Oil Floral of Red and Coral Roses, 9" x 12"

"Birthday Roses"
Click here to purchase from Susan.

September 14Th was my birthday. OK - never mind how old. The point is I was presented with these beauties upon my return from my morning walk. Actually there were a dozen of them but I didn't get to paint them until today. So what you see are the culls.

Roses are a difficult flower to master but I feel I managed to get their character here. The vase is a very old yellow "petal" vase where the top edges are turned out like petals. It belonged to my mother and I love the challenge of painting it. The paint is extremely thick in the flowers and leaves. It seemed the best way to sculpt them.

These days when I paint "ala prima" - a painting in one sitting, my objective is to use an economy of strokes, or to make each stroke a deliberate placement with little manipulation of the paint surface after I've laid it down. So with the flowers, my goal was to bring forth the character of the Roses without belaboring them. What do you think?

Oil Painting of Hydrangeas and Plums, 9" x 12"

"Hydrangeas and Plums"
SOLD

It's been awhile since I painted Hydrangeas and I found it a challenge. It surprised me, though, how difficult it was to get the plums looking as wonderful as they appeared to me. While they're not the focus, I think they came out really well. One of the painting techniques I’ve been working on during the past year is to place each stroke with care and deliberateness. This is very hard to do – especially when you come from a background of painting in careful layers with glazing and scumbling. But I think I succeeded here – at least with the plums. They have really rich color too, which, depending on your monitor may or may not be visible to you.

I made a commitment this year that each daily painting would have a purpose other than just practice and, of course, possible sale. I'd like to make each one either part of an overall lesson plan or an experiment in technique. I'll try to remember to post what my objective was when I painted the piece.

I'd love some feedback, so if you're new to my site or even if you're not, please feel free to click on the "comments" link on the blog page. Thanks for looking!

Oil Painting of Dahlia in Silver Server with Grapes, 6" x 8"

"Dahlia and Silver"
Click here to purchase direct from Susan.

My walking buddy invited me to pick her last Dahlia. Anyway that's what she called the flower. I'm really ignorant of flower names except for the common ones so I suppose that's what it is. It fit nicely in my silver server and the red cloth really set it off. Because of the slightly rougher texture of the canvas board, I put a lot of paint on the flower.

I recently purchased a few 6” x 8” canvas boards because I liked the size. However, I find painting on them a challenge because the texture is rougher than the boards I usually prepare myself. The whole painting experience changes and detail becomes much more difficult. It has caused me to apply more paint…and three coats of lacquer! I think when I’m done with these, I’ll just cut a bunch of board to the same size and prepare them myself.

I’ve rearranged my schedule to get more painting time in the studio. I even posted a sign on the studio door with my new hours. Now if I could only get my cats to read. Anyway, I hope to be able to produce more regularly now for www.dailypainters.com.
Thanks for looking!

Oil Floral of Magnolia and Nectarines, 6" x 8"

"Sharing the Light"
Click here to purchase direct from Susan.

This little green vase is special to me - it's a private thing. But I thought its soft green color would set off the fruit and flowers here just perfectly. I do - don't you? I used generous paint on this one and I really liked the warm color in the cloth. The color may vary depending on your monitor.
Thanks for looking!

Oil Figure of a Nude, 6" x 8"

"Stacey at Rest"

Once a week I meet with some friends to draw from a model. This week was long pose week and so I took the opportunity to do a small oil. I really enjoyed doing this piece. The light was good and Stacey never moved a muscle. I'm satisfied with the flesh tones too although the colors may or may not be off depending on your monitor. Enjoy.

Oil Floral Still Life of Pears and Hollyhocks, 6" x 8"

"Hollyhocks and Pears"
SOLD



My walking buddy invited me to pick from her garden so I grabbed the last Hollyhocks before the deer could get them. I like this slightly larger, yet compact size. This piece has generous paint and I especially like the use of cool light here.

Oil Floral of Cornflowers and Pewter Pitcher, 5" x 7"

"Cornflowers with Pewter"
SOLD

Lunch at a friend and collector's home brought me this little pewter pitcher (on loan) to paint. It has a soft warm patina. I liked the play of the cool cornflowers against the warm tones of the grapes and the pitcher.
The painting is varnished and has a lovely soft glow. Good generous paint on this piece.

