The Rose 

24X18 

Oil on Canvas 

Photograph reference was an ad from the Internet

Since I painted the peony that was so very pink I've been thinking about what a red rose would look like painted large that way. I thought the rose would be so much darker red, but I do like the more orange pieces and the alizarin crimson in the dark places. I was trying very hard to not make it pink in any way.

Aspens

24X18 

Oil on Canvas

Photograph reference by Joan McDaniel

I painted this once before on a small canvas, but I struggled with this one. I've had the picture by turns too dark, too light, too much contrast in places, and not enough light on the trees in front. 24X18 is not considered a large painting, but it does require a different thought process than a 12X9.

Dustinburgh Wave

14X11 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Photograph reference by Keith Saint

I learned a lot with this wave and am so excited the way it turned out. Splashing waves are thrilling to me. We don't have them in New Mexico, and they never seem large enough when I'm on the Pacific Coast. I may try it again and put the wave a bit further into the distance.

Colorado Meadow 

24X12 

Oil on Canvas 

Photograph reference Daniel Edmondson

Again, the water is what I like best, but mountains, grass and clouds are wonderful to contemplate. We look at meadows like this in Colorado from New Mexico and are envious. 

Fireweed near Anchorage 

16X12 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Photograph by Barbara Cooper

My husband and I visited Alaska this summer and were interested in the story about fireweed. It seems the petals of fireweed bloom bit by bit during the summer. When the petals bloom to the top, fall is there, and trees  begin turning immediately. The petals then turn a papery white and blow away leaving a skeleton of the original plant. I took this photograph at a park outside Anchorage overlooking a parking lot a few days after the plants had bloomed fully.

Fishing at Sunset 

14X11 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Photograph reference by John Frost

Fishing is not my idea of fun, but the many moods of water is. This water is so tranquil and the time of day so peaceful that putting it on canvas was fun.

Rick's Sailboat 

12X12  

Oil on Canvas  

Photograph reference by Beth Holtan

I asked my brother what he would like me to paint for him and without hesitation he pulled a framed photograph off his wall and handed it to me. The photograph was of his beloved sailboat, which he sold when there was no one at home to help him sail it. I liked the opportunity to paint this kind of water.

Laura's Peony

12X12 

Oil on Canvas  

Photograph reference by Michael Bogeanu 

My daughter asked me to paint her a peony and the first one I tried wound up far too large for her small house. Finally I found a ruffled peony that I could paint smaller. It took a while, but my goal was to put color into the painting, but not be so pink as the other peony I painted, and still have the light feminine qualities of a peony.

Nectarines and Cherries

12X9

Oil on Linen Panel 

Photograph reference by Daniel Edmondson

When I began painting last year I thought I would never like still life, but this small painting was a kick to do and I still like it. My husband says he never liked still life paintings until I started painting them. That's nice to hear too.

Annie

14X11

Oil on Linen Panel

Photograph reference by Daniel Edmondson

Bit by bit I'm learning to do figures, but they are not my favorite kind of painting. On this painting I learned more about how to paint gravel -- or small rocks.. I still have a lot to learn about both kinds of painting.

Riding in Southern Colorado

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

Photograph reference Mac Dixon

When my family first came west from Illinois in the early 1950s we lived at the bottom of this mountain on the far right. This was my first attempt to paint horses. 

Two Monarch Butterflies

Oil on Linen Canvas

8X6 and 6X8

Photograph references Mary Villain and Jan Hathaway

Not available

On these small paintings I learned that it's much easier to paint the whole butterfly black, let it dry and then put in the color than to try to paint the black between the color. 

Purple Tulips

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

Photo reference unknown

I've loved the image of tulips since the first time I saw it several years ago. I learned about the spark of color in this painting. I don't know that I've been so bold since then but I'm not quite so afraid of  putting in brighter colors.

Fruit Bowl

24X12

Oil on Canvas

Photograph reference by Daniel Edmondson

I love fruit in a bowl, but the one on my counter doesn't keep very long. Painting this one allowed me to make something bright for my kitchen and not worry about it spoiling before someone got around to eating it.

Pink Peony

24X18

Oil on Canvas

Photograph reference by CherryLynne Ferrari

Not Available

My daughter asked for a painting of a peony for her small home, but when I started to paint this flower I could not paint it small. I learned a lot painting it. For example, on a flower all brush strokes must follow the curve of the petal.

Tuolumne Meadows

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

Photograph reference by Lindsey Tallcott