

It was 106º here today. Even Rodeo looked hot. Whew!

I hope you're having a great week!

Abiquiu Bowl with Apples

I found this handmade bowl at a little shop in Abiquiu. It is imperfect and irregular. And I love it. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Have a great weekend!

January's Fruit

After wiping my canvas panels for several days, I finally have a finished painting to show for my efforts.  Whew!

I hope you're having a great Monday!

Out of Bounds

This will be the last of my Pink Lady paintings for a while.  Planning to enjoy them in a warm apple crisp this evening.

I hope you're having an awesome Monday!

Pink Lady Trio

Today is a busy one, but I was determined to sneak in a little painting time.  Now, it's time to get started on my "To Do" list.  I hope you have a great Sunday!

Every Little Thing (Sold)

I was trying to explain the method I use for drawing ellipses to a friend today, and it sounded so much more complicated than it is to draw.  So, I'm attaching a couple of my preliminary sketches from today's painting.

Initially, I sketch the ellipse in as a rectangle, and then, I divide it both vertically and horizontally.  Once you have it segmented, it is easy to draw the ellipse within the rectangle.  The bottom portion should be the exact reverse of the top portion.  And the left should be the reverse of the right.

With your OMS, you can remove the initial rectangle and refine the ellipse as you paint.  I hope these rough sketches help to illustrate the idea.  Carol Marine graciously shared this method with us at a workshop I attended several years ago.  There are mathematical formulas available online that will help you accomplish the same thing, but this one is so much more simple.  I don't know about you, but when I sit down to paint, math is the last thing I want to think about!

Have a great Saturday!

Pink Lady

Gray and chilly here today.  It was a nice day to be inside painting.  I hope your week is off to a nice beginning!

Tea-Berry Blend (Sold)

I finished late today.  Whew!  I may need to do a little more tweaking on this painting, but it is basically complete.

I hope your Saturday evening is a relaxing one!

Strawberry Shadows

Private Collection - New York

I painted early today.  I think that I'm ready to get the weekend started.  I hope you have a great one!

Strawberry Tea

Photographing this piece took longer than painting it.  My apologies for the little bit of glare on the background.  Once it dries, I will try again.

The sunshine is beckoning me now.  It's time for a walk.  Have a great day, everyone!

paires de fraise

Sunny and gorgeous here today.  And the thermometer is inching slowly above freezing.  It looks to be a great day for a long walk with Rodeo and putting away the last remnants of Christmas.

Have a wonderful day!

Snow-Kissed

Our new year has been chilly but beautiful.  Today's sunshine melted the last drifts of our Christmas snow.  As always, I'm a little melancholy to see the holidays go but happy to greet 2013.  Wishing you a very blessed year ahead.  Happy New Year!

The Little Chick in Red

Hi there! I am happy to report that the Traveling Chicken and her glamorous entourage arrived safely in Texas! From the looks of the box, she underwent a most thorough examination in Customs. However, her sterling reputation as an international ambassador of creative good will (and fun!) must have preceded her. They carefully wrapped her back up and sent her on her way!

SOLD

After a leisurely morning of tea and scones, she graciously posed for me yesterday afternoon. She seems to favor a vintage tea towel, and I can't say that I blame her. She looks stunning in red! A while ago, I purchased this tiny, 4-inch wooden panel, and I hadn't found just the right subject for it. When I unpacked the little Traveling Chicken, though, I knew she was it!

In the spirit of the holiday season, I'm going to start her auction on Daily Paintworks at $1.00. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to fellow painter, Azra's, favorite charity. She was the one that started this very fun tradition, so I think it is only fitting! Thank you, Azra!

The Traveling Chicken Blog

Cherum

I'm wiping a lot of paintings lately, but I am vowing to persevere.  In the meantime, all of your beautiful paintings are keeping me feeling inspired!

I hope you all have a great holiday weekend ahead.  Happy painting!

The Storyteller

SOLD

Lifeguard

SOLD