"Spring Wildflowers" (watercolor on paper; 12" x 9")

"Spring Wildflowers" (12" x 9")

Let's take a walk on a beautiful spring day in the park. This is the Virginia nature trail at the Green Spring Gardens Park in Alexandria, VA. I see blue woodland phlox and golden ragwort blooming. Dappled light on the path is as delightful!

"Spring Wild Flowers" Reference

Dappled light is the spotted light which comes through gaps in a tree canopy and produces the feeling of light and the airy, cheerful mood in a landscape and cityscape. I am teaching a in-studio workshop at the Art League School in Alexandria, VA on December 4 and 5, 2021.  We are going to create these happy paintings together through the mastery of edges, greens, and shadow colors! 

 

"Central Park Bethesda Fountain in Spring" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

Have you seen the Angel of the Waters on the Bethesda Fountain New York City's Central Park? It looks serene on an overcast spring day with magnolias in full bloom.

"Queen Anne's Lace Country" (watercolor on paper, 12" x 9") sold

sold

While driving along the St Croix River in Minnesota a few years ago, we saw this lovely view of the summer country dotted with delicate and elegant Queen Anne's Lace. My job was to recreate the sensation in watercolor. Do you think I succeeded?

"Monet's Giverny Garden in Wisteria Season" (watercolor and gouache; 8" x 8") sold

sold

Wisterias are blooming over the famous Japanese Bridge at the waterlily pond in Monet's Giverny gardens. The fragrance of white and purple wisterias perfumes the air.

"Cherry Blossom Delight" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

sold

The cherry on this yummy French pastry still has the dried blossom attached!

"Washington Monument Twilight" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

The Washington Monument rises against the sunset sky, while it and the dark, surrounding trees cast the reflections of unforgettable beauty.

"Erik" (watercolor on paper; 10" x 7") gift

gift

This past summer Erik Stenberg passed away at the age of 38, breaking the hearts of his family, friends, and students. His portrait is my gift to his parents, my brother and sister-in-law. It was not an easy painting to work on as my emotions got in the way.

"US Capitol from Pennsylvania Ave Night Scene" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

The US Capitol with its glowing dome against the dark blue sky frames the Pennsylvania Ave with its street lights and busy traffic that cast blurry reflections on a rainy night.

"Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur" (watercolor on paper; 9" x 12") sold

sold

I love Big Sur, California. Ocher and green hills, intense blues of the ocean, colorful wildflowers, the Bixby Creek Bridge, and so on. I visited it this summer, this time under sad circumstances. The coastal paradise was as beautiful as ever.

"Sami" (oil on stretched linen; 9" x 12") sold

sold

"Sami" was commissioned by Bridget and her siblings who are gifting the portrait to their parents for Christmas. Sami passed away in the fall at the age of 14. She loved people and attention. If you weren't petting her, she would whine and paw at you until you were. Sami also loved the lake more than anywhere else. Whenever she was outside at the family's cottage, she would sit on the dock (as in the painting) staring at people until someone came over to throw sticks into the water for her to fetch. Sitting at the dock like that came to be her signature pose and Bridget wanted her portrait to capture it.

"Amsterdam's Jordaan Neighborhood" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

sold

Admire the neat row of townhouses by a canal in the famous Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam. In the foreground, red geraniums bloom in planters hung over the bridge. A quintessential Amsterdam view in a miniature!

"Dahlia Love" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

Pink dahlias from my garden are exquisitely dreamy in soft light!

"Coral Roses" (oil on stretched linen; 20" x 16") sold

sold

"Rose Posy" (oil, 8" x 10")

Recently I've received a rather odd commission request to repaint "Rose Posy" much larger in a vertical format with a glass vase against soft yellow/green background. The client also wanted the roses to be coral instead of pink. I said it would be very difficult, but she insisted that it should be done. The result several weeks later is "Coral Roses".

Many things have happened since I accepted the commission: the tragic death in the family, the trip to California to attend the memorial service, the recovery from my cataracts surgeries, and the Hurricane Florence with daily rains. I struggled with the commission in the middle of all the above.

I found the image of the "Fairy" rose, which I believe is what I had originally painted during Danni Dawson's workshop at her house a few years ago. They are tiny roses and I had to blow them up, shift colors to coral, and somehow rearrange individual flowers to make a pleasing composition. It was probably the hardest commission ever!

What did I learn from this project? Don't accept an unreasonable commission? Not sure. Because I am about to accept another totally-out-of-the-comfort-zone commission. I decided to turn it into a learning experience. I usually paint what's in front of me, or from a reference photo. But what if I don't have a good reference? I will have to make up, be creative. I am constantly evolving as an artist, embracing challenges, instead of doing same stuff all over again. So, bring it on!

"Fairy"

"Strawberry Delight" (oil on linen; 4" x 5") sold

sold

Somedays I feel like painting these little pastry things. I guess they cheer me up without increasing my waistline! This pastry stuffed with clotted cream and a strawberry is French. Oh la la!
 

"Lincoln Memorial Reflections" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

sold

The Lincoln Memorial glows against the violet twilight sky, casting jewel-like reflections in the reflecting pond. I have painted this same view several times and don't seem to get tired of its ethereal beauty.

"Tulip Fest" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

sold

Tulips blooming in the sun.  Ah, one of my favorite spring sights!

"Provence White Roses" (oil on linen; 10" x 10") sold

sold

Linger in the corner of a Provencal farmhouse where fragrant white roses climb onto the ocher stone walls. Beyond the open wrought-iron gate, the sun-drenched courtyard beckons. Ah, I love Provence!

"Lavender Girl" (oil on stretched canvas; 10" x 8") sold

sold

A little girl in a white shift dress and hat is walking in the lavender field, with a straw basket in hand. The golden late afternoon rakes across the purple clouds of lavender. The online workshop I took with Dreama Perry last fall got me into lavender fields, so I have painted several paintings of the theme. As they get sold, I am posting my work. Negligent, am I not?

"Henry and Lucy" (oil on streched linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

"Henry and Lucy" is for Natalie who commissioned the double portrait for her husband. They are two adorable dogs with different personalities. I hope the portrait brings the family years of joy!

Henry is seven years old and is a Maltese. He is such a sweet gentle old soul. He is very mellow and loves to sleep on the couch and sit in the sun. He is good with their four children. If given a treat, he will wag his tail and give you lots of kisses.

Lucy, three years of age, is also a Maltese. She is very energetic; she thinks she is a child and always getting into trouble. She loves to be hugged all the time. She is loving and will jump on you and put her face in your neck and give you tons of kisses. She loves to run around, bark and play with all of her toys. She will get her dog kibble and throw it in the air.

"Jefferson Memorial Twilight" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

The Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington DC is a beautiful neoclassical building. At twilight, it is breathtaking. I used the pointillist technique for the painting, pretending that my dots are stardust!