I've been out of practice on small pieces this summer but it's good to get back into the flow again.

Oil Reproduction from Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel

"The Delphic Sybil"
SOLD

OK. So it's not exactly an original. Last fall I took a dream vacation and finally got to see the Sistine Chapel in Rome. "The Delphic Sybil" is one of my favorite images and I've actually reversed it here. I thought it would be fun to do a series of these to a small scale - perhaps in reverse. Just for practice. The piece is signed "Spar after Michaelangelo" which is in keeping with tradition when copying from a master.
Thanks for looking!

"By the Full Moon Bridge"

I started this large painting the other day at our local county fair as a demo piece. I realize this is not a full painting done in one sitting (actually it will take several sittings of several hours each to finish), but I thought some of you might enjoy seeing something actually develop. Right now it's pretty much in the underpainting stage and needs a lot of refinement. I'll be showing you other stages as they develop but not over the next few days as I have "daily" paintings to do and also a large commission demanding my attention.

I started this piece with a raw umber imprimatura (toned canvas), and then did a subtractive underpainting in which I pulled out the highlights showing the white canvas below. You can still see this part of the painting in the flowers that she is holding. Once dry I started working thin layers of paint into it. I kept things simple but have defined the skin temperatures for the planes of the face. The hair is the last to be painted and I wait until the final strokes of the painting to do this. Her hair is up in a knot so right now she looks a bit masculine as if she has short hair. The background is a bit of a challenge as I don't have much in the way of reference material for it, but it seems to be coming along well enough. I keep you posted as things move along. Feel free to comment or ask questions.

Oil Figure Painting of a reclining woman, 5" x 7" on panel

"The Red Robe"
SOLD

Figure or "life" drawing is a passion of mine. I attend a small open studio group once a week and feel that the work I have done there has made a huge impact on my work. "A" is a model that sometimes sits for the group and for me privately. I did this as a color study for a larger piece. I like the way it came out. Some of the color in the face shows as higher contrast here than in the actual painting which is much softer. The scanner tends to pick up every dot of color and also casts some shadows on the tiny flecks of paint.

Oil Painting of Wine and Pears, 5" x 7", $45

"Chianti & Pears"
SOLD

I'm trying some different twists to my palette and using the opportunity of doing (more or less) daily paintings to experiment. Hope you like this one. I do. I’ve found myself stunned sometimes by the way color works with light and how just a little flick of the brush can bring such change to a little vignette. I am also astounded how much the practice of painting daily has improved my work and my understanding. While I don’t think everything I produced last year is noteworthy, it all came together in a great way and some of the larger work I produced this summer has brought me a lot of commissions and notice. So, although, I’m often fretful over having to come up with something new to paint, I can’t complain about the real end product…my own improved skills. Thanks for checking in and PLEASE, feel free to leave your comments by clicking on the link under each post.

Original Plein Air Pastel Painting of Ruby Beach

"Ruby Beach"
Available $75.00
E-mail Susan about this painting.

Most of my collectors are unaware that I have been a pastel painter for more years than I have painted in oil. I recently decided to add my pastels to my daily painting blog and to put a few up for sale on Ebay.
This piece is 11" x 14" and was painted on location at Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. I had just started this when the fog started to roll in. It was a mad race to the finish. When I folded up my easel, I was in pea soup.
The pastel is lightly sprayed and will be shipped protected by glassine between two pieces of foam core. Pastels are pure pigment. They are completely fade resistant - more so than oils or watercolor. Color may vary from the original depending on your monitor.

"My Glass Magenta Vase"
Available for $75
Click here to e-mail Susan about this painting.

My summer hiatus was lovely but it's back to the easel. It surprised me how good it felt to do one of these again after my bigger summer projects.

This piece is 11" x 14" and has a sort of build-in wood frame with it so there's no need to frame it. Check on the link to Ebay and you can see an image of what the painting looks like with the frame around it.

