8 cent Shoe Repair

2010

5x7 inches

oil on canvasboard

I drive past this abandoned building frequently to/from work and never noticed it until 

I stopped to take a pic of another building nearby (a future painting).

 Sailing in the Land of the Pink-Pinks

2009

acrylic on canvas paper

 

Winter in the Land of the Pink-Pinks

2010

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

TIMES

2010

9x12 inches

oil on canvasboard

Saw this building glowing in the sunshine while I was painting the previous "1889" building.  Now housing the local newspaper offices, the building originally was a bakery and confectionary on the ground floor with offices and apartments on the upper floors.

"1889"

2010

9x12 inches

oil on canvasboard

Painted on a sunny fall day sitting at a picnic table on the court house lawn.  Now for the history lesson:  the Marshall Block Building, built in 1889 (hence the title) was named in honor of Supreme Court Justice John Marshall.  It has been occupied by attorney's ever since.

For my cow loving daughter. If I can paint Pink-Pink's and my Fishy, I suppose I can paint cows, too.

  Would Moo-Moo like to pose for a portrait?

A cartoon I found in one of my painting magazines.

Not Like Monet

2010 

36 x 24 inches

acrylic on canvas

For those of you who have seen this sitting on my easel for the past year, believe your eyes!  It is finished!  I had fun finger painting the swirls in the water.  If you are really bored, please count the number of complete or partial lily pads.  I gave up at 52 and was only halfway through the painting. 

Potential Pumpkin Pie

2010

6x6 inches

oil on canvasboard

Time For a Rest

2010

5x7 inches

oil on canvas board

Was driving down a country road and saw this tractor with a For Sale sign in the late afternoon sun.  For all you tractor lovers, it's a 1947 Cockshutt.

Blue Victorian Turret

2010

8x6 inches

oil on canvas board

One of my favorite Victorian homes near where I live.

Red Barn with Silo

2010

5x7 inches

oil on canvasboard

Red Barn with Shed

2010

5x7 inches

oil on canvasboard

More barns and farm fields!

In the Land of the Pink-Pinks

2010

30x36 inches

acrylic on canvas

My first commissioned painting!  Something just for fun.  It hangs on the wall in my daughters' apartment.

Catching Rays

2010

7x5 inches

oil on canvasboard

The Sentinel

2010

6x6 inches

oil on canvasboard

The dormer window looked like it was standing guard over its Victorian house.

Rooflines

2010

6x8 inches

oil on canvasboard

Spring Blooms

2010

5x7 inches

oil on canvasboard

I always take my camera when taking a walk.  This bush was just exploding with blooms.

Yellow Needs a Friend

2010

6x6 inches

oil on canvasboard

From the Passionate Produce series.

Three Red Friends

2010

6x12 inches

oil on canvasboard

Sometimes painting ideas come from not putting your groceries away.  These red peppers were left on my kitchen table and just glowed from the sun streaming through the window.  Another in the Passionate Produce series.

Before the Harvest

2009

9x12 inches

oil on canvasboard

If you can't tell from all of my corn and barn paintings, I love early Fall and the colors of the corn and soybean fields right before the harvest.  The late afternoon sun exaggerated the colors in this field, as well as highlighting the scraggly tree.

2009

6x12 inches

oil on canvasboard

More cornfields and barns!  Another excursion out for plein air painting!

Up to My Ears in Corn

2009

6x8 inches

oil on canvasboard

As I was turning onto the interstate ramp, I glimpsed this little shed barn looking like it was "up to its ears" in the corn.  It made me laugh.

Five Aspens

2009

12x9 inches

oil on canvasboard

Really enjoying working with water soluble oils and learning new techniques.

Early Morning on the River

2009

9x12 inches

oil on canvasboard

My first venture out to try plein air painting. 

2009

9x12 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Painting from memory of a scene along the highway.

2009

9x12 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Sunset.  More sky practice.

2009

9x12 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Experimenting with painting night skies.

Red Sky
2009

12x6 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

“Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue.  Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we're stupid.”  ~Jules Feiffer

My Sister's House

9x12 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Was sorting pictures and this caught my eye.  I like the sharp mid-day shadows.  

The pink flowers, shutters and roof pulls this all together.

Rainy Afternoon

2009

19x18 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Looking towards the setting sun on a rainy, foggy day in Chicago.

City Hall, Paxton IL

2009

48x24 inches

acrylic on canvas

Late fall afternoon sun and sky colors reflected on this very interesting building.  I pass by when taking a daughter to/from college.  Just had to stop and snap a picture this time.

Isolation

2008

15x19 inches

watercolor on paper

What does it take to keep someone out?  Or maybe to keep something in.

One of my few attempts at watercolor. 

2008

18x24 inches

acrylic on canvas

More trains.  I pass by this scene everyday on my way home from work.  One day I just had to turn around and take a pic.  The sun was bouncing off the top of the train cars in the late afternoon.

Train!

2008

24x18 inches

acrylic on canvas board

I was about 15 ft away when I snapped this pic as the train rolled by.  I loved the colors and light on the black tanker car and the glint of sun on the wheels.

Blue House and garden

2008

24 x 30 inches

acrylic on canvas

Was taking a walk one sunny afternoon and saw this house, the side was in full sun and it caught my eye. 

Fire Sky

2008

10x8 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

This painting was inspired by a photo I saw of thick smoke from a forest fire darkening the skies.

University Hall tower

Purdue University

2008

24x18 inches

acrylic on canvasboard
 

Alien Hairbrush

2008

8x10 in

acrylic on canvas board

Magnolia

2007

4x6 in.

acrylic on canvas

The waxy leaves and "white" petals are always a challenge.

Sunset Sails

2007

20x16 in.

acrylic on canvas board

The idea for this painting actually came in a dream probably influenced by a Florida sunset picture in a magazine I had been reading.

Amber Waves of Poison

2006

20x16 in.

acrylic on canvas board

Poison in a wheat field.  Celiac Disease = no wheat, barley, rye.

2006

from the Passionate Produce series

8x10 in. 

acrylic on canvas board 

Continuing my Passionate Produce series featuring fruit and vegetables in "affectionate" poses.  While grocery shopping, the piles of  red peppers and onions caught my eye.  To find the best pepper and onion, I was "posing" them on top of a large toilet paper package in my cart to set up my still life composition.  As I took a step back to look at my composition, I realized there was a guy watching me, probably thinking I was crazy.  I decided that perhaps I should be more discreet in choosing my produce for painting purposes!

"Artists buy their fruits and vegetables in the Still Life section at the market."   Stella Violano

Grandma's Cupboard 2006

acrylic on canvas paper, framed

This idea came from a wall display at Kohl's in the kitchenware section. 

 Affectionate Squash, 2006

from the Passionate Produce series

8 x 10 in.

acrylic on canvas board

This is the first in an ongoing Passionate Produce series.

The beginning

Purple Iris, 2002

acrylic on canvas paper

My first painting.  This was completed in a studio class I took with my daughter.  Until that time, I had not had an art class since 8th grade.  I think it turned out well, for a first painting.  Lots to learn!