"... I Get It"

How do you feel when you finally figure out that elusive problem, the answer to the next question/challenge before you???? What do you think of when you hear the words, "Holy s---...I GET IT!!!".

Those three precious words "I GET IT" (along with the attention grabber of "holy s---)" is the focus of my next painting challenge. (Thanks Kathy for the idea, and to one of my students who originally utterd those precious words when she finally figured out how the periodic table was arranged.) How can I capture on canvas the image of a student "getting it"????

I don't have a solid plan yet, but thinking about a student with that look of revelation surrounded by a collage of various subject materials that finally she can make a connection with.....

Let's see where this journey takes me/us...... Please feel free to post comments about what you think about this project....additions??? corrections????

"April in Alaska" (18" x 24")

Finished.... See anything that needs tweeking?????



I'll admit, this was the most challenging paintings I have done yet. Drying time of a week or so, then ready for shipment.

"April in Alaska"

Almost finished..... Just have to add a few more highlights on the aspens, and sharpen some edges. What do you think?

"April in Alaska" (WIP)

A little more progress. Starting to define Josephine a bit more. Nearing the end of this journey. Still a lot more to do until complete ... mostly details.

"April in Alaska" WIP

Here's what I accomplished today. Think it's comming along. Have a lot to do before I call this one finished. Next step is to work on Josephine, the fire pit, and details.......details......details.....

A bit more tweeking on the background - still not quite right, but getting there. Can't wait to start working on the kids.

"April in Alaska" (WIP)

A bit more done on the trees. Starting to define the Aspens in front of the greenhouse. Will put some aspens on the right to balance the tall trees on the left.


Stop back in a couple days and see what's new..............

"April in Alaska" WIP (18 x 24)

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. School started and I've been very busy trying to work out the kinks in a new curriculum. But, took time to relax and work on a new painting.

My nephew and his family lived in Alaska for several years. My sister Marcia wanted a painting of a special time they had roasting hotdogs with their grandchildren Josephine and William when they were there last April. The composition of the painting includes Denali Mountain. Though not really this close to their house as seen in the painting, Marcia wanted to include it because it's such an icon to Alaska. The building in the background is a greenhouse.

I have a long way to go to finish this, but have a fairly good start. And so I start on another journey of learning and discovery....

Trail Road (24 x 18) WIP

Here is today's start on a landscape "Trail Road". This is a rough blocking-in . Glare you see on the midline trees if wet paint. Think I'm off to a fairly good start.

We'll see what happens with this ..............

Highlander #1 (12 x 12) WIP

Here is the beginnings of a series of close-ups of Scottish Highlanders. This is still quite rough and will need to put in highlights and more detail in the hair. My husband was wondering why I would do this series ... don't think he's a fan of cow paintings. But I think they have such personalities - they make me giggle. Anyway, it's an opportunity to practice painting hair. They have a lot of it.

I started working on #2 as this one dries..............Check back again soon to see the latest updates. Sorry about the glare - wet paint




P.S. Thanks to Shayne McGuire of "Myths and Legends Photography" for permission to paint these beautiful beasts. Her website address: http://www.mythandlegends.net/ check it out!!! Beautiful work!!!

Dancing on the Beach

Completed and framed ........................

Scottish Highlanders (36 x 24)

Added a few details and calling this one done. The photo has a bit of light glare on the top - it's really not that white.


Thanks for looking.................

P.S. Thanks "Shadwell" for giving permission to paint your shot of these "cooos". Shadwell is a member of the wetcanvas artist website... http://www.wetcanvas.com He does amazing work!!!

Scottish Highlanders (36" x 24")

This has been a lot of fun to paint - think I'm finished.

At least they don't look like haystacks with legs..........

Scottish Highlanders (36" x 24") WIP

Started working on Highland Cows again. Think it's comming along pretty good. Check back often to see the progress.


See earlier posting on March 14, 2010 for the beginning underpainting

Dancing on the Beach

Painting is a journey along an inspirational path. Around every turn is a new discovery, a new breakthrough, a new "aha" moment. Painting Mom and Dad "Dancing on the Beach" was just that - a journey. Mistakes are made, as you can see from previous posts, and yet we persevere, we press on. Dad would say, "It's not the destination, but the journey." It's what we learn along the way. It's the feelings and emotions that are attached to our learning experiences on our journey that make the destination ............




Think I'm finished............



Let me know what you think - I greatly appreciate all critiques and comments.

Dancing on the Beach (almost???)

A bit more work this morning - mostly details........



Trying to capture Dad's image. Think it's almost there......???? I notice that his elbow is off and will need to adjust the shadowing. Drying time of a couple days, then I can work a bit more on details and sharpening some edges.

"Dancing on the Beach" (20" x 16") WIP

This is the latest update on Mom and Dad "Dancing on the Beach".

There are basic, fundamental features that make a person recognizable. There's that something that you see, and even if their back is turned, you say "I know who that is." Mom's hair formed that little v at the nape of her neck - it identifies her. She actually came out on the canvas in an afternoon. Dad, however, a different story.

At first, I had him in a sweater - true to the day of their anniversary. Looked like a lumpy black blob, so I changed it to a suit coat. Ok, a little better (see earlier post), but not Dad. Jessica was home for the weekend and said "Grandpa wouldn't be wearing a suit jacket - to church of course, but not dancing." And there it is - the recognizable white shirt, along with his white hair. Now, the next task is to shade his facial features and make them a bit stronger.

"Dancing on the Beach" (20" x 16") WIP

Here is what is on my easel this month - Mom and Dad, "Dancing on the Beach" at their 50th wedding anniversary at Lewis and Clark Lake.

I liked the pose of the dancers in the painting "The Singing Butler", so I used that as a reference. I still have work to do on Dad's face, etc.... but, am fairly pleased with it so far. Think I'll have to let it dry for a few days before doing the finishing touches.

It's been a few years since we celebrated their anniversary (1994 actually). Now we celebrate them "dancing on the beach" in heaven.

The sketch - just getting started

Doodle Wall

Doodles hung on the dining room wall in a collage arrangement in son Nathan's appartment.

He wanted something in his dining room that would look cool with black furnishings ... which will come later. Right now a card table will have to do. Doesn't look too bad.

If you're interested in purchasing doodles, check out the doodle art page on the left.

New Oil Paintings Page

I added a new page under the tab on the left "My Art Pages" called "Oil Paintings". Click on the link and you'll find paintings I've done over the past couple years. I hope it's easier to navigate than to find them on the home page. The oldest are at the bottom.

Check back often to see my latest oil works in progress and new doodles. I have several ideas running through my head and blank canvases ready to go. Looking forward to a productive artistic summer.