Always Together

"Always Together"

12"x 12"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I did this commission for a very dear friend who's children were 8, 5 and 1 years old, and are now 36, 33, 29.
Growing up, we were neighbors and I was best friends with her little sister. I hadn’t seen them in over 20 years, and then they paid me a surprise visit at the hospital right after my stroke. It meant so much to me! I was thrilled to do this commission for Colleen and her husband, Jim, knowing that every time she looks at it she is going to remember that time in her life 
and think of me.

             "We had just moved to Honolulu and were staying in the Hale Koa, right next to the Hilton, which is the military hotel where we stayed until housing was available. I would take the kids to the beach in the morning, then nap time and when Jim came back from work we would go back down on the beach. It was not posed-they just ended up sitting like that and Jim just happened to have his camera with him. I think he just always loved the innocence and sweetness of it. We are so fortunate that they have grown up to be close as adults and it would not be a surprise to see them sitting together on the beach today. I should have added that the specialness of the picture is the reminiscing of a magical 3 years - the beauty and wonders of living on the island, the magic of kids growing up on the beach, and the memories of the making of lifetime friends! And all created by a very special lifetime friend of whom Jim and I have very dear memories!!”

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobooks:
The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum, narrated by Scott Brick

Podcasts: 
The Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown
The Lede, hosted by Jerod Morris

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal

Music: 

my iPod

YouTube: Daryl's House

I am having a Pet Sale! From now until the end of August 2014,  I will do any pet painting for 15% off the regular price. Just send me your photo of your pet and then we can decide on the size! I will take requests and photos all month long....To see more pets click here!

Really helpful: 

I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check! Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

Hawaiian Turtle

Hawaiian Turtle

30"x 40"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

This was for clients whose favorite vacation spot is Hawaii:

"We go to Hawaii as often as we can- We fell in love with the islands when we took a Hawaiian cruise in 2006. 

Each Island is so unique.  Our favorites are Maui and the big Island of Hawaii.  We've gone back 5 times since that cruise. We've been lucky enough to discover turtles in the water or on the beach each visit.  I'm always fascinated with how slow and agile they glide through the water. The photos we shared with you for this painting were from a visit 3 years ago to the Kona side of Hawaii.
The beach was very quiet that day, and we discovered several turtles resting on the beach near the black rocks.
We couldn't stop looking at them and comparing their shells and unique characteristics. This guy in particular seemed very tired and happy to just nap on the beach and soak up the sun! We sat down near him and did the same ; )"

Here is the process:

I drew out the image with vine charcoal so I could erase it (if necessary!), then I'd fix it or secure it with a workable fixative.

Thank goodness for Brian Buckrell! 

He is a wonderful painter. He introduced me to acrylic pens. I have only begun using them, but they helped me draw out the lines on the turtle. 

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook: "Someday, Someday, Maybe", by Lauren Graham read by the author

Podcast: Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

                 The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

              Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin

              The Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown
               Oh So Pinteresting, hosted by Cynthia Sanchez

Music: my ipod

A link that I found that will help me with my grammer!

 

Looking For Guys

5"x 7"

acrylic on gessoboard

 sold

Here is my entry into the Daily Paintworks Challenge. This photo was taken by Carol Marine on her recent visit to Santa Cruz.

Stress Less

6"x 12"
acrylic on canvas

I lived in Newport Beach, California throughout my high school and college years and whenever the pressures of school got to me, I would take a break and go for a run or a bike ride along the boardwalk. There was something about gazing out over the vast ocean that always put my comparatively small stresses back into a healthier perspective!

At The Beach

acrylic on masonite

Here is my latest entry to Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. It's April 1st, 39 degrees and raining here in Portland, OR so painting this beach scene certainly leaves me longing for sunnier, warmer, weather!

I am wondering what the "dad" is gazing at out over the water.....

I think the biggest questions this painting posed for me were deciding on what blues to use and what brush strokes for the water. Instead of worrying about what was "right" ( like I have so often done in the past, over working the painting and taking all of the fun out of it) I picked the colors, decided on the brush work and finished it and realized that if I didn't like the result, I can do it differently next time!
Much more fun!

Rehoboth Beach Landscape

5"x 7"
acrylic on masonite

Here is the second painting from a photo from Karin Jurick's site Different Strokes From Different Folks . Surprisingly, painting the sand and grass was hard!

Pierce and Grandpa

5"x7"
acrylic on masonite
sold

My niece took this picture of her dad and her son and It seemed to be the perfect moment to capture in a painting. I find that I have a harder time loosening up when I paint people I know because I worry too much about getting it "right"!

Click on image for a larger view.