Fresh Flowers

I so enjoyed painting the last flower bouquet, and thought I'd like to try another in a square format. This painting gave me a lot of trouble for some reason! I did a lot of scraping and moving things around and finally got things the way I wanted. The painting has a lot of great texture with the knife, and kind of a fall feel. Love the leaves too, and in the end am very happy with it.

18x18 on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas

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a closer peek

Flower Bouquet

This painting feels like a culmination of all of the different things I have been working on. It's done with palette knife, but finally has the looseness I have been wanting. This larger scale allows for that. So enjoyed myself while painting this!

20x24 oil palette knife painting

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a close-up of the juicy colors and knife marks

Canoeing the Wisconsin River

My family and I went canoeing with some friends on the Wisconsin River a few weeks ago. I kept trying to capture a photo of our canoes every time we stopped because I thought it would make a great painting. I'm so happy with the way it turned out and treasure the fun memories we made that day.

8x10" oil palette knife painting 

on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Using artistic license, I kept the coolers out of the painting! :)

Jay Z and Beyoncé

This was a lesson for myself. I decided to blur the photo and start the painting upside down to focus on form and value. I didn't give myself too much time to think, just went at it. I used ultramarine and white only--it was a little tricky with the transparent nature of the ult blue, but wanted it monochromatic and of course it had to be blue! 

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Rununculus

Love the colors of these flowers in life, and on this little painting! 

6x6 oil on museum quality panel

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Abstracts Everywhere

It has been a great, great past few weeks of painting abstracts. When I see the abstract work of others, the things I am drawn to are color, movement, softness, calm over chaos, all sorts of harmony and balance, and of course the overall feeling. Typically I like them or I don't. Immediately.

Some of these paintings were wiped two or three times before I achieved what I wanted. Others happened by accident and there was a point when I just knew it was done. When I'm painting abstract I think it should feel a certain way, and if I'm forcing it, that's not what I want. Each of these paintings felt good physically and emotionally, in their own way; this is how I know I can put them out there. I have to like them first!

These were done with oil pigment sticks, which I have been using a lot of lately, done on 3/4" canvases. They are great quality oils and such a unique experience to use. It's big gestures, a huge mess on my hands (as I like to get in there!), and hopefully a harmonious outcome. 

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11x14"

11x14"

18x24"

18x24"

18x24"

Abstract

Definitely my new favorite painting and pure pleasure to paint--my only wish is that I hadn't gone smaller at the last minute. I love the color harmony and playfulness of this painting. The sides painted, so it can be hung as is or framed. A stand alone piece, or perfect with a collection of pieces.

10x10 on 3/4" canvas/brush

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Raccoon & Rabbit

Recently purchased some beautiful birch cradled panels and some lighter R&F Pigment Sticks to work with. I decided to paint playfully and thought a raccoon would be perfect--who wouldn't love that face and tail? It seemed to need a companion, so decided to paint a long-eared lop bunny on the other panel.

I love these Ampersand Gessoboards that are "Made from sustainable forest products that ensure the protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water, Gessobord is formaldehyde-free and contains no harmful volatile organic compounds." Perfect for a child's room or play space and adorable together!

10x10 on 3/4" Museum Quality Cradled Panel
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