2008 Christmas Card Painting

Each Christmas time, for the past three years, an Architect firm in Richmond, VA commissions me to create a painting to be used as their Christmas card. Here is the final painting for this year's card. The house is based on a blue print of a house that the firm designed.

Justin Bua Study

Study in Oil 30x40 - Justin Bua El Guitarrista

A good friend of mine asked me to try out a remake of one of his favorite artists Justin Bua. I loved the bright colors and theme behind El Guitarrista. I had a great time doing this study. When I was researching the painting, I learned that this particular painting was done in acrylic! He did an amazing job blending the paint. I just couldn't imagine all the blending in acrylic, so the version I did was oil. It was a fun project. The photo features Ray and his Justin Bua study 30x40 oil.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art - in progress!

Hello all...I just wanted to post the progress I'm making on the Philadelphia Museum of Art painting I've been working on here and there for the past 4 months! It's finally taking shape. I started with big blocked in shapes in burnt sienna. Unfortunately, I have no photos from the beginning stages - probably becuase I was close to wiping it down several times to start over again. I've got the blue painters tape up on it now to help crisp up my edges on the tops of the roofs. I really like the straight edge the tape can give. There is a nice mix between the loose stroke in the buildings and the tight edges of the roof tops. I'll be sure to post more as I progress.

Mural for Lexi

whimsical tree, acrylic

letter "A" monogram with roses

3'x3'

Mural for Lexi

This mural was done last weekend for a little girl's bedroom. The tree was done in a whimsical style and the monogram done in hundreds of little roses.

"Musical Accomplice"

6x6

oil on masonite

"Musical Accomplice" click here to view auction page

This is part II of the pair of guitar players at Tyler State Park in Bucks County, PA. I really like the rich pumpkin background of this one. It seems to infuse it with a great energy. I think that I'd like to try one with the both of them together - dueling guitarists. If I do, I think I'll try it on a larger scale.

"Music in the Park"

oil on masonite

6x6 inch

"Music in the Park" click here to view auction page

On a walk through a local park in Bucks County, PA with my dog, we came across two guitar players sitting face to face singing and strumming along. It was wonderful! I'll be posting this guitarist's side kick tomorrow. My favorite part about the painting is the shaggy hair and his body language. I substituted a gamblin azo green background for a glistening river that he was sitting in front of. I found that the sparkling water really distracted from the overall composition.

"Home Town Spring"

24"x36"
acrylic on canvas

"Home Town Spring" Click here to view auction page or bid

This piece was fun to do. Signs of spring are popping up all over Philly! I was inspired by the sunshine yellow daffodills just outside my front door.

"Home Town Neighborhood"

24"x30"
oil pastel, acrylic, graphite
canvas - edges painted black

"Home Town Neighborhood" Click Here to Access Auction Page or Bid

I am really excited about this one. I have been obsessing over squares lately and used grid work in the composition. There are lots and lots of layers and textures built into the painting. I actually started with 20 multicolored squares and worked in the houses. I then went back in with a combination of many yellows and titanium white for the background leaving some exposed areas of color here an there. Just for a hint of surprise. I liked the loose expression of the lines so I went back in and added some more as well. I kept going back in working and reworking areas until I stood back and realized that it was done! I've included some close up views so you can see the textures, lines and layers. I have varnished the piece in a gloss finish.

I caught a glare off the painting during the photo shoot. I just went and bought all new lighting for this purpose and I am still getting glare! I am going to have to do some more research on how to avoid it in the future. If I take a shot with less, I'll be sure to post it here.

"Le Petit Chatalet"

9x12

oil on masonite

"Le Petit Chatelet"

Le Petit Chatelet was this wonderful little restaurant in the center of Paris. We discovered it while we were leisurely walking around the city. The savory smells and fantastic espresso they served were the perfect compliment to a cool Paris afternoon.

"Canoe Rental"

6x6

oil on masonite

"Canoe Rental"

While walking through Tyler State Park in Bucks County, PA I came across a little boat house on the canal. Outside of the boat house was a row of overturned canoes just waiting to be rented and rowed in. It's still winter here in the Northeast, but soon, it will be warm again and they will get thier chance in the water.

"The Chanticleer"

oil on masonite
9x12

"The Chanticleer" Sold - Columbus, OH

A few years back, my husband and I went to visit Ithaca, NY. Eric attended college there. We walked through downtown Ithaca in an area called "the commons" and came across this big neon rooster sitting on top a sign reading "The Chanticleer". I just loved it! A few doors down was a little movie theater where crowds were beginning to grow. I wish I could remember which film was playing.

"Winter Farm House"

12x12

oil on masonite

"Winter Farm House"

This piece was inspired by a photo that I took this weekend while I was on a walk with my dog. We were walking through Tyler State Park in Newtown, PA. It was an overcast day and I wished that the sun would pop out while on our walk. It wasn't until we were leaving that the sun finally poked through the clouds and I snapped a photo of this farmhouse set back over glowing fields.

"Liberty Anyone?"

oil on masonite
6x6

"Liberty Anyone?"

"Mr. Liberty" was out in front of a little shop that I was pulling up to last week. I see these people dressed up all over the city this time a year, however, this particular person caught my attention. He was dancing and singing all over the sidewalk! I've never seen anyone dressed up in a costume on the job so happy! I loved his positive attitude.

"Two Hour Limit"

"Two Hour Limit" SOLD Chicago, IL

I was in a town called Manayunk, just outside of Philadelphia last week. I got out of my car to take some photos of the train bridge, and snapped this photo of the parking meter. I really liked the shadow it cast and the rusty outside layer from years of exposure to the elements.

"Going Bananas!"

"Going Bananas!" Sold- Oakland, CA

I returned home from my weekly grocery shopping excursion earlier today. When I was rummaging around for inspiration for a painting these bananas were perfect! It has been a chilly overcast winter day here in Philly, so the sunny bananas really lightened my mood!

"Porch Paradise"

"Porch Paradise" - SOLD - Rolling Meadows, IL

When driving down a road in Upstate New York (where I am originally from) a year or so ago, I snapped a shot of this wonderful home with a huge wrap around porch. I can just imagine sitting on the porch in the middle of the summer with a good book and glass of iced tea or lemonade.

Morning Serenity

"Morning Serenity " SOLD - Toronto

As I was sipping my weekend morning cup of coffee pondering what to paint next I was inspired by what was sitting in my hand. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a coffee nut! So, creating this peice was so much fun.

This is my third small daily work this week and I am feeling so great about my new commitment to my art. I have been inspired by the work of other daily art painters and believe that painting daily will really help me grow as an artist.

Since this is my first post, I think it is important to give you a little background about myself. I grew up loving art and all creative. I focused on art heavily in highschool and the first two years of college. I took a corporate sales job out of school and my art really lost priority in my life. A year ago, I started painting again and hope to be able to focus on my art full time within the next year. By working on creating a painting daily, I hope to refine and develop my skills to help me achieve my goal!