Coffee Break

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $10 s/h via Paypal - sold
I really did not think I could pull this off... it was so involved for such a small space. But I think it ultimately worked out well once I determined to work through the ugly phase.

Bestseller

7x5 oil on clayboard - sold

Another in my coffee shop series. This is in Borders cafe - a great place to relax and leaf through magazines or dive into the latest bestseller.

Coffee With a Friend

7x5 oil on clayboard - sold

Friends in a coffee shop. This was from my sketching day at Starbucks last week? I can't remember... that was before this morning! Anyway, I think I will continue this theme with the other sketches this week. Stay tuned!

Lady Writer - Blue Mood

5x7 oil on panel

$100 + $10 s/h via Paypal

Lady Writer

7x5 oil on board - sold

This lady was sitting in such a perfect spot. It was fun to paint so I did it again, in a different set of colors. I will post that tomorrow. Below are examples of how I planned this painting. I rarely do a grayscale painting, but often do thumbnails. Today I was really concentrating on color and values which is why I tried this scene in another color composition. Check back tomorrow to see it!

Sweet Thing

12x8 oil on panel - nfs
My daughter in her tea dress. This was my husband's birthday gift.

Comfort Zone

5x7 oil on board - sold
I was in a summer mood today - even winter in Texas feels too long for me! I feel badly for the people in the midwest. Hopefully the sun will be shining down on all today.

Grand Dining Room

12x12 oil on panel
One of several special dining rooms in the Driskill hotel. I felt lucky to see it ready laid for an event. The glowing lamps and plush carpet gave the room a very dignified and quiet feel. I would have enjoyed dinner in here very much. But who I really picture dining here are oil and cattle barons with their big cigars and whiskeys.

Sketches

And now, for something completely different. I do not ever watercolor. And this is by no means true to the art... just some sketches I was playing with today. I took a break from my real work today because I'm in a rut of sorts and wanted to try something new. First, I went to the nearby Starbucks and sat in there with my sketchbook. Those were just ink gesture drawings but I enjoyed the practice (and the hot cocoa). And then I came home and thought I'd try some ink sketches with color... sort of like a friend of mine, Terri Wells, creates...do check out her work. MY "watercolors" are my daughter's little plastic trays... so that explains the colors. But I worked on compositions here that I want to paint in oils. So it was good practice and a nice change. These were done while I watched a Ken Auster DVD which was brilliant. According to him, not liking your own work is a sign that you are growing. Your eye is becoming more refined but it takes awhile for your hand to catch on. So my "rut" is perhaps a good thing! lol

Lunch Crowd at Jo's

5x7 oil on clayboard
$100 + $10 s/h via Paypal - sold
I've wanted to tackle this kind of silhouette image for awhile and really enjoyed the outcome. This is in Jo's Coffeehouse/restaurant on second street. The windows are framed with green and that, coupled with the trees outside, lend rather a yellow-green light to the front interior, the light reflects nicely off the aluminum countertop too. I like the casualness with which people wait for their orders to come up. I suppose if you're waiting for a good cup of coffee, its a pleasure.(note: as usual, the digital representation does not do justice to the actual painting)

Out to Lunch

7x5, oil on clayboard

$100 + $10 s/h via Paypal - sold

I spotted this woman heading into the Littlefield building and I loved her skirt and the light playing on the brass doors.

Love At First Sight

12x12 oil on gessoboard

This painting is based on a small one I posted here awhile ago. It is for an auction benefiting the Lutheran Social Services "New Life" home for girls. The benefit is Feb. 17th at Barton Creek Resort.