Just finished my 1st painting in figure painting. I think the extra reading helped and I'm hoping the next painting I wont have to go over it so much. Maybe I will just have an abstact background too! Thinking about adding a pomegranate to make this a complete painting, I'll call it Persephone.

Peaceful Spot

This is a little spot up around the corner, along the Palos Verdes Coast. It seems so peaceful and I thought it would make a nice painting. I pushed the colors and changed it up just a bit. I think it would make a good larger painting. Maybe someday..............

Spotlight on Fruit

Thought I would try a different approach, the one where you put it down and leave it. I'm thinking it went ok and maybe I should try using more paint for extra texture. I always seem to blend but I guess thats my style.

Out My Window

This is a painting I just finished looking right out my window. A typical July day, cant decide weather it wants to be June gloom or sunny. This is later afternoon when the marine layer is comming in.

Bloomin' at Palos Verdes

Well I havent been out plein air painting in many, many months. I decided today would be a good day for that and since the flowers are blooming up the hill I thought they would make a good apinting. I got there the clouds had disapated and there was a wonderful blue sky to go with the trees and gold flowers. I start painting and got just about to where I had basically the skeleton of the painting....outlines and filled in a bit with the darks and!!!!!! Some stupid truck with a trailer and a backhoe pull up and blocked my view. The whole view...except the trees and sky. Since I had already started and I wasnt going to pack up I decided to try and work aroun it. Well here it is......

Peonies in a Blue Vase

Well I finally decided to try painting flowers again, especially when I saw these flowers at TJ's. I bought them knowing they would look especially good together but when I got them home the light pink ones fell apart. After taking them back and looking all over town for the light pink peonies I finally found them right down the street and was happy to get them home and start painting. Going thru the Life Drawing class I think it has really helped. Definitely needs more practice but I think its the best I've painted yet. I should'nt put this up yet since I need to finish two more flowers but I wanted to see what it looks like online.

Pastel Man

Another class project. This time we got to use pastels and I havent used them in years! It's fun to get back to trying them again. Better drawing skills certainly helps alot! This was a good class, I learned alot.

Back in the saddle after awhile off. I'm not happy with the results but I feel like I'm getting the technique down somewhat. This is my husband with his prized walking stick that he never uses.

Easy to see I like this technique. Last night in class we did the erase technique. Next week something else. I like the trying of different things. That way you get to see more different styles of drawing. I should work on the background better.

March 26, 2009

Well I have been off for awhile trying to learn how to draw figures at El Camino College. This is one I did last night, a graphite erase. I like the procedure. having fun in that class!

March 24, 2009

Another Pink & Green

Guess I'm just loving pink & green. This one took several days and I'm not doing another silver one at night! Although I'm happy with this one it could have been bette, that silver water pitcher just needs to be blended better. I did learn alot tho

Feb 20, 2009

Pink & Green Again

Really love this combination of pink and green. I did it bigger this time. I'm not sure which one came out better but I'm learning more all the time.

11" x 14" oil

Feb 10, 2009

Pink & Green

I think I love painting green apples and I the pink camillia going with it. I picked this flower from out front and I think it turned out pretty good. Love doing the green leaves too!

Feb 7, 2009

Blue Vase

Here's my favorite vase again with green apples and another try at a red rose. I'm going to have to get me a real rose, they seem to work better. On to something else...

Feb 5, 2009

Red, Brass & Blue

ThoughtI would try to do another grouping of colorful items. Maybe too much.

Jan 30, 2009

Yellow Rose of Texas?

Yet another attempt to paint a rose. Thought I would try a cabbage type rose but I' m not really as happy with this one.

Jan 29, 2009

Blush

Still on the rose, thought I would try a pink blush rose. I'm getting closer to trying a boquet of roses and then maybe onto Sunflowers!!

Jan 28, 2009

The Red, Red Rose

I decided to try painting the rose once again. I'm pretty happy with the results. I havent been able to actually paint a rose and make it come out looking like rose before so I'm happy. I'll try a white and pink one next and see if I get the same results.

Jan 27, 2009

10x10 oil

Practicing Trees Again

Here I am practing trees from Libby Tolley's book. Since its so windy I'll paint out doors when the weather is nicer. I'm not up for struggling with the elements yet.

Jan. 26, 2009

Ocean Spray

Finished it today! This is from a day in Laguna Beach, the north end of Treasure Island Park. We were waiting for the plein air artist to come out and start painting their yearly paintings for the art show. The water was beautiful and it was great watching the other artist!

Jan 23, 2009

Birds of Paradise

This painting was painted in my (studio) but I took the picture one morning up the hill from me. Its right by the ocean and had lotts of bushes. I really liked the way it turned out and so did my daughter. She took it right away and hung it up in her apartment. She had a wonderful frame that fit perfectly.

Jan 22, 2009

Trying for Trees

Today I worked on trees but I can tell I need alot more work. This seems to be much harder for me than people or any fruit combination. Just gotta keep practicing.

Jan 21, 2009

San Pedro Fish Market

This weekend my daughter ask us to take a trip with her to the San Pedro Fish Market. We said sure and the hardest thing about it was getting up at 4 AM! It goes from 4 to 6 AM Sat mornings. It has all kinds fo fish and after checking out all the different fish vendors we decided on Maine Lobster $6.00 lb and giant sea scallpos $6.50 lb. Our daughter bought about 9 lbs of yellow fin tuna at $4.50 lb. It all looked really good and we saw lots of things I have never seen before. This painting reminds me of cooking a fish stew or soup

Mon Jan 20, 2009

Today I decided to stay in and paint since I'm in need of some more panels and I am making them myself. This painting is one that I thought would make a good exercise in trying to paint wood. I'm using a wooden vase that Rob has hand made with exotic woods. I really like the results. I call it Wine, Wood & Onions.....

Jan 16, 2009

Griffith Observatory

Well as prromised I finished the observatory painting I started yesterday. I think its going to be a great reminder of the wonderful day we had. I had some trouble since I had to finished at home and couldnt see the exact colors but I thin it ok.

Jan 15, 2009

A beautiful day at the Griffith Park Observatory. No crowds, nice and warm, clear, and the snow is all but gone on the mountains above. We had a nice commute, just a great day in LA! Started a painting and will upload it tomorrow but I'l put up a painting I did a few days ago. Its from a foggy morning that was starting to clear at Palos Verdes . My husband and I walked down to the beach for this one.

Jan. 14, 2009

Point Vincente Lighthouse

Today I decided to head out to the point Vincente Lighthouse for an early morning painting session. Well, early for me. I got there about 8:30 am and set up pretty quickly. The morning was beautiful and clear, but it quickly heated up. I was only there about 2 hours but this is what I finished.

Jan 13, 2009