We have spent the last few months at our home in the Northwest.  I had promised myself I would paint everyday, something about "best laid plans."  What with some construction on the house, visitors and travel with family and friends, I am way behind on my goal.  On a trip to Cape Cod with family, I took a photo of my granddaughter Charlotte and her Mom doing cartwheels on the beach.  I loved the picture and decided to go out of my comfort zone, and try to paint it (not sure that I even have a comfort zone these days, but I do know figures are not it).  Below is the photograph and the finished painting.  The process was a huge struggle, I did a small study, began on a 16 x 20 canvas - decided to crop it, etc.  I learned a lot doing this.  I do love the reflections in the sand, I did learn that I need a lot more work with figures!

Last month I took a workshop in San Francisco with Carol Marine.  Having no experience with painting street scenes and being a glutton for punishment, I thought why not?  Below are two paintings I did from the photo.  The first painting in the workshop the second when I came back home, yes more punishment.  I actually like the light in the second one better - definitely need a lot more work on this! 



Several years ago I was asked to have a cast made of my head for a project.  The details are unimportant - the artist gave me the plaster cast and my husband often referred to it as a "death mask."  A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting mosaic artist Linda Zeien, http://skullsaics.com.  I asked her if she would be willing to take on my "head" - she did and the results are above, Josi Under Glass.  Check out her website - her work is brilliant!

Is there anything better than growing pansies, or for that matter painting them, in January?  Their little faces are so happy and with this recent cold spell in Arizona - we need all the smiles we can get.

This painting was done in Corolla, North Carolina at the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.  The site includes sandy beaches, grassy dunes and fresh and brackish water marshes.  I was concerned that the view I had selected had too many green elements.  The addition of the blue sky and water relieved the intense green foliage. My granddaughter Cora, named it, "A Grasshopper's View."

While we were at our home in the Northwest this summer, I became entranced with "stick" houses.  There are many examples that run up and down the passage close to our house.  I took photos while bouncing up and down on our runabout and the result was this small study.  I am using it to paint a larger canvas.  Obtaining the correct perspective of the houses was complicated and frustrating.

In October I took a workshop from Henry Stinson at the Scottsdale Artists' School.  It was just terrific - he is a great teacher.  Henry uses a very vibrant palette, similar to what I have used above and which I have incorporated into some recent landscapes.  Before beginning a painting, he tones most of his canvases with "cerulean blue hue."  This painting is aptly named, "In The Hood."

My dear daughter and her family were here for Thanksgiving and we had the rare opportunity to paint together, with my friend Bruce Stam.  Heather paints in watercolors - our aim was to paint all three grandchilren, we finished two.  On top is my painting of Wyatt and the one below is Heather's painting of Amelia.  Cora's is still in the works.

This painting, "Rocky Bottom" was selected by the Scottsdale Artists' School as part of their recent fundraiser Beaux Arts.  The painting below, "Snow Falling on Cedars," has been selected for SAS's Best and Brightest Show in January, 2013.

I am enjoying my participation in the Mesa Arts Center Gallery. 

My friend Bruce Stamm gave our granddaughter and me a lesson in watercolor portraits.  He makes it seem so easy!  This is the one I did of my husband George - it does not quite capture his kind face and sweet smile, but it was fun to do.

Last day of Joni Falk's Workshop at Scottsdale Artists School.  It was terrific painting with some old friends and of course Joni is amazing, as is Linda Dobkin her assistant. 

Pears with Blue Bottle

I have been working on these pears for a few weeks, I finally finished them yesterday.  I am not happy with the juxtaposition of the leaf with the middle pear.  The background was a tapestry like material.



Dancing Pansies

When I came back to painting two years ago, I gravitated toward still life and plein air.  As a friend of mine said, "like growing older, painting flowers is not for sissies."  She is absolutely right.  This painting took three days and each day the pansies drooped more and more.  Learned my lesson to take more photos of the setup and paint more quickly.