This magenta glass vase is one of my favorite things. The color may or may not be off a bit depending on your monitor and my camera.

Thanks for looking and for those of you who have stayed loyal...double thanks!

Original Still Life of Copper Mug with Paint Brushes, 5" x 7", $40.00

"A few old friends"
Click here to purchase through Etsy.com

Sigh. I've had a wonderful summer vacation but I'm back to work now. Sort of.

I want to say a personal "thanks" to all my fans out there who have sent me e-mails and inquired as to when I would take up my brush again. I dearly needed the break from "having" to paint and the breath of fresh air allowed me to focus on larger and more important pieces. Still a few things to take care of this August, but I should be hitting the easel about three or four times a week and then pick up once winter settles in. It's important for me to say, though, that as the end date for my sabbatical drew near, I found my anxiety mounting. While I enjoy painting to an appreciative audience, I need to remain true to my muse. So things will change here a bit. I'll be posting as regularly as I can but the subject matter may change a bit and will occasionally include works in progress and subjects outside of my usual "old world" still lifes. Some will go to Ebay auction and others will be posted for sale on Etsy. Other more expensive pieces will be available through my website.

I'd like to leave my posts open for comment also so with a few changes to the settings on this blog, you will all be able to post comments and feedback. Be nice, now.

This piece was a warm up for the days ahead. They're old buddies. I love the old copper mug and I often use it as a subject as much as a work horse for holding my brushes. There's some nice thick paint on this one. Enjoy.

Oil Painting of Pewter Pitcher with Poppies & Fruit, 9" x 12"

"The Pewter Pitcher"
Click here to bid.

This painting started as a lesson for a student. We both liked the way it turned out so here it is. I love reflective objects and this pitcher was lent to me by my neighbor and "walking buddy" to use in a still life so I hope I "done her proud".

I actually tried to tone the poppies here down a bit but they just refuse to be upstaged by the bright lemon. The lemon had a soft halo around it and is so bright, you have to squint a little to look at it. Lots of thick paint on that lemon and the pewter looks so shiny you can almost see your face in it.

Original oil painting of white magnolias and a copper tea kettle, 11" x 14"

"Copper Glow"
Click here to bid.

For me, Magnolias, Magnolias, Magnolias! I love them anyway I can get them. Here they are set off against the warm tones of a favorite copper tea kettle. Notice the warm reflected light inside the petals and their reflection on the side of the kettle. There's lots of rich paint in this one. Enjoy.

Oil Floral of California Poppies and Plums, 9" x 12"

"Poppies and Plums"
SOLD

California isn't the only place that Poppies grow. Because summers on the Olympic Peninsula are more like spring, our Poppies last almost the entire summer. It was hard to resist stopping my car today to grab a bunch from the side of the road.

This is a very warm painting with wonderful red and rust colors throughout. The plums offer a small spot of cool blue which may or may not show up on your screen. Enjoy.

Original Floral of Pink Orchids and Fruit, 9" x 12"

"Orchid Glow"
SOLD

Gorgeous contemporary oil painting of orchids and fruit. The colors are luscious and the fruit pops off the panel. Although painted in a realistic style the composition has a nice contemporary feel to it and this painting would look gorgeous in a dining room, hallway or bedroom. It's especially appropriate for Asian decor. Take a look at the detail picture below.

Original Still Life Oil Painting of a brass pitcher and grapes, 9" x 12"

"The Little Brass Pitcher"
Click here to bid.

This is a small oil of a brass pitcher nestled between a ceramic blue planter and a bunch of green grapes. The pitcher is the star of the show here. It has brilliant reflections and wonderful color. There are lovely shadows here and the shapes are almost abstract in their simplicity. The concept in this painting is color. I wanted to show off the warm orangey tones of the pitcher against the cool blue ceramic vase. The green grapes harmonize with the background and bring a little air or atmosphere into the painting.

Original floral oil paining of Bush Peonies, 11" x 14"

"Peonies ala prima"
SOLD

OK. I got a little carried away with color here. Maybe it's my head cold. Anyway, my good friend dropped a bunch of these humongous Bush Peonies on my porch and then, standing a good ten feet away from my contagious self, suggested I paint them for therapy.

