Oil Floral Painting of Silver Teapot and Red Poppies, 11" x 14"

"Poppies on Polishing Day"
SOLD

This 11" x 14" painting of a Silver Teapot and Red Poppies has rich detail and great color. The Poppies are reflected both in the silver pot and the silver pitcher. The red flowers are set off nicely by the greenish umber background. Red Poppies are a favorite wildflower of mine - perhaps because they seem to outlast all the others and group in such abundance. I came to Washington from California and was delighted to find that they grow almost as profusely here as they do there in the summer.
I'll be on vacation this week and won't be posting again until after the 11th. I'll be carrying my laptop, though, so if you e-mail me, I'll get the msg. See you then.

Oil Painting of a Silver Bowl with Red Fruit 9" x 12"

"Too Pretty to Eat"
SOLD

This is 9" x 12" painting of a silver bowl with fruit. That said for Ebay and Google searches, the silver bowl is one that I love and have included in many paintings. It's always a challenge to paint and it's fun to try to get the reflection of nearby objects as well. Here the reflection of the green grapes was a bit of a challenge. They have to look real and somewhat distorted but should not have any real discernable highlights on them. The fruits are thickly painted except for the plum in the foreground which serves a purpose in the composition but shouldn't steal the show. I always get a kick out of painting reflections and hope you all enjoy them too.
I've been a bit remis about getting stuff on Ebay this week because of my show which opens on Friday in a local gallery. I'll be out of town for a bit in the first week or so of March but I should still have a listing or two running during that time and will be carrying my laptop with me.

Floral Oil Painting of Hydrangias and Silver Pitcher, 9" x 12"

"Tea and Hydrangias"
SOLD

It's been awhile since I painted anything reflective so I decided to do this 9" x 12" painting of Hydrangias and a Silver Pitcher for today. It was a pleasant change but I sure do get tired of polishing silver! I chose this close cropped composition so that the focus would be on the lemon and it's reflection in the silver. The colors may be a bit different depending on your monitor.

Oil Floral Painting of Silver Cup,Magnolias and Nectarines, 12" x 24" Gallery Wrap Canvas

"Sweet Magnolia Wine"
SOLD.

This 12" x 24" painting is one of a series I'm doing on magnolias. It's on gallery wrapped canvas 3/4" deep with painted sides so there's no need to frame it. Just hang it as it is!

This unusually shaped and interesting canvas has been hanging around the studio for awhile so I thought I'd put it to good use. The long shape challenged me to create a composition that would be pleasing to the eye. The piece draws your eyes initially to the silver chalice and then, because we read from left to right (at least here in the states), your eyes are drawn to the right where the large magnolia sits. However, the stronger brushwork and the draw of the silver chalice and bright fruit once again bring your eyes to the left. See the detail picture below.

Oil Painting of Magnolias and Ginger Jar, 28" x 38"

"Sleeping Magnolias"

Here's a little preview of a large 28" x 38" piece I'll be showing at The Blue Whole Gallery in my March show. Collectors in this area are not strong on Still Life so it's possible this may be available for sale on Ebay in April. The flowers are brighter than they appear here. I'm curious to know what my collectors out there think of this larger work, so feedback is welcome. Click on the e-mail link here on the blog or e-mail me at pinehillart@msn.com.

Painting of White Magnolias and Nectarines, 11" x 14"

"Poetry"
SOLD

This 11" x 14" painting white magnolias and tangerines is now part of a series I'm doing on magnolias. I love them. Their sweet fragrance is heady and light has a way of dancing around them like no other flower. I'm considering doing a number of these as very large paintings - maybe two feet by three feet. There's lots of great brush work in this piece. Take a look at the detail below.

Large Contemporary Oil Still Life, 24" x 48"

"Fire and Ice"

Here's a little preview of one of the pieces that will be showcased at The Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim, WA on March 2nd. This piece is quite large, measuring two feel by four feet. As you can see, I needed to break out of my usual small format for awhile. Phew! That felt good! It isn't for sale yet but may be posted to Ebay in April depending on the gallery sales. I'll keep you all posted.

