Behrman

Behrman was commissioned by a new friend.  I got to meet this little havanese and that always makes them more fun to paint.  This is painted in oils on a 16 x 20" linen canvas.  

take a load off

When you can't think of a title....use a lyric from the song you are listening to.  It felt good to paint again today after being away from my studio for several days.  My husband and I traveled through parts of Virginia and West Virginia to hike and bike and then deliver some paintings to a wonderful gallery I am in in North Wilkesboro, NC.  Taupe gallery is in a fairly small town but has really great work and awesome owners who have been great about selling my work. 
I picked this jar and bottle up in Staunton, VA.  I have a thing for old glass. I love including it in new paintings so I never feel guilty about buying more.  This is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2" canvas.  Glad to be back in the studio for a few days.  

it's not easy

Felt like doing something a little different today.  Painted on a 16 x 20 x 2" canvas.

hello darlin

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I have enjoyed slowing my painting pace down the last few weeks.  I had very good Spring shows and am looking forward to painting new things but taking more time off this summer.  This is painted on a 36 x 36 x 2" canvas.

clover hunt

This is a commissioned piece of a patron's grandchildren.  Who did not or does not still search for four leaf clover.  I am not sure if I ever found one but it was a fun to try.  I wonder if kids with their i phones take time to do things like this anymore?  I hope so!  This is painted on a 24 x  24 x 2" canvas.

I will be in beautiful Decatur, GA this weekend for the Decatur Festival of the Arts May 26 and 27.   My father got his masters of Divinity at Emory University that is right around the corner.  A special place for him and us.  

an everlasting love

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I need to take a gamsol bath.  I got oil paint all over me while painting this one.  That is what you call getting into your work.  I love my oil paints.  And hydrangeas.  This is painted on a 36 x 36 x 2" canvas.
I will be at the Decatur, GA Art Festival next Saturday and Sunday, May 26 & 27.  I will celebrate my 35th wedding anniversary to Dan on the 28th.  My everlasting love.

wonder

I needed to use a palette knife today.  It is very therapeutic to scrub the paint around and just let it happen.  I am constantly challenging myself to step outside the box.  I pinch myself every day that I get to do what I love and make others happy with what I do. This is painted on a 36 x 36 x 2" canvas.

This painting will be with me at the Decatur, Ga Art Festival this May 26 and 27 in the Atlanta area.  I have never been to Decatur, GA but all who have have told me what a great place it is.

balancing act

This title kind of describes my life lately.  I have been very busy with shows but most importantly celebrating my oldest twin son's wedding. So happy to have to have a daughter in law that adds such a special addition to our family.  It feels good.

I have one more show before my summer months hiatus.  I am participating in the Decatur, GA Arts Festival.  It is Saturday, May 26 10-6 and Sunday, May 27 11-5.  Come see me if you are in the Atlanta area. 

"balancing act" is painted on a 30 x 40' linen canvas.

wildflowers

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I just returned from from a show in Chattanooga with a lot of ideas swirling around in my head.  I loved participating in the 4 Bridges Art Festival this past weekend.  I met so many nice folks and lots of new patrons.  Thanks Chattanooga.  I love seeing people walking away with artwork.  Mine and others!

I have another favorite show coming up this Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.  The Double Decker Art Festival is April 28 from 10-5:30.  My booth # is 94.  I hope you will come see me if you are in the area.

This new 36 x 36 x 2" piece will be with me.

shining in the light

This little light of mine.  I'm going to let it shine. Painted on a 20 x 20 x 2".

Come see me this weekend, April 21 & 22 in Chattanooga, TN at the 4 Bridges Art Festival or Saturday, April 28, in Oxford, MS at the Double Decker Art Festival.

dreamin' man

Painted on a 6 x 6" canvas.  sold

hello Mr Heartache

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Painting some smaller paintings today.  I love the character you can get in small pieces.  This is painted on a 6 x 6 " canvas.

Upcoming shows:
Four Bridges Art Festival in Chattanooga, TN   April 21 & 22

Double Decker Art Festival in Oxford, MS . April 28

Cinco de Carmichael   Rosemary Beach May 5 (son's wedding:)

Art in the Village in Mountain Brook, AL  May 12

Decatur Art Festival , Decatur, GA May 25-27

no blue

What a challenge for me.  A client wanted a painting with no blue.  A mi no comprende. Thats what I do.  I paint blue.  At first I thought I would not be able to pull it off but I really like this.  My very soon too be daughter in laws Mom brought me some flowers in the green jar and this is its first appearance in a painting.  This is painted on a 30 x 40" canvas.sold

I am participating in the Four Bridges Art Festival in Chattanooga April 21 & 22.  Come see me if you live in this beautiful area.   

morning sound

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I needed a little palette knife therapy today.  This is painted on an 18 x 24" canvas.

