Lindisfarne Castle - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x6

The Lindisfarne Castle was built in the 1550's, around the same time that the Priory from yesterday's painting went out of use. They actually used stones from the Priory to build the castle. The castle itself is pretty small, but it sits on the highest part of the island, on a volcanic mound known as Beblowe Craig.

Oil on gessoed panel, 6x6 inches

$46

To purchase this painting visit my shop

Excited and Scared

We recently found out that my husband is being transferred back to California, which should make me unbelievably happy, since that's where all my family is and where most of my friends live. I should be even more thrilled because Zach's being transferred to Carpinteria (the cutest little beach town you'll ever see, right by Santa Barbara) and not to Bakersfield. But apparently Denver really grew on me in the two years I've been here. I'm still excited about living in Carp again, but there are some things that I'm really going to miss about Colorado.

Things I will miss:

• Summer thunderstorms - there seems to be one almost every day, amazing.
• Tornado warnings and funnel clouds
• Baby geese
• Snow (that I don't have to drive in)
• Living in a house/not sharing walls/having a backyard
• Being able to walk to the library, Michaels, and the market
• Skiing
• Our first grade Sunday school class
• The Denver performing arts center (I'm missing In the Heights! I had tickets already!)
• The Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, and the Rockies
• The actual Rockies
• Seasons - Spring seems impossible, but somehow it happens
• Altitude

Things I will definitely not miss:

• Traffic on I25
• Everyone wearing the same Northface jacket
• Driving in 8" of snow, shoveling my car out of the driveway

And finally, to end on a happy note,
Things I am so looking forward to:

• The beach!
• Family and friends
• TRADER JOES!!
• Swing dancing
• Painting full time
• Being able to wear contacts again - dry climate is not my friend
• Beach hair
• Blenders
• In-N-Out
• State Street Parades

We leave next week, we've had just over 2 weeks to get prepared, crazy! And we'll be living out of suitcases in temp housing until we find our own apartment or condo. I'll also be setting up a temporary studio so I can keep up my daily paintings through all this craziness. And if anyone has tips for traveling with a cat in the car please let me know! Because this guy is not going to be to happy about that part.

Lindisfarne Priory - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x6

I really like how this painting turned out. As you've probably figured out from the title it's the Lindisfarne Priory. This English Priory has a rich and exciting history, complete with raids from Vikings. Apparently the position of the island were the monastery was founded in 685 AD made it easy prey for Viking raiders. The ruins portrayed here are the remains of the church built in 1150. Parts of the ruins look so frail that it's amazing that it has stood for so long, especially being near the coast. You can read more about the Lindisfarne Priory here

Oil on Ampersand Gessobord, 6x6 inches

Ruins at Lindisfarne - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x6

There will be a series of paintings of Lindisfarne this week (a tidal island off of the North East coast of England). I found these old photos and remembered how beautiful it was that day that we visited.

The "Holy Island" has an interesting history, if you want you can read more about it here

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Green and Blue- Pear still life oil painting - 5x5

This weekend my sweetheart of a husband planned an overnight trip for us to go skiing at Beaver Creek. What a nice weekend of rest before we had to come back to repairs and packing....well it would have been if I hadn't taken a nasty fall the first day, my head still hurts, my neck hurts even more. I do not like lots powder and heavy falling snow... not a good combination. At least it was at the end of the season and not the beginning, and it meant Zach got to go ski the blacks for a change :)

Oil on gessobord panel, 5x5 inches

SOLD

Santa Barbara Palm Trees - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x6

I guess I better get used to painting scenes like this if I'm moving back to Santa Barbara :) I think I'm alright with that.

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Avocado Summer - Still life oil painting - 6x6

I am pleased to announce that in about two weeks we will be moving to beautiful Carpinteria, California (right next to Santa Barbara). If my postings are a little sporadic for the next month or so it is because we just found out and therefore have only 2 weeks to pack everything, find a new place to live, and sell our house :( But it will be so worth it!

