Late Day Sail

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"Late Day Sail"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

This painting is sold.

I am so happy with the colors in this painting. I didn't really know where I was going with this one but I just kept mixing and mixing. I am tempted to try another one with this same palette!

Done For the Day

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"Done For the Day"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

This painting is sold.

I have been really busy finishing paintings for my upcoming show at Gale's Restaurant. I can't wait to share all of my new paintings. I will post them after the show opens on July 11th! This little painting was done this afternoon. I finished it after I completed a lovely painting of the Balboa Pavilion (in Newport Beach) that I am really happy with. Although it is much larger ... and for the show.

Afternoon Sail

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Afternoon Sail

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel

This painting is sold.

I am having a lot of fun painting boats and using the 27 Birthday Boat paintings for inspiration. I was also thrilled to learn that my paintings also served as an inspiration for a workshop held by Dreama Tolle Perry. Go to her blog Dreama's Day to Day Paintings to see her amazingly creative idea. The post is titled "We're all in the Same Boat". Very clever.
I am amazed at the resources that I have found through my blog. Ever since I finished the 27 boat paintings I have been searching for a reasonably priced 6" x 6" frame. I was looking at Jennifer McChristian's blog the other day and she suggested http://www.kingofframe.com/ and sure enough .... I found the most wonderful frames for $30.00! They have already arrived and they are exactly what I was looking for!

The View at Humu Humu

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The View at Humu Humu

Oil, Canvas Panel, 11" x 14"

One of my favorite restaurants at the Grand Wailea on Maui is called Humu Humu. Which is short for humu­humu­nuku­nuku­āpuaʻa. I can't imagine why they shortened the name ... Anyway, they have wonderful food (including an amazing mud pie) and the view is spectacular. I actually snuck in the restaurant yesterday morning at about 5:30 am and took a picture of this view. Absolutely stunning!

Docked at the Bay

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Boats #3

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I am getting ready to bid farewell to Maui. I am taking a red eye home tonight ... ugh. It is time to get back home and I am looking forward to some time at the easel. I have so many amazing photos to use for inspiration - I can't wait! I think I will include some of these paintings in my upcoming show at Gale's.

I have had many requests to post larger pictures of my paintings on my blog. So I have decided to accommodate the request - I hope the pictures aren't too big!

Maui Coastline

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Maui Coastline

Oil, 8" x 16"

This painting is for sale.

Email me if you are interested.

I am having a lovely time in Maui. Although it is work ... I have managed to grab some great photos for paintings when I return home. The best part of the trip? I am traveling with a new client and she is an absolute delight! We are really having fun and getting all of our work dome too!

Side By Side

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"Side By Side"

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel
This painting is for sale.
Cost is $150 unframed.
Email me if you are interested.

I spent my last day in Arizona today watching my middle son play baseball. I am not quite sure how the folks here live in this heat. I guess they get use to it? Apparently we are lucky as it is at least "ten degrees cooler" this week. I am sorry ... but 104 degrees seems pretty hot to me. How can anyone do anything outside in 114 degree weather?

I head off to Maui tomorrow with a client. I will only be gone for two days ... probably not enough time to paint but I will get some great photos!

Three Jerseys

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"Three Jerseys", 6" x 8", on canvas panel
This painting is for sale.
Sold.

I decided to take a break today from painting boats. I have a friend who suggested I paint some cows. I am working on a few larger ones for my upcoming show but this small one was fun to paint!

A Quiet Day

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Boats #21
Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel

This painting is for sale.

Cost is $150 unframed.

Email me if you are interested.

The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph. But you would never know it. The original photo has beautiful blue water, a bright blue sky and mostly blue awnings on the sailboats! I guess you can say I was in a "pink mode" when I painted this. I love how it came out!

Hit the Road

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Boats #12

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel
This painting is sold.

I am heading out of town for a week and I have my paints and palette knives all packed. First I am off to a baseball tournament in Phoenix with my middle son and then I fly to Hawaii with a client for an inspection trip. I will paint while I am gone, I will paint while I am gone, I will paint while I am gone ...

Daily Painters Gallery

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Oil, Birthday Boat #5

Of the 27 boats I painted in my "marathon", this one was the one that "stuck out" the most. As my younger sister put it "It looks so lonely"! I was tempted so many times to go back and "add" something to the painting. Someone suggested I add oars, another suggested I paint another boat in the background. I finally just decided to leave it alone. Because alone it is ...

A good thing happened today ... I got an email that I was selected to join the Daily Painters Gallery. I haven't quite figured out how to make it all work but I am very excited!

Intense Color

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Birthday Boats #26

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This is a quaint scene from Marina Del Rey, although the colors remind me of Portofino, Italy. I like the contract between the boat and the the buildings in the back. I made the colors intense on purpose, thought it had more impact aht way.

