Illustration

I'm  had fun painting this illustration for my portfolio because I am experimenting with using more than one medium to achieve my desired result.  I used watercolor, acrylic and illustration pens for this one.

Beautiful Motherhood

Commission - easy to paint such a sweet subject...

Illustration for a portfolio I'm working on for children's publications.

My summer has been kind of like these waves - going fast and in every direction!  hoping to get back to doing what I love - painting!

Oracle House, Portsmouth, NH

The Oracle House is a Portsmouth landmark - built in 1702 for a sea captain.  I love the way this house looks from the road when you stand directly in front of it.  The symmetry of the house and fence, along with the brick wall, and the bright morning sunlight, make this scene beautiful.  (12x12 acrylic)  This one was also picked up by Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth.

Market Square, Portsmouth, NH

I had so much fun painting this scene. The loved how the bright sun brought out the reds in the architecture, illuminated the spring leaves and the little girl's dress and cast strong shadows everywhere. (12x16 acrylic)

Some of my work will be on disply at the "By the Sea" art show, happening this Saturday, June 2nd.  The art exhibit is part of the opening gala events located in the new bulidings at Hampton beach, NH.

From the Stairs, Portsmouth, NH

I enjoyed painting this interesting view of Portsmouth through a set of spiral stairs attached to one of the bulidings along the harbor. (8x10 acrylic)



"Crash" 11x14 acrylic

I love the way waves look when they roll in - they have such wonderful colors and shadows.  When they crest and then crash, the sound and the power never ceases to intrigue me.

"Down to the Wharf" Camden, ME

20x20 acrylic

Camden, ME is a really beautiful town - quaint little shops and chowder houses, a glimpse of the harbor from just about anywhere in town, and winding little streets that lead right down to the huge wharf where all the activity seems to be.

It was a foggy day when I took the photo that I used for this painting, but I guess that's the usual since the Maine coast is known for its fog.  I think this painting has a calm, peaceful feel to it - kind of like early hours of the morning before the harbor gets busy.

"Camden Catnap"

This is one of my larger paintings, destined for The Small Wonder gallery in Camden, Maine this summer.  When I took the photo for this painting a couple summers ago, I didn't realize that there was a hammock and a man sleeping in it, until I got home and looked a little closer.  -I think a foggy afternoon, the sounds of the harbor, and a comfortable hammock make an ideal place for a catnap!

my "Studio"

Thought I would post this for fun... my "studio" is in the center of the kitchen - perfect for the kids because I am right there in the middle of things, able to answer questions, be involved in conversations, and generally mantain my position as the hub of the wheel in the family.  It took some getting used to, years ago, when I realized that this was the only way I would be able to paint and, at the same time, raise a family.  Works for me - someday I might have a specific space all my own, but I know if I had that space right now, I wouldn't use it.

Commission - "Frankie"

"Frankie", the kitty cat, was such a cute subject to paint.  I have always loved calico cats and this one was beautiful.  I ended up painting it on a 6x6 in canvas and set it up on a little easel that complimented it nicely.

commission

This is a pic I took of a commissioned painting just before I finished it.  I ended up making a few minor changes, and the camera didn't quite capture the colors correctly, so it came out a bit different then what is seen here.  The owner takes great care and pleasure in his landscaping and it shows!  It must be my day for technical problems because I also just tried to import the last painting I did of a cute little cat named Frankie, and it wouldn't cooperate!  Well, mabey sometime soon I will figure it out and be able to post it.

Lemons on a Blue Plate

8x10 acrylic

I love the way lemons remind me of summer days.  Just painting them in the middle of winter gives me back those warm summer memories of making fresh lemonade with my kids. Every time I bring lemons home, I put them in a bowl on the counter to admire for a few days before the kids help me juice them.  I also love the way the glass pitcher of lemonade looks, with plenty of  lemon slices and ice - mabey I'll have to paint that sometime...

 



Calligraphy

I've been very busy for the last few days, working on seven 16x20 calligraphy pieces for my church.

It was a lot of fun - I was trying to make each one different, so they would be eye-catching.

Summer Camp, Maine Coast

I found this rustic little summer camp when traveling up the coast of Maine one summer.

I loved the red door, with its chipping paint, and the bouys set up against the house.

Those adirondack chairs on the end of the dock looked like the perfect place to sit and

watch the lobster boats go by!  Scenes like this along the coast of Maine are common,

and I hope it will continue to be so for a long, long time.

  work in progress....

 - the beautuiful coast of Maine never ceases to inspire me... 

I am having a lot of fun painting this seaside cottage

Geraniums I

Geraniums I

8x10 acrylic

Back on a beautiful summer day, my daughter took pictures of the lovely blooms on our geraniums.  I looked through her photos and decided it would be fun to paint such a subject on a cold winter day.

Water Lilies

Water Lilies
11x14 acrylic

One summer day, my mother and I took a drive up along the coast of Maine in order to find inpsiration for some more of my nautical paintings.   While we were still inland, we started to drive by a farm when I asked her to stop the car.  It wasn't the farmhouse that caught my eye, although it was a large white house, situated prettily on top of a large hill.  It was when I looked down at the bottom of the hill, where I saw a beautiful pond, reminiscent of Monet's "Water Lilies" that I found my inspiration.  I remember wondering to myself, as I stood there enjoying the view, whether the occupant of the farm was an art appreciater, and whether he built this little bridge himself to accomodate such a lovely pond.

Welcome!

Hi there!  This is my first post to let you know that I will soon be posting new paintings.  I am just getting started, so it might take a few days!