These flowers are so huge, they don't look real. And the color! Anyway...my head is so stuffy I probably sniffed too much of my paint fumes but couldn't tell. After a brief "ala prima" (that means "all at once") session, this little gem emerged. Not my usual, but then I'm not my usual self.

This would definitely brighten up a bathroom, kitchen or dark hallway. Put your sunglasses on.

Original Oil Painting of a Silver Jester Vase with Fruit, 14" x 18"

"The Jester Vase"
SOLD

A neighbor lent this lovely silver vase to me. Ordinarily I don't paint tall vases because of the compositional problems but I rose well to the challenge here. The lace table cloth sets off the silver and the luscious red grapes beautifully. The peach is reflected in the vase and the smoky glass jug works well too. I especially like the shadow areas of the lace table cloth. There's lots of generous paint in this piece and as all beautiful things, it's style is timeless.
I working on building my body of work and was thinking seriously of not listing this one. But I couldn't resist showing it off. Enjoy

Original Oil Painting of California Coastal Valley, 9" x 12"

"Coastal Valley Storm"
Click here to inquire about this painting.

The central coastal valley area of California is my all time "happy place". I did a larger pastel of this piece recently and decided to do it as well in oil. This is much smaller than the pastel, but captures the same feeling. Enjoy.

Just a quick note to let everyone on my blog send know that I'll be posting less frequently over the next two months. I have a couple of shows and a festival coming up and I'm a bit swamped. I'll still be posting to E-bay via my blog every week, but I've suspended my account with Daily Painters until the end of July because of other committments. Please stay tuned, however. I'm getting ready to open an Ebay store at the end of the summer and should be back in full swing by August as well. Huggs to all, Susan.

Original Pastel Painting of California Central Coastal Valley, 20" x 24"

"Coastal Valley Storm"

Click here to inquire or purchase
from Susan

My absolute favorite "happy place" is the central coastal valley of California. Just a little north and inland from Santa Barbara, the coastal valleys have rolling green pasture and beautiful California Live Oaks. I painted this from memory. The painting features beautiful warm greens and sunlit hills. The mountains are just upriver, kissed by late afternoon light. Although pastels were not my first medium, they turned out to be my most expressive and sometimes my best work is done in them. This is available for two weeks at an unframed price. After that, if it doesn't sell, it goes to the gallery. Email me if you'd like to view a larger image.

Oil Floral of Scotch Broom in a Glass Vase, 9" x 12"

"Scotch Broom"
SOLD

Most people in Washington State consider Scotch Broom to be a pesty weed. I love it. It's bright yellow blooms serve to remind us all that winter is a memory and that Spring is here! I went down the road and picked some today. I put some Eucalyptus leaves in the vase with them. They're for you.

Lots of thick paint on the blooms although it's difficult to see in the picture. Enjoy.

Oil Floral of Red Poppies, Cornflowers and Peaches, 16" x 20"

"Peaches and Poppies"
SOLD

Spring has finally come to the Olympic Peninsula and Poppies are everywhere. These delightful and colorful flowers always lift my spirits and brighten the room.
This painting is on a gallery wrap canvas with the sides carefully painted. So you can just hang it as is or frame it. It's a standard 16" x 20" so it will fit a standard frame. Hanging wire is provided.

Oil Floral of Lilacs, Chrysanthemums,Iris and Lilies, 16" x 20"

"Loving Lilacs"
SOLD

This 16" x 20" oil of Lilacs, Lilies and Chrysanthemums (and one Iris) is larger than my usual size of 9" x 12". It's painted on canvas which is stapled on the back so you can just hang it without a frame - or frame it if you like. Hanging hardware is included.
I enjoy painting larger pieces and so took a little extra time with this one. The flowers have lots of generous paint and the ginger jar just glows. A pretty painting for spring.

Oil Floral Painting of Red Poppies in a Copper Pot, 9" x 12"

"Red Poppies"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" oil of poppies is so bright and colorful it popped off my canvas and went dancing. OK. So it didn't. But it is bright and colorful! And I had a lot of fun painting this one. Enjoy!

