Bridge in Amsterdam - 12x24

I tried something pretty different with this piece.  I usually don't do much of an underpainting, because I don't like to wait for things to dry, so for this one I tried an acrylic underpainting.  I guess it was a mix between an underpainting and an outlining...I meant to take photos along the way and of course forgot all about it :) After the underpainting dried I continued with my normal oil painting on top, but made sure to let some of the underpainting show through.  I wanted to see if it would help unify the piece. I'm happy with the final product, but it reminded me how much I hate using acrylic paint :) 

Oil on stretched canvas, 12x24 inches

Sides painted

Click here to view in shop 

Sandpipers - 6x12

I liked the silhouette these little sandpipers were making with the sun and water so bright behind them.

In other news, it's been SO windy here! This tree that I painted a while ago is no longer standing :(

Oil on cradled panel, 6x12 inches

SOLD

Sunset Beach - 6x6 inches

Back in California! Just in time for the rains to start again apparently :) 

I've been drawn to these types of scenes lately, a little dramatic and lit from behind. 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Presents!

Lots of family and friends requested paintings as gifts this year.   I guess that saves me money, but it's hard to know what to paint for them.  Hopefully I did an ok job :)  And now that Christmas is over I can post them here! 

Oil on panel, 8x10 inches 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Oil on canvas, 6x6 inches 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

Oil on canvas, 6x6 inches 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches 

 I'm glad this one went to who it did, it's been one of my favorites for a while. 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches 

Santa Barbara Harbor X - 6x6

Still raining here!  So this might be my last post till after Christmas.  Merry Christmas everyone! 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Click here to view in my shop 

SOLD

Bluff Tree at Sunrise - 6x6

It's been raining here since Friday, pretty much nonstop, our back patio is a kind of a pond now.  I love the rain, but now it's getting in the way, I have several new paintings that I need to photograph, definitely can't do that when it's pouring! 

I love this little painting though, did it back when the sun existed :) I'll be working on a larger version of it today.  

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Tomato Love - Still life oil painting - 5x5

This is a painting that sold at the craft fair I did a few weeks ago, I forgot that I never even posted it here.  I don't really consider it "serious" art,  I liked the colors together, and it's just fun....and that's ok. 

Oil on panel, 5x5 inches 

SOLD 

Carpinteria Avenue Trees - 8x8

There's something so wonderful about these trees, this is my second try at capturing them in paint.  I'm much happier with this attempt.  I approached it differently than I normally do, I started with what I can only call a "fuzzy" underpainting.  Sometimes I don't work with an underpainting at all, and other times it's completely necessary, and I can't really explain why...this is why I'm not a teacher :) 

Oil on canvas panel, 8x8 inches

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SOLD

Farmhouse in Shadows - Landscape oil painting - 5x7

Something about this old barn/house always catches my eye.  Probably it's white weathered look, and the bright green grass around it.  I would love to paint it when the sun is on it, but it always seems to be in shadow.  

Oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

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Our Town - Carpinteria Oil Painting - 11x14

I love how this one turned out.  When I started it I expected it to be painful and challenging to complete, but it turned out to be one of those rare wonderful happenings where the painting you want just flows right into existence.  

I'm excited about today, I have lots of time to paint this afternoon and I'm going to try out a few new techniques.  Maybe something good will happen :) 

 Oil on cradled panel, 11x14 inches

Click here to view in my shop

Changes - Carpinteria Oil Painting - 5x7

Seems like every month there are old stores closing and new ones opening here.  Luckily the best one's have stayed....like the candy store :) 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in my shop

SOLD

Santa Barbara Harbor Series IX - 9x12

I guess I lied when I said I was done with this series.  Here's a larger version of one of the Santa Barbara Harbor paintings I did.  

Oil on cradled panel, 9x12 inches

SOLD

South Dakota Farmhouse - 6x12

I had fun with this one!  I purchased a few of these long deep sided canvases, I thought they would be fun to play around with, and might make excellent gifts, since they don't need a frame.  

Oil on deep stretched canvas

SOLD

State Street - Santa Barbara Oil Painting - 5x7

I'm always drawn to theatre marquees, there's just something about them.  

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in my shop
SOLD

Peach Beach - California Landscape - 5x7 & Gift Cards now available!

The color of these condos are so weird :) I've painted them before, but not from this angle. 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

SOLD

Also! Gift cards are now available in my shop!

click image to view in shop

At Sunset - Carpinteria Oil Painting - 6x6

I've painted these trees by our  house before, but never at this time of day.  I love their shape and the colors in the background.  I really like how there was still a hint of blue in the sky, while the rest of the sunset was so orange and bright.  

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches 

SOLD

La Arcada - Santa Barbara Oil Painting - 5x7

I had fun painting this one, I always like when I get to use red :) 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in my shop 

SOLD

Santa Barbara Courthouse, Afternoon - 6x6

I had a fantastic day at the craft fair here in Carpinteria yesterday :) I kind of wish I could have hired someone to sit at my table for me,  I just always feel a little awkward selling my paintings....maybe because it's something so personal (at least to me).  Or because I don't want people to feel like they have to say something nice just because I'm sitting there.  But all in all a great day :) 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Click here to view in my shop 

SOLD

Apple Duo - Still life oil painting - 6x6

Busy busy busy with Christmas commissions.....

