Harvey- Sold

An email friend from England sent us a picture of her bulldog and I asked permission to paint him. He has attitude and I couldn't resist. I did a close up, which, I think, captures Harvey's personality. Right now he's hanging at the Mission Viejo Library, along with nine of my pastels. They'll be up until the beginning of January.

Last week I decided to paint on my patio - it was a beautiful day, but couldn't get out to a park. I went through my photos and found three of Casper Park in San Juan Capistrano. There was something wrong with all three photos, from a composition viewpoint, so I joined all three and came up with this! So, don't go looking for it at Casper. It's my dream view!

Hudson Sentinel

United Society of Pastel Artists are exhibiting our pastels at The Cottage Gallery in Laguna Beach from Nov 4-Dec. 13. During artwalk last week, I did a demonstration at the gallery. I'd never done that before and it was fun and interesting to hear people's take on pastel painting. "Chalk" is mentioned over and over again. I worked from a photo I took in North Creek, New York during September. Had to finish it at home since it's 16x20 on a black board and I did way too much talking and not enough painting during the artwalk!

Early Morning Shade

Went out to paint with the San Clemente Art Association members two weeks ago at Laguna Niguel Park. The road to the lake was closed so we were all abliged to stay close to the entrance. I love this park - it's close to my house and so beautiful, no matter where you go to paint.

Casta Del Sol Backyard

Yesterday my husband and I were at my mom's home in Mission Viejo. He was putting up a screen and I decided to paint on her back patio. I'm in the middle of painting a friend's bulldog, but decided it was too nice a day for that - the light was wonderful and I was drawn again to the landscape. In an hour and a half I think I captured what I wanted to, even with stopping to hold the screen door still for screws and bolts and kick plates. LOL

Old Mill Barn- Sold

12x18 
Giclees available - $55.00

The adirondacks was cold this summer and I didn't get out to paint as much as I would have liked. One weekday when it was starting to warm up, I decided to pile the pastels in the back of the car and paint. This barn is on a main road, about two miles from my home and I don't know how many times I pass it, always saying, I have to paint that.....it's so beautiful, against those mountains, with those trees..... This time I pulled over, got out the easel and in two hours had my barn. An interesting aside, a man and woman pulled over and got out of the car. I thought I might be on their property, but no, he told me his uncle owned the barn and they were having a family reunion in October and he would let his uncle know that I had painted it!

Sunday Ride in Casper

We often go out to Casper Wilderness Park near San Juan Capistrano. One Sunday, taking pictures, I shot this from a distance. I've been looking at the photo and wanted to do a pastel of it, but bringing the riders closer. I hope I achieved the close up I intended. I don't often do animals anymore, but I'm now interested in finding more horses to paint!

Ledge and Falls

12x18 

This pastel is also from the Sacandaga River edge.

Granite Abstractions

12x18 - 

The study of granite rocks on the Sacandaga River, Southern Adirondacks. Awarded 2nd prize United Society of Pastel Artists On-Line Show. It also won an Honorable Mention at the USPA Member Show in Laguna Beach and was juried into the Old Forge National Pastel Exhibition in Old Forge, NY

Sunset Shore

This is 18x24. A beautiful night at Salt Creek Beach.

Ocean Palette

This one was started in class a few months ago, but never finished. I wanted it to be very "painterly". 9x12

Harvest Time

I took a photo in Old San Diego of this and decided to crop and paint. I've been working on it for a while and I think I've finally finished it. I think....

Harvest Time

Saturday at the Park

I took a picture of these ladies sitting as Heisler Park, Laguna Beach. I loved the photo so much I just wanted to try to capture the scene.

Doheny Shade

Painted at Doheny Beach in late afternoon. Looks a bit like a tropical setting, with all those palms. Maybe I've lived too long in Florida! I liked how it turned out, though.

Down to the Sea

I had to walk down to the ocean to do this painting. Nice walk up, though! It's 12x18

Gulls at Sea

I love painting the ocean at Laguna. This was done recently.

Niguel Park Stream

Done a week ago at Laguna Niguel Park. It's small, 9x12, but had to work fast, as I thought it might rain.

Tropical Back

My daughter took this wonderful study in black and white while we lived in Florida. Her best friend, Jenny, posed underneath our crepe myrtle tree. I asked permission to use the photo to do a painting in color in pastel and I was quite pleased with the result.

Montage Vista

I love painting at Laguna and Montage. The afternoon I did this was magical for me. I feel blessed to live where I have access to this kind of beauty.

Laguna Rocks

This one was done at Lyndelle Stonick's art class last year, at the Laguna Beach cliffs. I was totally happy with it, but Lyndelle kept saying, "lighten it up" so I did and NOW I'm very happy with it. She's a great teacher!

Morikami Park

Right before I left Florida, my aunt (who's a fantastic artist) and I went to Morikamo Park in Delray Beach to paint. It's a Japanese Garden and a peaceful place. They weren't too accommodating to us, but we didn't care. They let us in and we painted!

On the Hudson

12x8 - $150.00 +s&h

Last summer I did this in the Adirondack Park of New York. It's a beautiful wilderness and the Hudson River, that is so wide at the city, becomes a fast running narrow river in many places up-state.

Salt Creek at Low Tide

I think the name says it all. I love this beach!

Coconut Palm

This pastel painting was done a few years ago. I used to pass this palm everyday when I walked my dog in Florida. I finally took some pictures and got to work in my studio. This won a Holbein Award at the Alabama Pastel Society Exhibit a few of years ago and also was featured in "International Artists" magazine as pastelists of the world (or something like that) LOL

Doheny Marsh

Sitting at the beach and painting - I do this all the time. I guess I should use my easel, but sometimes a backpack and towel does it! Then I can lie in the sun for a bit after I paint! This one also sold - The marshy part of Doheny Beach.....

Afternoon Sail

I sit on the beach and paint a lot and this is one I did last summer. It was sold and I hope I caught the beauty of that Sunday at the beach.

Beached Sails

A Florida beach scene and now hanging in a friend's home. I really don't miss Florida at all, although pastels of tropical landscapes are incredibly vibrant.

Capistrano Pot

One day, a couple of years ago, I went to the Mission and found this pot and painted this small pastel. The pot broke - I've looked for it recently and can no longer find it. Glad I did this when I did.

Montage Rocks - 12x18 - sold

This painting won Honorable Mention at the United Society of Pastel Artists 3rd National Exhibit in Laguna Beach in November, 2008. It also took first prize at the San Clemente Art Association Winter Show, 2009.

Dana Point Harbor

One windy day, I sat at the park above Dana Point Harbor and painted this. I'm trying to get "looser" in my paintings and hope I achieved it with this painting. My daughter has it - she says it makes her miss Dana Point. She and her family live in Florida.