Floral Oil Painting of Pink Bush Magnolias

"Bush Magnolias"
SOLD.

This 12" x 16" painting of pink bush magnolias is painted with loose brush work and generous paint. I'm attracted to magnolias and find them challenging to paint. The panel was primed with a gold gesso which shines through the paint layers providing a rich feel and lovely under tones.
I've been preparing for a gallery show at the end of this month and so have been experimenting with new textures and flirting with a semi-abstract feel. This painting is similar in style to some of the ones I'll be showing. While I will probably never really lose my love of realism and the feel of the "old masters", I am striving to incorporate a contemporary feel into my work.

Oil Painting of White Magnolias in a blue glass vase, 9" x 12"

"Laughing Magnolias"
SOLD.

Happy Valentines Day! Here's some flowers for you. The nice thing about flowers, unlike chocolate, is that they don't add weight to your hips. This 9" x 12" piece, like all my others, is about light. Here the concept is simple. Contrast. I merely wanted to show intense light working its magic on some magnolias and setting them off by contrast. There's some good brush work here with some heavy paint layered on the magnolia which sits on the left sweet spot of the painting.

I haven't been posting as frequently the last two weeks as I'm getting ready for a show at the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim, WA. You can take a peek by visiting http://www.bluewholegallery.com/. I'll also be posting some of the pieces here. They won't be available, however, on Ebay until after the show closes at the end of March.

Oil Painting of Orchids and Lemons

"Dancing Orchids"
SOLD

This floral still life of orchids and lemons was based on a concept of shimmering light. I wanted to portray the chief player, the flower on the right as I saw it, shimmering with light. The rest of the objects - the lemons and green glass jar are merely supporting cast. There's lots of beautiful brush work and lush paint. See the detail of the main player below.

Oil Painting of a Buddha with Nectarines, 9" x 12"

"Offerings"
SOLD

About 8th in a series of concept paintings, this beautiful 9" x 12" piece has a great glow to it. The light pools around the fruit and bounces off of the Buddha, bringing to the painting a feeling as if the fruit is being bathed in a glow from the icon. The reflections are so bright, they bounce off the polished table below. Lots of lush paint and brushwork in this piece.
My scanner is back on line, so depending on your monitor, it should read right. Enjoy.

Japanese Ginger Jar with Flowers and Grapes

"The Ginger Jar"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" Painting of a Ginger Jar with flowers and grapes is perhaps the 8th in a collection of new paintings done within the framework of a concept. The concept here was, of course, color. The Jar itself has very little color as it's background but has wonderful color and detail in its decoration. I placed a pink cloth to accent the peacock on the jar and then placed some flower in the jar itself. The challenge here was to keep the jar as a central player while not losing it to the background in the painting which is nearly the same color as the background of the jar. While it appears at first that there is an outline on the left hand side of the jar, this is only a branch which is part of the jar decoration. If you look closely (picture allowing), you'll see that the edge of the jar actually extends beyond this branch and is lost to the shadows beyond. This is more evident on the painting when viewing it in person.

Still Life of a Chinese Vase with Dried Roses, 11" x 14"

"Chinese Vase with Dried Roses"
SOLD

This 11" x 14" painting of a Chinese vase with dried roses is the seventh in a series of concept paintings that represent a new body of work. There is a lot going on in this painting that belies it's simplicity. The brushwork is expressive and the paint layer generous. While the background is fairly shallow, there is a quality of airiness to it. I'm still working with a digital camera here and so the values on the front egg do not read exactly correct. It is a little darker than the one behind it so that it provides the first and only object in the foreground on which the light first breaks, leading you to the second which is in full more intense light.

Floral Still Life with Japanese Vase, 12" x 16"

"Floating on Air"
SOLD

This 12" x 16" Oil was yet another painting done on the basis of a concept. The concept here was space. I wanted to portray an object - in this case a flower, occupying space while a the same time appearing to float in that space. There is a lush impasto of paint on the flower bringing it a three dimensional sculpted look while the background remains light and airy. There is nothing like viewing a painting in person and as always this photo falls short of the painting.
I've started the bidding at $49.00 with the view that if it doesn't sell - it's one more for my show in March. Enjoy!