I had a good but cold and wet show in Ridgeland, MS last weekend. The temperatures rose and the sun and the people came out on Sunday. My next show is Four Bridges Art Festival in Chattanooga, TN April 21 & 22.  It is held in the First Tennessee Pavillion. This is my first time to participate in this show so come see me if you live in the area.  Chattanooga has so many things to offer so come for a visit. 

sheltered

Painting on elongated canvases automatically makes for a more interesting composition.  This horse is painted on a 15 x 30 x 2" canvas.

My upcoming shows are as follows:

Ridgeland Arts Festival  Jackson, Mississippi April 7 & 8

Four Bridges Art Festival, Chattanooga, TN April 21 & 22

Double Decker Arts Festival Oxford, MS, April 28

Mountain Brook Art in the Village,  Mt Brook, AL May12

Decatur Arts Festival . Decatur, GA May 26 & 27

always on my mind

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I started the day painting a couple of things that were very tight and ended it by painting something very loose. I had more fun at the end of the day.  I am like a broken record but I am loving painting over old paintings.  It's better than cake. This is painted on a 12 x 24 x 2" canvas.

sweet pea, apple of my eye

My best stress relief: Making a new painting come to life over one that was unsatisfactory.  Also using a palette knife only and just going at it. This is painted on a 24 x 36 x 3" and was painted over some poorly painted mallard ducks.  sold

say cheese

 This is a piece I did for a new restaurant in Nashville.  Pork Belly Farmhouse opens in April and the three paintings pictured below will hang there.  Very fun to be a part of this.  It is in the Nolensville area of Nashville so give it a try. The pig and cow are painted on a 30 x 30" canvas and the rooster is painted on a 24 x 36".

stapleton

 This cow is going to hang in a new restaurant in the Nashville area.  Pork Belly Farmhouse is opening in April and three of my pieces will help decorate the new space.   This is painted on a 30 x 30 x 2" canvas. 

quiet

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We all need a little quiet in our lives. This is painted on a 16 x 20 x 2" canvas.

Come see me at Cerulean Park at Watercolor Beach, FL this Saturday and Sunday for Art in the Park. 

in the twilight glow

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Painted on a 12 x 24 x 2" canvas.

My Spring show season starts this weekend at Watercolor Beach, FL. I am participating in Art in the Park at Watercolor's Cerulean Park. The hours are 9-5 on Saturday, March 17 and 9-1 on Sunday, March 18.  Come see me if you are in the area.  Pretty swell place to visit!

coat of many colors

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I have painted this image on a small canvas before but it was fun to paint it larger.  This is painted on a 24 x 36" canvas.  I love painting a rooster in motion.  This is one of my favorite photos that I took from my sister and brother in law's brood.  

wide open

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I looked around my studio and realized I did not have one rooster or hen painted.  A rarity for me.  One great reason is because the gallery I am in in North Carolina has sold many of them.  Thank you Steve, Jim and Taupe Gallery! This one is painted on a 24 x 24" . 

daydream

I did not do the best job of photographing this triptych.  My extra pair of hands is on the golf course.

This is painted on three 10 x 30" canvases.  Still trying to feel my way through landscapes.  Referring back to my notes from my workshop with David Nichols.  

josh

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Who names a cat Josh?  Cats needs two syllable names.  It is true that in the South one syllable names can easily be turned into two syllables. Jah..ush!  Jah...ush belongs to my good friend's daughter who lives in Boston.  He is named after Josh from the show "West Wing". This was commissioned by my friend as a 30th birthday gift for her daughter.  Josh was thought to be a feral cat and in Boston they neuter cats and clip their ears to indicate that the procedure has been done.  Josh was discovered not to have been feral and lives a cushy life in Boston with Kendal.  Happy birthday to Kendal and happy life to Jah...ush.

PS....I don't paint cats.  Don't ask.

sweet baby james

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I have a friend who wanted me to paint her three baby chicks.  Painting chicks and listening to James Taylor is a good way to celebrate a Monday. Painted on a 6 x 6 " canvas.

out of the blue

A little bovine therapy.  This is painted on a 30 x 30 x 2" canvas.sold

light in the darkness

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This is the biggest rainy day/umbrella painting I have done.  Three by four feet.

