Rose in Blue Pot

"Rose in Blue Pot", 10 x 8 In, Oil on Museum Board
This is the last painting of 2010. Its not the last rose painting I will ever do, but I'm thinking about new challenges. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in 2010!

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Dried Rose

"Dried Rose", 12 x 10, Oil on Museum Board
The objects that I put in the still life are are usually not so important themselves as they are a means to an end--the representation of light, color, feeling, mood, etc. But in this case, the bottle has an interesting provenance--I got it from my Aunt's beach on a river inlet in North Carolina in 2001 after a big hurricane had unearthed a treasure trove of old glass bottles. So these are three disparate objects brought together with no particular purpose other than they contain specific memories for me: the glass bottle, the hand thrown pot from my art student days and the dried up rose from my garden that I found on the shelf stuck in another pot.

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Two Roses

"Two Roses", 10 x 8 In, Oil on Museum Board
Sometimes I get to the end of the day and I can't think of anything to say about my painting--my mind is just a big blank! So here goes--this painting was a fast one--big strokes put down and pretty much left alone, which is not always the case when I paint, as I'm a big believer in judicious scraping. Almost all the rose paintings have been done under my big white skylight with natural light, which I much prefer to light bulbs but limits the painting time to daylight hours--ending about 4 pm in the afternoon during these days.

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Yellow Mug with Apple

"Yellow Mug with Apple", 10 x 8 In., Oil on Museum Board
I'm trying to keep it simple during the holidays and interestingly, I find that simplicity of design is good for the practice of brush strokes and paint application. In many ways this is the therapeutic part of painting--just slapping around the paint like a kid.

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Wild Rose - Sold

"Wild Rose", 10 x 8 In, Oil on Museum Board
When I studied with Ovanes, I learned to put a lot of paint out on my palette, but for a long time that didn't necessarily translate into painting with a loaded brush. But more and more I am getting into it and sometimes, such as with this painting, I do it intentionally in order to make it more of a habit.

I've sold a second painting during this holiday week, and this time, my donation of $25 of the purchase price goes to the Orca Network in Puget Sound, as requested by the purchaser.  As with the last donation to Safeplace, I am thrilled to donate to this organization--on the link, take a look at the new baby orca, L115, born to the "L" pod, on December 6, presumably somewhere near San Juan Island.

Yellow Rose Glass Jar

"Yellow Rose Glass Jar", 10 x 8 In, Oil on Museum Board
It is the day after Christmas. The build up of tension and excitement is over, the relatives have started their journey home and everything is suddenly different. As I look out on the stormy water of the Cove, I know that even though it is the beginning of winter, the light is returning.

Purchase this unframed painting.
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Emilia - NFS

"Emilia", 12 x 10, Oil on Museum Board NFS
Emilia is the daughter of one of my painting friends. She modeled for us at our painting group holiday party. Emilia represents the spirit of the holiday season--the regeneration of life, the miracle of existence and the wonder of each new day.

Thank you to everyone who has followed my work this last year and to all the new friends I've made on this painting journey.

From a painting purchased yesterday, I will contribute to a non-profit charity $100. For any additional paintings sold through January 1, 2011, I will contribute $25 each to the non-profit charity of the purchaser's choice.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Rose - Sold

"Christmas Rose", 10 x 8 In, Oil on Museum Board
These are trying times for many in the world. For the first person who purchases any painting from the entire last year from my blog between now and January 1, 2011, I will donate $100 to a non-profit charity of your choice, in your name if possible. Let us count our many blessings.

The purchase has been made! The purchaser has chosen to donate to Safeplace, the only advocacy agency and confidential shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Thurston County, WA. I am very happy with the choice of this organization. For any additional purchases until January 1, 2011, I will donate $25 of the purchase price to a non-profit charity of your choice!