"Riverbend Bluebells" (oil on stretched canvas; 16" x 20")

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There is a place in Great Falls,VA, called Riverbend Park.  It is a pretty park where kids go for school outings to see American-Indian artifacts and practice archery.  When Virginia bluebells are in season in the spring, it turns into an enchanted forest by the river.  Imagine acres and acres of delicate blue flowers on long stems catching light or in deep shadows.  I tried to capture that sense of joy and wonder in my dotted painting.

"Troy" (oil on stretched canvas; 10" x 8")

"Troy"

After Week I

After the school closing due to the blizzard that dumped over 2 feet of snow in the Washington metropolitan area, Danni Dawson's portrait painting class was back in session yesterday.  I was happy to be able to capture finally the likeness of the African-American model.  Aren't you impressed with all the colors I found in his expressive face?  That's what Danni emphasizes--put more colors!

"Melodious" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") nfs

nfs

This portrait of my daughter practicing the flute started out as a black-and-white exercise for Danni Dawson's portrait painting class.  I decided to turn it into a regular portrait in color.  It is a small painting for a half-length portrait with a musical instrument and all!  By the way, she was playing C. Chaminade's "Concertino"--a romantic, dramatic, and difficult piece.  She is enraptured in the beauty of the music!

"Flute Practice"

"Handsome Zebra" (oil on stretched canvas; 18" x 18")

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The zebra is my favorite animal.  I have never seen an ugly zebra!  While I was painting the portrait of this handsome zebra, I was puzzled: Is the zebra a stocky white horse with black (or brown) stripes, or a black one with white stripes?  What do you say?

"Daffodils and Hyacinth" (watercolor; 10" x 7")

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We have many different kinds of daffodils that flower non-stop in the spring for almost two months as some are early bloomers and others, late ones.  In the painting, you can three varieties of daffodils.  For the darker, complimentary contrast, I stuck a stem of purple hyacinth in their midst.  Voila, a beautiful arrangement!

"Hyacinth and Forsythia" (watercolor; 10" x 7")

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I found a pile of photos of spring flowers I took last spring during the cleanup of my studio.  Although this winter hasn't been severe, images of spring flowers basking in the sun are always a cheerful sight.  In particular, I liked this one of pink and purple hyacinths and a couple of forsythia sprigs.  The small bouquet makes a pastel, yet primary, harmony.  Lovely, isn't it?

"Jefferson Memorial Cherry Blossom Sunset" (oil on linen; 10" x 12") sold

sold

Jefferson Memorial, dedicated to an extraordinary man, is my favorite memorial in the city of memorials--Washington, DC.  I have painted it many times, often set at cherry blossom season, like this new one.  Below is the sketch done in chalk pastel pencil on toned scrapbooking paper that I drew while watching TV in the evening.  I liked it so much that I decided to do an oil version in pointillist style.

"Jefferson Memorial Sunset" (chalk pastel pencil on toned paper, 8" x 8")