Floral Oil Painting of Yellow Irises, 9" x 12"

"Dancing Irises"
SOLD

A recent long distance conversation with a friend reminded me that Iris festivals are springing up all over the country. One of my favorite flowers to paint. Today was gorgeous - sunny and warm(ish) so after a quick trip to the market, I pulled out my brushes and here you go. I'd like to paint these as a triptych in three long panels. What do you think?

Floral Oil Painting of Pink Cabbage Roses, 9" x 12"

"Cabbage Roses"
Click here to inquire about this painting.

This old soup tureen was my mother's. It adorns our dining room table. Today I was in a bit of a funk and didn't have a clue what I would paint. Well my mother must have whispered in my ear because look what I did! The cabbage roses worked beautifully with the tureen. Lots of thick paint on those roses and the color is lovely and rich. I almost called it "Cabbage Soup."

Floral Oil Painting of Red Poppies and Green Pears, 9" x 12"

"Poppies and Pears"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" oil of Poppies and Pears was inspired, believe it or not, by the pears from my last piece. They were so beautiful and shapely that I had to find another composition to include them in! So I grouped them with Poppies. The red of the flowers against the green complimentary pears makes for a striking composition. The flowers have generous paint on them and the pears, red grapes and yellow lemon make the painting complete.

Oil Painting of Pears and Grapes, 9" x 12"

"Pears and Grapes"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" Oil Painting of Pears and Red Grapes started as a small study for a larger painting. But it came out so well, I decided to list here on Ebay. The colors on the grapes as well as the pears is beautiful. I especially like the way the transparent nature of the grapes is displayed. They glow. There's generous paint here too. See the detail below.

Floral Oil Painting of Lillies and Pears, 9" x 12"

"Lillies Today"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" oil of Lillies was, as the title states, painted today. Considering I have two cats and Lillies are not safe for them, I had quite a time keeping them away from the still life set up. Of course, if Lillies were healthy for cats, there would have been no problem. They would have taken a nap.
I love painting white flowers and these beauties shimmered in the natural light from my skylight today. I found three nearly perfect pears to go with them. As always, the paint on the blooms is generous. The pears pop off the surface and look good enough to eat. Hmm. Maybe that's what the cats were after.

Floral Oil Paint of Pink Hydrangeas and Grapes, 9" x 12"

"Pink Hydrangeas"
SOLD

This 9" x 12" oil of pink Hydrangeas filled an otherwise dreary gray day with color. The vase is glass and practically the same color as the flowers. There's lots of luscious paint on the blooms. I used to fear painting Hydrangeas because of the detail in the blooms. Now I love to paint them. Experience has brought ease to the task.

Floral Oil Painting of Orchids and Apples, "11 x 14"

"Delicate Beauty"
SOLD

Orchids have a certain delicate beauty. I especially like the white ones because of the way they catch the light and shimmer. In this piece I tried to capture not just the light but the delicate color in the shadows as well. The heavy orange-red cloth helps to set off the blossoms and color of the apples. There is a generous paint layer on the flowers as well as apples which can be seen in the detail below.

Landscape Oil Painting of California Coas, 9" x 12"

"Breakers II"
Click here to inquire about purchasing this painting.

It's spring here in the great northwest but the weather remains cool. I had a longing today for my old home in California. So I dug into my picture file and pulled out one of my favorites. Let's enjoy a day's end at the beach.

Oil Floral of Roses in a Glass Jar, 11" x 14"

"Rose Spray II"
SOLD

On Friday, I purchased this beautiful bouquet and painted it with a light background. Determined not to waste my money with only one painting, I did a second version with a darker background today. This glass vase in the darker version has brighter highlights. This piece has a very generous paint layer.

Floral Oil Painting of Roses in Glass Vase, 11" x 14"

"A Spray of Roses"
SOLD

This 11" x 14" Oil of Roses in a glass vase has a very generous paint layer. With spring fever in my blood and not an idea in my head of what to paint, I went to the market. These beauties called out to me and here they are, preserved for all eternity.

