Junk Yard Bus

I was out to lunch with some girl friends, and on the way home I saw this great bus to paint. I rushed home and got my camera and took this picture. It was a lot of fun to paint because there was so much stuff.

Moment Of Prayer

This was such a wonderful temple. It was full of smoke from the incense. Lots of different size pots and tables for people to make a wish or pray to Budda. There were not very many tourists there which was nice. I took this picture of the smoke and the incense to capture the moment but when I looked at my pictures I really liked this women in it. We were in Cambodia at the time.

Sunny Day In Italy

This was a great trip. I fell in love with Italy. The weather was perfect, around 70 degrees. I went on a painting trip with Steve and Janet Rogers. Everyday we had around 15 artists painting together. When you woke up in the morning and looked outside , off your balcony , you saw the lake with the Swiss mountains in the background . I would love to go back!

Tibetan Door

My husband and I have been to Lhasa, Tibet twice. I loved the Himalayan Mountains but the altitude gave me terrible headaches. I will not go back so I will have to be happy with the pictures I took. This is a door not far from where the Dalai Lama used to live. The stones and steps are white washed. The door and surrounding area is wood. Most doors are painted many colors. This picture was fun to paint. The steps and stones I painted in white gesso which makes the surface slick.

Early Morning

What a fun morning this was! We had dropped my daughter off at school in Colorado, I was crying all the way to Oregon. My husband and I drove up the coast and stayed in this fishing village. We were up really early and heard this awful sound over by the water. The fisherman were cleaning fish and feeding the seals. So of course I took pictures. This photogrph was a conbination of three pictures.

The Water Market

The first two times I was in Thailand our group did not want to go to the Market. I have always wanted to visit. There were lots of canals back in the day but as time went on they filled the canals up. Too many people for the area and it was a lot easier to sell your wares on land. One reason I like the area is it transports you back in time and this really gives you that feeling. I loved the umbrellas, not the heat. I took this picture on a bridge with the boats going under me. It was soooo wonderful!

Sharing Lunch

" Sharing Lunch ", touches me like no other photograph I have ever taken. My husband and I were in China and from quite a distance I took this picture. The picture is a little fuzzy but I was able to paint this watercolor from it. Although the grandmother and grandson are Chinese , sharing a lunch from the same plate could be done anywhere in the world by a grandmother and grandson. It reminds me of all the lunches and picnics my brother and I shared with our grandparents.

Camel Festival In Puskar, India

This is only part of the picture. The right hand side of the picture is missing with the third camel. The men are the main theme so we will look at them. I loved this part of our trip in Puskar. The fair is only there for two weeks out of the year. It is the largest camel, horse, and cattle fair in the world. It was also like stepping back in time hundreds of years. One of the only reasons I travel. We stayed in tents in the desert, how much fun was that! No air and a bucket of hot water once a day to wash. Can't have everything.

Thai Guy

This is my very first original watercolor. I took the picture in Thailand while I was taking classes making baskets out of bamboo. I used wax and very thin paper. I love this photograph and I have never again been able to get this close to someone picking rice and planting it. What a backbreaking job!

A Sunny Day In Italy II

I sold a picture similar to this one and I felt a need to replace it. I really get attached to my art. I know I shouldn't but they are part of me and they spark a memory. I will sell my art! I need to say that about a thousand times and maybe it will work. It is exciting when someone other than friends and family buy one. This was taken in Italy with other artists I was traveling with. What a fun trip.

Lummi With A Humpy

Rae and I were walking along the boats in Bellingham, Washington. I was taking pictures of the working fishing boats. A man called out and asked what we were doing and I told him. He asked if we would like a couple of salmon for dinner. We were both surprised and pleased. We followed him back to his boat and he held out two big fish for us. I laughed and asked him if he had a bag to put them in. He laughed and asked if I wanted him to clean the salmon too! I said sure! This is the picture of him cleaning our dinner. What a great day. He was a Lummi Indian and the salmon is called a Humpy.

Deep In Thought

This women was deep in thought or she was ready to fall asleep. We were in Africa when this was taken. My son was about eleven . The men who were getting married were his age. He thought that was pretty cool. This was the only trip that my children can remember anything about. So much for taking kids on trips! This painting was done on Yupo Paper. It feels like plastic and takes awhile for it to dry. The Paint stays on the top and mixes with the paint around it so you never really know how it will dry. I find that really exciting!

Moroccan Cat Women

I came upon this older women feeding the cats when we were at a ruins in Morocco. She had a bowl out for money so I gave her a little. She let me take a few pictures of her and her cats. I took about 1500 pictures in the three weeks we were there and this is the first picture that I have painted. Why? I guess she tells a story that touches me. I also like cats!

Gold Digger

I took this picture in Thailand. The girl shown in this picture was sifting through sand and finding flicks of gold. There were two other people helping her . One was digging sand and putting it into baskets. The third girl was dragging the baskets over to the girl in the water. They would do this all day out in the hot sun.

