"Oahu"

It's been too long since I've been to my favorite place on earth - Hawaii. I saw this photo and just had to paint it as it captures so many memories of time spent in paradise. The verdant greens of the place are kept so by the abundant rain. It usually does rain a little somewhere each day on the island and seeing the clouds hang on the green mountains is so lovely. This was image was a particularly overcast day and the muted tones seek to capture that while still retaining the magical island spirit.

This is an acrylic on 5 x 7" stretched canvas. Now I'd like to do this larger in oils.

"Waimea Revisited"

I loved this photo so much that I wanted to give it a go again, this time in oils. This is a 5 x 7" on hot pressed illustration board - working on this surface allowed the oils to dry very quickly.

The verdant green and dappled sunlight were just enchanting that day. The photo includes a few picnic tables, but I chose to omit those for an unobstructed view of the afternoon shadows.

"Poppy Field"

Oil on 5 x 7" stretched canvas. This is the second time I've painted this scene. First was completed with acrylics. Monet was the inspiration for this painting, actually he was the inspiration for many of my paintings!

How wonderful it would be to stand in this field.

"Pigeons of Jackson Square"

Seems like I'm on a "bird" kick lately! This is another 5 x 7" oils on Ampersand Hardboard Panel and is based on a photo I took nearly 20 years ago during a trip to New Orleans. Standing in Jackson Square, I just happened to have camera in hand when a flock of pigeons took off. I loved how the sunshine caught their bodies illuminating their "flight dance".

"Flamingos"

Based on a photo I took many years ago in San Diego, California, "Flamingos" is an oil on 5 x 7" Ampersand Claybord Smooth. These Flamingos were so colorful basking in the warm August sunshine.

Since childhood I've been especially fond of birds and find that I could spend hours watching them. We're fortunate to live in a wooded neighborhood and have families of Cardinals living in our backyard just to name one of the many types of birds we enjoy. But no Flamingos! Have to go to the zoo to enjoy them.

"Pink Ruffles"

Azaleas present a spectacular show for us every Spring. One of our varieties, "Pink Ruffles" have burst out with their pink splendor despite a very harsh winter. I'm so glad as they gave me a lovely bouquet from which to paint.

With this acrylic painting I used mostly transparent glazes and used a 9 x 12" stretched watercolor canvas. It's a special very finely textured cotton that makes a fantastic surface for water media.

"Garden Steps"

A little 5 x 7" acrylic on Ampersand Claybord and based on a photo from my sister-in-law during her visit to Portland, Oregon. It's Springtime here in Oklahoma and our Azaleas are beginning to show their splendor.