Wave Runner

6x6 oil on panel
$450 framed

Available at dk Gallery
  Wow my days are just flying by. I haven't had a chance to pick up a brush this week though I made some yummy and creative caramel apples this morning. Once the Halloween festivities are over, and Harvest Festival at school this weekend, I am sure things will settle down nicely. Remember those carefree days at beach not too long ago?

Wading In

8x8 oil on panel
$375 
Email me

Did some paint sketches today to play and loosen up a little. I'm working on paintings for a show (more on that later) and feel a little pressure to be perfect - and sometimes that means tight and serious. Sometimes its so good to squint, paint fast, mass in, suggest and leave things unrefined. I highly recommend it in fact.

Saturday is the last day this month that we will offer lessons on sketching at Joel's Coffee House in NW Austin. Do come and join me and V....Vaughan for some practice with painted or pencil sketches. 9 a.m. start, $20 and we can provide supplies and chocolate, coffee and tea!

Treasur Seeker

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

Giddy

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

Gorgeous day in Austin today! Had a leisurely lunch at an outdoor dining area in the Domain, strolled an outdoor art festival, listened to some live music and enjoyed family time. Not a day at the beach, but a close second. :-)

Leading Edge

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
sold

Back from Loretta Goodwin Gallery's Tiny Treasures show which was held over from the holidays. I will have several more of these small beach scenes to share in the coming days.

Beach Girl

8x10 oil on paper
$125 incl. shipping
PURCHASE

Even with 30 minutes on the timer, I think I put too much info in the water and waves. I think had it been more graphic or solid in color it would have made the figure stand out more and been less busy.

Also - she appears very, very red (rock lobster) on my computer, but she isn't so in the painting. Can't make the red less intense.

Catch and Release

10x8 oil on paper
$125 including priority shipping (US)
sold

I've been trying to come up with a new way to create paintings for my blog again - for art collectors on a budget (and aren't we all these days, really?) I just can't paint those little canvases though. I find that they cause me to tighten up which could not be more frustrating for me. I've done 'sketches' on paper before and I like the results and the room to be expressive.

The paper is 9x12 and I am taping off the sizes I want to paint so there is a white border around the painting. The paper is substantial enough to stand up to the paint, its coated, acid free and it has a slight weave like canvas. While the works are larger, they aren't going to compete with my gallery work. I'm limiting myself to 30 minutes on these, and I can't tell you what a great exercise it is for me. A digital timer is the best tool in the studio. More on that later.

And finally, here are some fun ideas I've found while surfing the web for those of you who buy small paintings or my works on paper and want to display them creatively and cheaply.

1. Clipboards

2. Wooden hangers

3. Clips

4. Or you can easily get a ready made from with glass any home decor or craft store

Leading Edge

6x6 oil on panel

Available at Loretta Goodwin Gallery

This is available at the gallery for their Tiny Treasures show which opens Thursday night in Birmingham. The last month has been such a whirlwind that I am not sure if I posted this already or not! If its a repeat... sorry. The fans at Daily Paintworks won't have seen it yet. I've joined that online gallery site finally. And I gave my blog a little facelift too today.

Sorry about my rant the other day. I was overwhelmed, but things settled down nicely this week and I've been able to focus on a new project in the studio. While excited about a new idea, I'm at a loss for creating these small works for the blog/online galleries. I really struggle with finding a subject to fit on this small format. But I can't paint larger and offer those at low prices. I'm trying to find a new project idea for the blog to get my juices going and provide fans with affordable, collectible art. Its still very important to me to do that. Heck, I can't afford most of the art I'd like to have - being able to buy small pieces and books from my favorite artists is wonderful.

I know that the subject has to be simple, a single figure works best. Beach scenes. I might become the "beach scene blogger." The weird thing is, I paint loosely and quickly. You'd think a small format would be ideal for simplifying. That is my challenge. And maybe I ought to embrace that and work on it.

In Her Tube

6x6 oil on panel
$125 + s/h
PURCHASE

Another view of the little tuber, playing in the waves at Siesta Key Beach. This year we're not going to vacation in FL because I bought one of those living social deals to COZUMEL! We haven't traveled abroad in many years - and our daughter has never been out of the country, so I've been busy getting our passports renewed and getting the child's first ever. She is so excited. I am not sure how much traditional Mexican scenery I will find, but I'm sure to enjoy the beaches and snorkeling. Now, if I can only figure out our summer vacation schedule! I have to work around my parents who will be joining us, my hubby's work, my trip to NYC :), summer camps and a trip to see our IN family and meet our new nephew! No problem.

Totally Tubular

6x6 oil on panel
$125 + s/h
PURCHASE

I'm taking a vacation... in my studio! I wanted to get back to painting regularly and thought I'd start on some uncomplicated and fun scenes to warm up! Beach pics are a good start.

Beach Sketches

pages from my sketchbook

Double Dog Dare

10x12
oil on panel

What fun! Fun to paint and fun to remember the scene. You can almost hear them taunting and goading each other. These two were on Siesta Key beach practicing with their skimboard.

This painting is going to Carmel By The Sea, California. I am really excited to share the news that I am joining Edward Montgomery Fine Art Gallery. My paintings should be there early next week. I wish I could go with them. Soon!

Art to Heart '08

Bucket Brigade
12x12 oil on panel

I thought I'd make a note about an upcoming art auction where the above painting is going.

The event, Art to Heart, is to benefit Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center in Wilmington, NC. And the young ladies who founded the program are two sisters, one of whom has a rare heart condition and recently had surgery to correct the problems. To give back to the children's hospital where she had her treatment and raise awareness for the recognition of Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome, they are having what may turn out to be an amazing art auction. So far nearly 100 fine artists have contributed work for the event which is to be Friday, November 7 at the Balcony on Dock Street in Wilmington.

Heart problems run in my family, so fundraising efforts to increase awareness and treatment both for preventable and genetic heart health issues are close to home and I couldn't say no to these young women's efforts. Its ironic that I sent the painting today, and tomorrow I am going in early for a test on my heart to check for a leaking valve or other issues. One never knows.

Beach Sketch

pencil with watercolor wash

What more enjoyable pastime could there be than playing in the beautiful white sands of a gulf coast beach? This time, the white of the paper is pretty darn close to the actual sand color.