The following is my spring show schedule.

March 17 & 18 Art in the Park Watercolor Beach, FL

April 7 & 8  Ridgeland Art Festival  Jackson, Mississippi

 April 20-22 Four Bridges Art Festival   Chattanooga, Tennessee

April 28 Double Decker Arts festival Oxford, Mississippi

May 5 My son's wedding! :)

May 12  Mt Brook Art Show, Mt Brook , AL

May 26 & 27 Decatur Arts Festival, Decatur, GA

no apologies

My husband told me to quit apologizing for painting a lot of different subject matter. This is painted on a 30 x 40" canvas.sold

midwinter

I know I am all over the place with my work lately but I just paint what I love and that is lots of different things.  I am very conflicted about it but it comes down to making myself happy.  So if it looks pretty scattered.... so be it! This is painted on a 24 x 36" canvas. 

running on empty

My son, Clint, told me I needed to do some more umbrella pictures.  This is a diptych.  The total piece is 30 x 30".  Each individual is 15 x 30".  Well duh.....     I'm just having one of those days.
I hope you are not having one of "those days".  Have a great weekend!

sweet seasons

 I decided to paint a warm picture today.  I am participating in a one day show at Watercolor Beach Resort , FL March 17.  I have missed painting beach scenes.  I included a second picture so that you could see the scale of this one.  It is a 36 x 36 x 2". 

into the mystic

Playing around with landscape. This is painted on a 30 x 30" canvas.

hope

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This was a paint over. So serendipitous! This is painted on a 24 x 48 x 2" canvas.

Happy weekend!

dancing in the light

Painted on a 20 x 24" linen canvas.sold

like a flower

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Very different colors for me. I had to ask my husband about this one before posting.  I have said before that I am a loner painter so he is my second set of eyes.  He has no artistic ability himself but has developed a good eye for helping me with issues in paintings.  This is painted on a 20 x 24" canvas.  

pass it on

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I am participating in UAB's Comprehensive Cancer Center's Artblink Saturday, February 10.  Go to the link to learn more about it.  In a nut shell.....several wonderful artists have 90 minutes to create a painting while dressed up people watch them.  :) The dressed up people bid on the paintings while the artists paint. The money raised goes to the Cancer Center to fund research and care for families experiencing cancer.The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in a four-state region: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.

I am going to paint something similar to this that night.  This is painted on a 24 x 30" canvas.

the wonder of it all

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Painted on a 24 x 36 x 2" canvas.

lean on me

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It is so gratifying to paint over a painting that I was luke warm about and to morph it into something that I really like.  This was a landscape that I felt was too literal so I turned the canvas into these three. I love the colors that are coming through underneath and the way the texture affected the finished painting.  Happy dance!!
 This is painted on a 30 x 30 x 2" canvas.

you couldn't stay a loner

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I spent lots of time on this one because I am still trying to figure out what works in a landscape.  I do not want to give too much information but enough so that it reads correctly.  I "think" this one works.

I had an artist friend visit this weekend and she showed me some things about using cold wax with your oils. (Not used in this painting.)  I AM a loner so it was nice to talk shop with a kindred soul.  She works much more abstractly than I do so I have a lot to learn from her. I love that there is no  limit to where your work might transition.

This is painted on a 24 x 24 x 2" canvas.

check yes or no

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Another day feeling not very confident but working through it.  Pinky/purple is my favorite color. You have to work quickly when you are painting radishes because the leaves wilt on you.  I sprayed them with water so they would stay perky for the painting session.  Any other tips out there?  Don't tell me to eat them.  Not going to happen.
This is painted on a 20 x 24 x 2" linen canvas.  Listening to George Strait at titling time. :)

take your time

I have struggled a bit at the easel the last few days.  I am being too critical of myself and have done a lot of scrubbing off.  Today I just tried to keep my head up and keep working through things I was not happy with. This is painted on a 20 x 24 x 2" linen canvas.

passing day

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This painting was several things before it became sheep.  I don't even remember all the things.  I kept pushing through until this happened.  I put no pressure on myself to turn out a painting.  I did a lot of scraping so I got some nice colors left over from the earlier attempts.  This is painted on a 12 x 12 x 2" canvas.

"By seeking and blundering we learn."  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

forever and ever

This is painted on a 20 x 20 x 2".  For those of you who do not paint....this was done with a palette knife as compared to the lamb in my last post that I did with a brush.  I like both tools.  Fun to mix it up.