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Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy 2013!

"Braden's Race Car #16"

This painting was my last commission of 2012.  I finished it at about 4pm Christmas eve day.
I have been thinking about all the good that has happened this past year for my art biz, I have been really blessed.  I painted two city traffic box murals, I painted all the gift paintings for the Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-Off, I painted as close to daily as I could get. I sold my work on-line, in shops and did many art shows. The best part though, is I have met and got to know lots of great people along the way.  I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I am most passionate about, paint and create art.
I have the best ever family/friend support, life is so good.
I hope this year will be a peaceful year for everyone.
Happy 2013!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Carpet Pad

"Carpet Pad"

Avery well cared for pet! Cozy,warm and happy in his pad. 
 Last year I vowed not to take any more commissions.  I tend to stress out over what people expect and what I paint.  I never have had a bad experience in my over 20 years of doing them, so why I feel that way, I don't know.  I always want my clients to be 100% happy with their art purchase and if they buy something already painted I am pretty sure their happy.  The commissions I did this year were all awesome moments and they all had special meaning, so I'm glad I forgot what I vowed and took them on. 
I painted both of the photos given to me for this guy and my client picked the other one, so he is up for grabs ; D

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Katie and Rocket

"Katie and Rocket"

I am able to share this Christmas commission since she has already received her gift.  The little girl, Katie, lost her horse to old age recently.  Katie's loving grandmother had me paint this for her.  According to her grandmother, Katie loves all things horses.  I loved painting something with so much meaning.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

"Vintage Brides"

Ok, 4 commissions done, 4 to go...I love what I do so it's all good.  I just haven't been able to christmas shop much. 
 I am not caring too much about anything material this Christmas, in light of all that has happened and the horrific tragedy  inflicted on the people back east, I can just feel grateful for my family and my friends and all that is good in my life, for which there is a lot. 

Friday, December 14, 2012

"Sparkly"

It's pretty much guarenteed that if I don't post on this blog, someone visits!  I have been so busy painting I sometimes let the computer work go.  I will make that my New Year's resolution, to focus more on my website and blog.  I seem to always make the same resolution, what's wrong with this picture!  It has been such a great year for my little art biz. I am really gratefull for all that has come my way.  I vowed, about this time last year that I was not going to do anymore commissions, well I have 7.   I can't say no!  All of them are very cool images and I know I will have fun painting them.  They are also for some of my very best collectors : D

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Back to the Drawing Board

"Time To Eat"

I haven't written on my blog since my computer decided to crash and burn right in the middle of my busiest time of the year!  I had back to back shows and I was trying to keep up with my inventory and she decided she wanted to pass on to computer heaven.  We had kind of expected it since sometimes she decided, usually when we were in the middle of something, to just turn black and go away. Long story short, we decided to go from having a PC for many years to buying an Apple.  We still don't have all of our files moved over and Apple and Verizon have not helped us figure out why we can't receive e-mail.  I also have not posted any new art on Dailypaintworks.com for about 2 and 1/2 weeks and it's been making me a little crazy.  Especially since I have new art to post!  Well I  finally got the resizeit app and can make my photos small enough to post.  I think I will be taking classes at the Apple store soon so I can learn all I need to know to keep my art biz going!  I had two really great shows in a row and sold many paintings.  it's been a great year.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Now Arriving

"Now Arriving"

The Monarch Butterfly's annual migration to Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. is one of nature's wonders.  They blend in beautifully with the landscape and the colors of the season.  They begin arriving in October and their numbers are at the peak about November and December. They are so beautiful and they look so delicate, but they travel so far!  

I posted that I would share my painting of the CHS graduation, but then I wanted to tweek it some more. it's almost there.  I also decided I want Mr. Perales, the principal of CHS, to be the first to see it.  So after I give it to him, I will post it here.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Salsa Dance

"Salsa Dance"

I think the best meals all start out the the freshest, simplest ingredients.  Painting is like that too I guess, the simple ones are the best. 
I am almost done with the first of the two CHS paintings.  I will probably post it tomorrow or the next day.  It was a challenge, which is a good thing right?

Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Road To The Coast

"The Road To The Coast"

This is a painting of the Hecker Pass Highway.  It's the route I take to visit Santa Cruz and the ocean.  It  takes about 40 minutes from my house to see the water, so I have traveled this road more times than I can remember!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sunday Best

"Sunday Best"

If you take a moment to really look at a white rose, you will see that there are so many more colors that are there, pinks, yellows,  shades of blue and it still reads as white.  I was not in my studio today, instead I visited with my son who lives in Santa Cruz.  It was a beautiful, warm fall day and the company was good ; )

Friday, October 12, 2012

Let's Do Lunch

"Let's Do Lunch"

  I am posting another re-run as I am still working on the graduation painting I am doing for Christopher High.  I think this painting is an oldie, but a goodie.  I have learned that I have to paint what I love because I never know what will sell and it may be in my house for awhile.  It's funny though, some paintings will hang out with me for what seems a long time, and then someone at some show will buy it.  Then I miss it!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Tools of the Trade

"Tools of the Trade"

I have posted this before but I am working on two large paintings, large for me, that have been promised for almost a year and I  haven't been able to squeeze in my daily painting.  I am jazzed that I am into the first one and having fun with it.  It is a painting of the first graduation ceremony at our newly built high school here in Gilroy, Christopher High.  I am trying to capture the joy, good feeling and excitement of that day. I will post it when I am done.  I usually paint small so it's good to stretch and challenge myself.  It does take way longer than my mini paintings, so I may have to post some re-run paintings on Dailypaintworks for a little while.  I don't mind posting this again, it's a favorite of mine.  I like painting my stuff ; D

Monday, October 8, 2012

Eye Candy

"Eye Candy"

A while back I was in the art store and spotted a black-gessoed canvas board.  I know that black gesso is available but this is all ready to go.  It has been sitting on the shelf for awhile and I finally picked it up.  It is interesting to see how the colors change with a black surface and not a white one. They kind of have more of a pop than usual.  I will be painting more subjects on this kind of board, it's always fun to change it up a bit and see what you get.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Go To The Light

"The Light In The Dark Room"

This is a room in the Filoli mansion in Woodside, Calif.  You can tour the gardens and the mansion.  It was where the tv show Dynasty was filmed.  It's very beautifully preserved.  I love how this room was so dark, the light was on in the day. It was fun to paint

Fresh Is Best

"Fresh"

It's good to know people who have chickens and wonderful gardens right! This bounty was shared with us this summer.  It looked so beautiful, right out of the chickens, right out of the garden, snuggled in the hay.  That's as fresh as it gets ; )

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Bin There

"Bin There"

I have painted on linen twice, this is the second painting.  I think I am in love with it!  It has this wonderful texture and I love the feel of the brush on it. I kind of had to push the first layer on, but once I got that down  I could paint layer on top of layer and the colors kept getting richer and richer.  I think I will stock up on this surface, it's fun to try something new ; D.

Monday, October 1, 2012

"On The Outside Looking In"

This watercolor is one of my favorites.  I won a "Best of Show" ribbon for it and it was judged by the curator of the Santa Cruz museum of art.  Even if it had not won a prize, I just love how it came out.  It was painted quickly, and seemed to just fall off my brush, not sure I can really even take credit for it! There are a few paintings like that, this is the best one.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sunday Dinner

"Last Sunday in September"

I am lucky enough to be married to not only an art lover, but a fantastic cook! Sunday dinners in the Autumn time are really special at my house.  For the last Sunday in September Mike is making a roast chicken and stock from the bones, so this home will be smelling like a bit of heaven ; D

Friday, September 28, 2012

Eye Candy

"Saturday Morning"

Eye candy, courtesy of the Saturday morning farmer's market, yum.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Sidewalk Scene

"Sidewalk Scene"

I love to walk, I see so much on my daily walks, I try to notice everything around me when I am on foot.  I especially like old houses and imagining the stories they have.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Lil' Bits

" Lil' Bits"

A very nice lady, loretta and her sisters and husband visited me at my home studio last year.  This is loretta's kitty and she asked me to paint her if I got the time, it took some months. but here she is ; )  I think the name is really cute!

Monday, September 24, 2012

The Hoey Barn

"The Path To Hoey Barn"

This barn in Gilroy, the Hoey Barn, has lots of vintage treasures inside.  I sell my miniature paintings there.  I brought a collection in and decided I needed to take a stroll.  The fields next to the barn are sparkling in the sunshine and you can't help but feel serene.  This is the path back to the barn, what a great place!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Able To Bend

"Able to Bend"

It seems in nature, if something is able to bend and go with the flow, they are not toppled over.  I think that's probably a good lesson for life,  If you take things as they come and can bend and go with the flow of things, you won't topple over.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Edison Mazda

"Edison Mazda"

I am a day late and a dollar short, as my dad would say.  I should have posted this during the "lightbulb challenge" on Dailypaintworks.  It's here now though!  My husband Mike collects these old vintage light bulbs.  He doesn't buy them that often, but he saw some he liked at the Hoey Barn in Gilroy where I have a collection of my paintings for sale.  It is a very round bulb, not the usual lightbulb shape.  I really liked the package that came with it, it is very brittle box, but not torn, so I laid the bulb on it and painted it,  I am not sure it is good enough to post but I like it, it was a spontaeous painting.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

" It's Here!"

