November Beach Day II - 8x10

Another view of yesterday's beautiful beach spot. 

Oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches

Available in my shop 

November Beach Day - 8x10

Can't beat this view.  Love this empty beach almost as much as my toddler does. 

Oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches

Click here to view in shop 

Santa Barbara Courthouse - 18x24

Finally getting around to posting this piece, it's been a rough couple of weeks around here! Seriously, all I want for Christmas is for all of Lily's canine teeth to come in, 1 down 3 to go. 

Anyway, about the painting.  How could I not paint this? Bright whites? Purpley shadows? Gorgeous palms and red roofs? It's everything I love in one piece. 

Oil on canvas, 18x24 inches

Available in my shop

What I've been up to for the past year

Just in case anyone wanted to have a peek at what I've been working on, here it is! It took exactly one year (to the day!) but it's finished! A series of ten commissioned paintings for the Cadence development in Las Vegas. 

It was a challenge, and an incredible learning experience and I'm so thankful for it. It was the perfect project for this season in my life. 

It was like maybe God knew I was going to slack off and stop challenging myself in my painting (what with a newborn and all), so He dropped this in my lap.  

"No slacking, here's something scary that's going to help you grow!" 

and also help pay the bills! 

and also not be so scary after all...

Thanks Lord. 

Loon Beach Cliffs - 15x30

People asked me when I was pregnant if I thought the subject of my art would change after I had the baby.  I can confidently say that the things I'm drawn to paint are pretty much the same.  What has changed though is the size! If I'm going to sacrifice sleep to paint then I better paint something substantial! 

Oil on stretched canvas, 15x30 inches

View in shop 

Loon Beach in Clouds - 16x20

I can't believe I have lived here this long and never ventured to Loon Beach.  Not only was it a quiet spot, but a new location to paint! 

Sometimes I love painting fog at the beach, something about the deep blue of the clouds contrasted with the gold tones of the sand, just perfect. 

Oil on stretched canvas, 16x20 inches, sides painted

Click here to view in shop 

Jellybowl Children - 11x14

Completed commission for a dear collector. And the first painting where my family has made an appearance, that's my baby riding on her daddy's shoulders :) 

Oil on panel, 11x14

SOLD

Jellybowl Rock - 18x24

What a perfect perch to stop and watch the waves.  I was drawn to paint this piece because of the dark shadows in the rock, and the purply shadow it was casting on the ground.  Also the deep teal of the ocean waves were just crying to be painted! 

Oil on canvas - 18x24 inches

Available at En Plein Air Gallery, Carpinteria 

Bluffs in Gold - 9x12

Nap fights, tantrums, and FLEAS.  That is what my week has been filled with. Needless to say there's been very little time to paint.  The good news is we got a new vacuum to fight the fleas and I'm ridiculously in love with it. 

I painted this one a few weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to posting it.  I loved the gold tones of the field contrasted with the blueness of the sky.  It was fun to play with these bright colors. 

Oil on canvas panel

9x12 inches

View in shop 

Maui Sunset - 6x12

Little piece of the hawaii trip we took last year.  Walking around at sunset trying to get Lily to doze off in the ergo :) 

Oil on 1" cradled panel, 6x12 inches

Click to view auction 

Pears on White - 6x6

Making time to paint a quick one during the afternoon nap. 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

View in shop 

Leadbetter Beach - 16x20

The little one took amazing naps one day last week and allowed me to finish this piece.  This week we had no such luck, but I'm trying to look on the bright side. 

Oil on panel, 16x20 inches

Available at En Plein Air Gallery, Carpinteria 

Carpinteria Bluffs, Late Afternoon - 18x24

I had this piece all sketched out and ready to paint on a 5x7 panel....and then I looked at it and thought "I'm going to have to mix all those colors anyway, I might as well paint it large!".  And thus began my current project of big paintings.  It makes me feel like I've accomplished more when I use an entire naptime to start something big, rather than something so small.  

There was going to be more to this post, but I hear a chorus of "ball, ball, ball, ball" from the other room, which means the baby is up. 

Oil on canvas, 18x24 inches

View in shop

Santa Barbara Palm Trees - 5x7

The part that drew me to this scene was that intensely blue sky, how flat the sand looks, and how the palm trees were reaching up so gracefully... I kind of want to paint this on a very large scale sometime. 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

View in shop

Yellow Flowers on the Bluffs - 8x10

The part that drew me to this piece was the shrubbery on the path, I really liked how bright the flowers on top were, contrasted with the dark underside.  It also gave me a chance to paint those bluish purplish shadows that I love, and that little peek of the ocean on the left. 

Oil on stretched linen, 8x10 

View auction 

Butterfly Beach, Montecito California - 8x8

I love painting that orange glow on the mountains and cliffs. To me it's what makes sunsets so beautiful around here. 

Oil on cradled panel, 8x8 inches

SOLD

Sliced Open, Gold and Blue - 6x6

Another experiment with the open pear...

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Click to view in shop 

Just Half - 4x4

It occurred to me that for all the many pears I have painted over the years I had never painted one cut open. 

Oil on stretched canvas, 4x4 inches, 1 1/3" painted sides 

Click here to view in shop

Little Yellow House - 5x7

Sometimes if you could look into my head you might be surprised to find out why I've chosen to paint a particular piece.  Like this one for example, I did not look at this and think "what a cute yellow house I think I'll paint it". Not at all, it was that tiny purple-y shadow next to the small window, my thought was "I have to paint that shadow". The white trim and the lawn were a bonus. 