Floral Painting of Pink Peonies in a Pewter Vase, 9" x 12"

"Peonies"
SOLD

Sixth in a series of paintings done with a concept as a framework, "Peonies" is a painting about color. Here I've played the pink color of the peonies against a somewhat low key greenish umber. The two complimentary colors work together to create excitement. The gold cloth has enough sienna in it to pull it into the analogous range. More Yellow and it would be a discord. While the vase is essentially colorless, being of reflective material, it brings together all the other colors in the painting to a harmonious whole. The peonies are painted with a generous application of paint as is the gold cloth. Enough color theory. Enjoy!

Still Life of Delft Coffee Pot with Plums and Flowers, 9" x 12"

"The Delft Coffee Pot"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" painting is the fifth in a series of concept paintings. The concept here is contrast. The contrast is through value (dark/light) rather than color. The small dark plums against the white cloth contrast with the tall coffee pot which is also brightly lit. While there are flowers present in the composition, they play a minor if supportive role to the main members of the cast - the pot and plums. The slightly blue cast in the background provides air and depth to the composition. It's repeated in the cloth as well as on the plums giving the work a sense of color harmony.

While painting with a concept is not entrely new to me, by doing a full series involving concepts I am beginning to appreciate it's merits. If I manage to keep the concept steady in my mind, then it becomes clearer to me what needs to be done within this framework to serve the painting. Anything that does not serve the concept, is peripheral and should either be played down or eliminated entirely.

Still Life of Teapot with Nectarines and Grapes

"In the Light"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" is the fourth in a series of concept paintings. The concept here was massed light. I wanted to portray the grapes as highly lit without losing sight of the other objects in the set up. The trick was to keep the overall impression of light but not allow the grapes to become flat. The light actually comes from high above and slightly to the left. It moves only gradually across the picture plane falling dramatically on the grapes. This was a challenging painting and I'll probably do a few more in this series with a similar concept.

Floral Still Life of Red Roses, 9" x 12", Oil on Panel

"Fallen Rose"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" painting of red roses is the third in my series of concept paintings. The concept here was color. The red roses are set against a nearly colorless background with only a hint of greenish umber to set them off. The focus of the painting is the rose lying on the table. Everything in the painting is orchestrated to bring this rose into focus. It has the hardest lines and the greatest contrast. It also has the boldest color. The light in picture frame illuminates it. Notice how the dark glass olive oil jar behind the rose loses its edges in the shadows. This is one of the hall marks of Chiaroscuro (light and shadow) painting. The vase and the highlighted rose are painted very thickly. Much of the painting has a generous paint layer but if you look closely, you can see the paint strokes on those two subjects.

Floral of Red Rose with Peonies and Silver Tea Pot

"Romance"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" painting of a red rose and peony sitting in a silver tea pot is the second in a series of paintngs done involving a concept. The concept here is color. The theme is romance, which coincidentally, is also the title of the painting. I wanted to portray the emotional aspects of color against a somewhat colorless background. Romance is depicted by the red rose, red being desire, which, like romance sometimes does, has lost its bloom but not its color. The diagonal composition creates tension. All romance hold a degree of tension. This is offset by the soothing tones of the pink and the softened reflections of the teapot. Much as the object of our desire reflects back to us, qualities which we ourselves posess or wish to posess - but often through a haze of emotion. The background is painted thinly while the peony has an almost sculptural quality due to its heavier paint layer.There is a lot of "air" and atmosphere in this painting.

I'm still working with a digital camer instead of my usual scanner. Hence, there are highlights which do not show up well here. I should be back to normal (depending on the graces of the computer gurus) by Thursday or Friday. So if I get things rolling again, I'll repost the picture.