Jewelry Of India's Women

Women from all over the world love jewelry. My husband and I were in India, in a remote town where there were no tourists. We saw this ankle bracelet and was interersted in it because a lot of the women had them on their ankles. The bartering went on and on. We left and walked around a little and decided to go back and buy the bracelet. It was an item that was truly part of a women's life in India. This lady had it on when we went back and I asked if I could take her picture. I did and after we left my husband said she was fixing her hair and the shaw she had on. I felt bad because I took pictures of her feet! This is a batik painting on rice paper with wax.

Tibetan Yak Bells

This red door held a number of items that I find a challenge to paint-the red wood, metal of the bells, the yak hair, and rough cloth , all in one painting! This picture took awhile to paint but it also brought back many memories of my trip to Tibet.

Contemplating Life

The Thai Monks sitting here enjoying their coffee could be in the United States at Starbucks. I thought the contrast between the modern plastic chairs and the two monks was wonderful. This picture was taken on a hot day in Thailand . Everyday in
Thailand is hot and we were there in January when they were having their winter.

Waiting For Lunch

This picture was painted after ,"Gold Digger". They are matted the same and hung together as you go down to my steps to the lower level. This photo is missing another bird on the left. Not a good picture of this painting. The background was boring so I lifted a lot of it with a stencil and it took forever. I do like the outcome though.

Retirement Is Good

My husband and three of his friends take a long motorcycle ride at least once a year. Here they are in the Tetons. Mike, the guy on the right took the picture. When I painted this, Mike was not in it. My husband wanted all the guys in the picture. Sooooo , I had to find a picture of Mike in his leather and place him where I thought he should be. It was a little tricky but he looks like he belongs.

Rose's Turbo

His real name is Ebony's Southern Perfection. I have painted this horse for a friend who rides him as much as she can. This seems to be the year of the animal for me. I have painted a swan, three camels, and now a horse. I did ride as a child and took lessons to jump as an adult. I paid for the lessons with an old wedding gown from a failed marriage. So I do know and love horses, I guess that counts for something! I will be painting a spotted dog soon for another friend.

Joan's Dog Phoebe

Joanie and her family really love their dog. They found her at a pound, which is important to Joanie because she believes very animal needs a good and loving home. Phoebe is half basset-hound and half pointer. She has congenital glaucoma so she is blind. Looking at her, she has a marble for an eye on the left side and the right has been sewn shut. When Joanie asked me to paint her I really had mixed feelings. I didn't know if I could paint a dog without eyes because they are so expressive. Actually, I am pleased with the outcome. Let me know what you think.

Niah

Niah is a part Pit Bull and Great Dane. She is a large dog that my son has adopted. I didn't understand the attraction until I met her. She is a wonderful animal . She does not need a leash because she stays right with you. She has never had any formal training except to be the center of attention of the young men who live with her at all hours of the day and night.

Alpaca 1

There is an alpaca farm down the street from where I live. They had a day where you could come in and see the alpaca's and the babies. So cute! The owners were really nice and held the animals so you could take pictures of them. I hope this will be the first of many. I was painting late one night and the longer I painted the more color I put on . The next morning I took off most of it. The red was just too much even for an alpaca!

Bathing Beauty

My friend and I went to Louisville to take pictures in a very old cemetery. He took pictures of beautiful tomb stones and landscapes. I sat on a bench for about 45 minutes and just took the most wonderful pictures of two mute swans. This swan was used to having people admire him and did not mind me taking pictures of him. I had such a good time just sitting and watching him and his mate go through their day. I am thinking of doing a series on the two of them. I have great pictures and I am really in love with them. I won a ribbon in the Cincinnati Women's Art Club this summer for Bathing Beauty!

Fan Dancer

Another swan picture! I know but I really love this guy. Look how he showed off for me. What other male has done that for me lately! This is a Batik. Painted on rice paper and wax. It is a long process and you really do not know if it is working out like you planned until the very end when you iron the wax off. But it is great fun when it does. I love all the texture, you just can not get that any other way. He also got a second place ribbon in the Middletown Art Show !!!!!

Yoga Swan

Such a wonderful pose. It reminds me of the poses we do in yoga. This is my second swan. I have great photographs of this Mute Swan. I have a love affair with animals this year. It makes me feel good painting them so I think I will do another one soon. Yoga Swan got into a national show at Viewpoint this year. It was a wonderful show and I feel good about getting in.

Kara's Napping

This is my daughter, Kara.   I have been painting a lot this year so I thought I would try to paint this picture.  She was in college in Colorado. Too far from home but a wonderful experience.  I have tried to paint portraits before and have failed miserably .  Usually I am happy if  the painting looks human,  but this actually looks like her.  She thinks so to and was surprised I left her nose ring in.  It was part of her growing up and who she is today.  She has moved back home and  is doing great.  I wish her brother was closer, but that is another story!

