My Thursday afternoon class for grades 1-5 studied the expression, shapes, values and lines in these two self-portraits by Rembrandt. Their pen & ink renditions make me smile!

I'm working on more paintings for Central DuPage Hospital and Cadence Health. Coming soon...

A few months ago, I was awake early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to check e-mail. I subscribe to Carol Marine's Painting a Day blog and through it, was introduced to The Traveling Chicken.  A small ceramic chicken is being sent to artists all around the world as a muse of sorts. (Click on the link to check out the wonderful paintings other artists have created with this little chick.)

Well, in the wee hours of the morning, I signed up and 'Miss Chicken' will soon be on her way to me!


Have you signed up for my blog? Once or twice a week you'll get to see the latest things happening in my studio. Sign up is on the right - enter your e-mail and don't forget to respond the verification e-mail that comes soon after you sign up.

Beautiful from All Sides
8x10in.
acrylic on wrapped canvas
SOLD



I'm like Porcupine in the book, 'Little Mouse's Painting', by Diane Wolkstein - (intricate illustrations by Mary Jane Begin). Porcupine appreciates the beauty surrounding her and is often heard saying, "Look at that. Just look at that!" That was exactly the reaction I had when I discovered this little red sunflower, lit up from all sides. SO gorgeous!

The last set of painted ornaments on mini-canvases for the Christmas 2012 season. :)
(These wee little paintings were completed and delivered after the sun had set - not the best conditions for the best photos.)

Click on each image for a larger view.

What started out as an exercise in mixing colors and pushing the brush around turned into a fun morning of painting!

During my morning adult class, R. and I painted 3 'quick' acrylic paintings from a bouquet of sunflowers. Our eyes were not focused on the end result, but on the process of painting. So freeing! (This painting is actually a combination of paintings 2 & 3 - The first painting was still pretty tight.)

If you depend on my blog posts to see the latest work, you might think I've been up to nothin'. BUT, it's actually been quite busy here in the studio!

First, there was a house portrait done in pen & ink and watercolor. This was my client's childhood home. (We also had giclee prints made for his siblings.) It was like putting together a puzzle as I worked from 2 sets of photos - taken in the early 50's and the early 70's. It was pretty satisfying to see it all come together!

Then I was on to an M48 tank done in acrylic on canvas. Mr. B. got this for Christmas from his children. He rode on this tank when stationed in Vietnam. In order to capture the details on the tank, the position of the figure and the surrounding landscape, I worked from a combination of several photos (Including some I took at Cantigny Park nearby.)

Mixed in with those two commissions, I discovered mini 2"x2" canvases - which I turned into hand-painted ornaments. I painted about 50 during December!