February 11 - Araucana Egg (Chicken)

"Araucana Egg, Broken" It's been a few warm days and the chickens are waking up out of their winter doldrums, and an egg appeared! I decided to celebrate its arrival by capturing the fresh, high yolk in this daily painting, original oil, 6 x 6 inches on gallery-wrap (no framing needed). Available for $100 on ebay.
Please click HERE.

February 10 - Spanish Onion

"Spanish Onion" The realism of acrylics comes through with this depiction of a recent shopping excursion. An original acrylic on gallery wrap canvas (painted edges)

February 9 - Crossing the River (Western)

"Crossing the River" Having a lot of fun painting pieces for the Cattlemen's Western Art Show, the first weekend in March, this 16 x 20 oil came off my brushes today. I'll go over it again once it is drier, but this is the essense of the painting done alla prima.

February 8 - Forest Pool, Waterfall

"Forest Pool" An interesting size, this oil on board is 4.75" by 7.25" which makes for a great height-to-width ratio in this composition. I may have mentioned it, but I really, REALLY enjoy painting water and reflections! Available for $100 with an instant click via PayPal or contact me viaemail.

February 7 - Grevy's Zebras

"Grevy's Zebras" Endangered, yet so appealing, I painted these three Grevy's Zebras from reference photographs from the Living Desert Museum, where they have about seven of these. Of course, I let them loose in Africa. Someday I'll get there, too! 12 x 16 oil on board, on its way to the Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington, KY.

February 6 - Western Art Backlit Sunset

"Partners" I love to do backlit work. This is an 11 x 14 acrylic, with layers of color using my color system, and it ends up being a nice, colorful western piece that reads right. $420

February 5 - Ocean Waves and Tide Pools

"Wave Motion" I really like this painting, which I tweaked a bit today and added some palette knife passages. The strength of the diagonals vs. the vertical of the rocks is what makes this one sing for me. Plus the blue/orange colors. This was done on location north of Dana Point, below the cliffs south of Laguna Beach. Original acryic on canvas, 8x16 inches, $320

February 4 - Backlit Reflections, Lake Skinner

"Backlit Reflections" On location (plein air painting) and the first painting of the afternoon at a local reservoir. The eucalyptus trees in the afternoon breezes reflected in the blue-green water. This drinking water reservoir is near Temecula, California. Original oil on linen, 12x16 inches, $420

February 3 - Lake Skinner, Temecula Evening

"Lake Evening" On location today at a local reservoir with a painting buddy, I did two paintings. This is the second, and is a quick study to capture the evening light. Original oil, 5x7 inches, $100

February 2 - Cow

"Long Day Grazing" Today was a very busy day, going into the city, looking at homes, and coming home late. I'm tired, and so I painted this cow, a mother, solitary in existence, and calm. The image I needed tonight. Original acrylic, 5x7 inches.

February 1 - Burro

Beginning the month with a little burro, this "Mexican Mobile" was from an image I remember of the burro who was tied to graze until needed by the family for transport which I saw on one of my Central American trips. I have some other images for future paintings, too. I like the color in the ground around this fellow, and his resigned, yet pleasant posture. Original oil, 6x6 inches

January 31 - Streamside Fall Colors ( Aspens )

"Streamside" The light bouncing from autumn foliage comes through on the water below, and rocks of many shapes and sixes line the stream. From an image I took many years ago, on a stream somewhere. Original oil, 24 x 12 inches, US $575

January 30 - Morning Light

"Morning Light" The light of a dawn with clouds showing the edge of sunrise coming upon the rural land. Where is this? Anywhere you like, your memory or mine. Original oil, 9 x 12 inches, US $375

January 29 - Lake Skinner Edge

"Lake's Edge" On the edge of a local reservoir, on an almost overcast day, I'm back painting reflections in water, and enjoying ever minute of it. Original oil, 12 x 26 inches, US $375

January 28 - On the Santa Rosa Ecological Preserve

I may have mentioned that Duane Keiser is the reason I've decided to do these daily paintings. His painting a day is a great source of inspiration, although my art and his are light-years apart! Mine are plein air...like this one.
"On the Plateau" What a beautiful day to head up to my beloved Santa Rosa Plateau, to paint on location and capture the late afternoon light on the oak-studded grasslands of this nature preserve. Original oil, 10 x 20 inches, US $425

January 27 - Path in Switzerland

"Swiss Path" A 12 x 9 inch acrylic painting from memories of my travels into Switzerland during the winter, although this scene could be found just about any place where snow falls. $325

January 26 - Greek Idyll ( Greek Islands Series )

"Greek Idyll" An eight by ten inch oil painting with the lyrical brushwork and color that solidly depicts the feel and moisture of water and reflections in this image from the Greek Islands. $325

January 25 - Drink in the Riverbed ( Norco )

"Drink in the Riverbed" A six by six inch canvas, with just a ton of detail and brushwork. This is the Norco Riverbed, near the city of the same name, where hundreds of riders ride on weekends. A good way to spend a day. $100

January 24 - Ready for Work ( Western Art )

"Ready for Work" From white on white to color! Can't stay too much on one or the other. This one from reference material I took at the now defunct Hemet Cattle Drive back in the 80s. A 12 x 16 original oil for today's effort. $475

January 23 - White on White

"White on White" The challenge of how to paint a seemingly simple subject of white onion on my grandmother's platter resulted in this 6 x 6 original oil for today's effort.

