"Seeking the Future" oil on hardlbard 12x12" $396

I think this model is marvelous.  Such a petulant look about her.  You should probably be prepared to see more of her.  Maybe literally.  It's so hard to identify that little thing that makes the difference between an okay model and a really good one.  I think it's in the way they use their eyes.

"Isolation" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

"A Moments Hesitation" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

A funny thing happened on the way to the next blue poppy painting.  It was this.  My husband calls them my "pop ups".  Something crawls into my brain and I just can't help but respond.  Portrait and figure has always been my favorite thing to attack.  It doesn't always fit into the flow of things.  That said, you'll certainly be subjected to more soon.  It's funny how many similarities are to be found when you go from flowers to people to pets.  It really does seem like different approaches to portait work.

"Awaken" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

I can't remember what this plant is.  I as on the scout for the blue poppies at the Rhododendron Species Foundation when this caught my eye.  There is so much magic in nature.

"Siblings" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

Do you think this thing with the flowers means I'm ready for spring?  Spring seems like that double edged sword; full of beauty and HARD WORK.    Have you ever asked yourself "if I could afford a full time gardener, would I have one?"  That feels like having a fancy interior decorator furnish your house.  It's sreally THEIR house, you just pay for it and live in it.  Nice to look at but no soul.

"Little Things" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Everything about this was fun.  The shapes of the buds is awesome and the variations on red fun, fun, fun!

"Face of Fancy" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

This is another of the "blue" poppies.  Rest assured, there was a whole lot more than BLUE on my palette.  These little devils are just marvelous.  Very difficult to grow from what I've heard.  Probably not destine for our garden.  We make great grunt labor but not finesse.

"Awakening" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

I'm not sure why my camera picked up so much reflection from the paint on the left.  It doesn't look like that in person.  I may shoot it again and repost....or not.  I think you get a pretty good feel for the painting.  Should I say "or not" again?  These blue poppies are a challenge to put on canvas.  The blues are all over the board and difficult to mimic. 

"The Ballerina" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This little flower is so Medusa like and yet so dainty at the same time.  I always tell folks that I really like portrait work best.  In a way this IS portrait work.

"Look Out Ladies!" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

My friends that own the Old Goat Farm in Orting Washington have around 100 birds of various kinds.  They all have names an each was named after someone famous.  I can't remember this guy but his strut is as impressive as his crown!

"In The Pink" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Like I said yesterday, he would not turn his head to look at me.  That's one loyal pooch!

"Blue Boy" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

I met this luscious fellow in a parking lot.  We've all seen them.  Pooches left in the bed of a truck while their masters attend to something else.  He was so fixated on where his owner had gone that I couldn't get his attention.  It was up to ME to relocate myself so I could get a good look at him.  He never barked or made a move in my direction.  I just wanted to hug his big neck!  and paint him...

"The Float" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Serve It Up" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

"Far From Westminster" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Queen of My Domain"

"The Sad State of Our (American) Affairs" oil on hardboard 5x7"$99

"Precious" oil on hardboard 8x10 $220

"the Peek" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Blue" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Seriously?" oil on hardboard 6x6"

"Thomas" oil on hardboard 6x6"

Thomas belongs to my friends Greg and Gary.  He is one serious "Tom" cat!  Always all business.

"Remember When?"

"Best Foot Not Quite Forward" oil on hardboard

"Season Gone" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

"X" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"L" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"End of Season" oil on hardboard 8x8"

Matt's River oil on hardboard 8x10" $220

"Distant Places" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

Southwest 3 8X12" oil $200

Southwest 2 oil $200 8x12"

Southwest 1 oil, 8X12 $200

This is one of three pieces that could be hung alone or or together like a panoramic

"Shades of..." oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"On The Bench" 8x8" oil on hardboard $176

"Let Me Count The Ways" oil o hardboard 8x8" $176

"Bright as Day" oil on canvas 20x30"

These flowers appear to float in their environment.  Even the ones on the same plant seem somehow disconnected.  There is a slight temptation to paint a grouping.  We'll see.

'Fair Lady" oil on canvas 20x30" $500

As a painter you expect to make color do what you need.  That said, the particular blue of this type of poppy is amazingly difficult to conquer.  New found respect for sure.

"Summer Issue" oil on hardboard 8x8"$170

I know this young woman wasn't born with this hair color, but damn!  that makes a statement.

"Shy" oil on canvas 20x30"

This is the first of many.  The RSF has an entire valley of these amazing blue flowers.  I can't wait to have an entire collection of paintings.

"In the Moment" oil on hardboard 5x7" $99

Funny what your mind makes up about someone you don't know.  There was something Mark Twain like to me about this man.  That made him immediately more "intellectual".  We are a silly species.

"The Ringer" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

My niece and her band of wild things went the the alley.  I'm not sure WHY one little dumpling got odd shoes....Maybe she owns her own?

"Super Size Me" oil on hardboard 8x10" $220

The title speaks volumes.  However, it was pretty much a tie for me between the commentary of the subject and the dominance of the color.  I'm almost sad to be finished with it.  This was "playing" beyond measure.

"Grounded" oil on canvas 20x30" SOLD

This is the painting that started with the smaller color study.  There may still be a little color tweeking to do.

"Ghost Tree" oil on hardboard 6x6" NFS

This is our neighbor old, majestic willow tree after this year's ice storm.  I was climbing in my car one morning and this is the site of the broken beast against the morning sky.

'Judgement" oil on hardboard 5x5"

Oh to have a better photographer! wait...I'm the photograher.  This painting is so pleasing to me in real life but somehow this image just didn't pull it off.  It is yet to be seen if I use it as a study for a larger image or not.  My studio looks like a painting warehouse these days.  If some of them would just dry they could go to the storage area.  Draw backs to oil paint.

"Overnight" oil on hardboard, 6x6" $99

There is a certain quality with interiors that makes me think I want to paint them.  Not the bright, sunny, shadow casting interiors.  Closer to night.  Who knows!  Maybe another series in the making.

"Firmly Planted" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This is another small study for a large piece.  Actually, there will be two more pieces springboarding from this.  The last one is a bit "outside the box" for me but I can't shake the idea so better to give in.

"Bob bob bob" oil on hardboard 6x6"

This is a snippet of what will be a much larger piece.  I just wanted to try out the focal point to see if I liked it.  The full image is pretty ambitious so it may be a while before it shows up.

"The Runner" oil on canvas approximately 20x30"

Yes.  You are correct. This is yet ANOTHER series revisited.  Maybe sometimes you just have to leave something for a while to revamp enthusiasm.  There will certainly be more to come.