Tree Study After Libby Tolley - NFS

Tree Study After Libbey Tolley 12" x 12" Oil on Stretched Canvas Not For Sale Claimed as free. I so admire Elizabeth (Libby) Tolley, a wonderful California painter who does the most incredible landscapes, full of such light and atmosphere. In trying to work on trees, I copied from her painting, here: http://www.libbytolley.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Elizabeth-Tolley-One-Woman-Show-November-12%2C-2005-Vault-Gallery-%2C-Cambria-CA&id=aay And because it's a copy, and I'm giving credit, it cannot be sold for profit. So if you happen to like it, it's up for grabs. I'm asking for $20.00 to ship it and replace the canvas. Thanks for looking. If you go to her site, spend some time there, she has just exquisite work!

Tree Study - SOLD

Tree Study Oil on Stretched Canvas 11" x 14" Sold at $30.00 plus $15.00 shipping. It's dawning on me lately that I don't know how to paint trees. I know, you'd think that would be so easy. But to depict the leaves in masses, groupings with shadow, reflected light, highlights and subtle differences in green tones...well, I need to study how other painters do it. On this study, I painted the trees first, trying to get them right. It's closer, but not quite there yet. Thanks for looking.

Monday Painter - SOLD

Monday Painter

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

Sold at $50.00 plus shipping.

See the little guy under the tree? He's loving life. What could be better than enjoying the wonderful outdoors, sitting on a stool, painting Nature's beauty, absorbed in your work, and listening to the wonderful outdoor sounds by the side of a lake? Thanks for looking.

Creek Suncatchers - SOLD

Creek Suncatchers

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

Sold at $50.00 plus shipping.

Painting as a reward in the evening, for a good day's packing efforts. This one is done with brushes as a base, and then palette knife work over top. Done from a photo taken in Hillandale, Maryland a summer or two ago. I am always drawn to sparkling water in sunshine. Thanks for looking.

Swain's Lock - SOLD

Swain's Lock, Potomac, MD Oil on Canvas board 12" x 16" Plein Air painting, sold at $50.00 plus shipping. The Yahoo group of Montgomery County Plein Air painters was going out today, and it was so pretty out that I decided to join them. Swain's Lock is part of the C&O canal system that runs along the Potomac, and oh, it was so nice to be out. There was a beautiful heron, and lots of geese honking, so nice that I was in short sleeves for awhile. Sunshine, YES! This is a bit of a rough and tumble painting, trying to capture the silvery quality of the water and the wonderful green reflections. Thanks for looking.

Red Plums - SOLD

Red Plums Oil on Canvas board 8" x 10" Sold at $50.00 plus shipping. I wanted to try a little less color, so I kept the plate, background and shadows very neutral in this one. I think it really showcases the plum colors. I want to let everyone know that for the next couple of weeks I will not be posting daily. I'll still be painting, and will post sporadically, but my main focus will be on packing to move, and sending off the paintings that have sold as they dry. Thanks for your patience.

Brookside Cottage - SOLD

Brookside Cottage, Amherst Massachusetts

Watercolor on 300 lb Cold Press Strathmore Gemini

9.5" x 12.5"

Sold at $30.00 plus shipping

My friend Barbara will recognize this little cottage, which is tucked into the woods along a path through Amethyst Brook conversation area, just a charming little house. I took photos on my last visit there, walking with B, and have always intended to do a small painting. I had to do this twice to get a decent watercolor. They are tricky and always have a mind of their own. Thanks for looking.

Country Walking - SOLD

Country Walking Oil on Canvas board Palette Knife Painting, 8" x 10" Sold at $40.00 plus shipping. Using up the paint on my palette, this is just an imaginary place, lots of color and light. Thanks for looking.

Vine Tomatoes - SOLD

Vine Tomatoes

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas board

Sold at $40.00 plus shipping.