January 22 - A Slice of Life

"A Slice of Life" These organic apples are wonderful. They stay fresh looking all through the painting process, making it difficult to concentrate on painting! Oil, 4x6 gallery wrap canvas. $100

January 21 - Life's Little Lemons

"Life's Little Lemons" I received the idea for this 4 x 6 painting from my friend Betty Billups, up in Idaho, when we were chatting about different subjects to paint. I went out to our lemon tree and picked this one, sliced it, and there you are! Did I eat it? No.

January 19 - Buckets ( Del Mar Race Track )

Here's an acrylic painting full of the light of a morning wash up at Del Mar Race Track. I love painting buckets! All the stuff that washing horses entails is such fun to paint, and of course the blues and oranges surely don't hurt. Original acrylic on board, 9 x 12 inches, US $450

January 18 and 20 - Off the Plateau

"Off the Plateau (in process)" An 18 x 24 demonstration painting shown in process, one I did for tonight's demonstration at the Riverside Art Museum. Great group of people, and this is perhaps only a beginning... tomorrow's painting if I can finish it will be this same canvas.


Now it is finished, having spent some time with me in the studio this evening. A comparison to the start made at the demonstration will show you how a painting evolves. An original 18 x 24 inch oil on canvas, mounted on board. US $650

January 17 - Pathways

"Pathways" A large version of a lovely mountain trail through pines, this oil painting is 10" wide by 20" high! As we go through life, we all fact paths of both beauty and trials. I painted many pathway paintings during the time my dad was dying, and I was questioning my own pathway choices. This is a joyous pathway! Available for $300

January 16 - Workout, Race Track

"Workout" Just a little quick study in acrylics to focus on the contrast of light. I see places where I'll continue to tweak it. When I start putting these back on ebay toward the end of this month, it will look quite a bit different! Original acrylic 5 x 7 inches on board. $125

January 15 - Lunch Break - Horses

What fun to jump back into the acrylics!  I just love the different way these pigments handle after the slippery sumptuous feel of the oils.
  That said, the fun of layering the textures in acrylics just completely floats my boat.  I composed this strong abstract design with source material from many a ride--all the horses tied up while the riders are away eating lunch together!  The pattern of light and dark and interesting shapes is what makes this painting work.  It is a smallish 9 x 12 on board-backed canvas, and is available for  $375.

January 14 - Heading to the Tunnel, Del Mar Race Track

"Heading to the Tunnel" Time to paint a scene from the Del Mar Race Track again. From the Clubhouse, one can look down on the field heading for the track below. The out rider brings up the rear Original oil, 6 x 12 inches. US $495

January 13 - Organic Apple

"Pure Organic" Back to the wonderful nuances of color and light found in fresh apples. This time it is an organic Gala apple, sitting on my taboret in the late evening. Yum! A midnight snack! Original acrylic, 5 x 7 inches on gallery wrap canvas, 5/8" deep. $100
This is the first time I've tried to put a "Buy it now with Paypal" link...

January 12 - On the River in Norco

"On the River in Norco" As you can see from the painting just from yesterday, I have made some major changes to the color, the composition and the values! That's because I wanted a more intimate feel, and much more texture to this 24 x 30 inch canvas. The location is Norco--the city that has horse trails everywhere, and many of those in the riverbed. I've ridden here many times, and hope this creates the feel of that "jungle" of river habitat. Available from the Recent Work page on my web site. I couldn't find a photo of its original state... sorry.

January 10 - Keeneland Workouts

It's past midnight, and this painting came from the brushes at 10 p.m. I'm feeling a bit stressed lately with dealing with my mother being in a skilled nursing facility, and having to watch over her medical care. I have to paint, and enjoy the process--it is at once familiar and exciting. This is an 8 x 10, or a 9 x 12--I need to go measure it--done with the ease I have in handling a brush full of acrylics. The color system is so easy to use, I hardly think about it any more as I mix my colors. How different form 20 years ago when I was terrified of color due to not knowing anything about it!
Late, late night... goodnight.

January 9 - Silver Dreams, Golden Autumn

I'm so glad I am able to upload. Must be because of my dial up at home. Right now I'm at the wifi in the local coffee shop, and it sure is good to see that little image so I can upload my daily paintings again!
This painting was done as a commission for a cover for a book, and I kept the original, although the author and the publisher are using it for the book. So now I put it up for sale. It's here:
http://www.elinart.com/pages/recent.html
..for $500.

January 8 - A Bit Mulish

This painting is one that came back to me and has been in the racks for about two years, ever since my mother moved into assisted living. Downsizing from a large apartment to a studio apartment really allowed her to let go of the material goods of her life, and she returned this painting to me. Now in the "artist's collection", I know it is time to let it go.

