Sweet Nothings II

"Sweet Nothings II" - 4" x 4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Budding Ranunculus. I decided to paint what I thought would be the most difficult of all my ranunculus images. I was right. Buds are tough! Or maybe I'm just too critical. LOL

Jackrabbit

'Jackrabbit' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Pablo Villicana Lara - 'Bunz' - 10" x 8" - watercolor on paper

Chris Beck - 'Spring Peepers' - 8" x 6" - watercolor on paper

Pablo Villicana Lara invited me and Chris Beck to do another Peeps-themed artist challenge way back in February. We determined to post our finished paintings before Easter. It is now the day after and I am finally posting mine. Would you believe me if I told you I like to be fashionably late? The truth is closer to 'technical difficulties' which I affectionately refer to as 'Mercury Retrograde'. Either way, apologies for the delay. Happy Easter....sort of.

Weekend Update

Today I was supposed to post a wonderful little challenge painting with my art buddies Pablo Villicana Lara and Chris Beck. BUT, because I underestimated how many layers I'd need to paint to get my challenge done to my exacting standards (read: anal-retentive), it is still drying. Gonna try to post it tomorrow. (hangs head in shame) I've seen Pablo's and Chris' and they are outstanding. I'm so impressed with their talent.

In the meantime, I thought I'd let you know about my week. I finally got word to reveal that Mason Murer Fine Art has asked to represent my work beyond the current Realism Group Show going on now. I am finishing and sending more paintings their way in the coming weeks, and I'm thrilled to death to have an excuse to do so. Look forward to seeing more of the Color Therapy series in the very near future!

'Late Night' - 12" x 4" - oil on canvas

And, saving the best for last, I just got word that my painting 'Late Night' has received Best In Show at the Richeson 75 Still Life, Floral & Abstract juried exhibition. I'm speechless. I had no idea it would even place. Truly flattered, humbled and grateful. I honestly don't know what to say but THANK YOU.

Ingredients For A Successful Endeavor

Ingredients For A Successful Endeavor - 16"x 20" - oil on canvas

This painting is like a great big talisman. It represents every ingredient necessary for me to be successful in any endeavor, hence the title. Also, it likely won't make sense to anyone other than myself without some explanation. Below, I've included the meanings of each object within it:

• Seated Buddha: a focus on abundance
• Matches: the inception of an idea/endeavor
• River Rock: grounded perspective/focus
• Shell: intuition
• Fortune Cookie: allowing of luck/synchronicity
• Fishing Lure: setting a course of action
• Prayer Paper: giving myself the blessing to move forward
  
• Glass Bowl: self containment/heightened awareness
• Large Fish: the goal

Having the bowl sit atop the fish represents self-confidence. The surface upon which the bowl sits is actually a large weekender bag made of recycled Vietnamese rice sacks. That in itself represents ingenuity.

And there you have it. My great big 16"x 20" talisman. Had to paint it because the bowl of items left out in the open would get continually knocked to the floor by my cats. (sigh)

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Egg Study: Hot Coffee

'Hot Coffee' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

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Realism Group Exhibition - Mason Murer Fine Art

Andrea from Mason Murer sent this to me in email just now and I thought I'd pass it along. If you're in the Atlanta area, stop on by and wave hello to my paintings! Also, check out the amazing talent on that list. There will be some stellar work on display for this show. Very honored to be showing alongside them all. Sad I'll miss it.

Hamburger Study: Carl's Jr.

'Hamburger Study- Carl's Jr.' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

I did not crave one of these combo's while painting this. Not once. In fact, I think it may have made me less inclined to order something I usually enjoy getting.

Oddly enough, this disinterest does not extend to coffee when I do painting after painting after painting of it. I should run a test on cheesecake. Heh.

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