I decided on a small painting today, so I'd have a little more time for other things. And it looks like maybe BLT's for lunch tomorrow, if I don't decide to try these guys again. Thanks for looking.

Morning Silhouettes - SOLD

Morning Silhouettes

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

Sold at $50.00 plus shipping.

Another comparison painting, done from the same photo as the watercolor from a few days ago. Again, more control and forgiveness, but less transparency and magic. I do like the colors here very much, and the feel of the light just catching the clouds and trees. Thanks for looking.

Sweet Lady

Today I attempted a person. Something I have been shying away from for awhile, except in drawing. But this sweet, dear lady was kind enough to allow me a photo last summer in front of the Dutch Market in Burtonsville. I loved the hat, and the little fanny pack. She was very classy, white stockings, sandals, a nice floral skirt. So here she is, and I do want to paint her again. The face was the hardest part, and although it doesn't look exactly like her, I did get her pleasant expression. Detail of her face included. Thanks for looking. Oil on Gessoed Masonite 13.5" x 14" Available at $75.00 plus shipping.

Cabbage Two - SOLD

Cabbage Two

Oil on Canvas board

10" x 12"

Sold at $50.00 plus shipping.

Another version of the cabbage. This one on a white plate to cast a shadow.

Thanks for looking.

Cabbage - SOLD

Cabbage Oil on Canvas board 10" x 12" Sold at $50.00 plus shipping. This one was so much fun to paint, I really almost didn't want to call it done. Thanks for looking.

Sunset Lakeside - SOLD

Sunset Lakeside

10" x 12"

Oil on Canvas Board

Sold at $40.00 plus shipping.

An oil version of the same photo as I used for the watercolor a few days back. The comparison is interesting, in that each medium has it's own joy. The watercolor is fairly unpredictable, but has a transparency and vibrancy I can't get with oils (at least not yet...). The oil gives me more control and forgiveness. Don't you love that little swish of "glow" in the water here? Thanks for looking.

Keep in Touch - SOLD

Keep in Touch 8" x 10" Oil on Canvas board Sold at $40.00 plus shipping. Playing with blue shadows today, some apples on blue paper with light behind and above them. I liked the way the apples were just touching. It might also have something to do with my wish to keep in touch with folks I've gotten close to as I plan a major move. Thanks for looking.

Dried Hydrangea Two - SOLD

Dried Hydrangea Two

10" x 12"

Oil on Canvas board.

Sold.

This is the same stalk as yesterday's painting, done a little bigger and with pink paper underneath and behind it, to make a shadow. Once you shine a light on a dried hydrangea, it's amazing the colors you can see. More subtle than this, of course, but really there. This one is on hold for a day for Laurie. Thanks for looking.

Dried Hydrangea - SOLD

Dried Hydrangea 8" x 10" Oil on Canvas board Sold. There's something so appealing about hydrangeas, whether they are in bloom or dried. I have been wanting to try some paintings with less color, more monochromatic. And this one is the beginning of that direction. Very loose application of paint today. Thanks for looking.

Morning Farmland - SOLD

Morning Farmland

10.5" x 14"

Watercolor of Strathmore Gemini 300lb CP

Sold at $30.00 plus shipping.

Another watercolor this morning, with less fussing and more thought to the way watercolor works. That is, lay it down and leave it, let the paper and the water do their own thing. I like this one, done from a photo I took on a summer morning, on the way to the beach. Thanks for looking.

Intense Sky Watercolor - SOLD

Watercolor on Gemini 300lb CP Paper

14" x 10.5"

Sold at $30.00 plus shipping.

A quick detour into some watercolors tonight. Playing with brilliant colors, not exactly a delicate watercolor, but you can get some intensity with these pigments too. Thanks for looking.

Iris Profusion - SOLD

Iris Profusion 18" x 24" Oil on Stretched Canvas Sold.

Done from photos taken at my friend Jill's house this past spring. Irises are my absolute favorite flower, so showy and fragile at the same time. Thanks for looking.