Oil on panel, 5x7 

Click here to view in shop

Burning Off - 5x7

Well June gloom has struck around here, good news is beach fog is pretty fun to paint.  All the different grays are good practice. 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

Click here to view in shop 

Cherry Tomatoes - 5x7

This is the first year that my tomato plants have been in the ground instead of a container, they are growing like crazy! 

Tomatoes are always fun to paint because of their color, what other time do you get to use so much red? They can be tricky though, especially where the light hits them. 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

View auction

ps. My book is now available on Amazon!

Summer Avocado - 8x8

My favorite part about painting avocados is that very middle section between the greenest part and the pit. I never get tired of laying down that stroke that blends the two parts together. 

Oil on panel, 8x8 inches

Click to view auction 

Ripe Avocado - 5x7

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

SOLD 

Summer Tomatoes - 6x6

Five tomato buddies, just hanging out. 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

View in shop

Three Apples - 6x6

Sometimes it's best to keep things simple, that's how I felt with this still life. 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

SOLD

Avocado Purple - 6x12

Really, who doesn't love a ripe avocado? 

Oil on panel, 6x12 inches

View in shop

Carpinteria Bluffs Cliff - 8x8

Another one painted for the studio tour, this one got snatched up pretty quick. 

Oil on cradled panel, 8x8 inches

SOLD

Apples on Blue - 6x6

The studio tour went very well! I had a lot more visitors than I anticipated.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by, it was so good to see some of you again! And thank you for all the encouragement, something this tired mom really needed.  

Here's a simple still life I painted for the tour: 

Oil on panel, 6x6 

View in shop 

White House and Palms - 9x12

 I stumbled upon this scene while wandering around Carp, waiting for the sleeping baby strapped to my chest to wake up.  Baby nap, exercise, and a painting find? Now that's my kind of multitasking.  I was probably getting a bit of a tan too.  Quadruple score! That's probably the max amount of productive I'll be this week.  

If you've been following this blog for any amount of time, then you know that I LOVE painting white buildings (they have the best shadows), and I love palm trees.  This painting let me do both. 

Oil on canvas panel, 9x12 inches

Available at En Plein Air Gallery, Carpinteria              

Carpinteria Lines - 5x7

I've finished a bunch of new paintings that will be available on a first come first serve basis during the upcoming studio tour. Things are really coming together around here! 

Also, the preview show at Gallery 855 (855 Linden Ave) has it's opening reception this Friday (May 2) from 5:00-7:00.  I'm looking forward to viewing some excellent work and enjoying this unbelievably beautiful weather! 

Oil on panel, 5x7 

Available at En Plein Air Gallery, Carpinteria

Carpinteria Studio Tour Announcement!

Good news everyone! 

The Carpinteria Valley Artists Studio Tour is coming up and I'm a part of it! As always the tour is Mother's Day weekend (May 10&11) and this new mom would be so excited if you stopped by for a peek in my studio.  

Let's see, there will be snacks, a free gift, a cute baby, and oh yeah paintings for sale at studio prices! I'll be participating both days from 10-5, hope to see you there! 

Here's a map with all the information and participating artists. 

"Grey Skies Over Carpinteria" 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

Available at En Plein Air Gallery, Carpinteria

Lemons on Teal - 5x7

Lemons are a favorite subject of mine.  I love how simple they are, I love yellow, and I love to use them afterwards...win win win. 

Oil on panel, 5x7 inches

SOLD

Beach Clouds, Carpinteria - 9x12

We've been having absolutely gorgeous clouds lately, I love it! 

My favorite part of this one is the light yellow/orange color shining through and against the clouds. 

Oil on canvas panel, 9x12 inches

View in shop 

When The Rains Came - 8x10

Hooray! It rained! I was ridiculously excited about this storm.  I knew I would get some fun cloudy beach shots, and my weather app kept teasing me with thunderstorm warnings.   

Oil on canvas panel, 8x10 inches

SOLD

Avocado Halves - 6x6

We planted avocado trees in our backyard (smart!)....but they have yet to produce an avocado that ripens instead of just shrivels and rots (sad).  So, this one's from the farmers market. 

Oil on panel, 6x6 

Click here to bid 

Pears in a Row - 6x6

More pears today! 

Oil on panel, 6x6 inches

View in shop

Tiny Pears - 4x4

There's been an abundance of pears at Trader Joe's every week....so I've been eating a lot of them, but managed to paint a couple before I devoured them. 

Oil on panel, 4x4 inches

sold

Arlington at Sunset - 12x12

I got all paint-angsty (that's totally a thing) last week, and so I painted this...as fast as I could (baby naps aren't too long).  I fully expected it to be a disaster, but I actually love it! 

Oil on panel, 12x12 inches

sold

Cabrillo Palms - 9x12

I've had this painting sitting around for at least 2 months now, forgotten on the drying shelf.  I wanted to paint something fun and bright and this fit the bill. 

Oil on canvas panel, 9x12 inches

sold

I've been getting the itch to paint recently, actually it's more of an ache.  I'll be out and see something that inspires me and my insides hurt because I can't paint it right that moment.  I've been working on a commission the last few months that will be taking all my creative/free time up until at least March.  So I'm painting, but it's a different kind of painting. 

And here's a little peek at where all my energy is going....

Lillian Marie, 6 months old

 How could I possibly complain about sacrificing my painting time for this little one :) She's totally worth it. And one day, she'll sleep through the night (it will happen), and while she is is sleeping, her momma will paint.