Granny's red truck

Mom and I saw some photos of old trucks  on canvas in one of galleries  in Kayenta.   They also showed us some examples of how these photos were used to decorate some very nice homes, it was really interesting to see the contrast of the old and the new.  Mom asked me to paint an old red truck to put on the wall in her Kayenta home over her red leather chair. I think it will be a fun piece of art for her  desert home. 

Autumn Barn

This was a watercolor I did while following a tutorial  on a blog from  Brienne  Brown. I love her work.  I hope I will be able to take a class from her this summer.

Christmas card 2013

This is a watercolor I did for our Christmas card.

Watercolor - sailing

I painted this for a friend. I painted from an old black and white  photo, so I had to come up with my own colors.  There was not a lot of detail on the faces, so I painted very loose and concentrated on the different shades of black and white.  I really love how this turned out. 

Beach Bums

I just had Harold take a photo of my painting, the colors look so much better.  This is Noa and Zoe sunbathing on Pangimotu Island. This painting will always remind me of our difficult, but rewarding trip to Tonga to get our beautiful babies.

Lake Blanch

Landscapes really intimidate me for some reason. This was a quick painting I did  one afternoon last week,  the more I look at it the more I like it.  I do need to spend more time painting outdoors!   How hard can that be? I love hiking and I love painting!

Beach bums - Noa and Zoe

I did this painting while in Tonga with some bad paint in my sketch book.  I came home and re-did it, still not happy with it, but am determined to get it right. I will attempt it again at my art class and see if I can get it right with the help of my art teacher. 

Old Guys Rule

I took this picture of Harold at the car show at Butlerville days,  and thought it would be fun to paint. This was my last painting before going to Tonga.
After 6 weeks  away helping Julie with the adoption of her twins, I have a lot of new ideas for paintings!

See what Nan Slaughter  said about my art on her blog.
Click this link:   http://shar.es/Etk6Q

2 Men and a baby

I knew as soon as I saw a photo of this picture of Gary and Ernie reading to their  grandson, I had to paint it.  It  is really loose and abstract, but I love it. I feel like I captured the sweetness of  the moment.  They are fun loving grandpas that love to read, it is fun to see them sharing that love of books with their grandson. I wonder what story they were reading?

Molly

This is Mosely's sister Molly.  She was painted for the adoption art sell.   Molly has a thing for footsies, she is always stealing the grandkids sox,   we had to put one in the painting.  I think this is  a fun playful piece, I like the colors and the flowers fading off in the distance.  It  will be a nice contrast to Mosely, I have them both hanging in my kitchen until I have to part with them.  Thank you Terri for letting me paint your dogs.  

Handsome Mosely

This is Mosely, he has got to be the most handsome dog I have ever seen!   The owner told me about his personality, and I think I am in love.   He is very regal and distinguished, and a gentle  protector to his family and home.  A very loyal dog.  Thank you Terri for letting me paint him. 

Sunflowers for Judy

I painted these sunflowers for my friend Judy.  This is acrylic  on a 12x12 canvas.   I  like the loose style and bold colors. I hope she likes it!  This was painted for the adoption art sell. Thank you Judy!!

Caesar

This is another painting I did for the adoption.  This was done on a 20x20 canvas .  I really like this piece, the colors and of course the cute dog and pose on the couch.  I sent him off to Washington today.  

Maui

This was painted for the adoption art sale.   I worked off of several pictures and  added some of my own ideas.    Thank you my friend for trusting me to do a painting for you and thank you for supporting us with your generous donation.

Kayenta morning painted for Jennifer

This is the entrance to the Coyote Gulch Village in Kayenta.    Thank you Jennifer for encouraging me to sell my art for my daughter's adoption.  It has been a huge success and I never would have done it without you!

Cooper

This is another painting that I did for the Adoption Art Sale.   I  am so happy that  I have had so many requests for paintings.  Thank you Gabby and I hope you enjoy your paintings as much as I have enjoyed painting them.  Cooper and Lily are both going to the same house in Wyoming, I think they will look really fun hanging next to each other.

Lily from Wyoming

This is Lily.  She is such a cute little diva, she knows how to pose !   This puppy was painted for  a donation to the adoption art sell.  Thank you Gabby!

Abby Road for Angela

Angela requested a painting of Abby Road like the one I did for Harold.   I thought it would be hard to duplicate it, but      I really liked how it turned out and so did Angela.  She made a very generous donation to go towards the adoption.

Polynesian girls

I thought the shading on the girls faces from their headpiece was interesting.   I   would like to do a collection of Polynesian women and children. They are so beautiful and exotic.  

Truck

Harold is working in St. George this week so I spent some extra time painting.   I sketched in bed last night and painted this in-between  appts today.  I like the rustic loose feel to this.  

Watercolor rocks - class project

This was a fun project, we learned about glazing, most of these rocks were glazed about 8 or more times, with a light watercolor wash.