Oil on canvas panel, 6x6 inches - SOLD

Lemon Lime - Still life oil painting - 6x6

Another bright still life for today, my husband wanted to call it "Sprite" ...but it lacks the carbonation, he also felt really sad for the lime because it doesn't get to hang out in the bowl.

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches - SOLD

Orange and Blue - Still life oil painting - 6x6

This last week has been anything but normal, and I don't think this week will be any better, more details later....


In other news, clementines make me happy, so here's a whole bowl of them :)

Oil on Ampersand gessobord, 6x6 inches - SOLD

Winter Night II - Colorado Landscape Painting - 6x6

This is what I have learned to love about Denver, yesterday I wore short sleeves and sandals, even got a little sunburned at lunch time, and today I'm all bundled in my pea coat because it's 30 degrees with heavy blowing snow.

Because Colorado doesn't like to commit to seasons, it's fickle that way.

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches

East Beach - Santa Barbara Landscape - 6x6

A view of East Beach in Santa Barbara, CA. Summer is coming and I couldn't be happier about it :)

Oil on hardboard panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Colorado School of Mines - Daily painting - 6x6

My husband went to CSM, I forget what building this is, so bonus points if you know :)

Oil on board, 6x6 inches

To purchase this painting click here

Praha II - Cityscape painting - 6x6

I'm back from what seemed like the longest painting break ever. Unfortunately there are some plans in the works that would mean an even longer break... they would also mean that I would get to paint full time... we'll see what happens. For today, another little painting of Prague at dusk.

Oil on hardboard panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

The Narcoleptic Pear - Still Life Oil Painting - 6x6

Another little pear oil painting for today :) Poor little pear.

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches - SOLD

I Never Had Dared - Landscape Oil Painting - 6x6

I wasn't too thrilled with this one after I finished it Sunday night (I'm usually a few days ahead of myself on these daily paintings) but it's kind of grown on me since then. Maybe it's because I got horrible news right as I started working on it, either way I like it now.

oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Sunday on Cabrillo Blvd - Santa Barbara landscape - 6x6

I used to live in Santa Barbara, it was beautiful, and I never had to drive in snow. It was also cloudy a lot, hence the terms "May gray" and "June gloom", this is a painting of one of those days.

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches - SOLD

Bowl of Pears - Daily Oil Painting - 6x6

A pair of pears for today, I really like the colors in this one :)

Oil on deep stretched canvas, 6x6 inches - SOLD

Kawaii Makes Me Smile - Daily Oil Painting - 5x5

I was looking through my photos of our last trip to Hawaii and the trees in this one caught my eye, something about their silhouette against the overcast sky, I just had to try to paint it.

Oil on gessobord panel, 5x5 inches - SOLD

Carpinteria Salt Marsh - Daily painting by Sharon Schock

I was trying something a little different for today, I felt like maybe some of my paintings were too bright and I wanted to see what it was like to tone it down a bit. I'm trying to be more open to experimentation, because I know that's a great way to learn.....it's frustrating though.

6x6 inches, oil on gessobord panel - SOLD

To view this item in my shop click here

Santa Barbara Courthouse - Daily painting by Sharon Schock

I really like how this painting turned out so I think it will be number 2 in the series for that upcoming show. It is also my favorite Santa Barbara courthouse painting that I've done :)

Oil on gessobord panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Praha - Original cityscape oil painting - 5x5

Today's painting is from another photo that I took while I was in Prague. If I remember right our hotel is in the bottom right corner, and that was the best hotel ever :)

5x5 inches, oil on Ampersand Gessobord - SOLD

Last day to enter my giveaway!

Click here to enter to win a set of 4 ACEO watercolors

Thanks to Kate and Oli for hosting this giveaway, read my full interview here.

I'm also featured on Sarah Marie Dee's blog today (doesn't her name make you want to sing?) check it out here: http://sarahmariedee.wordpress.com/

Night Lights in Prague - Original oil painting

I'm working on some pieces that I'd like to put in a show that's coming up here in Denver. I'm preparing early so hopefully I won't chicken out. This is tentatively number one in the series, from a photo I took while I was in Prague a few years ago.

6x6 inches, oil on gessobord panel

not for sale