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches 

SOLD 

Flat - Landscape oil painting - 6x6

Sometimes I like to play with paint...this is one of those times.  I wanted to see what would happen if I painted this landscape as flat as possible.  I really loved how the flat color turned out in the umbrella of this piece, so I decided to paint this little scene keeping the umbrella in mind. 

Oil on canvas panel - 6x6 inches

SOLD

Also! if you're a Santa Barbara/ Carpinteria local, don't miss the Carpinteria Women's Club Holiday Boutique this weekend!

It's on Sunday (Dec. 5) from 1:00-4:00 

1059 Vallecito Rd, Carpinteria Ca. 93013

Buddies - Holiday Special! - Avocado Still Life - 6x6

For a limited time this piece will be listed in the $25 and under section in my shop :) 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Click here to view in my shop 

SOLD

Apparently the first week in December is Christmas extravaganza week, I think almost every Christmas thing I'm going to is happening this week.  

From the Rooftops - Santa Barbara Landscape - 5x7

I started painting this scene as an experiment, I wasn't sure it would turn into anything worth posting.  I don't usually paint scenes that are lit from behind, but there was something about the silhouette of these palms trees that was intriguing to me.  I'm glad I went for it, I really like how it turned out. 

Oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in my shop
SOLD

La Jolla Beach - California Landscape - 6x12

We visited La Jolla beach for our anniversary this year. There were so many seals (or sea lions? the zoo tried to teach me the difference, but it still won't stick in my head) on these rocks, they just sat there barking, and competing for the best spot to sit.  So funny to watch :) 

Oil on panel, 6x12 inches

Click here to view in my shop
SOLD

Ps! My Cyber Monday coupon expires tonight, so if you wanted to take advantage of it do it before the end of today :) I love that Etsy lets us have coupon codes now!

Cyber Monday Sale & Via Real - Carpinteria oil painting - 5x5

Don't miss my Cyber Monday Sale! I'm having fun adding little free gifts to all my orders this week.  Because everyone knows that packages are more fun when there are extras inside :) 

Oil on panel, 5x5 inches

SOLD

Avocado Doom - Still life oil painting - 5x5

The house is all decorated for Christmas now :) And according to Charlie the cat,  me wrapping the garland around the stair rail is the best new game in the whole world...I think  he plans on eating most of it before Christmas is over. 

Oil on panel, 5x5 inches

SOLD

Rainy Morning - Carpinteria Landscape - 5x5

I'm so excited to put up my Christmas decorations today! :) 

Oil on panel, 5x5 inches

To view in my shop click here
SOLD

La Jolla, California - Landscape Oil Painting - 5x7

So excited for Thanksgiving! Off to bake a pie! 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in my shop
SOLD

Linden Avenue Morning - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x6

This is what November looks like here.... 

It did get a little chilly the past few days, and somehow it's colder in the house than it is outside? We don't have a heater, but lots of blankets will be just fine :) 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

To view this painting in my shop click here
SOLD

Carpinteria Avenue - 9x12

I ride past this field on my bike sometimes, I always love how the light shines through the trees at certain times of the day. 

Oil on cradled panel, 9x12 inches

SOLD

Lemon Blue V - Still life oil painting - 5x7

I'm so excited this morning, you can now make coupon codes for your etsy shop, yeah!! 

Oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

SOLD

Lemon Blue IV - Still life oil painting - 5x7

This is my second to last one, just in case you're tired of looking at them :) It's pretty gloomy here today so bright yellow isn't the worst thing.  

Oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

SOLD

I don't want to be spammy, but if you feel like it you can vote for my painting in this online competition.  All you need to do is enter my number (23) and an email address :) 

Lemons in a bowl - Still life oil painting - 5x7

A little break from blue today.  I just love that blue and yellow together, but lemons in a white bowl is okay too :) 

Oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

SOLD

Lemon Blue III - Still life oil painting - 5x7

I ran out of my favorite panels...I didn't even realize it, I thought for sure I had at least 4 more.  So until my order comes in I will be making use of these 5x7" canvas panels.  They're actually not that bad, I usually hate canvas texture but these are pretty smooth.  Much better than the Winsor & Newton canvases I had been using before. 

Oil on canvas panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in my shop
SOLD

Out of the Storm - Landscape Oil Painting - 18x24

I recently sold out of these storm paintings in my shop, so I figured I should do another... they're so much fun anyway :) 

Oil on canvas, 18x24 inches

3/4" painted sides

SOLD

Lemon Blue II - Still life oil painting - 6x6

More lemons for today :) I had the perfect "girly" day yesterday, got my haircut, spend forever walking around Michaels, went to Target, then crafted the night away while watching Desperate Housewives (my guilty pleasure:) 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Lemon Blue I - Still life oil painting - 6x6

I'm painting a lot of lemons this week, I guess I'm in a bright color mood :) I'm also getting excited for holiday craft fairs...brainstorming ideas to make my table cute, any suggestions? 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Click here to view in my shop
SOLD

Santa Claus Lane - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x12

I painted the umbrella first in this picture, it was the part that I was most excited about, and I loved it even when nothing else was painted in.  It made me wish I could always paint things that way.

Oil on panel, 6x12 inches

Click here to view in my shop 

SOLD