"Bixby Bridge Big Sur" (oil on linen, 8" x 10") sold

 

sold

The famous view of the Bixby Bridge at Big Sur, California. Completed in 1932, the concrete span, one of the highest bridges of its kind in the world, soars 260 feet above the bottom of a steep canyon carved by Bixby Creek. I love Big Sur!

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

 

sold

 

 In 2017  my husband and I visited the Netherlands. For me, it was to visit its world-class museums. We stayed in Amsterdam at the beginning and end of our two-week-long trip. I loved this charming city! Do you know it has the highest density of museums in a square mile in the world? It has even a museum of purses, which I had to stop by! People are easy-going and speak English better than us. You have to watch out for the bicyclists, though.

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! This is the second time that I painted this particular image and the painting sold right away in both occasions. Another reason why I love Amsterdam!

 

""Medici Fountain at Luxembourg Garden" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

 

sold

 

The Medici Fountain (la fontaine Médicis) is a monumental fountain in the Luxembourg Garden in the 6th arrondissement in Paris. It was built in about 1630 by Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France and regent of King Louis VIII of France. It was moved to its present location and extensively rebuilt in 1864-66.

I visited the famous fountain in late summer on an overcast day in 2019. In the painting I tried to capture the magical serenity of the place with the pointillist style. Do you think I succeeded?

"Assateague Island Sunset" (oil on linen panel, 8" x 10")

 

"Assateague Island Sunset" (oil, 8" x 10")

 

Assateague Island in the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland is famous for its wild ponies. My family and I went there twice this summer for two short vacations. You can tell we love the place. We usually stay at Chincoteague, a small, less-touristy place than let's say Ocean City or Mytle Beach. 

There are beaches and salt marshes, of course, but Accomack County, Va, where the city is located, itself is a gem which makes you feel like you are thrown back seventy years with quaint towns and tiny islands to explore. We will be going back and I have already painted this lovely area quite a few times and more paintings are coming up.

In this image there were no ponies although they usually graze in this patch. After an overcast and rainy day, the exquisite sunset and its golden hues permeating the marshy landscape took our breath away! 

 

"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.

"Antique French Teapot with Poppies" (oil on linen; 12" x 12") sold

sold

A glorious bouquet of poppies would have been enough. But apricots and cherries also tempt you. There is more! The antique French blue enameled teapot and coffee pot complete chromatically this sumptuous still life. 

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

sold

"Bandit" was commissioned by Patricia for her friend who lost this handsome cat last year. He was fourteen. It is my first tuxedo cat portrait and I enjoyed painting it.

"Erik and Peter" (oil on stretched canvas; 20" x 16") gift

gift

I don't know how old the twin boys were in the reference photo, but they could have been about the time when I first met them--seven years of age. I had just started dating their uncle Peter and was introduced to the family in their house in Eau Claire, WI. I loved them and they loved me back. Such tall, blond, handsome and nice boys! They grew up, got married and had three kids (for Erik, sitting in the painting) and twins (for Peter, standing) each. Such a happy family! I was proud to be a part of the extended family.

As you may remember, Erik passed away unexpectedly last August at the age of 38. Life sometimes changes suddenly and irrevocably. That is the case with Erik's death. His family will never be the same.

On May 9th, Peter turned 39; his older brother Erik would have turned 39 too. The family got together in Twin Cities, MN, to celebrate the twins' birthday. I wish my husband and I were there too. My thoughts were there with them though. I painted the double portrait as a birthday present for Peter, who must go on without his crib mate. I told him that he mustn't try to fill in the shoes of his big brother. That's too much of a burden. I told him to be just himself because we love him as Peter, not as Erik's doppelganger.

Happy Birthday, Peter! Happy Birthday, Erik! We miss you terribly.

"My Baby Boy" (oil on stretched linen; 30" x 24") sold

sold

Alex commissioned this charming double portrait of himself and his baby boy Andrew for his mother's birthday. I hope it will be well received and appreciated by her! It was a rush job as I only had two weeks to paint such a large portrait and only one week to dry and ship it before the birthday party. It made me focus on the essentials and, as a result, the painting retains freshness. What do you think?

"Piping Plover" (gouache on paper; 7" x 7") sold

sold

During the winter term at the Art League School in Alexandria, VA, I taught a new class called "Experiments in Watercolor". I introduced the students to various mediums, such as dip pen, brush pen, watercolor pencils, watercolor crayon, oil pastel, colored pencils, and gouache, to enrich watercolor. Being relatively new to gouache myself, I practically taught myself how to paint in this opaque watercolor. When I pulled off "Piping Plover" one evening, I knew I finally figured out this tricky medium!

"Westerkerk, Amsterdam" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

sold

Located mere footsteps from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, the 17th-century Protestant church, Westerkerk, is visible from afar, thanks to the much admired 275 ft-high tower which dominates above most of the Old City center. As I was sitting across the canal at a bar sipping a cool drink, the late afternoon sun set the tower ablaze. What a view!

"Elephant Love" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") sold

sold

The mother and baby African elephants snuggle with each other. What a loving image!

"Erik and Kyla" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") gift

gift

Here is the double portrait of Erik and his wife, Kyla, that I painted for her as a Christmas gift, remembering happiness and wishing for healing. Miss you, Erik. 

"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.

"Bentley" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

sold

"Bentley" was commissioned by Lisa who is going to gift the portrait to her stepson. Bentley loved swimming in the lake and going for walks. The reference photo had him with a golden halo around like an angel, which I accentuated. He passed away recently. He will be missed.

"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.