It's here, my favorite season.  I am going to have to control my impulse to paint pumpkins everyday.  There is more to this season than just the Giant Pumpkin!  They are good fun though.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

"Time for Soup"

It's that time of year, time to make a smooth, creamy, warm soup, with some crusty bread and a nice wine.  Autumn pleasures!

Monday, September 17, 2012

" The Selection Process"

Picking out the pumpkin is always a lengthy process.  Like a Christmas tree, shape matters! We always have to look at every single one in my family.  It's part of the fun.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

"Too Soon?"

I titled this painting "Too Soon?" because I have been biting at the bit to paint the Fall season.  It's my favorite.  It's not quite here yet but I couldn't wait any longer.  I love the beautiful orange pumpkins, the blue and white ones too and all the crazy gourds.  I love the colors of the leaves on the sidewalk and the way the light creates beautiful shadows. I love the warm days and cool mornings and evenings.  I love the shift.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

"September Sky"

I have to admit, I have been painting pumpkins...and more pumpkins.  I can't help it, I love this time of year, late summer, early fall. I haven't posted any yet as I want to have a series done before I do.  It gives me a little breathing room.  Speaking of breathing room, this big September sky gave me just that.  The clouds were all kinds of crazy colors, the sky had different shades of blue, framed by the black silhouette of my suburban home and yard. Nice September evening.

Monday, September 10, 2012

"Construction Site"

There is still some time left here, along the coast of California, to play in the sand.  In fact, at little beach towns like Capitola which is near Santa Cruz, you can see this kind of scene way into the end of October sometimes.  There is a really nice Indian Summer before Fall really sets in.  I am working on a commission, two of them and at the same time painting for the shops/galleries that sell my paintings.  Debbie Hoey who owns the barn at Hoey Ranch asked me to paint a series of pumpkin paintings.  I just love it when I get asked to do something I would have done anyway!  Makes my job really easy.  I LOVE the fall season and everything it brings.  The colors, the shapes, the subjects.  I have been waiting all year to paint pumpkins again : D

Good Show!

"Black Dog"

Yesterday's show was a little bit of a milestone for me.  It's the first one I have done on my own without having my husband's help.  I was provided one 8 ft table.  No floor space so I couldn't bring my panels.  All I had were my table cloths and my little wooden displays for my mini paintings and some on easels in between the displays.  I ended up selling ten paintings!  That's a good day.  I also got invited to do another boutique like this one, at a different Buddhist temple in Palo Alto.  I like being able to set up my shows by myself and keeping them low key with just my smaller works.  I will still need Mike's help when I do the bigger events like the Garlic Festival and Villa Montalvo, but if I can do these indoor small shows in between, that's awesome.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Last Show Until Fall

One more show until November.

I have one more show I am doing this weekend.  It's a new show for me, but I had to get juried in, and I prefer those kind, it keeps the art at a higher level. The name is Madori Kai,  it's actually a smaller show but has a good reputation for being a fine art event.  It's also indoors, which I love.  That way I can set up myself and not have to drag my tired husband along to help set-up.  I am looking forward to getting some time this fall season to paint different subjects. I am also going to be attending some life drawing/painting classes in Santa Cruz.   I use to take life drawing classes many years ago, I think it's time to get back to it, to see what it can bring to my art now.  I never want to stop learning my craft.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Climb

"Climbing Their Way To The Top"

My husband has a not very nice name for these flowers.  He isn't fond of them because they cling, twist, wrap and climb on anything they can in order to climb up.  I think they are chokers, but they sure look pretty doing it, especially when they manage to hitch a ride on a sunflower : )

Late Summer, Early Fall

"Late Summer, Early Fall"

I really love how nature transitions from one season to the next, so easily.  All the really bright yellows,  warm oranges, and hot reds of Summer start to deepen and pretty soon the colors will be more wheat yellows, burnt oranges and cool reds.  It makes it ok that the wonderful Summer is almost done because the wonderful Fall is right around the corner : D

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Loose and Free

"Mini Big Bird"

I didn't get much studio time this holiday weekend.  This was a quick little painting I did in the small amount of time I had.  I chose this subject because with all the colors and movement, I could just be free and not worry about details.  It's a bit of a gesture painting, very loosey, goosey.  

