Two to Sail

"Two to Sail"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$150 unframed.

We are leaving for our family reunion in Atlanta tomorrow (actually we are going to a wonderful lake about two hours outside of Atlanta) and I still am not packed. I had a list of 23 things to complete 21 are done. Just need to send out the Avon Breast cancer walk party invites and a few school things and then I can start packing Looks like I will be sleeping on the plane ...
I really hope that I can spend a lot of time painting while on vacation. I am taking my paints (packing them is number 23 on the list) so I should be able to get a lot done! So you can expect daily blogs too.

Summer Reflections

"Summer Reflections"

Oi, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$150 unframed.

I am amazed everyday as to how my blog has introduced me to so many wonderful places, people and of course ... other artists! Today I spent an hour emailing a wonderful woman in Europe who would like me to paint a painting reminiscent of her favorite summer getaway in England. Yesterday I was asked by a woman in Boston to paint a scene of her hometown. I feel so fortunate to be so busy and I am astounded every morning when I read my inbox. It is hard to believe how much my blog has changed my life.
The greatest thing about a blog is that there are so many wonderful people who offer so many kind words of encouragement. Even on the days when I am frustrated at my easel someone out there will offer a funny story or wonderful advice!
I am blessed to have met so many of you out there in cyberspace. Thank you!

Waiting for the Wind

"Waiting for the Wind"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

I was in a mood today to really push the color. Normally I don't mix pink and orange but today it just seemed like the right think to do!

Lunch Break

"Lunch Break"

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel

Sold.

I am still running around with my head cut off trying to do a million things at once. I need to slow down (and stop doing errands) and finish some of the larger pieces this week. Today my major crisis was averted ... the boys passports are now at the state department getting renewed ... ugh!Maybe tonight will be one of those really late nights. Of course that is fine with me as long as I am painting.

Balboa Ferris Wheel

"Balboa Ferris Wheel"

14" x 11"

Sold.

I spent most of the day getting ready for our upcoming trips ... booking rental cars, renewing passports, changing airline flights ... all the tedious and "not fun" parts of traveling. But somebody has got to do it! I painted a small painting that is going to get scraped and redone as soon as I get home from my book club later tonight ... every once in a while this happens and I don't like it!

Rooster V

Rooster V

Oil, 12" x 12"

I have spent the weekend painting paintings and I am crosseyed. I am trying to get more paintings finished before we fly to Atlanta on Saturday so wish me luck!

Castle Green

"Castle Green"

Oil, 12" x 12" on canvas panel.

$650 framed.

I love to paint street scenes from around the area and this scene is up in Pasadena, just south of Old Town. I love the bright colors (surprising eh?) and the contrast of the two buildings. We finished filming the Hallmark commercial last night and all of the Christmas decorations are finally gone. I just couldn't get use to entering the house in 100 degree weather and smelling fresh Christmas trees ... very odd. I guess I could never live in Hawaii ...
We leave for Atlanta in a week for a family reunion and I have a million paintings to finish so you will see lots of new stuff here in the next week ...

Sailing Past the Marina

"Sailing Past the Marina"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

It is too hot to do anything in Los Angeles today. It is almost 100 degrees outside and my house is full of Christmas decorations ... including a fresh Christmas tree. Why you ask? We are filming a Hallmark commercial at my house this week. Five rooms in my house are covered head to toe in decorations, my master bedroom has been transformed into a little girls room and every window is blacked out to make it look like nighttime. Ah ... the magic of Hollywood.
I have been hiding upstairs in my studio and office all day ... trying to stay out of the way. So I painted something as far from Christmas as I could imagine. Bah humbug ...

Still Corked

"Still Corked"

Oil, 6" x 8" on canvas panel.

$200.00 unframed.

I had so much fun painting the wine corks on Saturday (and I had leftover paint on my palette) that I decided to try another one. I must enjoy painting these because I like red wine so much ... I can't think of any other reason ...

