"Pink Peonies"
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This 8" x 10" painting is done with warm lush color and generous paint application. I've placed a silver server in the set up and the warm tones of the peonies are set off beautifully by the lemons sitting on the gold satin cloth.
"Storm Break"
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This landscape is painted in a realistic manner. The work is created using multiple glazes which gives it a wonderful light filled glow when lit with a picture light. It has an inviting sense of light and rich color. The scene is of an actual storm break in the Santa Ana Mountains in California. The painting's size of 16" x 12" makes it easy to frame or you can choose to hang it without a frame. Its sides are finished in black and it's reverse side is mounted with two parallel blocks that allow it to stand 1" from the wall creating a pleasant contemporary shadow effect.
I’ve been painting in a slightly larger format from the 5” x 7” that you’ve been seeing on my blog. While this one is 16” x 12”, the other two formats will be 8” x 10” and 9” x 12”. I hope you enjoy them. Pricing on opening bids will be about the same. I enjoy the larger format as it gives me a little more freedom. I’ve also just completed a very large. 24” x 48” still life which I’ll be posting soon. I’ll continue with the smaller format occasionally, but you’ll be seeing larger ones also from now on. Please let me know how you like them.
"Citrus Snack"
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This painting of orange slices on a Delft Blue Plate was inspired by the absolute craving for something with citrus. Must be the time of year. I ran to our local farmer's market and scooped up the most colorful oranges I could find. I couldn't wait to finish the painting just so I could eat them.
"The Red Cloth"
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I must say, it's nice to be back after the short holiday break. Bring on the New Year! I had some fun creating this painting of a classic restaurant teapot and red cloth. I picked up the teapot at the thrift shop and while I was setting it up saw a spot of red reflected in it. It was the red cloth sitting on a chair behind me. It wanted to be in the painting so here it is. Bright warm color seems to be my calling these days. This painting was painted in a loose realistic style. It will enhance any decor.
"The Pewter Pitcher"
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This painting of a Pewter pitcher and silver server was my holiday escape! The tinsel and wrapping paper was starting to get to me. I was going to paint another holiday themed piece and just couldn't muster the enthusiasm. My soft, reflective, much loved "stuff" called to me - and gave me a little peace. Polishing this stuff is kind of a Zen exercise.
I haven't been able to get into the studio for a few days so this was kind of nice. The holidays have really put me behind. This sort of disruption gives me cause to think of Duane Kaiser's commitment. I stand in awe of that man. When does he ever clean his house? I'm going to be opening this blog up to comments in the next week or two. Also a note to those of you who have my old web site address as http://www.sparart.net/ - I'm working on a new website which will be ready in a couple of weeks (holidays and power outages permitting). You will be forwarded to the new site automatically. I'll be maintaining both this blog and the new website so you will be able to bid on paintings from either location. I'll have a new domain name and will give you the particulars when that happens. The old one will still be good for several years, though, so no need to worry.
"Swingin Snowman" or
"Leader of the Icepack"
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This is the last of my Christmas Ornament Series. With the holiday just less than a week away, I have lots still to do so I'll be posting less often until after Christmas. This little guy is so big, we often have trouble finding a branch on the tree big enough to hold him. He's all glass and very delicate. His body is pearlescent and I love the way he steals the show. I really think "Leader of the Icepack" fits best but I just couldn't make up my mind!
"The Yellow Petal Vase"
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This painting of roses is really about the vase. This delicate glass vase has beautifully turned edges - much like a flower in itself. It's quite graceful and often the flowers placed in it take second place to its beauty. This painting is done in a soft realist painterly fashion.
"Sunday Breakfast"
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How time flies! Seems just yesterday I painted some eggs. Well in honor of tomorrow, Monday, daily painters around the globe, paint eggs. Don't ask me why. But here it is. This painting is of an egg sitting on my good Delft China. If you've been watching my work, you'll know that I have a lot of this stuff and it creeps into many of my still lifes. Lots of thick juicy paint in this picture and I especially like the feel of the cool light coming from my studio window.
Cool light is enticing to painters. The shadows are softer and the atmosphere somehow more immediate. I'm planning a larger piece with lots of delft in it. If I can chase the students out of my studio long enough to leave the set up alone for a week or two.
"Promise of Spring"
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OK. So it's not spring yet. But the days will soon be getting longer, so it's just around the corner. I need flowers to remind me of that. I can't remember the names of these blooms, but these flowers have always intrigued me - and eluded me insofar as being able to render them well. I'm happy with the outcome on these.
