Lady With A Bird

This was a commission; I received a photo in the mail from a friend;the background had a lot going on and just didn't work-so I painted it over and over trying different solutions.I am satisfied with the background-not a good reproduction, but I wanted to share it-subject is interesting.

Blood Sky

 Friends in Sedona sent a very unusual photo taken from their deck-I did this painting from the photo;I also ask around what created this unusual sky-I got a variety of opinions until the answer came from a friend in a workshop at the Scottsdale Artists School. He said it was a Linticqlar and if he flew his plane into it, there were be a disaster. It could tear a plane apart. And yes,

the red was really that intense

Twilight in Arizona

Here is a new painting of the sunsets in Arizona. A friend in Prescott sent me this photo she took off her deck. I did an 8x10"small panel to work out the composition and color. Now I am asking friends if they any shots of the sky in Arizona.Of course the sunsets just last for seconds so I need to work from the photos.

Moving to Arizona created a new vision for my painting. Gone were the city scenes that I loved to paint. But as I see it, nothing ever stays the same. It is taken awhile to find my voice, but I am struck by the color in the Southwest, especially the sunsets. My new painting is all about the sunset. This painting is a combination of photographs. A friend  showed me a great photo of a sunset he took where we live. We can see Camelback mountain from our balcony, so I combined that with his photo. I could see the lights on the mountain after dark(there are homes there). I will paint more sunsets so I can capture the color of our new home.

Nutterville

I am posting the 5th painting of Nutterville. This is a painting of the business office of the iconic neighborhood. I am through with this project for now.

Nutterville

I am pulled back to Kansas City and cityscapes as I have a special relationship to the history of the region and mid-century structures. One of my favorite areas is Nutterville, a neighborhood in Westport in the heart of Kansas City. James Nutter developed the area, using thirties style bungalows to lease and sell to small businesses.He turned the area into "painted ladies", a style in which traditional architectural dwellings are painted multiple colors. He completed the neighborhood with plush landscaping which creates a setting for the beautiful structures. The plantings are seasonal and creates  a showplace of color.When I lived in the area I always drove visitors through the area and many were stunned when I turned

 the corner to Nuterville.
I spent the summer painting the painted ladies. Not easy and I really respect the painter who spent much time creating these wonderful works of art. I am working on a fifth one and will post that-but for now this is my attempt  capturing the spirit of Nutterville

Workshop

Do I ever learn enough? The Answer is no and that is why you could find me at the Scottsdale Artists School this week. Matt Smith gave a three day workshop on landscapes. We did not do Plein air, but worked from photos that we brought. I learned a lot and now the trick is to absorb what I learned.
This is a painting from a photo I took last year at the Salt River. I had painted there in a class taught by Curt Walters years ago and was surprised at the change of the area. I was hard put to find a spot to take a photo and did this shot at the last as I didn't want to come home with nothing. Over time I found I was drawn to this image and wanted to paint it-perfect for the class. Matt gave me a lot of advice after I has about done- he made corrections on the piece and I think it really came together. I would never sign this as my work,but plan to do a larger one. I am so grateful to the training I have received from the school and hopefully will take another class this fall. Painting is a solitary business and I really enjoy the camaraderie.

Sedona

More of the Southwest. This painting is from a photo taken during the Christmas vacation- We drove to Sedona. I had been working to brighten my paintings and this was the result.Hopefully it gives the flavor of the rocks.

Molly

This is a painting I have just finished and sent to our nephew's family in Lawrence, Kansas. I have never painted a horse before and you ask why now? This is painted from a photograph taken of Molly by her brother three months before her stroke. At 17, there was no way to tell what lay before her.
We can never know the future, but when I saw this image the first time I was moved by her determination to confront life. She has a beautiful spirit, and she improves daily. We love Molly and what she teaches us, to embrace life.

Sad Story

I am painting more animals, mainly dogs. My friend in Kansas City is interested in a painting of Teddy and her at You Say Tomatoes Deli in Kansas City. I shot this picture through the window and have always like the feeling between human and animal. As I have finished the work, I am told Teddy is blind and deaf. They used to walk the few blocks to the Deli and now he is not able to do that. Teddy is 15 years old, and sure that his time is limited. The painting will be a sweet remembrance of times past.

Sunny Arizona

Holiday Greetings to all of my friends.  As I do water aerobics every morning with friends, we gaze up and see the beautiful blue sky with the palm trees swaying in the breeze. I was struck by the height  and wanted to see if I could paint palm trees-never have, but I made an attempt-what do you think?

Precious

My new painting
I have a new painting and it is Precious,my friend's dog. I have never painted a dog before,but just interesting to paint a different subject. My friend saw the finished painting, and of course suggested certain changes-she really knows her dog.

More of Kansas City

My new painting is from a photograph I took two years ago at the Memorial day concert in Kansas City. It went together fast and will send it Monday to Tom at the Late Show for the September showing. I am really having trouble scanning my work since I left K.C. This image is from a camera I took myself-the color is off. I loved Image Quest as they would make corrections and make it accurate. The piece went together fast, as opposed to a piece I am currently finishing-don't even know if I will send the second piece-that is why I love to paint. It is definitely risk taking. Anyway, I have nine, or ten new pieces. Not bad after the move.

Our New Home

As many of you know, we have relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona in May; I am still painting cityscapes of Kansas City, and will have new paintings in a show at the Late Show,1600 Cherry, Kansas City, Missouri in September.  I paint from photographs I have taken over the years in Kansas City, and will continue to do as I have thousands of photographs. I also did a lot of work from my windows at Crown Center, and sadly that is is the past. The Condo is on the market with panaroma views and I will treasure the view with my paintings. Will I do paintings of the Southwest? Probably but will always love the vibracy of  Kansas City.

A Remembered Wedding

Fortunate to be invited to my former student's wedding in New York, of course I took my camera. SoHo New York is a painting I did from a photograph I took on top of the Les Thompson Hotel in SoHo. Early evening gave a feeling of the excitement to the festivities with the lights of the city and of course the taxicabs. An evening remembered, with a thank you to Ravi and Kristi for the invitation.