"Why Not 'Queen Me!'?" oil on masonite 6x6"

Yep, you guessed it.  This is my contribution to the challenge for December.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy still life set up and objects that no one expects to have a likeness to the subject.  I also had forgotten how difficult it is for some of us to paint squares and circles!  I guess that counts as their "likeness"

"Puzzle" 6x6" oil on masonite

This is the first to be offered at $99. plus shipping with $25 going to Susan G. Komen

"Hank's Wine" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

"Picture Perfect" oil on masonite 6x6"

Dogs don't come a lot more beautiful than this one.

"Seriously!" oil on masonite 6x6"

oh what a queen this one is!

"Never Too Old" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

"I Just Won't" oil on masonite 6x6"

This kitty belongs to a friend of mine.  I'm thinking she may be quite the stunner.

"Throw The Dog a Bone" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

oil on masonite 8x8" NFS

This is a portrait I'm working on for a good friend of mine.  It's a surprise for someone else so I have not met this little guy.  However, after staring into his face all day I feel like I know him.  He has the softest look about him.  If he were a person I'd say he had an old soul.

"Not Another Time Out!" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

Okay!  I admit it.  I'm a sucker for black, white and tan dogs.  Look at those "eyebrows"!  This pup is so beautiful.  My guess is, like Ollie the cat, you will be seeing more of him.
I recently self published a compilation of my paintings.  Ross (husband) wants me to do another of my cat and dog paintings.  He thinks it would be a fun coffee table book.  Opinions?

"Red Flag" oil on masonite 8x10" November Challenge

This was my contribution to the November challenge.  You have no idea how hard it was to stop painting on a piece that begged for more.  I'm not unhappy with the final piece but would have loved to push it further.  Who knows!  more painting may have destroyed it.  I've been known to go off the edge of the cliff on occasion.  Nothing like having to scrape off hours of work because you didn't know when to stop.

"Home Alone" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

There was just something about this adorable face.

"Can You See Me Now?" oil on masonite 6x6"

Shhhhhhhhhhh!  don't tell but this cat does not belong to me.  My Ollie would be most offended if he knew someone else had a stars role today.
I actually did 2 paintings today.  The other one is part of a painting challenge group I have joined.  Each month is a new "challenge" picked by one of the members.  This month it was to set a timer for 30 minutes and when it rings PUT YOUR PAINT BRUSH DOWN!  Well let me tell you!  that was the fastest 30 minutes I ever spent.The group doesn't post until the 15th so you'll just have to wait to see

"Sarah and Chucks" oil on masonite NFS

I "met" this delightfully, funny, smart woman on Facebook.  Her name is Sarah and she has a passion for art and "Chucks".  Don't know what they are?  I didn't either.  Not a term I had heard used for Converse tennis shoes in the Northwest.  These are what I suspect are just a couple of her stash.  She had a birthday recently and I think it's only fitting that she have this painting.

"Going Green" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

This is my little grand dog Otis.  My son has a pool and Otis LOVES to accidentally lose his floating green ball on a regular basis.  He's an adorable little Blue Healer.  I think he may be 12 this year.  His age only shows when its convenient for him.  Out of no where he will burst into a flurry of puppy play then the next moment he's hobbling off to nap.

"I Am All That" oil o masonite 10x10"

This is my cat, Ollie.I would paint him every day.  Biased? yes.  But I think he's BEAUTIFUL

"The Wait" oil on masonite 12x12" SOLD

Finally!  I've been waiting for my new camera to post this painting.  It's only the first one but I think the quality is better and I'm very anxious to get some new paintings up and running.
I just want to pluck this guy off the page and hug him.  That's probably the result of being a dog free zone at this juncture.  Oh well, I have the neighbors pups.

"Candy Hicks, Shidoni" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

My husband has shown his sculpture at Shidoni in New Mexico since 1989.  Tommy Hicks is not only the owner but a wonderful friend.  During our visit this summer we met little Miss Candy.  She is a most loyal devotee.  She prances her little body next to Tommy's golf cart as if she were guarding a king.  In many ways she is.

"Wine Country" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

Ross and I recently took our first trip to Walla Walla, Washington to go on a "wine tour" with the wine group we meet with.  We have the least knowledge in the group so we some times would get distracted with other things.  For instance, almost all the wineries have Venetian plaster work somewhere in their interiors.  The first place I saw it I ended up in a full body rub of the wall.  It was so cold and smooth! and an amazing visual effect.  Then there was the view some of the property afforded!  all those plants forced into strict formation just put your eyes into overload.

"Liberty" oil on masonite 6x6"

This was one of those paintings that you just keep fussing with.  Not because it get too difficult but because you're having fun.  Little did I know my lettering skills were so shoddy.

"At the Tasty Freeze" oil on masonite 6x6"

I've been thinking about this image for a long time.  The day was so gray I wasn't sure I could make it interesting.  Actually pleases me a lot.

"The Pups of Abeja" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

I met these little darlings on a recent visit to the outstanding winery Abeja in Walla Walla, Washington.  They belong to John and his partner Molly.  They were everywhere we went but amazingly never under foot.

"Sarah's Beauty" oil on masonite 6x6"

Available from the artist or on Ebay

I've been working on a larger piece for 3 days.  I finally gave in to the realization that it was never going to be a successful painting.  Palette knife and turpentine to the rescue.  This little piece gave me the much needed satisfaction I was after.  Real life or in a painting, dogs always make us feel better about ourselves.

"At The Ready" oil on masonite 6x6" SOLD

This may be the final one of this series.  The three sitting there together in the studio make a wonderful trio.  Since I'm so partial to red they may end up framed and hanging in our house.  Ask me tomorrow.

"Bow Check" oil on masonite 6x6"

This series hasn't progressed at all like I imagined it in my head. The challenges have been in places I least expected. However, the over all effect makes me smile so I guess that's the right path.

"The Tune Up" oil on masonite 6x6"

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380259189465&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT A lot has happened since I last painted on a consistant basis. My husband took a full time teaching position at a college as well as taking charge of the gallery at the same college. Might not mean much to you but it meant I had to find a way to absorb the chores he used to do. No one is more dedicated to what they do than he is so it only seemed appropriate that I do whatever I could to allow him to shine. I've missed the studio and all the wonderful contacts that painting has afforded me. However, I have a whole new appreciation for our garden. When you have 5 acres and almost 3 of it is landscaped there is a never ending list of things needing to be done. I no longer dread them. Hauling pails of water to needy plants that are beyond the reach of hoses has become almost rhythmic. However, things are somewhat under control and I see myself, brush in hand, indulging my own fantasy. I may even paint the garden! An author of garden books brought a tour through on Wednesday. She guides tours all over the world. She took me aside to tell me that, in her opinion, we have one of the top 10 gardens anywhere that they visit. WHO KNEW???

"Setting the Bar" oil on masonite

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"Garden Queen" oil on masonite 4x4"

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"Get Real!" oil on canvas 8x10"

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"The Other Bluehair" oil on masonite

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"Ticker" oil on masonite 5x7"

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This marvelous little Blue Healer belongs to my neighbor. He was a rescue dog. He's amazingly smart. He also likes to talk (bark). I've actually gotten to where I worry if he doesn't greet me with some persistant woofing. I really yearn for him to warm up to me more.

"Ollie and Me" oil on masonite 5x5"

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"Bubble Up" oil on masonite

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Don't we all remember this?

"Prep Work" oil on masonite

The Neighbors Barn oil on masonite

This poor barn keeps losing pieces like a set of legos. I guess someday it will tumble over all together. Until then I will selfish soak in the delightful visions that it presents.