Creston Grrl

This was my third and last entry for the "Red" show in Creston. This painting was based on a photograph of a fierce and punky young woman in one of my painting classes a couple of years ago. I think it takes a lot of courage and creativity to wear the outfits she chose in a small town the size of Creston. It is easier to be different in a city but in a small town, you are a decided target.

I am not happy with how the painting turned out. I wanted it to be much looser and fresher(and fiercer). But I still like the subject matter. The background started out light and splotchy and just looked anemic. The Painting seemed to demand the red for itself. I would like to do the painting again but the image was lost when my computer failed this summer. It took me over a year to get her photo from a fellow student. There must be some kind of kharma going on here.

Tribal Dancer

This is my second entry for the "Red" show. I love bellydance. I love the music and the costumes and they way it can change how women feel about themselves.

Red Hat

I took a photo of Charlene Evans as she was painting at the open air painting class we took together at Wilmer this last August. What a great week. Val MacPhee was our teacher and Sebastien Bell our organizer and host. We would go out and paint around the little village of Wilmer, return to the Delphine Lodge to eat a fabulous lunch prepared by Mrs. Bell and then go out and paint again until evening. The weather was beautiful, mild and sunny. I hope to go again next year. This painting is going in the "red" show at Creston this week.

Standing Trick

This is another painting based on an old photo. I love this girl's aplomb and fearlessness.

Nymph

I don't know why I like this painting so much but I do. It is inspired by an old photograph. I painted her in the summer of 2006. I enjoy her coy peek through the leaves.I thought she had to be a redhead. I just want to keep her around for a while.

The King of Rhubarb

This is a painting I made and SOLD this summer. My magnificent Jinx in a sunlit patch of Rhubarb. I actually miss the painting. It's funny how you can become attached to some of them. Although I find when I make a newer painting that I am happy with it is easier to let a previous favorite go.

Heavy Chevy

I am reaching a stage where if I'm in doubt, I paint a truck. It's suprising the number of old vehicles lying about. This one is right in Canal Flats.

Crazy little Ice Goddess

We are getting a fresh sprinkle of snow today. I thought I would drag out my image of my little ice goddess. She was fun to make. Maybe I will get busy and make some more collages.

Bouquet

I was trying for a real loose decorative interpretation. I'm not sure if I'm happy with this or not. I do like some of the texture.

Headwaters: storm from the south

I did this painting while I was taking the Svob course in Calgary. Mr. Svob actually had kind words for me about it, so I was thrilled. He also pointed out that warm paintings sell better than cool ones.

Oldtimer two

This is truck number two.

black elvis

I just returned from a workshop in Calgary with Mike Svob. One of the techniques he showed us was his "Black Elvis" technique, inspired by the black velvet paintings he saw in Florida in his teens.

He makes his thumbnail sketch, draws onto a black canvas and sets off putting in his light, dark, and midtones. He makes it look so easy, but he's been painting for 25 years.

This is my attempt. Inspired by Bernard Garcia's truck sketches and having met a very colorful character in Cimmarron N.M. who was thrilled when we stopped to survey his old trucks, this may be the start of the Cimmarron series.

Gomez Tortilla Factory

This is one of the paintings I worked on at the Mike Svob workshop in Calgary. Dark, light, midtone. It sounds so simple and yet it is so challenging to do.