"Nineteen Fifteen"

"Nineteen Fifteen" is a mixed media on watercolor paper. Another combination of techniques from recent influencing of classes from Springmaid, Myrtle Beach..This is one of my favorites.

"Looking In"

"Looking In" is a new acrylic and collage recently completed for the featured artist show for April. I have been working on a series from new techniques learned at Springmaid Watermedia classes from Mark Mchaffey and Mary Ann Beckwith. I will continue to try different ways of expressing my Native American Totem, the raven, even if it is a little overused by other artists.

" Orange Splash"

"Orange Splash" is a new acrylic painting that will show the month of April in the 2nd. Helpings Gallery in Roanoke. Dave & I are featured artists with a reception on April 11 from 1-3. His RAKU pottery and my paintings compliment each other.

"Nesting"

"Nesting" is  a watercolor & acrylic pouring over cobwebs ( Mary Ann Beckwith's technique ) on paper.The  birds were collaged with pieces of rice paper painted. I have taken lots of photos of these birds..my Native American totem is a raven. My Cherokee heritage shows up in this one. This painting won 1st. place at the Smith Mountain Lake Art Council show a few months ago and also took "best in the show". It hangs now in a local Roanoke gallery, " Art n Iron" on the historic city market. Most recently, chosen (juried in )  to hang in the Virginia Watercolor Society annual show in Harrisonburg this Spring.

"Big Sky"

"Big Sky" is a large acrylic on canvas...really fun to work on but not sure it's finished. I really like the sky look and clouds.

"Opera"

"Opera" is in the series of acrylics on canvas for a change of pace...still not sure if I will embrace them but like doing and learning something different. I found the metal stencils at our son & daughter-in-law's antiques store: Covesville Antique Store in Covesville, Va.  The umbrella figure is from a group of figure photos from a workshop a while back.

"Touch of Orange"

"Touch of Orange" is one of a series in working with acrylics on canvas. I would like to avoid the mat and glass with paintings for a sidewalk art show but afraid to venture out of my box too far. I am not loving acrylic paints but need to push thru the learning curve. Watercolors are still my first love.

"Visitors"

"Visitors" was inspired by a recent visit to the Roanoke City Market on the same day an exchange group of teenagers from China were touring the market. I was drawn to the group by the silent way they each were doing their own thing while sharing that interesting space together. A fun little watercolor.

Peggy's Cove

Peggy's Cove is a wonderful place in Nova Scotia housing a wonderful lighthouse, that is now a post office. So worth the trip to visit..this painting is a watercolor pouring from techniques learned from Jean Grastoff at Springmaid.

City Lights

"City Lights" is a watercolor/ mixed watermedia on yupo. I am practicing some of the techniques from classes over the past 10 years while continuing to develop my own style. (27x33" matted & framed.) The lady with the umbrella is from a photo taken of a model sometime ago, which I think adds to the mystic of the painting. I used some cobweb from a Mary Ann Beckwith technique, some touches from Mark Mehaffey's and Pat Dews and of course, John Salminen's class on values. Remembering Alex Power's critiques of my work in following my own heart.

"The Fisherman"

"The Fisherman" is my abstract way of expressing a fisherman from SpringMaid Pier at Myrtle Beach. He was a mysterious man who really never looked up from putting his hook on his line during a fishing experience. The pier is located at the SpringMaid Watermedia Resort where I take a lot of my classes.

"Awakening"

" Awakening" is a 32x40' framed and matted. Won 1st. place award in mixed media at the Smith Mountain Arts Council (SMAC)art show. It can be seen at the "Art n Iron" Gallery in the Roanoke City Market area.


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"Gentle Power"

"Gentle Power" best describes my understanding of horses. To be such a large powerful animal and be so gentle is amazing to me. To watch these powerful animals work with children with autism, suffering with cancer or other limitations is incredible. It is hard to capture the feelings in words, but this painting is an attempt to capture it in a painting, my love of horses.

"The Village"

The Village, (16x20) has been an ongoing project with encaustics and copper. An artist friend suggested pieces of collage for value changes and then I added the copper pieces later. I love working on city scenes and find it challenging to try it in encaustics. Sold

Touch of Copper

I have fun playing with copper pieces as part of the design in my encaustics. I am not sure if I am finished with this one but like it so far. It is easy to get carried away with the embellishments. The 16x20" size is a good one for me to experiment with. Sold

"Myrtle Beach Horses"

Watercolor Batik is fun to play with. This painting was a photo I took at Springmaid beach. While taking a class there last fall, hundreds of horses were running unexpectedly on the beach outside our class rooms. I left the classroom with my camera to capture the moment. Later at home, I ran the photo off on my printer onto rice paper, on which I later used pen & ink, watercolor, & wax to finish it off.

