Morning Tea

Here's a small portrait I just finished from our photo shoot at the Banks House. It's another smallish portrait at 11x14. I like working small -- each stroke counts more!

Vintage

This was the first time I ever tried to paint wallpaper! It's fun to tackle new challenges that I used to think would be too hard. This is actually the original wallpaper from the historic 100-year-old Banks House in Hernando, MS where I occasionally teach oil painting classes.

Shaded

Here's a small 9"x12" I painted -- another in the "hat-shading-the-eyes" series. I'm sure I'll get this out of my system eventually! It was fun to paint a small portrait this time. Thanks for viewing!

Taylor

I just finished this portrait of my niece, Taylor, from a photo I took of her during our family reunion this past June. I painted her older sister last year in almost the same pose--wearing a hat which shaded her face from the direct sunlight. Such beautiful girls and fun to paint!

Creek Bend

This is another landscape I painted last month in Roger Dale Brown's studio workshop. I learned so much from Roger! I need to get outside paint more so I can practice what I learned.

White House

I took a studio landscape 3-day workshop with Roger Dale Brown last month and started this painting in class. After I got home, I messed around with it a little bit trying to get a good sense of light hitting the area surrounding the house. (The color in this photo is a little more saturated than the actual painting.) I learned so much from Roger! He's a really great artist and teacher (and a really nice guy too!). This was my 2nd workshop with him, the 1st being approx. 6 years ago. I really love painting landscapes, but usually end up gravitating back to painting people!

Peonies

Here's a painting I recently finished of some peonies that grow in my garden. They are very short-lived and so fragile. They were in the latter part of their lives when I picked them. Within a couple of hours, they began to droop but were still beautiful. They were hard to paint! The silver urn is one I bought at an antique store and finally got a chance to use it in a painting--it requires large flowers to fill it well. Thanks for looking!

"A Mother's Love"

American Art Collector magazine, May issue, Lotton Gallery Upcoming Show Preview

I am so fortunate to have a 2-page spread titled "A Mother's Love" in the May issue of American Art Collector magazine! Also, the inside back cover of the magazine contains a full-page ad for the Lotton Gallery which includes one of my pieces along with a piece of glass by Daniel Lotton. The article is advertising my upcoming Solo Show at Lotton Gallery in Chicago that will run May 8 - May 22, 2014. The title of the show, since it runs in May is "Mother's Day". Very appropriate since most of my paintings are of my daughter!

Peaceful

Here is another portrait I started as a demo in my portrait class and liked it so much I decided to finish it. I have been able to produce many pieces from a photo session with my daughter we did about 5 years ago. She was in a really good posing mood and the light was so nice. Thanks for viewing my art!

Comfortable

I finished this painting last week. It was very fun to paint the subtle color changes in her white skirt. I have entered this in the Oil Painters of America's National Show along with "Straw Hat". Hopefully one will gain entry! Thanks for viewing!

Straw Hat

On the cloudy, cold, and windy winter day we have here today, I decided to post this painting from a photo I took of my niece last summer to remind me of what warm sunshine feels like! I was drawn to the way the sunlight shining through the holes in her straw hat hit her face. It was FUN to paint! I also liked the look on her face. I left the bottom portion unfinished to add to the carefree, summertime feeling. I just entered this in the Oil Painters of America's National Show. Hope it makes it in!

Late Afternoon

Here's a painting I did last summer. Just loved the way the light comes in our kitchen window later in the day so I wanted to capture the way it looked hitting Kayla's hair, blouse, and skin. I also wanted the upper-right side to kind of disappear into the shadows to make the light areas look even more dramatic.

Soft Light

Here is something I painted a couple years ago. I really liked the composition--especially the model's arms and hands. Also, the combination of warm reflected light hitting her from the left and cool daylight falling on her from a window on the right was so appealing. It was fun to paint the white part of her dress by adding lots of other colors to the white. I am going to enter this painting in the Oil Painters of Amerca's National Exhibition--hope it gets in!

Pleasing Light

I begain this portrait as a demo in one of my portrait classes. After working on it for only 20 minutes or so, I knew I was going to have to finish it later at home and I did. I tried to work quickly and I like the unfinished quality near the bottom of the painting. This painting is currently at Lotton Gallery in Chicago.