Anticipation 12 x 9 on Panel

I have wanted to paint another birds nest after the one I painted at the workshop a few months ago. The antique teal wine vase is one of my favorites and I haven't painted it in awhile. I wanted to use the spa, and beige combination in this painting since those colors still seem popular in home furnishings.

Serenity 16 x 12 on Panel

I purchased this vase at my favorite home decor store Parsons. They have great vases for my paintings. I wanted this to have the feel of Simplicity and Tranquillity. Every time I think of the name Serenity I think of the Seinfeld episode "Serenity Now." It always brings a smile to my face. I wish Seinfeld was still on prime time, but I guess I will just have to enjoy the repeats.

Southwest Dreaming 20 x 16 on Panel

I recently purchased the vase on the left from my coworker. The other large vase is also one that he gave me as a gift. The small bowl my aunt made. All of the vases have a southwestern feel to them. I named this painting Southwest Dreaming because I have been entering the HGTV Dream Home everyday. Every year I enter and so far not even a small prize, but I keep dreaming that I am going to win. This year the house is located in New Mexico and it has a great location to many well known artists. It would be a great place to live if you are an artist! Well for now I will enter everyday and keep dreaming.

Lemon Wedges with Bowl- SOLD 6 x 6 on Panel

I just found out that this was the third painting that sold at the show at the Swan Coach House Gallery. Thank you for your purchase.

Vase and Pears 12 x 16 on Panel

I decided once again to paint one of my favorite vases that people seem to love. It is still a challenge every time I paint it. You would think I would have it down by now, but its different in every setup. I love the small pears that come out around December and they look good in paintings. Happy New Year to Everyone!

Beau 9 x 12 on Panel

This painting is of my late cat Beau Bear Bray. This is from a photo that I took years ago. I had started this painting and then had to put it away because it made me so sad. I was the 3rd owner of Beau. My childhood friend Gail gave him to me after having 3 boys. After she gave him to me I added my own version of his name. Beau loved Christmas. He loved the tree, presents and the Grinch stuffed animal under the tree. He thought he was invisible among the presents. As far as the Grinch I found out that he was fixed a little late in life from his first owner and therefore still had those feelings. So he liked stuffed animals, bolster pillows and a few other things around the house. It was quite funny. He was also the runt in his litter and had many health problems. A week after taking the picture of him his right eye became blood red and on New Year's Eve I spent the majority of the time at the emergency vet clinic. Come to find out Persians are susceptible to hypertension. His blood pressure was high and that caused his retina to detach. He ended up on blood pressure medicine. He later lost sight in that eye and eventually had to have it removed. He was then known at the vets as the one eyed cat. I think 2 years later his other eye did the same thing and I was just devastated. He lived another year or two blind and did quite well. The dog and my other cat looked out for him. So if you know anyone with a Persian Cat you may just want to forewarn them about blood pressure and their eyes.

Painting Beau was so difficult. I wanted to try and capture his look. He had a blank stare when I took the picture, probably because he thought he was a present. He was so perfect looking that it was hard to capture his eyes. I think I basically captured his overall look.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. Thank you Gail and Family for Beau!!!!

Chinese Lantern Plant 11 x 14 on Panel

For the last 2 summers I have been trying to grow Chinese Lantern Plants. David Leffel puts them in his still life paintings once and awhile and I wanted to try and paint them. This last summer I had them growing everywhere and finally had 2 small flowers one on of the plants. Well a bug got into all of them and all though I sprayed I never got any of the lanterns to grow. Then this fall I was in Whole Foods and they had fresh ones in the flower area. I was so excited to see them and bought a bunch. So now you will probably see them in future paintings. The white vase is a piece of pottery that I bought from Connie, who takes classes at Chastain Art Center. I had been eyeing this piece at the festival and thought about it for a month and finally ran into her to purchase it. It is a great piece of pottery and I really enjoyed painting it. I love how the blue ran and gave that vertical look to the piece. The reflection of the orange in the pottery was really a nice look.