Merry Christmas!

The presents are wrapped, the Potato Rolls are rising and the house is nearly set for our annual Christmas Eve party. So, I am taking a break from the flurry of preparations, to post a photo of some of the ornaments that I painted for our family and friends this year.

Shhhh Don't Tell

Meenoo  oil - 12x12

At the risk of spoiling the surprise for my sister-in-law, I am posting the painting I just finished for her. She should be so busy preparing for Christmas, that she won't be checking in on my blog. Don't tell L, if you are seeing this before Christmas. This is a painting of L's new kitten,  Meenoo, a wild and lovable kitty from Shreveport, LA. L fell in love with this tiny, wild kitten, while visiting Shreveport, and had to save him from a life of living on the streets. He's a cajun cat, so he was named after the cajun word for cat, Meenoo. I hope she likes the painting.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia - oil 14x11 

Last Friday, I was asked to substitute teach a continuing education oil painting class at the community college. The instructor said the subject was to be on "flowers" and asked if I would do a demo on how to begin a painting of a flower during the first half hour of the two hour class. That day the roads were incredibly icy, but I managed to get into the school and even picked up a poinsettia at the grocery store on the way. Only four students made it to class, due to the weather. This painting is the demo I did in class. Although I covered the entire canvas with paint during the demo, I still needed to clean it up and add highlights once it dried. I really enjoyed teaching and hope I get a chance to do it again soon.

Cast Away

Cast Away - oil 7x5

I found this cast away shell on the beaches of Hatteras Island, NC. It was discarded and left to be crushed into sand, like so many shells before it. It's a beautiful shell, with a beautiful shape, only enhanced by it's broken, jagged edges. I love how the light shines through the shell on the shadow side, causing it to glow an amber color and how a little puddle of sand formed when the shell scooped up sand when it washed by. There are so many little treasures like this on the beach. 

Form Follows Function

The beautiful shape of a wood plane is a great example of the form following the function of the object. That is what partially drew me to paint a wood plane, but also it was that I imagined the men in my life, who have used a plane, resting their hand on it and pushing it across the wood. My father and grandfather, along with my husband, his father and grandfather, created things out of wood using hand tools like the plane. So in an age of so many automated gadgets, it gives me comfort to see such a classic tool. My small painting is a tribute to the Plane.

Plane on Plain  oil - 6x12

Tied Up

Tied Up - oil 5x5

I have returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving family trip to Hatteras Island, NC with memories, photos, and a renewed excitement to paint. Tied Up is this little row boat tied up at a marina in Buxton, NC. The family headed out early our first morning to explore the area before breakfast when we stumbled upon this well kept working marina.   

Tiny Footprints

Oak Leaves - oil 5x7

Yesterday, I went to my Tuesday Paint group. I was finishing up a small painting of some oak leaves I picked from the red oak tree in my back yard. The painting was lying flat on the table since last Tuesday, I thought, undisturbed. When I picked it up I noticed two mouse droppings on the painting. I thought no big deal and dusted them off but as I got a closer look I noticed the mouse must have trotted across the oil paint before it had dried tracking the lighter paint into the darker background. Cute little foot prints all over the painting. Who knew even our furry friends appreciate art. I painted over their work.