"Holiday Toast"
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This highly detailed pastel is the next in a succession of Christmas paintings. I collected a bunch of bulbs and potpourri (pine cone, nuts, wood curlings, colored straw balls and an ornament or two) and tossed them into this large glass candle holder. The cloth is velvet. Festive - don't you think?
The painting is a standard 9" x 12" and comes with a double cut matt making it easy to frame in a standard size frame. The work is carefully packaged in it's own case so nothing touches the work. The painting is lightly sprayed.
"A Day at Descanzo"
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This landscape is painted with loose painterly strokes. It has an inviting sense of light. Descanzo Gardens is a favorite destination for gardens lovers in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. It's not far from Pasadena. The path ends at a grand fountain. This painting was painted in an impressionist style.
The colors are rich but depending on your monitor what you see may differ slightly from the painting. The painting is an 8" x 10" which makes it easy to frame in a standard frame.
"Afternoon Tea"
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Several people have asked me about my pastels and larger pieces. So here you go. This piece is 18" x 24". The opening bid is $99.
This highly detailed pastel is done in the style of Trompe l'Oeil which means "to fool the eye". The actual matt is painted into the painting allowing for me to paint the fabric to appear as if it is falling out of the picture. So it's not really a cut matt. The close up photo at the auction site reveals the careful detail in this painting.
The painting is 18" x 24" and easily framed in a standard size frame. Spacers for providing a 1/4 inch space between the glass and work are included with the painting along with simple instructions on how to use them. It is carefully packaged in it's own case so nothing touches the work. The work is lightly sprayed.
"Balancing Act"
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Monday is egg day for daily painters. So in honor of the occasion, I raided the fridge. Eggs are quite difficult to paint. Actually anything white is difficult to paint because in art terms, nothing is white. It's warm white, cool white and all kinds of shades of gray or brown or blue or yellow or orange, etc. in between. So here they are with all their lovely shades. Eggs.
I'll be taking tomorrow, Monday, off in the interest of holiday shopping and mental health. See you Tuesday.
"Yellow Tulips"
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When I first purchased these tulips to paint, I though that I would wait until they wilted a bit as they then make a more attractive bouquet. Sigh. They just wouldn't wilt. Stubborn little buggers. I finally gave up after four days and painted them as is. This painting was done ala prima - in one fast sitting. It has loose brush strokes but maintains a realistic feel.
"Christmas Reflections"
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This painting of Christmas Ornaments is the second in a series of Christmas paintings. We usually don't put our tree up until just a week before Christmas so I had to raid the storage boxes early for these. The gold pinecone is from one of our Lepo Pines from when we lived in California. The brush work in this painting is generous and the color strong. It's pretty much painted in a realistic style.
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Irises always attract me with their translucence and delicacy. Sunlight on Irises has a way of dancing. I was definitely in right brain when I painted this one. The rich brush work and delicate coloring of this painting give it an impressionist feel without losing the realistic feeling of the flower dancing in the light. Enjoy.
"A Gift of Bloom"
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Cyclamen are a particular favorite of mine. The pretty pink blooms set off by the gold foil container attracted my eye on a cold December morning at the market. They sit on my kitchen window - reminding me of sunny days.
"Christmas Pear"
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Every holiday season, I promise myself and my husband that we are going to get back to some basics. For the most part, we have managed to do that. Less emphasis on gifts, more emphasis on sharing of ourselves. This simple painting emphasizes the simple gift of nature - a pear. A reminder of the sweet side of life and the gifts and blessings bestowed from something, or someone, greater than ourselves. The style is realistic and yet it's paint surface is rich.
I'll be doing a few more Christmas and holiday paintings as the new year approaches. Watch for them.
"Morning on the Meadow"
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This landscape is painted with loose painterly strokes. It has an inviting sense of light and a very definite feeling of early morning on a soft green meadow. The actual meadow is a lovely spot near a farmer's field in the township of Sequim, WA near where I live. This painting was painted in a realist style that somewhat resembles impressionist. It has a nice contemporary feel and will enhance any decor.
"Floral Burst"
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When winter closes in and snow creates cabin fever, I think of summer. A quick trip to the market brought this piece of sunshine into my studio - and right to you! Cheer up - spring is only four months away.
This floral painting was done in a realistic style and will enhance any decor.
"Salt of Life"
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This little copper salt shaker has so much personality, it can stand on its own. So I painted it that way.