Purple Lace

Purple Lace is a small 12"x12" collage using heavy paper, cheese cloth, & lace. It reminds me of a piece of an old antique building.

Hotel Roanoke

I recently took a class from Gerald Brommer, a world class collage teacher. I am doing a series of collages/ watercolors of which this is the first. Sold

"Protection", 32x40",  is a result of an experimental painting using pours of inks, watercolors, and acrylics. I am working on improving my line work to define my compositions and add more contrast. The fish just appeared and nestled up to the top edge a little close. This resulted in having to frame it "floating" - meaning the mat could not cover the edges. All edges are seen and the mat is around the outside. It won the Blue Ribbon, 1st. place award for Mixed Media at the recent Westlake Library Juried Show at Smith Mountain Lake. Sold

Sidewalk Art Show Award

Roanoke's 54th. Annual Sidewalk Art Show was this past weekend, which we participated in for the first time. We had great feedback and sales, saw a lot of old friends. Best of all, I recieved one of 15 awards given out for 112 artists. My "body of works" recieved the Mixed Media Award which is the greatest honor I could ever wish for..We also recieved several invites from Galleries and for Featured Artists spots. Dave presented my art in the most professional way and continues to be my best supporter. His pottery also recieved great reviews.

This is an oil painting of a popular church in Salem Va. It measures 16" x 20" and is  displayed in an illusion frame. It was displayed in the Salem Museum show in June.

"High Road"

"High Road" is a small 16x16" watermedia piece that reminds me of the High Road to Taos in New Mexico. The colors and the feelings of that Southwestern area are so unique. I feel so at home there even though I have never lived in that area. I think it is due to my native American heritage and my love of the people and their values. This painting was part of the Signature 9 Gallery for the month of March. Sold

"Rememberance"

"Rememberance" is the Santa Fe dress I painted once before in watercolor- only this time it is done as an encaustic painting on a wooden 12x12 cradle board.The wax layers give it a totally different look and feel. This was one of the paintings at "The Little Gallery" here at Smith Mountain Lake.

Grainery Show

My husband, Dave's pottery was on display at the Grainery in Rocky Mount for our featured artist show for the month of Feb. 2012. The RAKU pottery along with the abstract paintings made for a really nice show. We are pretty proud of our joint efforts.

Anasazi

"Anasazi", 32x40", is one of my award winning abstracts that I refer to as my best painting so far. It was recently retired / donated to my minister for his new office.

Gentle Touch

"Gentle Touch" won first place in mixed media at the "Best Pick" show that the Bald Knob art group holds each year. This painting measures 20"x24" matted and framed. Sold

Beyond

"Beyond", 20x24" matted and framed is quiet a conversation piece. Viewers are so creative in discribing what this piece is expressing. 

Contrast

"Contrast"  is 32"x40" matted and framed. The effect is a little softer, but the contrast is appealing. 

Strength

 "Strength" is another 32x40" abstract painting on BK Reeves paper. Acrylic and tech inks are used along with watercolors to achieve the bold colors. I am working on getting the color combinations and expanding my palette.

Secret Garden

"Secret Garden" is 32"x40" matted and framed. I really like the "Monet" feel that I got in this pouring.

Awakening

"Awakening" measures 32"x40" matted and framed. Sorry for the off center photo.  

"Lost and Found" ( encaustic)

This encaustic sold at our show last week at the Grainery gallery in Rocky Mount. It is 24x36", abstract encaustic on a wood panel. I am hoping to stir the interest in encaustic paintings through showing my pieces. They are all so different and beautiful as well as long lasting. When I want more shine, I buff my encaustics with panty hose to refresh them. This one was fun to create.

The Potter (collage)

 

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I got this idea from a pottery show we participated in with the Blue Ridge Pottery Guild a while ago. A fellow potter came in dressed in her "Eastern" outfit to sell her somewhat oriental pottery at her assigned booth. Her attitude is very calm and "Zen like" which I wanted to capture in this painting. I don't usually collage but do think this background worked well with my painted figure. She loved it and bought it on the spot.

"Rhythm" ( encaustic)

This encaustic painting was done on a panel of wood 24X36" large.  It is one of my largest and favorite encaustics so far. I am not sure it is finished yet but the good thing about wax is that it is easily reworked. It is priced at $525.