Watercolor 101

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Watercolor, "Tired Brushes", 8" x 10"

After my disastrous Thursday, I spent the weekend in Ojai celebrating a girlfriend's birthday. Instead of spending the day in the spa, I signed up for a watercolor class. This was my first attempt at watercolors and although it was frustrating, I enjoyed it. My first attempt was a painting of boats (big surprise, I know), but when I finished it, there was no white left on my paper. I will have to try that one again. This painting was a quick attempt before the class ended ... it took me about ten minutes and obviously has some problems. But it was fun and ... I certainly have a huge appreciation for all of the watercolor artists out there!

A Day Worth Forgetting

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Birthday Boat #27

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Yesterday I was supposed to attend the Women Painter's West luncheon for new members. I was thrilled to have been selected as a new member and I was also looking forward to meeting Marian Fortunati, a wonderful artist I have come to know through my blog.

But on the way to the luncheon my car was totaled by an unlicensed driver who somehow managed to slam in to me on the Ventura freeway. I was fortunate, no injuries, but my car didn't make it out so well. And I should mention that after getting my car towed and renting a car, I did manage to make it to the last 30 minutes of the lunch! It was great to meet Marian!

Then four hours later I was on my way to a black tie event and I tripped and ended up breaking my toe. I still made it to the event but could not even walk by the end of the evening.

My husband says I am an "accident waiting to happen" and that I should stay home and just paint. Maybe he is right!

Two Friends

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Birthday Boat #18

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I decided to really brighten up the boats in this painting as I was getting a bit bored with the same old sailboats. So I chose this coral color to liven up the scene. I then added it in the background to add a bit of harmony in the painting. Hope you like it!

Don't Look, Just Listen

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Birthday Boat #22

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I have started training for the Avon Breast Cancer walk and morning walks are becoming part of my regular routine. So far it has been easy, we did five miles on Saturday and only three this morning. (Rumor has it that we will be up to twenty mile walks soon ...) One of my girlfriends (who is also a buyer of my art!) is one of our leaders and she pointed out the most interesting phenomena this morning. She asked me to stand underneath one of the many blooming jacarandas and said "listen". I was astounded as I heard the humming sound of bees ... it was simply amazing. So peaceful and soothing! All of these years I have been in awe of the beauty of these blooming purple trees and yet I never took the time to stop and listen. As I walked home I stopped under every jacaranda and sure enough, the humming could be heard every time.

Birthday Confession

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Birthday Boats # 11

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Although it seems as if I have been celebrating my 50th birthday for a month, now that the day is actually here I need to come clean about something. The photo of me on my blog is not current. When I set up my blog I couldn't find a current photo (that I liked) so the one I picked is from a wedding that we hosted here ... about eight years ago. So ... to all of you who keep saying "Wow ... you don't look like you are fifty" I need to let you know that I really do look like I am 50!
I am also petrified that if I meet any of you sometime you will think "Wow ... she looks a lot older!" OK, no more birthday confessions. Back to the studio to paint!

Is it Finally Summer?

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Birthday Boat #6

I finally feel that summer is here. Ok, it has been raining in Los Angeles all day, but with finals, graduation, and my birthday party behind us, it is time to relax and start enjoying the summer! Yippee!

The Graduate

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Birthday Boat #24

Our oldest son will be graduating from high school later today. It is a funny time. I am trying not to be emotional but when I think of him heading off to college in the fall ... it is tough. We are so excited for him ... he is going to swim for Stanford ... so we know he will have an amazing four years! But the thought of our tall son (he is 6'7") leaving home ... it seems like yesterday he was heading off to kindergarten!

On another note, I held the drawing for my first painting giveaway and I am pleased to announce that Pam Holnback, who comments a lot on my blog won the painting. She was featured in my June newsletter also! Here is the painting she won.

An Artists Prerogative

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Birthday Boat #19

I have had a lot of questions these past few days about my "boat painting marathon". When I painted these paintings I used photos and previous paintings I had completed for inspiration. Most of the paintings do not look like the original photos. I changed a lot of the compositions and colors, as that is what an artist can do! This painting, for example, was a photo of a bright blue sail in bright blue water with a very defined reflection. I calmed it down a bit and went with a sage green palette. Of course, sage green is my favorite color.
At the party, one of my girlfriends told others that you could sit wherever you wanted and you could also chose which painting you wanted. This was one of the first to go!

A Boat Load of Boats

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Birthday Boats - 27 individual 6" x 6" paintings

Here are all of the paintings that I gave away at my 50th party on Saturday night! They were a hit and certainly worth every hour it took to create them. It was an an amazing evening and I had an absolutely wonderful time! Thank you to my adorable husband and three boys for everything ... not to mention the 50 friends who joined us! I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and as I said on Saturday night ... you all make my life complete!

P.S. Actually I should mention that I am not even 50 yet ... I have another week!