a spot of reflective solitude

oil on canvas board
8 X 8

peaceful pastural scene

oil on canvas
8X10

tropic get away

oil on canvas board
5X 7

'berry' delightful spoonful

One of my more recent creations. Sort of whimsical in nature. A spoonful of sweet indulgence.

oil, 4X4 gallery wrapped canvas
Ready to hang.

My plans for this one is a spot on the wall in my kitchen setting area. I have an assortment of food related still life's I plan to hang in a random arrangement. Goal is to have it up prior to my holiday guest arrival.

Cat Lover's Bracelet - original design

This bracelet was made for a co-workers birthday gift, as you would guess she loves cats. I found these Czech glass beads - cat heads and amber colored fish at the Houston Bead Society's - Annual Bead & Jewelry Show held mid November. The show was spectacular... so much to see.

The Latest Creative Adventure - BEADING

This is a photo of my first beading creation. The beads in this bracelet and earring set are Czech glass beads. I find myself really attracted to the Czech glass, for their beauty, sparkle & shine. There price is a bit more economical for me in the beginning stages of this new hobby. I stumbled upon a quaint little bead store in old town Katy in mid October of this year and 'wa-la' it seems I'm hooked. The shop owner, was so gracious to show me some basics and answers many of my questions.

Decorative Painting Creations

Was in my studio today, working on some scrap-book pages when I ran across these photos from a few years back, March 2006 when I'd taken a decorative painting class through Katy Independent School District Community Ed. The first picture is of all the projects completed during the class. The class is called DecoArt - Decorative Painting for Everyone. The second photo was taken on the evening of my last class - it's me with my instructor - Shar Gilman.

Art in the Afternoon

Another Art in the Afternoon masterpiece. This rendition of a quail was done a few years back utilizing pastel and color pencil, some chalks were also used. The art instructor for the afternoon is the gifted and talented Elizabeth Linder.

Mother & Daughter - Art in the Afternoon

Several years ago, my daughter and I took a class together with a group at our church. A small group of women gathered under the direction of an artistically gifted women who shared her love of art and teaching. As a group we all followed her step by step and at the end of the afternoon we each had a completed oil painting. The top painting is my daughters and the lower painting mine. The scene in the painting as I recall was from a lake or river in the Texas Hill Country. Gazing at the painting reminds me of the wonderful time the two of us spent together enjoying a commonly shared passion.

A stand of birch . . . .
8X10, oil on canvas board
completed 3/17/10

An appealing pair (of pears)
5X7 oil on canvas board
completed 3/3/10

Springtime in Texas

9 X 12
oil on canvas board
completed 5/19/2010

Serenity on the Mediterranean

oil on canvas board

impressionistic garden scene

oil on canvas board
This painting became pretty impressionistic by the time I finished it.
It was a class project from a few years ago. The reference picture we used was from a water color painting. In the original the figure was that of a woman, I took the liberty to make mine a young girl.

up up and away

5X7 oil on canvas board

This was a quick study I did in two class sessions.

It was fun and enjoyable.

five orange fish

This is the painting I'd been working on in class, see previous post.
Finally finished it, I learned a great deal about the use of color glazes. This project taught me about layering color, somewhat of a watercolor technique utilizing oils. My eyes kept playing tricks on me while doing this one. What was under the water and what was above? To be honest it looks a lot better than what I'd anticipated, there were so many new techniques to master.
Details: oil, 8X10 on canvas board.

midwest rural scene

oil on canvas board
This was a class paint along project from a few years ago.

at painting class

check it out. . .

I'm working on a painting of orange carp (coy) fish swimming in a rock lined stream or pond. We are learning how to use glazes to build the color layer by layer.

majestic, yet tranquil landscape

oil on canvas board, 12 X 8

This is another class project, can't remember when I did this one. Might be a good idea to document that on the flip side for future reference. As I recall, I rather enjoyed doing this one it came together rather quickly, finished in two possibly three class periods.

in season

My newest endeavor. . . .
I'm currently working on what I have titled the pepper project. I'd began this last September, letting it slide to the wayside for the remainder of 2009. Just recently I've started back on them with my return to painting class this January. My self imposed goal is to learn the blending of colors, I want it to become second nature. What better way to learn . . repetition, repetition, repetition. I still have some more work on all four canvases. I must admit I'm struggling with the green colors a bit. My hope is to have them all finished up by the end of this month.