"BLUE berries" oil on canvas approximately 20x30"

This is a little different in that the entire plate is visible.  There will probably be at least one more version.  It would be fun to see a cropped version side by side with this one.

"Breeze" oil on canvas approximately 20x30"

"Solo" oil on canvas approximately 20X30"

This plate is actually much lighter in color than I painted it.  Somewhere along the line as the layers were applied the palette hit this hue.  I was really taken with it so decided to cease and desist.

"Little Crabs" oil on canvas aproximately 20x30"

"Triplets?" oil on canvas approximately 20x30" SOLD

Some of the sharp, high reds didn't come through on this image.  I'm so glad to be back up posting that It barely bothers me.

"Honeysuckle" oil on canvas approx 20x30"

Some of you may remember when I started this series.  It has been quite a long time but something drew me back to them.  I am 4 or 5 into the new group and quite pleased with the outcome.  Leaving the small format has really been positive.  There will still be some small pieces coming but not dominating.

"Things To Come" oil on canvas 20x30"

This is another one of those ideas revisited.  They were fun at 6x6" or so but scaling up was a painting bonus.  Bigger brushes perform totally different.  I've got a couple of new ones out in the studio that have nothing in common with all the other brushes.  I can't wait for an opportunity to plop them down in a dollop of paint.
Then there are the blooms themselves.  The Pacific Northwest is a soggy mess right now.  It's nice to have the  flowers remind me of what's ahead.

"Tilly's Head Nudge" oil on hardboard 6x6"

The look on Bean's face is like "you're squashing my eye!"  Our maybe Tilly just wants to steal the show.  They're pretty darned adorable.

"Sweet Rosie Dreams" oil on canvas approximately 20x30"

So! we have this cat.  His name is Magoo and he weighs about 18lb.  If he was a dog he would be a Bulldog.  Same build.  Now this cat Magoo HATES dogs.  He will chase them down and tear them up.  It is no joking matter.  Well, when this piece was almost complete I brought it in the house so my husband Ross could throw a little critique my way.  I braced the painting against a piece of furniture and walked across the room.  When I looked down Magoo had hunkered down, hackles up and was skulking across the floor, ready to attack the interloper.  You've got to know that the head in this painting is a good 12" tall!  If it had been a live dog it would be beastly large.  Truly a Youtube moment.

"Rosie's Beach Vacation" oil on canvas approximately 20x30"

This is the second in what is so far a trilogy.  There is so much personality in this little pooch.  There is also something about painting at this scale.  As most of you know, I have been doing the small "paintings a day" (but not really) for quite some time.  It was amazing how different the skill set was when I started scaling back up! and how energized I have become as an artist.  I can't spend enough time in the studio.  The ideas for new pieces are manifesting like Catholic rabbits.  Being home from the old "day job" for a week and having Mother Nature bestow lots of water from the sky has made it easy to lose all time behind the easel. It's hard to want Spring to come when it means the demands of the garden will have to become the priority.

"The Devil Made Me Do It" oil on canvas 20x30"

Children's faces (as in their expressions) have a mystery all their own.  You can't tell from this if she is thinking sweet thoughts or naughty ones.  I was there but I'm not telling.

"(another) Winter Rose" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

"Winter's Rose" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,600

These are really quite large, hanging on the bent branches of the rose bushes in our back pasture, distant from the house.  It was by happy accident that I found them.  Now there is reason to venture out there on a more regular basis.

"Promise of Spring" oil on canvas 20x24" $1,200.

I've been painting these guys on the small scale for a very long time.  Something clicked recently and I scaled up.  I REALLY like the results.  I've got about 3 series of paintings going at once.  With so little studio time it's hard to decide what to tackle each session.  Pretty exciting when you see them finished though!

"A Rose By Any Other Name...Rosie!" oil on canvas 20x30"

This it the 13 year (oops!  I lied.  I just found out she will be 17 on April 1) old pup of my of my dearest friends.  She has three little devils and Rosie is the oldest.  She  has some seeing issues and isn't too spry but boy! does she have a face a painter can love.  I was a bit worried about the scale of the canvas because in real life she is pretty small.  Silly me!  that personality fills the space with no problem.

"Does This Grass Make Me Look Fat?" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"The Eye(s) Have It" oil on hardboard $99 +$9 shipping

How DO they do that? It's as if one eye is looking one way and the other is off on its own little picnic.

"Walleye" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99 + $9 shipping

That's the same stinky eye look my dad used to give when things didn't suit him!  you really didn't want to be on the other end of it.

"Center Part" oil on hardboard 6x6"

"Eye See" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

"You Are My Sunshine..." oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

I've realized that almost all of these small, colorful cow "portraits" are begging to be painted on a much larger scale.  Guess you'll be seeing this little darling again.

"525" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

This was nothing short of a color picnic! ah, be still my heart......

"Shoulder Roll" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

Something about the turn of the head in this image made me think about exercise.  Pilates to be exact.  Maybe because every time we do Pilates together Ross complains vehemently about how much his neck hurts.  Bad technique.....

"Redheads Have More Fun" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

 I wish the painting gave a sense of the shear scale of this animal.  They live down the street from us.  There aren't many but they seem to fill the landscape.  They also could care less that I am there.  All the other cows I paint are very curious about what I'm doing.  Not these guys!  even the baby ones ignore me.  Go figure.

"Orange Marmalade" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

Ross and I have this on going "discussion" about how cows align themselves in the pasture.  It always seems to me that they all face the same direction.  I used to think it was facing the sun but that doesn't seem to be the case.  At any rate, I'm glad they do! it makes for some fine composition.

