It has been a busy summer! I've gotten lax about posting, but I have been painting as often as possible. Here are three of my latest pieces for you.

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful (and not too hot) July.  Happy painting!

For some reason -- perhaps too much exposure to OMS -- this little painting reminds me of comedy/tragedy masks. It is more of a tragedy/tragedy, though. It sort of feels like "The Scream" of my still life world. Ha!

Well, I'm off to get a nice dose of fresh air. Take care, friends!

One of my favorite aspects of daily painting is having the opportunity to spend time contemplating nature. Even the most simple of objects - like a humble apple - are filled with gorgeous color variations. I am forever in awe of God's creation.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I found this handmade bowl at a little shop in Abiquiu. It is imperfect and irregular. And I love it. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Have a great weekend!

This will be the last of my Pink Lady paintings for a while.  Planning to enjoy them in a warm apple crisp this evening.

I hope you're having an awesome Monday!

Gray and chilly here today.  It was a nice day to be inside painting.  I hope your week is off to a nice beginning!

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This is my submission for the Daily Paintworks fundraiser to benefit the survivors of Hurricane Sandy.  The news reports have been heartbreaking.  In time, they will recover and rebuild from this terrible challenge.  For now, though, they need our support.  Thank you for your help.

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It sure feels great to be back in my studio!  There is something so therapeutic about pushing paint around on a canvas, isn't there?  There was no real focus today for me.  Just a simple apple and finding joy in the process.

I hope your week is off to a wonderful beginning!

This painting was another experiment in using a transparent under-painting of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue.  I really like the technique with regards to alla prima painting, but I need a lot more practice.  After a week away, though, it felt great to be painting again.  There is nothing like it, eh?

I hope you're all having a great week!

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Last week, I attended Qiang Huang's workshop at Dena Wenmoh's ranch in Cypress Mill, Texas.  This was my first workshop with him, and it was so interesting!  He is a phenomenal artist and a wonderful teacher. Along with sharing his approach to painting, he spent one afternoon discussing the more practical aspects of marketing our work.  I am still absorbing all of the valuable information he shared with us. It was so nice to spend a few days in the beautiful Texas hill country with an excellent teacher and a fun group of artists. Very enjoyable!

And now, it is nice to be back home.  I'm still trying to get caught up with everything, but it feels great to be back in my studio today.  There really is no place like home, eh?

Happy painting, everyone!

Good morning!

I'm sticking with apples for a little longer.  And the shades of gray.  There seem to be unlimited variations of gray, and I'm enjoying experimenting with its neutrality.

Happy Friday!  Have a great weekend, y'all!

Hi there, everyone!  I apologize for my recent absence.  I had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the first week of November.

(Thank goodness, gallbladders appear to be spare parts! Ha!)

So, instead of painting, I have been snuggled up on my sofa -- watching movies and in general -- being spoiled rotten.  It was quite fun!  But I'm glad to be back in my little studio.

I have been struggling lately.  Too much fussing!  I have lost count of the number of completed canvases that I've wiped clean.  It has been a learning process, though.  With the exception of the highlights, this painting was done with only my No.12 Monarch bright.

What do you do to keep your brushstrokes loose?  Or when you're in a painting rut?  I welcome any comments or suggestions.  Thanks, everyone!  I hope you're all having a great week!      

This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge: The Ten Minute Challenge.  When I attended Carol Marine's workshop at Wenmoh's Ranch last March, this was one of my favorite exercises.  I should do it every day as a warm-up to painting.  My apples tend to get worse instead of better, but it is a great reminder to squint and simplify.

I painted this yesterday, but time ran short.  And I didn't get it posted.  Busy week!  Hopefully, life will return to a slower pace soon.

I hope you're all having a great week.  Happy painting!