Morning Light

This is my son Kurtis. What can you say about your first born son? The relationship with a son and mother is so special. I can not explain it, not even to my husband because he even doesn't understand it. Kurtis lives in Orlando, Florida. We talk every few days and I wish he lived closer but they do need to spread their wings and do things their way. He wasn't aware I took this picture of him so I will be curious to see what he thinks. It is an unusual picture and and even more unusual painting. I like the light that hits his face.

Perry

I had this picture of my friend's daughter for about two years. Since I paint, everyone thinks I can paint everything and anyone. Not true ! Each and everyone of my paintings is a real challenge. I think that is why is love to paint. You just do not know if it will work out. Some days are better than others. I painted my daughter sleeping just to try a portrait. Since she was a success I thought I would try a person with their eyes open. This picture is not perfect but really close. Her hair is wonderful and I thought that would be the challenge. I am really excited about being able to capture this gorgeous little girl.

Defy Stereotypes

My son's name is Kurtis. I did this collage when he was finished with college in Florida. To get him to this point was a huge, huge big deal. This picture is a story of his life up to this point. It is a little blurry, there is a lot of detail on this canvas and the camera can not reflect it all. I am really proud of him. His father and I love him so very much.

College Collage

My daughter wanted me to make her a collage of her four college years. We came up with this idea of a bill board. I told her I would paint the outside and she would have to come up with the pictures and cut them out. We moved the pictures around and divided the picture in thirds. Each section with a different theme. I coated the entire picture with a light color of green to unify it. The last thing to do was coat the entire picture with matt medium to seal it. She really likes it and the picture brings a lot of memories back when she looks at it.

New Year's Day

When I painted this today I was inspired by my friend. We have decided to paint together at least twice a month and do something fun while we paint. The colors are like a party so it reminds me of starting the new year with hopes of painting together a lot.

Looking Down

This is an acrylic painting I did last year. Many layers over each other. I remember I wanted to do a cool painting( as in blues and greens). I always paint warm colors and it sounds easy but it is really rather hard to do. Looking down reminds me of pictures I take looking down from an airplane. I have always wanted to paint one and I think I will very soon!

Crossings

Abstracts are very freeing for me. I can really get into the subject I am painting and play. Paint, papers, yarn, string, anything that means something to you, put it in your paintings!

Obsessions

I was in a very mellow mood when I painted this and I think it shows. The colors are mostly soft with a jolt of orange thrown in to wake it up. I let it sit in a drawer for over a year and looked at it again. I did a few small changes but mostly it stayed the same. I had it framed and now I like it a lot. Framing really does help unify a painting.

String Art

String art is a couple of years old. I found it back in a folder of papers. The string is Thai Paper with lots of colorful strings. This is my favorite paper and I do not share this because I haven't seen this paper anywhere else. I look for it everytime I am in a store that sells papers or out of the country. It just adds lots of texture and color.

A Cat Sees A Bird

Last month I had a couple of my art friends over to play with paper in their paintings. We had such a good time. Paper was all over the floor and we were walking on it and though it. This it what I ended up with. I like it that you have to look for the cat and the rooster. The blue really pops. My art class liked this turned vertical with the three people at the bottom. I didn't even see them. Cool how they just show up! Welcome.

The Journey Ahead

I walked in my friend's house today and I saw this painting I had forgetten about. It was like I was visiting an old friend. I loved this painting and I am glad the family likes it too. There are about seven layers and everytime I changed the color it was a new painting. As soon as I put on some rust and browns I knew that was it, funny how that works.

Black and White

This black and white collage was inspired by papers I bought in Washington State with my good friend Rae. We shop till we drop and the next day we start over and do it again. Such fun we have and she is coming for a visit in August.

The Cave

The Cave is an abstract I did a couple of years ago. It is done with watercolor and one of the first abstracts I have attempted. I learned a lot and have done quite a few abstracts since then. I need to take the time and photograph them.

Flowers For Sale

I went on vacation with a very special friend who had not been out of the country for vacation. Her son was working in England so we paid him a visit . These beautiful flowers were for sale along a sidewalk.

Flowers In My Yard- One

This was taken in my backyard on a hot summer day. The painting was done on gesso board which takes it awhile to dry , soooo you can play until it drys.

Bee There

I know the title is silly but it does make me laugh. I used a new purple called Imperial Purple. It has a lot of texture in it. All I did was put on the purple and Indanthrone Blue, spray with water and watch it run. I had a good time and it was quick. I took the picture of the Clematis a couple of years ago. The bee was turned with the bottom up so I turned him around so we could see his face. Why a he? I don't know, he looks like a he!

Water Lily

I have a friend, who was looking through my pictures and she fell in love with this flower. I know she likes purple so I think that was part of it. It is hard to paint a piece for someone you know because you want them to love it as much as you do. It's wonderful to walk in someone's home and see your art hanging on the wall.

Travel Flower "Plumeria"

I took this photo in Thailand and wrote the name of the flower on the back of my painting. It is now framed and I forgot to write the name down. Some days are like this. If anyone knows please let me know. I feel the need to travel to far off places. This should be turned vertical, I will have to ask my daughter to help me. Thanks Judy for letting me know the name of this flower.