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Two and a Half

"Two and a Half"

We planted so many sunflowers this summer, that they kind of over-shadowed the veggies so we didn't get too many tomatoes.  We did get tons of different varieties of sunflowers.  I love to paint them so it's ok, we can buy veggies at the farmer's market.  This variety has a very dark, almost black center, then it's dark orange to medium orange to lemon yellow.  They are fantastic in the garden and fantastic to paint!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Drama Queens and Morning Glories

"Drama Queens and Morning Glories"

A very nice lady phoned me other day she was interested in some of my paintings.  She wanted some of my sunflower paintings on my website that had not been marked sold, but were.  That's not good, I am trying to set aside a day soon so I can re-vamp my website.  She did inspire me to paint some more sunflowers and also to paint larger.  This still isn't a large painting,  it's 12" x 4", but it's large compared to my mini paintings.  I do have some blank, larger canvas that I had made by Pacific Coast Canvas, in my studio.  I decided to split my painting day so that I can paint my mini's to keep up with my daily painting and the other half I will be working on some larger pieces.  I like being inspired : D

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Hey Bud

"Hey Bud"

This is one of my watercolors.  Since I have started doing art shows, I have painted less of them since they require a mat, glass and frame.  Canvas paintings don't need any of those things, so they are much easier to pack and take to shows. However watercolors have a luminous quality that cannot be achieved with any other medium and so I will be offering them in a mat and acid-free art bag.  That way I can still paint in this awesome medium and leave the framing part to the buyer ; D

Monday, August 27, 2012

Sun-Kissed Cherry Tomatoes

"Sun-Kissed Cherry Tomatoes"

These little cherry tomatoes, called "Sun-Kissed" are growing in my front yard.  They explode in my mouth with a sweet flavor that can't be beat.  Especially when they are picked on an early, warm morning.  I have a hard time filling a container with them as I eat them right when I pick them. Delicious : D

Friday, August 24, 2012

Red and Green Onions

"Red and Green Onions"

I got treated when I looked inside this bin, all the little green onions were tied together with twists that were red.  Can get much better than red and green.  Unless it's yellow and purple or blue and orange.  I love  contrasting colors ; D

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Bells in the Bins

"Bells in the Bins"

Oh how I love to zero in on the bins filled with veggies and fruits.  It's the same as looking right inside bunches of flowers.  Colors and shapes just swirl around.  Also it's fun to see nature's compositions,  contrasting colors and pleasing shapes doing their thing, it just grabs me and pulls me in.   It's all there for the artist, you don't have to change much.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Big Pink Hat, Cute Little Girl

"Big Pink Hat, Cute Little Girl"

There is so much more to see at the farmer's market than just the flowers, fruits and veggies.  I have to admit, my husband really shops for the food and I love to eat the dishes he makes, but I go for the painting material!  I love watching the people, the colors, the shapes and feeling the good energy there.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

August Dahlias

"August Dahlias"

I really like the buckets of flowers at the farmer's market.  When I zero in on them they become an abstraction of colors and shapes, fun stuff.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Art Market

"The Art Market"

I named this painting the "Art Market" because anytime I go the local farmer's market I find so many scenes I want to paint.  So, it really is an "art market" to me!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I Need a Little Vacation

"San Francisco Deli"

I feel I really need a vacation.  Some days to get sorted out before my daughter starts school and before I start to get ready for up-coming shows.  I decided to post some past paintings that are still available. This is my other San Francisco scene.  I learned a lot when I painted this and it's a favorite of mine.  I think it's funny how impossible it is to predict what will sell.  I am surprised I still have this one and other ones I thought I still would have, have sold.  That's why I will continue to paint the subjects I like, that's all you can do I think.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

"San Francisco Days"

Cityscapes and urban scenes can be a challenge.  There is always so much going on and figuring out how to simplify them is a painting work-out.  I do like the challenge though, I learn a little more each time I paint one.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

"A Well Kept Lady"

I met Traci in 2008 at the first outdoor art show that I had my booth in.  She bought paintings from me then and has continued to since.  She is a super nice and so is her husband Matt.  I'm not sure if they know how much I appreciate their support, but I really do.  They are just cool people.  They also love and take care of their pets, so I wanted to do this for them as a gift, got the picture off Facebook, a well kept lady indeed.

Friday, August 10, 2012

"Great Grandma's House, Texas"

My mother is going to be 89 next week.  I painted this as a birthday gift for her.  It was the house my dad was raised in, by his grandmother.  Both his parents died when he was two.  My mom and dad moved into it with his grandma when they first got married, over 66 years ago. When my oldest sister was an infant they moved to California.   The roof is really this crooked, the house is very old and wobbly.  My mom is very sentimental about it, so hopefully she will like her gift ; D

Thursday, August 9, 2012

"Vintage Plaid"

The last one in my series of vintage pattern paintings, for awhile anyway.  I especially enjoyed painting the ones from the sixties era.  Lots of my favorite music, fashion, movies and tv shows are from this time zone.  It was a fun time to be a little kid, which I was.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Heading out or Coming Home

"Hecker Pass Highway"

When I am on this stretch of road, I am either headed toward the beach, or I am coming home from the beach.  I love the trees along the road, they seem to stand guard for the exit and entrance to Gilroy, my town.  I have painted this scene in a large watercolor, and many times on smaller canvas.  This is the first time I painted it this large, using acrylic on canvas.