My first canvas painting done in Michigan titled "Mare and Foal #3"

Here is the first painting on canvas that I have done since my move to Michigan.  I decided to do another version of a painting I have done twice before.  Both paintings sold when I was living in Arizona.  I thought it would be a good one to do here because horse lovers are everywhere and we live in the middle of farm country.  I call it "Mare and Foal #3" because it is the third version of this subject matter. I will also post photos of the other paintings I did. Each has a different title and I will explain why I chose each name.  Here is the newest one.

I thought it would show nicely in this rustic frame.  I wanted to stick to the brown tones but decided to add accents of teal.  It seems that is a very popular color in this area. I'm not sure where I will show this painting but it is ready when an opportunity comes along.

This is the first one I did which was for a SAAG exhibition called "Double Exposure".  The premise of the show was for photographers to submit a photo which was then given to an artist to use as inspiration for a painting done in their own style.  I was paired up with Mary Nation who took the photo posted below.  It was titled "Mother and Foal"  which is what I called my painting.

When I sold the painting  at an exhibition I did in Sun City Oro Valley I decided to do another version to show at the SAAG Gallery.  It also sold.  Here it is.

I titled this one "Queen and her Prince".  I decided on that name because of the gold frame and the use of gold in the painting itself. I thought it gave the painting a royal look.

I am able to do many versions of the same painting because I do my original drawing on tracing paper.  I keep these patterns and can reuse them by transferring them onto the canvas using transfer paper.  I do this instead of having prints made of my art.  This way every painting I sell is an original  hand painted piece of art.  Even though I am using the same pattern no two paintings are exactly the same.

Mr. Hoots in Boots

My 16 year old grand-daughter bought this cute owl and asked me to paint him.  Her stipulations were that he be very colorful and that his boots be red. She did not want to see him while I was working on him.  She wanted to wait until he was finished.  I am happy to say she was thrilled with what I did with him.  I named him Mr. Hoots in Boots. Here are before and after photos.

I had started working on an abstract ostrich egg before I did Mr. Hoots and went back and forth between the two.  I painted on one while waiting for paint to dry on the other.  Once I got to the design part I concentrated on finishing Mr. Hoots.  I am now working on the designs on the egg but will also start work on the background of a new 11X14 painting.

I'm finding I don't have as much time to paint since we made the move here to MI.  There is so much work to do on getting the house remodeled and we are spending a lot of time with family.  I'm glad we enjoy  the remodeling process and see it as way of creating the vision of what we want our home to be. Our art is taking a back seat right now but that is okay. We moved here to be close to family and feel it is a blessing to be able to spend time with them.

 I set up a temporary work area until we find time to finish off the basement into two efficient studios.  One will be my painting shop and the other for my husband's stained glass shop.  In the mean time I am stuck with a makeshift work area with no sink which means I have to make trips up and down the stairs every time I need water. Along with no sink, is the problem of finding things.  Everything is all in a jumble.  Until I have a place to put things they remain in boxes or on the temporary shelves and workbench.  What a mess!

 I will post a few pictures of what the basement looks like now.  Stuff is everywhere and many boxes need to be unpacked or stored.  It is like trying to work in a war zone. I'm guessing it will take us a year or more of work to get the studios we dream of.  These are the "before" photos.  It will be a happy day when I can post the "after" photos.

Fruit Paintings from the past

I have not had much time to paint since we made the move to MI.  I am busy with doing things for the house and also doing things for family.  For that reason I am posting paintings that I have done in the past.  I am considering doing new versions of these paintings in the future.  I think they will show well here in MI.  Here are some of what I call my "Tootie Frootie" collection.

"Berries and Blossoms"

"Geometric Fruit"

"Red Delicious"

"Yellow and Green Fruit"

I want to mention that all of these paintings have been sold.

I have a small painting project that I hope to work on in my spare time.  It is an ostrich egg that I plan to decorate with a colorful abstract design.  I'll post a photo when I get it done.