"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.

"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.

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.

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

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.