Pastel Painting of Duck a Bush Salt Flats, 22 1/2" x 10"

Mattina Tranquilla"

Price: $285 Double Matted, $20 Shipping
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On a recent return trip from Olympia, WA, my husband stopped the car at the Duck a Bush river so that I could take pictures of the salt flats. This area always intrigues me but unfortunately I never seem to be able to get there when the light is right. This time we were there in late morning. Not the best light but I made do. I improvised a bit on the color but I think this pretty much captures the moment. I may do an oil on this next.

The painting is not priced for sale with a frame. Framed, the painting is $350. Email me if you're interested in a photo of the piece framed.

Oil Painting of Magnolia Spray, 11" x 14", Oil on Panel

"Magnolia Spray"

I've recently been introduced to Facebook. Ok...I'm a little behind there. But then, not everyone blogs either. Anyway, as a result, I hooked up with a friend from my teen camp days and she commissioned a small painting. My friend didn't want a vase in this floral, however; she requested instead only a spray. So here it is. Hope she likes it. To see how this painting was done, see a step by step demonstration with pictures and explanation at www.musensbysusan.blogspot.com.

California Seascape Painting, 24" x 20" Oil on Linen

"Maestoso"

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Price: $600 USD
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I'm plainly a romantic painter. It doesn't seem to matter what the subject is, I'll throw some emotion and drama into it. Skies are like that for me. I wanted to paint a landscape where the sky is somehow as deeply involved as the land below it. I had some old cloud reference photos from when I lived in California so I tied them into my memory of a coastline. Western Washington just doesn't have clouds like the ones I used to see in California. Well - perhaps they do, but not over the Olympic Peninsula at the northern most tip. I realize there's only one tree actually painted here. But I felt that this lone sentinel was all that was needed to be the mirror for and express what was happening in the sky.

I have no control over what happens on your individual monitors out there in cyberland, but the sky here has beautiful light with lovely tones. Despite the impending storm, the strong light coming through the clouds lends balance and overall, hope, to the dramatic scene. I chose the Italian word "Maestoso" which means, "with magestry and grandeur", for the title. It's painted in lots of beautiful glazes and looks spectacular with or without a light.

Painting Study of a Brass Pitcher, 9" x 12"

The past few weeks have been filled with parties, visiting guests, summer shows, studio tours and teaching. I've hardly had time to work at actually painting anything. But here's a study of a brass pitcher I whipped out during class. I'm just finishing up a landscape and hope to get that up on the site soon. Sorry for the absence. I live with guilt these days over not getting enough done. Yipes...I still have a commission to start. Sorry Arlene!

Nude Figure Study, 9" x 12" Oil on Panel

"Contrapasto"

I've been pretty busy getting ready for a three day studio tour. The Sequim Arts Third Annual Open Studio Tour takes place this year during the Lavender Festival on July 17th, 18th, and 19th. As most of you know, I have a new studio and so this was a good opportunity to show it off a bit. I have a bunch of studies that I did for school just before the summer break and I'll be showing some of them this week as a way of filling space. I can't actually get back to the easel until after the tour. Thanks for staying tuned.

Lilancs and Pears Oil Painting, 8" x 10" Oil on Canvas

SOLD

Time has been pretty tight lately as I gear up for the upcoming Sequim Arts Studio Tour. I'm number 11 on this year's tour. In addition, because I'm a contributing author/editor for www.sequim-news.com which is a local online newspaper, I've been writing a series of articles on all the particpating artists - an endeavor that is very time consuming. Check them out on the "arts" page or today's article about Rudy Bauer that's on the front page! Anyway, I'm a busy girl. I stole some time to get into the studio today and here's what I came up with.

I had no difficulty in photographing this canvas. Last week I reprimed a host of them with Ganblin's Oil Primer. This great stuff fills in the interstices on the canvas and gives a nice smooth finish. That's the kind of finish I prefer and it's much easier to photograph. Hope you like it.