January 7 - The Fields of Perris

On my way up to my Mom's with my husband, I looked to the left and saw the sunset at the end of this day, full of light and warm breezes for January. Like my mother, who at age 98 is in failling health, although with all her mind intact, it is the sunset of her life as well. An amazing woman, I am blessed to have been her daughter. I will miss her terribly.

January 6 - The Young Spinner

Riffling through photgraphs from days past, I came across this spinner of wool, a model that I posed in a chair, and just loved the way the light fell across her form. None but to paint it, this time in oils. I did another one, several years ago, with more background and detail in acrylics as a true miniature--it sold within hours of being finished. Also won an award. But those were miniature days. This is a 7 x 5 on linen attached to board. I like its "J. S. Sargent" looseness!
These late night painting sessions are doing me good--I have no cognizant mind to make painting laborious. Love it, completely. Who would have figured?

January 5 - White Mountain Memories

The artist's mind here. sometimes the trigger for a subject is an unexpected contact. I had a great phone conversation with Betty Billups, and we talked about Arizona in October--where I plan to go again to listen to the elk bugling and the aspens turning color. So what else to paint today but a memory of last October?
I did look over some photographs from Del Mar, and figure there are some more horse paintings coming off my brushes in the days to come.
This one is 7 x 5 inches, in oil.

January 4 - Fishing Buddies

Another big painting. This time using my "old" system of five colors plus white... had to see if I could keep the hand fresh with these limited colors:
Titanium White
Cadmium Red Light
Cadmium Yellow Light
Alizarin Crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Thalo Green
Yup. Still can mix those colors!

January 3 - Pasture Light #2

My mom's in a skilled nursing facility after falling the day after her 98th birthday... I'm painting big to stay sane. Busy, working on so many projects, most related to the DVD, and now my priorities shift as I am drawn back and forth as the one on the papers for medical care for her.
So I paint big. Big brushes and big marks... cleansing somehow. This is a 24 x 30 inch canvas, and I love the color and time of day.

January 2 - On Alert

I love painting cats. They just seem to be so "together" with their lives. No discomfort about where they fit in, and no self esteem issues!
"On Alert" The studio cat Pesto has figured out that slow-moving winter flies are the ultimate play toy. There was one in the house today, and that focused look the cat gets is fun to capture. Original oil on stretched canvas, 6 x 4 inches. I changed her color, because I can't keep on painting patch calico cats!

January 1 - Looking to the Future

The first painting of 2006. Interesting that in doing these paintings now, it is almost as though I have no choice--what comes into my head MUST be painted. I am feign to say that this image is very close to my soul... I have spent a good portion of my life looking to the Heavens for guidance and contemplation. Sitting outside, in many places around the world, always seeing the constancy of the stellar constellations no matter where I was...and here, at 57, painting my interpretation with a self portrait. Somehow appropriate for the new year. Just 7 x 5 inches... a true "Pocket Painting".

December 31 - Happy New Year!

What to paint at the end of a year? Why is it a milestone? I can tell you that October 12 will be the milestone, for then I hopefully will have painted 365 daily paintings (in addition to the larger pieces).
So what to paint? I thought that what would convey the idea of a celestial celebration (everyone looks up to that ball in New York, right?) I'd do some fireworks. A dim memory of a painting of Santa Fe at night... loved the dots of lights indicating the town. If you are curious, the little light on the left side I imagined is our place. Secluded, and away from the crowds.
I like working with the night scenes. Love the luminosity of the color, and the drifting smoke of the expended fireworks looking like clouds.
May you all have a peaceful and richly rewarding 2006.

December 30 - Little Thief

This one came together fast, even for me! I walked into the studio a bit after ten-forty five p.m., and here I sit at 11:32 writing and posting... after posting to the daily paintings group, and updating the site. Dang. Well, the simple background didn't hurt. It is larger though, 9 x 12 inches. I like the way his eyes are looking--so sly! The reference shot from the camping trip didn't show that kind of look. this was more of that complimentary blue/orange scheme that is easy on the soul and good for the eyes.
Now it is bedtime--more work to do tomorrow!

December 29 - Two Goat Kids

I am finding that subjects aren't coming to me, I have to search them out. When I started this daily painting, I had what seemed like tons of ideas. Now I'm in my files, looking... but then again, it may be because I'm tired. Today's painting is a simple solution--We had buffalo two days ago, burros yesterday, and today goats. These are coming out of my reference files, in alphabetical order! (Passed by the cats' folder--have done enough of those lately.)
In doing today's painting, I was thinking of muted colors--as best as I can. I also wanted an orange/blue color scheme, and one with few darks.
I might work it over once again, if it doesn't sell. 5 x 7 on board, oil.

December 28 - On the road to Tripoli

Now here's a switch. I paint from photographs taken by my uncle, who was my dad's identical twin, from when he was stationed in Northern Africa. He took many pictures, and I have most all of them. Memoribilia, and useless to most of the family, but important to me. So I paint from them. The back of this photograph says, "This old Arab didn't mind having his picture taken. Between Homs and Tripoli. It was sure a hot day!"
I'm pleased he took notes. I know when he was there because I also have all his military orders. He led a very interesting life...
This painting is 6 x 4 inches.