My Gorgeous Girls II

My Gorgeous Girls II - 4' x 3'

This painting was inspired by a row of sunflowers that I grew in the vegetable garden. Sunflowers are a constant theme in my work as I have as much fun painting the fabulous foliage as I do portraying the iconic sunflower heads. This piece is traveling to the Art Expo New York with me in March.

Late Summer Lunch











This piece is 2' x 4' on a 2" pine cradled panel. The surface was prepped with Gesso and a drywall knife to make an interesting surface. Then I took it outside where I drew and painted it right from my garden. The little Yellow Finch was feeding while I was painting and he kept making the flowers bob around. The longer I painted the more he came to feed and I finally decided that he had to be included in the painting. My first bird and likely not to be my last as I quite liked his presence in this very active composition. Ultimately, he provided a much needed focal point for this piece.

Sometimes it is hard to let a piece go when I know I may not ever see it again. Fortunately, this one went home with some of my favorite collectors, my parents. Thank you Mom & Dad!

Sunflowers for Torch Lake - 2' x 6'

Here is a picture after the first wash-in which is where I cover all of the white with an "underpainting" of pigment. To enhance the depth and luminosity of an oil painting, the old masters worked in layers from dark to light. Light tones and bright highlights being added in the final stages. The one exception that I have found is yellow. Most of the yellows are extremely transparent. So the yellows in the petals are more in the mid-range with shadows and highlights both being added in subsequent layers. This piece will be painted entirely with brushes. I am using M. Grahams oil paint and Walnut oil medium to move the paint. If you are a painter, Graham's products are solvent free and non-toxic as long as you do not eat them ;) It usually takes 3 - 6 layers in various parts of the subject to get the final expression that suits me. Any suggestions for names out there? "Sunseekers of Torch Lake" is rolling around in my head.

This past couple of weeks, I have been busy painting my studio and contiguous living spaces in our home. This piece has been on my mind all the while. It is 2' tall by 6' wide and is destined to be hung with a view of Torch Lake. I couldn’t wish a better place for it!

Sunflower a la Char



















36x24 inch oil painting of a sunflower that is "of my mother's world" for anyone that knows her. This one is actually a color study of sorts for an even larger piece and will likely go to the ArtBirmingham show in May.