Brandon's Tiger

I think it is time to show off some of the great work that we do here in our classes! I'm so impressed by all of the work that the children have done that I want everyone to see.

Usually the children start out with markers so that they can learn about basic drawing principals without getting frustrated with a new medium.

This is Brandon's drawing of a tiger in the jungle done in marker. I love the way the background is incorporated with so many great textures and colors. Brandon was 6 years old when he drew this.

Through the Windshield: Barn on Route 309

watercolor, 22 x 30

This is a conglomeration of barns right alongside a stretch of highway. Its also where I've gotten carried away!

Barb's interpretation has inspired me with regard to this painting. She said that it reminds her of looking through a rainy windshield. I love it! Simple, but then again not. Yet another way experimenting with the "water" part of "watercolor" can be put to use. I would have never thought of that, but it will definitely affect my future paintings. Thanks Barb!

Barn on 42nd Street II

watercolor, something like 14 x 18

This is another watercolor of the red barn on 42nd Street. I can't wait to take more photographs in the fall. I love experimenting with the flow of the water, but can get really carried away. Wait until you see the ones I am working on now...they may not even be salvagable...is that a word? Well, you'll see. I'll post in a couple of days.

I think I'll take a bike ride today through Noxen and take some new photographs. It is truly beautiful. I'll try to post them too!

Oh! Good news - the painting of Sordoni's barn was requested for the Endless Mountains Council of the Arts show in the fall. For anyone who isn't familiar, the EMCA is located in Tunkhannock and does a top notch job with all of their shows...incredible really. I'll post dates when I get them.

Barn at Sordoni Farm

22x30, watercolor


This is the barn at Sordoni Farm. It's a large barn set into a rolling hillside. I used the watercolor to accentuate the rolling hills of the landscape. The flowing of the water itself accentuates the movement of the place where it initially seems static. So many landscapes seem like a moment lost in time. Barns are often depicted in paintings as vintage and romanticized; it often seems as if they only ever functioned in another time and place. This is a functioning barn on a working farm. There is alot of movement that doesn't meet the eye right away...

Barn on 42nd Street

22 x 30, watercolor

A few months ago I began to photograph barns. I wanted to do a barn related painting for the Hillside Farms' show. The show was kind of yucky, to put it nicely, but it has inspired me. This is the first in a series...hopefully a large series....

(Yes, this barn is on 42nd Street)

Spoon

oil, 18 x 24

I am having a lot of fun with these... unfortunately I think the barns for the upcoming hillside farms juried show will have to be completed before the blender or any more kitchen paintings are!

Fork

18 x 24 oil

This is an oil painting of a fork...inspired by my kitchen and an ATC that I had worked on for a group trade with the kitchen theme. In the past I have been kind of stuck with the subject of women and their plight in everyday life...I like how the kitchen theme represents that indirectly.
I am finishing up a spoon and hope to work on a series of kitchen inspired pieces

Willy Wonka

My version of Willy Wonka...inspired by Monday Artday...I guess because I've been eating a lot of chocolate lately!?! No golden ticket for me... at least it is a little break from the oils, but still a lot more to go!

Roller Skates II

Another oil painting of roller skates, sticking with "the timeless little girl" theme. I don't know that there will be many more skating paintings until next year....the girls have now moved outside...baseball. Izzy had her first practice tonight and I hesitated on photographing yet- didn't want to embarrass her....and I wonder about including the boys...but it is amazing to see the ease at which my daughters play with boys... it is as if there are no difference from the girls...it is almost as if they don't see yet...

While I am sure that there will be more of these, I am moving on to kitchen utensils... inspired by a group theme ATC trade. I think that it works for me because I am still expressing the female drama...sometimes I feel chained to my kitchen.... to be mom, sister, daughter, wife....I guess I spend too much time feeding and entertaining others, where else? in the kitchen!

Rollerskates

more roller skates-
I can't wait to post pictures of the show on Friday.
thanks to everyone who came and supported me :)

The Recital

Waiting to go onto stage...this still needs some finishing touches before I show it... Any suggestions?
16 x 20, oil

Ocean

This was inspired by our trip last year to Aruba. I can't say enough about a how wonderful a place it is to visit. Although the island is commercialized, it maintains its beauty and integrity somehow. It is also great for children!
18 x 24, oil

Skaters 1978 to 2008 #2

this is my 2nd painting inspired by my afternoon at the roller rink.

Skaters 1978 to 2008

One of my finished skating paintings. My daughter loves to roller skate and I really dread taking her and sitting there for hours... But now, maybe finding inspiration for additional paintings will make it worth the trip!

oil on canvas, 18 x 24

Skate studies

More skate studies...it really reminds me of 1980 when I was roller skating with my friends...and the skating rink doesn't look any different either!

Roller skate ATC

Want to trade?
This is an ATC that I did as a study for some roller skating themed oil paintings I'm working on.
I will be at Barnes and Noble as the guest artist for 3rd Friday on March 21st with all of the new stuff.
2.5 x 3.5 colored pencil and marker

Multiple

Multiple - A sketch for Illustration Friday

Theory: Fallen Cherry Blossom

The fallen cherry blossom is not taken lightly in Japanese theory and is often connected to the beauty of snow...
2.5 x 3.5, colored pencil

Choose

This week's "choose" reminds me of the Hebrew word "timshel" meaning "thou mayest" from Steinbeck's East of Eden. We all have choices to make every day and no matter who we are, we all have the right to choose between good and evil, right and wrong, for ourselves everyday. In a strange way, this idea is quite empowering. Now that I look at it, my choice of three doors is quite random....I'm sure that I would change it in a 2nd go around.

Blanket

This is the latest post for Illustration Friday. The topic this week is blanket and a blanket of snow and ice is all I can see today.

A Fairy's Clothesline

This is my IF post for Tales and Legends....a fairy's clothesline...

Plain

What could be more plain than vanilla?

Stitch

Without a stitch of clothing...
No matter how young or old, it can prove difficult to choose what fabulous outfit to wear...

This was supposed to be my first post for Illustration Friday...but waited until the last minute, and between Ava and her snow angels and Lucky and his attack on the nice man who delievered badly needed oil to my fuel tanks, I missed the deadline.

Wedding Cake Topper

art: So, this is a (not so good) image of a drawing of Zane's wedding cake topper. I love it. I wish I would have thought of it. I don't know Zane and his bride, but I would love to meet them someday!
I was at a wedding recently with another great topper...I think I'll do a drawing of that one as well as soon as I get some time.

architecture: Judge's benches...a category of their own. Although technically not architecture, I am loving it. We'll see if we actually get to design something!

Photos of Girls

Photographs are not my strong point, but these aren't so bad. They'll make good portraits someday, don't you think?