"Entry" ( encaustic)

"Entry" , 8x10",  is a good example of  "wax doing it's own thing". I use oil paints to create the images and colors after priming the board with beeswax mixed with damar.  I love giving up the control and patiently waiting to see what will happen within the layers of wax. Mixing oil paints with wax is sensitive because the linseed oil will keep the wax from hardening. You must dry out the oil on a paper towel to drain out the oil over night before using it on the wax. I have done encaustics on paper and canvas,  but prefer using it on a cradle board for security.  I will continue to learn and practice this wonderful process. This is at "The Little Gallery", Smith Mountain Lake. Priced at $90.

"Red Rock Canyon" (encaustic)

"Red Rock Canyon" is a good example of how the Southwestern landscape does influence how I express myself in my artwork. I have fun watching the wax flow and then painting on the wax once it cools. I am leaning towards abstraction of realistic images in my imagination. I have lots of photos but most images that show up in my art work are in my head, rather than photos.

"Copper Canyon" (encaustic)

With "Copper Canyon", I wanted to see what it would look like to layer in some pieces of copper in what looked like a canyon. The wax again does it's thing and I try and make something of it. This painting sold at the "The Little Gallery", Smith Mountain Lake.

"Arches" ( encaustic)

"Arches" National Park in Utah is one of our favorite places to hike and watch our daughter and son-in- law rock climb. Actually the wax on this painting went it's own way and created this beautiful design that reminded me of the place we love. "The Little Gallery" at Smith Mountain Lake has this painting on a 12x12" cradle board  priced at $120.

"Passion" (encaustic)

"Passion", 16x20",  was one of my first encaustics. My method of encaustics is a little different from some of the other artists,  in that I sometimes mix in some oil paint  to create color between the wax layers. I leave some oil paint on a paper towel overnight to allow the oils to seep out before using them with wax. I always use proper ventilation and practice safety with temperatures.  I also enjoy the traditional  colored encaustic wax. This framed cradle board is $215.

"Window Shopping"

"Window Shopping" in Vegas was a fun series to work on in watercolors. Our last visit to Las Vegas was over Thanksgiving break.  We had fun with the grandchildren while our daughter and son in law went rock climbing at Red Rock Canyon. Ceasar's Palace has a great indoor shopping area where the kids could have fun with the fish tanks while I window shopped. The paintings were part of the Bedford Memorial Hospital "Healing Arts". One of the series sold at 2nd. Helpings Gallery in Roanoke.

"Sailing in Maine"

"Sailing in Maine" was an experiment with new techniques with my watercolors. This is "WaterColor Batik" done on rice paper. In between applications of watercolor and wax, it was crushed in a ball, then ironed with my iron. I don't like having things that aren't being used and was thrilled to find a use for my iron. This sailboat was seen on one of our trips to Maine. Novia Scotia was our destination, but we love the coast of Maine.

"Big Sur"

"Big Sur" is Rt. 1, south of  Carmel and Monterey, California. This watercolor is an expression of my feelings of love of the area. We have traveled this coastline several times through the years, most recently to celebrate our 50th. year together. This is one of my favorite places on earth. This painting sold at 2nd. Helpings Gallery recently.

"Day Dreams"

This previously posted Encaustic painting was given a blue ribbon at the Bald Knob Best Pick Art Show this week. The show is at the Westlake Library in Hardy, Va. throughout this month. I am encouraged to try more with this art form, which can be very challenging.

"Someplace Somewhere"

This oil painting was a fun exercise in playing with the colors and design of abstraction. It can be seen at the "Grainery" on main street, Rocky Mount, Va.

"Make a Wish"

This watercolor of a white horse sold yesterday at the Reynold' Homestead Art Show. It is nice when you are paid the ultimate compliment on your paintings.

" Riden Hard..."

Dave and I happened upon a wonderful little community in New Mexico, called Arroyo Seco. This area is packed full of art and pottery and is on the "High Road to Taos", coming up from Santa Fe. This wonderful truck sets in a general store parking lot and is still driven each day. I couldn't think of a name for this small watercolor, but the words "Driven Hard and Put up Dirty" came to  mine. This painting now belongs to my good friend, Paul.

Day Dreamer

I have painted several cows before but I especially like this oil painting of a local cow who comes up to the fence when I stop the car. I feel like I should feed her something, but then, I think she is just being social. She gave me permission to publish her painting.