"Lost In the Crowd" oil on hardboard 6x6"

There is something about black on black that pushes you to the wall when you're painting.  It's a bit like an evil drug. You hate that you succumb. but you keep going back to the well.

"586" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Split Personality" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

For some reason I never noticed how amazingly red some of these cows are.  There was a time when all I could see were the black and white guys.  They're gettin' a run for their money now!

"The Chew" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

I just fell in love with the straw hanging out of this cow's mouth. Not the kind of falling in love that happens when you meet that special someone but a visual infatuation that drives the painting.  I've also become enamored with the ear tags.  It's kind of morose in a way but the visual impact is grand.

"Rear View" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

The composition and color on this were irresistible.  I was afraid my new found enthusiasm for the cows might have been a flash in the pan.  Guess not.  So much fun!  Guilty pleasure?

"Milky Way" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

If you've been following my posts for a VERY long time you know I did a series of cows.  Then there were human portraits.  Next came pet portraits.  Recently I been scrutinizing the cows that I still own.  Finally I think I understand.  I'm really more about portrait work.  This is the beginning of a return.  To say I am excited is an understatement.  They mooed to me in the night and I responded.  I hope you'll stay tuned.

"These Feet Aren't Made for Dancin' " oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

Believe it or not, these shoes were on a competitive Bass fisherman when he got off the boat to weigh in.  Not what one would anticipate.

"As I Walk the Neighborhood" oil on canvas 8x10" $220

This just struck me as such an amazing sight.  This poor tree that has been pruned so atrociously and yet able to afford a striking pose.

"Indian Bookstore" 8x8" oil on hardboard $175 SOLD

This is a corner in the small town we live in.  The Indian Bookstore has a national if not international reputation.  The man that owned it for many years had developed quite the collection of books and artifacts.  He has since passed and I don't think his family has the necessary passion.  In fact, they are moving this landmark to another location.  Sad day.

"Catty Cat" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99 SOLD

This little monkey belongs to me.  She is one of 14 strays we have adopted over the last 20 years.  No! we don't have them all at once.  The most we've housed at any one time was 9.  Right now we have 5 plus a VERY stray stray.  Life in the country.  Today the back door got left open and this one took herself for a walk with her house mate.  I was so happy when I managed to wrangle them up! it never occurred to me that while they were getting OUT the stray was getting IN.  Yikes!  Circus act.

"Blue Poppy 4" oil on hardboard 6x6"

Okay! so I said the last one was "the last one".  This really IS! at least until they bloom again in 2012.

"Slippery Slope" oil on hardboard

My neighbors have recently started surfing.  Given we live in the Pacific Northwest that does not conjure up feelings of warm water sport for me!  However, the images that small humans make when bobbing about in the ocean make for pretty dynamic compositions.

"The Eyes Have It" oil on hardboard, 6x6" $99

I have no idea who this little fellow is.  I ran into him in a park and snapped his picture.  He was so adorable it was impossible to resist.  The ears look like the wind has picked them up and he could actually levitate.

"Star Power!" oil on hardboard 6x6"

This is the beautiful Ms. Onyx.  She belongs to Patty and Georgia.  I swear she's going to open her mouth and join the conversation one day.  She follows our faces when we talk just like she knows what's being discussed.  Amazing.

"Blue Poppy 3" oil on hardboard, 6x6"

The habit of this flower seems to be in a downward, nodding like pose.  I'm trying to get up the nerve to try them in our garden next season.  Though it seems like a daunting challenge the paintings that would result could make it worth the angst.

"Blue Poppy 2 " oil on hardboard, 6x6"

The light through this flower is amazing.  I almost enjoy them more one at a time than as a "field" which is what they have at the Rhododendron Species Foundation.  Quite an accomplishment in the garden world.

"Blue Poppies 1" oil on hardboard, 6x6"

Ross and I were fortunate enough to be introduced to the Rhododendron Species Foundation in Federal Way, Wa. this year.  It was an amazing visit. Our good friend and over the top smart garden friend Greg Graves made it happen.  On that visit they had a "meadow" of the blue poppies that everyone is so desperate to grow and so often foiled.  Who knew there were so many shades of blue?!?

untitled, oil on hardboard, 12x12" SOLD

This is the second piece for a client.  This is his precious little Chatta out ruling the forest.  I'm waiting to let him assist me in a title.

untitled oil on hardboard 6x6"

I'm not even sure what to say about this one.  There are so many things I was pleased with when I finished.  If I didn't know better I would think this was a small pooch but it isn't.  Actually quite large.  What  sweet face to go with that imposing body.

untitled 6x6" oil on hardboard SOLD

Yep! this is doggy number 3 in the household of wonders that I've been working on.  Maybe he was "adopted".  When you see images of the 3 together it is such a fascinating mix. 

untitled oil on hardboard 6x6"

This is another of the "family" of pups.  Wait until you see the third!

untitled oil on hardboard 6x6" SOLD

This is part of a family of dogs I am working on.  They all have such amazing personalities!  I can't wait to see them all together.

"Look of a Winner" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99 + $9 shipping

This marvelous dog is like a painters dream.  The intensity, the movement, the glamor! it's all there in one package.  It's hard not to just run back in the studio and start another one.

"Lashing Out" oil on hardboard 5x5" $99

Same old song.  I wish the photo was more accurate.  The painting is a lot more subtle.  It was intersting to spend time so close to my own eyeball.  I thought my eyes were gray.  At age 60 I found out they are green.  Go figure.

"Chatta" oil on hardboard 12x12" sold

This pup was a rescue dog from Mexico.  The owner has quite the story.  I'm so please that he allowed me to paint Chatta from this vantage point.  The dog portraits are always fun but being able to capture something totally unique was a treat.  Chatta shipped out yesterday and their going to host a "one painting opening".