"Dream Garden" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8")

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Orange butterflies flit about dainty sprays of white flowers in a dreamy garden.

I have painted 20-or-so watercolors this month. What fun it was to go back to my original passion as an artist!  I experimented with edges, textures, backgrounds, etc.  I am going to return to oils for now, but I will renew my watery explorations in March, when spring flowers burst in my garden!

"Crocuses in Snow" (watercolor on paper; 5" x 7") sol

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These early spring babies are not blooming yet; the reference photo was taken a while back. Aren't the yellow crocuses peaking through a cover of light snow a cheerful sight on a wintry day?  Spring will come!

"Siberian Irises" (watercolor on paper; 10" x 7")

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A tender bouquet of Siberian irises cheered me up, as nothing else would, on a spring day last year during my husband's illness.  I am glad that I took a picture.  The painting is a reminder of glorious spring, life's fragility, and kindness that sustains us.

"Jett" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

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"Jett" is for Gaye who commissioned the portrait for her daughter, Katie.  Jett is a 6-year-old Cockapoo. He is very sassy and doesn't know he is a dog; he likes to be treated like a king.  The red sofa in which he is ensconced makes a perfect throne for the canine royalty!

"Yellow Rose Bouquet" (watercolor on paper; 7" x 10")

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A swirling bouquet of yellow roses stirs up deep passion!

By the way, I tried a square cropping, but decided on the original design.  What's going on on the sides seems to add depth and mystery.  I guess that sometimes more is more!  Do you agree?

"Penguin Walk" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") sold

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Eight emperor penguins waddle together.  Are they going to the sea for hunting?

"Piggyback Ride" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") sold

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A baby polar bear gets a piggyback ride.  It's hard to read his mommy's expression.  Is she resigned or amused?  Ha ha!

"I Love My Mommy" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") sold

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A baby African elephant with her mommy. The baby's eyes are filled with love for mommy!

"Fawn in Dappled Light" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8")

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A fawn in my wooded backyard. It looks exactly like Bambi!

"Happy Bees" (watercolor on paper; 7.5" x 7.5") sold

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Do two happy bumble bees basking on sunflowers make you feel happy too?  This painting was conceived as a horizontal rectangle, but the design troubled me.  When I cropped it into a square, the whole thing suddenly made sense with the bees as the focal point.  Sometimes less is more!

"Roses Roses Yellow Roses" (watercolor on paper; 7" x 10")

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Yellow roses in the sun warm my heart and lift my soul!

"Spring Song" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8")

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Daffodils and Hyacinths from my garden are an enchanting spring song to my ears!

"Pink Rose Magic" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8")

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Pink roses in the sun. Ah, they are pure bliss!

"Peonies and Coreopsis" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8")

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Pink peonies and yellow coreopsis from my garden make a gorgeous bouquet! Below are the step-by-step pictures of "Peonies and Coreopsis". Is this the way I paint watercolors?  Not always.  I vary my approach depending on the subject matter; I sometimes paint the background first.  I don't think one suit fits all.

I started laying down the first layer.

Developing more flowers.

The bouquet is almost finished.

At this point, I decided to add another layer of glaze to the background.

"Baby Emperor Penguins" (watercolor on paper; 7" x 10")

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Two baby emperor penguins in the sun. Is one on the right suggesting to her friend, "Let's play!"?

"African Elephant" (watercolor on paper; 7" x 10") sold

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An African elephant is busily going to some place in the rosy light of sunset. I love elephants!

"Mother's Love" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") sold

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Is the baby polar bear whispering to his mommy while his sister is going for the warmth of her embrace? A polar bear mother and her two cubs are captured in their tender moment.

"White Tiger" (watercolor on paper; 8" x 8") sold

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Have you ever seen white tigers? White tigers are not albinos; it's just a recessive gene they carry that doesn't allow the orange coloration. They also have gorgeous blue eyes!

"Wisterias at Monet's Garden" (oil on stretched canvas; 11" x 14") sold

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Visit Monet's Garden in Giverny during the wisteria season.  Wow!  In my painting, wisterias in the foreground frame the lyrical landscape created by the Impressionist painter.

"Pink Rose" (watercolor on paper; 7" x 5")

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One of my New Year's resolutions is that I want to paint more watercolors.  Here is the first watercolor painting of the year--a pink rose, fresh as morning dew, glowing in the summer sun.  What do you think?

"Provence Lavender Sunset" (oil on stretched canvas; 9" x 12") sold

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The sun sets on the lavender fields of Provence, France.  One can almost feel the warmth of the golden light and smell the intoxicating fragrance of lavender.  Bury me under the tree in the painting when I die, because this is my heaven! 

"Leela" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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"Leela" is for Lauren, who commissioned the portrait for her son-in-law.  Leela is a husky-lab mix with energy galore.  She is always on the go!

"Holly" (oil on linen; 12" x 12") sold

 

 

 

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I am back, stronger than ever!  I took a long break after I finished 30 pet portraits during the holiday season, to rest my body and nourish my soul. 

"Holly" is for Renee, who commissioned the portrait for her husband's birthday.  Holly is a 7-year-old Brittany Spaniel.  She loves to go on walks, lay in the sun and chase squirrels.  She stalks them in the summertime; she chases little moles too.  She loves people more than other dogs.  She is very loyal, sweet, and gentle.  Renee's husband and Holly are the best pals who hunt together.