I am so pleased to have been awarded the First Place Award as an emerging artist, in the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod Members Show this past weekend!  This painting is one of a series that I am doing featuring my oldest and dearest college friends who meet yearly on Amelia Island in Florida.  We have met every year since 2009.  I wanted to capture the joy that we feel as we keep our 40 year friendship alive each year!  

I am grateful for the kind comments of the judge regarding my painting:  

"I’m there: indeed, one of the figures is looking at and sharing the joke with me! This is an instance where the artist’s ability to completely capture a moment, and bring the viewer with her, tips the scale in favor of this painting. Combined with complex and accurate but completely natural drawing that manages to convey the ease of the figures; a somewhat rough style that suits the grittiness of a beach and perhaps some windy conditions; the portrayal of cloudy-bright midday light, which is difficult to do well; and the nice directional movement that adds liveliness to the painting, The Happy Place takes first place and makes me happy, too. 

Here is the link to the show:https://ppscc.org/exhibitions/ 

I am pleased that this little fella was accepted into the North River Arts Focus on Figures show.  

 

A Party of Apples with a Couple of Wall Flowers

Fruit Salad #1

Fruit Salad #2

I haven't done many still life paintings but that is changing.  Still life is a great way to do small studies that don't move and can be done rain or shine!  I did a series of fruit during the pandemic in acrylic, two of which are shown here, and just recently did the top painting in oil.  I am appreciative of the photo reference provided by Unsplash photographer Garreth Paul.  I loved the dramatic lighting.
 

Duxbury Beach Waves in the Setting Sun #2

We were at the beach for one of the last comfortable evenings of the summer.  The sun setting in the west put warm light on waves rolling in from the east.  I took picture after picture of the beauty hoping that it would carry me through the winter.  

 Can't get enough of the Beach in September...

The October wind is blowing and we say good-bye to the last days of summer.  I visited our beach an evening two weeks ago and the waves were crashing in against with the most beautiful translucency as the sun beginning to set.   I clicked away hoping to revisit these images during the winter months for a breath of summer.

Thank you for viewing.

Painting, Painting, Painting!

I have spent many years painting part-time, mainly doing portrait commissions, while also working as a Financial Aid Counselor at a local community college.  While I LOVE portraits and portrait commissions, I yearned for more time at the easel to stretch myself creatively in other directions as well. 

I am thrilled to now be fruitfully painting full-time every day!   This was one of the sliver linings of the past several sheltered years.  I began working from home like many people, which allowed me to paint and study more through the many on-line events and offerings that became available.  Eventually I felt it was time to leave my "day" job to be able to finally pursue painting full-time!  What a gift and such a joy!

I have been immersing myself in the last days of summer by painting seascapes.  I am so happy to share my painting journey going forth!  Thank you for visiting!

Seascape No. 1

Pounce and Prance

I just spent the most delightful 2 days with my great niece, Regan, a sweet budding artist!  We had a sleep over together with another fellow artist- my daughter, Callie.

Regan is 8 years old and loves painting.   After she painted a picture for me for Christmas, we decided that we needed some time to paint together.  When she visits, she often digs through the collection of old Beanie Babies from my kid's childhood.  She picked out two favorites to take home this time so we decided they would be the subject for our first painting:  "Pounce and Prance".  I worked in pastel and Regan worked with acrylic paint.  Callie also worked with acrylics but didn't have time to finish hers.  We had a ball!

The joy Regan (and Callie) displays while painting brought me such joy as well.   Thank you, Regan!