Guardian Angel

12 x 12 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Sometimes I look at a painting awhile and decide it needs to get another layer glazed over.  

In this case, it toned the color down a notch and added energy.  It also sold at the very next art fair ....

Sandra20x20

20x20 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Results from this morning. I had a blue canvas ready, but Sandra was modeling for us on her birthday - she needed to be lime green, not blue, so I quickly painted a new one :)

Jessica reading: before and after

16 x 20 oil on canvas panel

Jessica sat for our group April 10th.  I have been staring at this painting ever since because it just felt too 'sweet'.  Not that Jessica isn't sweet, all the colors were too pastel and lacking correct shadows.  I like it much more now that I have added more darks.

Jess with tulips

20 x 20 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

The rain couldn't dampen our spring fever this morning.  I love painting people and flowers.

Inner Calm II

16x20 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

This is how I feel when I attend the Eck Seminar in Minneapolis.  I am blissed out and ready to paint!

Berta

20x20 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

 I am way behind on posting my Wednesday morning portraits so I will start off with this large one of Berta.

Easter Lily

This painting was inspired by the Easter lily homeopathic remedy. After I read about it, I sat down and sketched this image and later turned it into a watercolor.

Red Umbrellas

sold 9x12 oil on panel - Cedarburg Plein air Event

Here is a Cedarburg classic -Red Umbrellas outside one of their popular coffehouses.

Beloit Farmer's Market

sold 9x12 oil on panel

Beloit has a great Farmer's Market on Saturday's. They block off two of their downtown streets and fill them with Venders and Customers. I was amazed by the amount of dogs there, I found out that two nearby Farmers' markets do not allow dogs, so dog owners from miles around go to the Beloit Market to buy their veggies and to show off their pooches. This particular booth was owned by a longstanding vegetable vender who had broken his leg at 80 years old. His two daughters were filling in for him and I could tell he was well liked by all of the well wishes his customers were sending him. I could also tell it was killing him not to be there because he kept calling and getting updates on sales! His red headed daughter bought this painting as a surprise for him.

Exhale

available 5x7 oil on panel

I recently closed my frame and art supply shop (Feb 7, 2009). This was how I felt when I realized now I can paint full time. There are many sad parts to closing a store after 13 years and there are many joyful parts too. I choose to dwell on the joy!

Sunbeams

available for sale 11x14 oil on canvas panel
This painting has really tiny art glitter all over the sunbeam parts. Photos just don't capture it, the glitter looks like whitish specks. This figure is featured in many of my sketchbooks.

Quick Watercolor sketches- 2, 5 and 10 minute

Today our group did 3 hours of quick sketches with Kate. I went thru quite a stack of small pieces of paper and these are the five I liked the best.

Soaring Spirit

available for sale 11x14 oil on canvas panel, unframed
It is hard to tell in this photo, but the whitish specks coming off the birds' wings and on the ground are tiny gold glitter. I did the sketch for this painting during one of my last days at Art Vision, for me, it represents "taking the leap" and being an artist full-time.

Portrait of Eve

sold "Eve's portrait" 5x7
This little pastel painting reminded me of "Inner Calm". I have a couple brand new versions of these two poses done in oil last weekend, but I need to take a photo of them. This one was all ready to go.

Inner Calm

sold 11x14 Watercolor
Strong Women are a common theme for me. Being comfortable in your own skin and keeping an inner calm are what we all strive for. This painting is one of my favorites, it was purchased as a wedding gift to a Woman in the town I live in. I see her around and she never fails to tell me how much she loves this painting and wants more. I just love collectors like her!!!