My handsome hubby

This is my first pencil portrait.  It was hard for me trying to do detailed work,  but I am happy with the outcome! 

Plumaria

My mom wants a painting of a flower to go in her master bathroom,   this is a  rough draft.   I think I have decided it is time to buy professional grade watercolors, I had all kinds of problems with this painting.   It always makes me a little nervous when I am painting for someone else, even my mom. 

portrait exercise and Clover

Paul and I had fun in class last night, we both were given half a face and had to draw the other.  Paul did a real wrinkly old man that had big bug eyes and a bushy eyebrows,  he is really doing well, it is fun to see him improve his skills each week.

I painted Clover for my friend Rachel, I hope she likes it.

Thomas Hart Benton painting

I was looking thru some old New Yorker magazines and came across this ,   it reminds me of what my brother would look like when he is old. Andy drives slow, he has never had a speeding ticket in his life, or a traffic ticket of any kind. This one is for you Andy.

Portrait class in St. George

Harold bought me a painting class for my birthday! I spent 2 days at a beginning portrait class. I  really liked my teacher and felt like I learned a lot.  My instructor gave me a photo of some random man and I painted him. I was happy that it really did look a lot like the photo!  Super fun weekend with my art class, my sweet hubby and my cousin   Shari. 

Plumaria

I was tired of the trees I painted on this canvas, so I covered it with gesso and did this quick painting of a plumeria,  I wanted it to be very loose and simple,  this will do until I find something that really hits me.  

Maximus

I found a photo of Maximus on my nieces Facebook page and fell in love with this puppy.   I hope she likes it! 

Dodo bird

I found a picture of a Dodo bird on my brother's art blog and thought it would be fun to paint. My friend asked me to do a watercolor painting of a bird for the Tracey Aviary's Fundraising Gala. I read up on the Dodo bird, it is extinct and was famous for being  the dumbest bird on the planet. I think he is a very handsome bird and he looks smart  to me. 

Desert landscape

Paul and I did a desert scene  drawing with pens, colored pencils and pastels.  This is new to us, it was fun playing with a new medium.  We are learning some very much needed basic skills. 

Mesa Art Studio

I decided I needed to mix things up a bit, so I quit my acrylic  and my watercolor class and signed Paul and I up for a class at the Mesa Art Studio.  Today was our first day and I am super excited and happy with how the class worked out.   This studio actually instructs, in my other classes we just worked on whatever and the teacher would give us pointers. I think Paul and I are going to really enjoy learning the basics and getting some real art instruction. The owners Kris and Al are super friendly, Paul felt comfortable and we both enjoyed our 2 hour  lesson.  I think this will be a place we are going to stay for a long time and get a great art education. 

This is a watercolor of two love birds in honor of Valentine's Day

Obama vs. Rambo

Chris found a photo of a man and his camel on NPR. I guess in Turkey they have camel fighting.   He thought it was hilarious and asked me to do a painting of it.  I wish Harold was here to take a better picture of it, I can't seem to get the lighting right,  the painting looks better than my photo of it.  Chris thought the camel and the man poising was pretty funny.
I seem to be doing more acrylics lately, I really want to do watercolor, but my pea brain is having a terrible time jumping back and forth, I guess it is good for me, who would have thought painting would take so much thought. 

My attempt at a Cass Barney painting

This is a painting I did of one of Cassandra Barney's paintings .  She is my very favorite artist ever, she is a good friend of my brother and sister law, so we have met her and have several pieces of her work in our home.  She also spent a day working with Paul teaching him how to paint mangos.  I am her # 1 fan.  Steve said I am her # 1stalker. I love her and her work, and follow her blog, maybe I am a stalker!  Her work always makes me smile. 

Hibiscus

I painted this to replace a hibiscus I did a few months ago that is in our living room. 

Alice's Bird

I was practicing my bird skills in class tonight.  My friend wants me to paint  a bird for the Tracey Aviary fundraiser, so when I run out of ideas of what to paint, I do a bird.  

Uncle Bob

Practicing my people skills in-between  appts. in the salon.

Lake Tahoe

I can't believe I am downloading this painting all by myself!  Harold is working in St. George and he walked me thru all the steps (about 20) .  This is a real accomplishment for me!
 This is a painting I did of a photo from a calendar that Andy gave us. I loved the lighting, it took me three times painting  the lake  to get it how I wanted it, but I am happy with it now. I ended up hanging this in the living room.  

The Blue Room

This is a painting I did of one of Winston Churchill's  paintings.  The information on this painting said - The Blue Room, Trent Park, the home of the late Sir Philip Sassoon.  Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1948-.
  Now to read Painting as a Pastime by Winston Churchill.  Thanks dad for sharing this with me.  I did this tonight in my watercolor class.  When I look at this painting I feel like drinking tea and eating dainty biscuits.