Oil Floral of Tulips and Market Flowers 11" x 14"

"Spring Burst"
SOLD

Spring is bursting out all over and this artist has spring fever! This 11" x 14" oil of market flowers is a huge side trip from my usual "old masters" approach. But I couldn't resist. Those flowers were so beautiful, they just had to be painted - and fast. So - to my regular collectors - I apologize! This one may not be what you expect from me but, hey, it's spring!
This painting has a VERY thick paint layer, bright colors and is a standard size for easy framing.

Landscape Oil Painting of Evening Light on a River, 9" x 12"

"Sweet Light on the Dungeness"
SOLD

The Dungeness River runs from the Olympic Mountains in Washington to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. If you travel up the river before it goes into the hills and then look back, this is what you get. The evening light is the frosting on the cake. It's the sweet light.

Oil Painting of Apples and Silver Tea Pot, 12" x 24"

"Tea and Apples"

This oil painting of apples, grapes and a silver tea pot is a commissioned piece I just completed. The customer is a collector I have worked with and met through Ebay. Although my client had free reign on the elements she preferred in the piece, as the artist, the rest - composition, etc., was up to me. I did, however, strive to match the palette to paint chips and fabric swatches provided by the customer. The piece has a full value range and is pleasing to the eye.

Oil Floral of Cabbage Roses and Delft Liquor Server, 11" x 14"

"Afternoon Apertif"
SOLD

This 11" x 14" original oil of cabbage roses set by a Delft Liquor server is painted in the style of the Old Masters. It has thick, lucious paint in the blooms and the beautiful soft light on the server illuminates the entire painting. Note the detail of the roses in the picture below.

I've been out of the action with a bad head cold so this was a nice re-introduction to my easel and a relaxing piece to do.

Oil Painting of Pink Peonies in a Crackle Glass Vase, 8" x 10"

"Peonies"
SOLD

This 8" x 10" Oil of Peonies in a Crackle Glass vase is painted with luscious, thick paint. The crackle glass vase is a favorite of mine and balances nicely with the blooms. Although painted "Ala Prima" - in one sitting, the flowers have good detail while still retaining a look of spontaneity.

Oil Floral of Hydrangeas in Silver Urn, 9" x 12"

"Competition in Elegance"
SOLD

This is 9" x 12" painting of Hydrangeas in a Silver Urn. That said for Ebay and Google searches, this is actually a small copy of an original pastel I painted a number of years ago. The original pastels is quite large so this was a real challenge. I love reflective objects and satin cloth falls into that category. Here the reflections in both the silver urn and the gold cloth compete with the beautiful blue/purple tones of the Hydrangea to present a study in elegance. I used a lot of thick paint in the Hydrangeas and the Urn is quite detailed. Cloth is always a challenge to do well. Enjoy!

Floral Oil of White Flowers in a Silver Cup with Grapes, 11" x 14"

"The Real Thing"
Click here to purchase this painting from the artist.

This is 11" x 14" painting of a silver bowl with white flowers and grapes. That said for Ebay and Google searches, the composition is a bit more involved than ones I have done recently. I jumped into this one with both feet because I have been away from the easel for a few days and I wanted to tackle something a bit complex. The cloth is a gold tapestry and it, along with the grapes are reflected in the silver bowl. The green glass jar balances nicely with the Japanese vase in the background. The title was inspired by the likeness of the real flower to the decoration painted on the Asian vase. There's a lot of rich paint on both the cloth and flowers. Enjoy!

Original Oil Painting of Tangerines and Copper Kettle/Tea Pot, 9" x 12"

"Tangerines and Tea"
Click here to bid.

This is 9" x 12" painting of tangerines and a copper kettle. That said for Ebay and Google searches, The copper kettle is one I've used many times before. Each time I paint it I find another approach to rendering it. This time I tried to achieve more texture both in the kettle and the tangerines. There is a generous paint layer on this piece. The soft gray blue background works to set off the golden glow of both the fruit and the kettle while providing a little atmosphere. I enjoyed painting the table top and the way it picked up the reflections and color of both the kettle and the tangerines. There's a glass vinegar jug there too. It kind of fades into the shadows on the left while managing a reflection or two of its own. Enjoy!

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.