Market Day

Oil/canvas • 24" x 36"• SOLD

This painting was inspired from a photo of a woman selling her produce. I only used her as a starting point and invented all the baskets, produce and background. Painting fruit and vegetables is always irresistible because of the wonderful color contrasts they offer.

Montecito Church

22" x 28" • oil/canvas • SOLD

This church is located in Montecito, California which is part of Santa Barbara. I was drawn to the architecture and added all the landscaping.

Church in the West

16" x 20" • oil/canvas • SOLD

This painting was based on a photo in the Southern California Auto Club Magazine. The church and building is about the only part that was in the photo and I added the landscaping and flowers in the foreground. I sorta "rebuilt" the building the way I wanted it to look.

Lotsa Peppas

11" x 14" • oil/wrapped canvas • $200

Just can't resist the pepper thing. I think I'm happy with this but I still may tweek it some more.

Look But Don't Touch!

6" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

This was one of those paintings that started out simple enough, but noooooo, I didn't like how the color of the flowers looked. So I painted them yellow instead. Still not happy so I went back to the orange again re-doing the shape of the flowers. Much better. Another lesson learned--- know what you're going to paint before you paint! One of my worst habits I confess.

White Cactus Flower

6" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

I had some beautiful cacti in front of my house when I lived in the desert. They only bloom at night so it was very cool to see them when coming home in the evening .

Peach Callas

16" x 20" • oil/wrapped canvas • $400

Another one of my favorite subjects! The hardest part for me is getting the leaves right, or at least close to it! It also took me awhile to get the composition right on the canvas. I often like to let the image go off the sides of the canvas to sort of anchor it to the painting and prevent it from looking like it's just floating.

Grandma's Bisbee House

14" x 18" • oil/canvas/staples on sides • $400

This is a little house I photographed in Bisbee, AZ and I sorta changed things around a lot. My main interest was the charming architectural trim. Okay, okay, you probably won't find any citrus trees at 5800 ft. altitude but I needed some color. Also, there was a really rickety wire fence in front of the house and I replaced it with a rickety picket fence and added the cat in the window. And one other thing... it's not really my grandma's house but when my sister in law saw it she said it reminded her of her grandma's house.

Mr. Zebra

16" x 20" • oil/staples on side • $300

When I was sketching this out, I thought, hmmmm, zebras don't live among palm trees do they? And then I remembered artist license. Who cares! I happen to like painting tropically oriented subject matter whether it's real or not.

I'm Ready for My Close-up Mr. DeMille...

5" x 7" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

The colors on these little fish are really something! They make great subject matter and I've enjoyed painting them! I later painted this same fish on a tile

Check Mate!

16" x 20" • oil/wrapped canvas • $300

This is a snow leopard and I was struck by his beautiful coloring. And yes, I did paint every little hair! (00 and 000 brushes) Too bad they didn't all photograph as I would have liked. Anyhow, what a gorgeous creature!

Flaming Bird of Paradise

6" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • SOLD

Another one of those flowers that artists love to photograph and paint. Guilty! I thought this portrayal might be too "graphic-ish", but I've been experimenting by mixing photorealism with graphic elements.

"Uh-oh, I think I'm getting sea sick.."

9" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

Another colorful little fishie with a big problem. I 'm really amazed at natures' palette in creating such wonderful little swimmers.

"Um, do I look fat in these stripes?"

9" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

This is another in a series of aquarium fish that I'm painting. They are so mind boggling to me... can't imagine how they would have any hope of hiding with colors like these!

Pucker Up!

9" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

Frankly the thought of kissing a fish does nothing for me, but maybe another fish would enjoy it. These aquarium fish are so colorful and fun to paint.

Sword Plant

5" x 7" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

These plants have always intrigued me. I have used them often in paintings when I needed "vertical" objects in the composition to make it balance and feel right.

View From Sunset Cliffs

10" x 8" • oil/wrapped canvas • $100

It was a beautiful day and I was driving around taking pictures. This time of year all the wild flowers come up and I found this vista near my house and thought what a nice painting it would make!

Ocean Beach House #4

9" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $100

Another cozy little house in this Ocean Beach House series

"I swear I ever saw her before!"

10" x 10" • oil/wrapped canvas • $120

I wonder what our little bad boy bird (at least I think it's a boy) has been up to? This is the first painting I've done in this 10" x 10" size and I really like it. The colors of these gorgeous birds made me want to paint them!

Ocean Beach House #2

9" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $100

I like the architecture of this style of home. It's a few blocks from where I stayed in Ocean Beach, California and it would be nice to live here instead!

Ocean Beach House #1

6" x 6" • oil/wrapped canvas • $75

While spending some time in San Diego, I was looking for new things to start painting again. This area is full of cute little beach houses and lots of old craftsman, california/spanish style homes which are some of my favorite subjects..

Myrtle Beach

10" x 8" • oil/wrapped canvas • $125

A few years ago I took a photo while visiting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was a chilly blustery day and I was taken by the eerie feel of the place.... probably because my then husband wanted me to see the "Grey Man Ghost" that is said to walk the beach.