Still Life of a Japanese Vase with Tangerines, 9" x 12"

"Balance"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" painting of a Japanese vase with tangerines is part of a series I'm doing on concepts. The idea is to frame a concept first and then try to convey it on canvas. In this piece I was looking to portray the concept of "balance". The long stem of leaves does this by crossing the plane of the painting. Notice how the light in this painting becomes stronger as it moves from left to right until it falls upon the vase which is the object of the composition. Also the air in between the objects is quite "visible". I'm still working with a digital camera instead of a scanner and so the shadow side of the vase is a bit brighter than it in fact appears in the actual painting.
This is really a lovely piece. I considered not selling it on Ebay as I have an upcoming show at a gallery and could demand a higher price for it. However, my collectors may enjoy this and I'm kind of a fatalist. If it doesn't sell here, well it's one more for my show. Enjoy.

Clementine Tangerines with Silver Bowl, 9" x 12" Still Life

"Clementines"
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This 9" x 12" painting of Clementine Tangerines uses a complementary color scheme. The rich color of the orange tangerines set off by the blue cloth and reflected in the silver bowl make for a striking composition. This painting lights up under a good picture light and the glazes really bring it to life.
I love Clementines. They're easy to peel and wonderful to eat. A great light snack - perfect for a winter's day.

Painting of a bottle of B & B Liquor, 5" x 7"

"B & B"
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I'm really not a big drinker. But I do like a little after dinner drink from time to time and pretty or interesting liquor bottles intrigue me. This painting is 5" x 7" and carries a strong impact with good color and a realistic depiction of a bottle of B & B. Notice how the label is peeling. This attests to how long the stuff sits around the house. This painting would make a great addition to any rec room or bar area. It's also a good kitchen painting.

Silver Tea pot with Bread and Salt, 9" x 12"

"Bread and Salt"
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This 9" x 12" painting was painted very quickly because of time concerns today. Actually - the bread was my bigger challenge here. The texture appeared easier to paint than it actually was. The work is painted with a light application of color but the silver tea pot has more generous application of paint befitting its place as the main player.

9" x 12" Impessionist Landscape of a Fall Scene with Jogging Trail

"Jogging Trail"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" impressionist landscape of a fall scene is of a small meadow not far from where I live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The color may be a little off depending on your computer screen but is quite rich with generous paint. The painting's size of 9" x 12" which makes it easy to frame.
The color on this seems a bit intense on my screen and this may be in part because I'm photographing the work instead of scanning it. My computer should be back up by Monday and hopefully, I'll be able to scan stuff by then. I'll re-post the photo of this then.

Still Life Floral with Cornflowers and Silver Tea Pot on Satin Cloth

"Silver and Satin"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" floral still life is done with lots of warm lush color and generous paint application. A holiday present of new paint helped me find just the right colors to bring out the satin on the cloth. My desktop printer is down and hence, so is my scanner. The photo is not as sharp as I would have it, but the color is accurate. This painting was painted in a realistic style and has a nice contemporary feel. It will enhance any decor.

Happy New Year! And many thanks to all my collectors to whom I am deeply grateful for their unflagging support!

Floral 8" x 10" Oil with Peonies and Silver Server

"Pink Peonies"
SOLD

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.

California Landscape of a Eucalyptus Tree after a storm. 12" x 16"

"Storm Break"
SOLD

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"
E-mail Susan to purchase this painting for $39.00

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"
E-mail Susan about this painting or to purchase for $39.00

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.

Christmas Ornament

"Swingin Snowman" or
"Leader of the Icepack"
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L

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!

Roses in a yellow glass petal vase

"The Yellow Petal Vase"
SOLD

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.

Fried Egg on Delft China

"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.

Floral Bouquet in Green Glass

"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.

Reflective Christmas Ornaments in Glass Bowl

"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.

Descanzo Gardens, California Landscape

"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.

Silver Tea Pot with Floral Bouquet, 18" x 24"

"Afternoon Tea"
SOLD

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 Tulip Bouquet

"Yellow Tulips"
SOLD

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 Ornaments

"Christmas Reflections"
Purchase for $39.00 or E-mail Susan about this item.

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.

Irises in the Sun Floral

SOLD

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.

Mum's the Word

SOLD

"Morning on the Meadow"
Purchase this painting for $39 or e-mail Susan about it.

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"
SOLD

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.

December Paintings

I've been having some problems posting photos to this blog. So in the meantime, I'll be sending out my new work from my private address book. If you want to subscribe, please e-mail me at pinehillart@msn.com.