Artists Reception

City Hall Reflections

Oil, 8" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

Last night was the Artist's Reception at Gale's Restaurant. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget, especially considering it was my first show. I showed up early with nine new paintings and some how Gale managed to hang them all before the reception started. She and her husband Rene are amazing people and they really know a lot about art. And selling art! Gale commented that she often sells more art than galleries and I absolutely think that is true! So many wonderful people showed up and I sold a lot of paintings (15 total in the first week). Thanks to everyone that attended the reception and purchased one of my paintings. I am truly honored!
I really enjoyed talking to everyone about my art. I met a lot of Gale's loyal customers who are great collectors. Two people told me my prices were too low (no one said they were too high) which makes me think they were priced just right. My proudest sale went to Ray Turner and Sally Storch. They bought the "Big Reds" painting from yesterday's post. Both are AMAZING artists and were each featured in American Art Collector this year (on the cover, thank you). I am so touched they would want to own one of my paintings given the amount of talent they both have! They are the two most successful artists I know!
I am really intrigued as to which paintings sell first and which ones I could have sold many times over. It is a science and I doubt I will ever figure it out. But it is fun trying! If you would like to see my paintings at the show click here.
We also went to the Cold Play concert on Saturday night. Dave and I marveled that we were at a rock concert with our 18 year old son and his girlfriend. Neither one of us could have imagined going to a concert with OUR parents when we were 18. Unfortunately I still don't think we are as cool as we think we are ...

Big Reds

"Big Reds"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

I had fun with this one today. I am a huge fan of red wine and at the last minute decided to use the sage green background. I am so glad that I did!
We are heading off to the Cold Play concert tonight. Even at 50, I still love rock and roll.

Fair Oaks and Mission

"Fair Oaks and Mission"

Oil, 11" x 14" on canvas panel

Sold.

This painting is one of the landmarks here in South Pasadena. It is a cute little pharmacy that has an old fashioned soda fountain ... also the home of my oldest son's first solid food ... ice cream! Oh ... what a terrible mother I was back then ... but no worries ... he turned out ok. I finished the six additional paintings for the show and this is one of them. Now they are drying before I start framing ...

Just Outside of Boston

" Just Outside of Boston"

Oil, on canvas panel

$150 unframed.

I have painted in the past few days four new paintings for my show to replace the ones that have already sold. I am painting full time and hope to get a few more done before the reception on Sunday. All of the paintings in the show (including some new ones) are posted here if you want to see them.

Reflections III

"Reflections III"

6" x 8", oil on canvas panel.

$350 framed.

I am still busy at my easel painting new paintings for the Gale's show. I have already sold six paintings and now I need new ones to put up after the reception on Sunday. So, I have been at my easel all day and will be doing the same tomorrow and the next day and the next day! I am not complaining ... because I love it!

Two Cats on the Beach

"Two Cats on the Beach"

Oil, 6" x 6", on canvas panel.

Sold.

I have been busy finishing my July newsletter and it finally went out last night. My list is up to 400 recipients so I am very pleased! If you are not on my mailing list ... please sign up. I will send out another copy later to this week to any new additions. So it is not too late!
I am still dealing with bronchitis and I do have to say ... I hate being sick in the summer! I would much rather be outside, walking, biking and enjoying the awesome weather. Instead, I am coughing and taking medicine! Boo!

Cool Sailing

Cool Sailing

Oil, 6" x 6", oil on canvas panel

Sold.

My first solo show is now up at Gale's Restaurant. It was really fun hanging all 34 paintings and the owners of the restaurant were pros! They really made the show look wonderful! I am so thrilled with the way it all came out. If you are in the Pasadena area, the Artist's reception is this Sunday, July 19th from 4 - 6:00 pm. Gale's is located at 452 South Fair Oaks, Pasadena, CA 626-432-6705. The show will be up from July 11 - September 5, 2009. Also, congrats to Sonia Michelson for winning this month's free painting. Sonia actually lives in Israel so I am not sure how quickly she will receive her painting. But I will send it off! Of the 694 entries (from my blog followers, comments on my blog in the month of June and everyone on my newsletter list) she was #636 which was chosen on http://www.random.org/! Congrats Sonia!

Three to Sail

"Three to Sail"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

This painting is sold.

I had some different colors on my palette after finishing a painting for my show so I did a quick boat painting. I like the "richer" colors. I am going to have to expand my palette more often! I still have lots of last minute framing left but I am almost ready to hang my show on Saturday.

Banana Boat

"Banana Boat"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas board

$150.00 unframed.

The minute I saw this boat, I knew it would make a great painting. The yellow color was amazing and the reflections were so clear and beautiful in the water. I toned down the color a bit as I was fearful that the painting would look like a banana. Of course, I couldn't resist using that in the title ...

Sail Away

"Sail Away"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

I have been in Atlanta for the 4th of July weekend cheering my younger son at the Volleyball National Junior Olympics. So sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I did get a chance to paint ... between matches ... and I am still busy getting ready for my show this weekend!

Waiting in Lahaina

" Waiting in Lahaina"

6" x 6", Oil on canvas panel.

$150 unframed.

Email me if you are interested.

I saw lots of boats on my trip to Maui last week. I actually took this photo a few years back but it seemed like a good one to paint today!