Joann Quinlivan Art

Gallery of Art

2012-07-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

Beaver Meadow Brook

2012-02-06T11:24:00.000-08:00

This pastel was painted from a very exposed photo that I had taken sometime this past summer. It was a gorgeous, sunny day when we hiked in to this spot and I loved how the sun highlighted the water, yet much of the area was in deep shade.

9x12 - $95.00

Feeling and seeing color everywhere lately, mainly because of all the ice and gloomy days we've had here lately. I think I "exposed" the spot with lots of color - not that it wasn't already there!

A Garden Jumble

2012-02-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

14x11 on Richeson board - $145.00

I've had a bad cold for a week now and I've been home, trying to paint, taking it easy and hoping I'll feel better soon. The weather hasn't cooperated at all. It snows, then rains, then gets warm, the snow melts, the roads get icy and I don't want to move! I went through my stash of photos and found some of the garden at my mom's complex in Mission Viejo, California. Flowers......I haven't seen fresh flowers since the summer. I painted this riot of flowers in the garden. Made me feel good. I'd love to find some flowers and paint fresh ones. Wonder where I might get my hands on some?

River at Balsam Road

2012-01-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

12x15.5 - $125.00

A few weeks ago, Bill and I walked our dogs to this remote little spot not far from our house. We don't have much snow this year - we seem to get it and then it rains and disappears. The day we walked to this river, which wanders to our lake another mile away, the snow was a few inches thick. Our dogs loved this spot as much as we did. When taking pictures of the snow in the winter, most of the photos end up black and white. Not this one, as the colors in the sky reflected beautifully in the water, and the scrub around the river was rust and light orange. Absolutely wonderful!

Admiring Degas

2012-01-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

12x9 $95.00

During the Christmas season, Bill and I spent the day in New York City. It turned out to be a rainy day, but we spent a good part of it at the Met, on the second floor, admiring all the impressionists. The museum had almost three rooms of Degas, alone. I happened into one room and saw these two talking between themselves, in front of two Degas paintings. She just made me think of all the women in his paintings - long dresses and hair styled just right, holding a glove in one hand........

The Catch is In

2012-01-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

16x20 Pastel on Richeson board
$225.00

Another view of the fishing boats, docked in the early evening, in Provincetown, MA. I find it very difficult to paint all the lines that are an integral part of the boat, and try to simplify whenever possible. I only painted three of the ten seagulls surrounding these boats - I think they hadn't been in dock very long, so the gulls were out in force. I just wanted to give the viewer a "feel" of the gulls.

Winter Sprint

2012-01-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

12x15 1/2 - $175.00

Last year, in February, the women from our quilting group spent a weekend at a resort. They all quilted, but I just wanted to have an entire two days to paint. I brought lots of my photos and was so happy to spend the entire weekend just painting - no cooking, cleaning, laundry - just pastels. On Saturday evening, before it got dark, I took a walk by myself, and took lots more photos. Came across about five deer all together, in the snow. They saw me right away, but decided I wasn't a threat and so I was able to take a bunch of pictures. Finally one sprinted away and I got a shot of it near a shed just running. It made me smile to see how fast it was going. Anyway, here's my version of it, in pastel.

Down Parkerville Road

2011-12-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

11x14 - $165.00

I take this road every day to get to the main route to town, or out of town. Since a flood last March, this is the ONLY way out of our neighborhood, which is a bit scary, as it goes over a brook. Every day the sky and mountains have a new look and it's always beautiful.

After the Catch

2011-12-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

Well, haven't been painting lately - I found another passion while up here in the Adirondacks of New York State. It's quilting! Oh boy, never thought that would be me, but I'm actually enjoying using patterns and coming up with my own color scheme and putting them together. It's almost like painting, and learning to actually quilt is no easy thing! Once I send it off to my grand daughter, I'll post the quilt here.

16x20 $225.00

Anyway, after finishing my granddaughter's quilt the other day, I painted this from a picture I took this past November on our trip to Cape Cod. I've missed picking up those pastels and now I'm on to another painting. We went to NYC a couple of weeks ago and I have some great pictures of the city. We also ended up at the Met and spend a few hours in heaven, looking at all the impressionist paintings on display there. The museum had two rooms filled with pastel paintings of Degas. Unfortunately, they had the lights turned so low, they were hard to see, but still - what a treat!

Ocean Dunes on Cape Cod

2011-11-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

9x12 - pastel - $95.00

We spent a week on Cape Cod recently. It was cold, windy and empty of tourists, for the most part. We had a fantastic time - mostly for all those reasons. Of course, the ocean and bay beaches were wonderful to walk on and the dogs enjoyed running free on those empty beaches. I must have taken 50 photos of the place, every day, so I'm overloaded with painting material. We loved Wellfleet the most and we're already planning on going back next year. I only wish it was less windy so I could have painted outdoors.

Under the Falls at Yosemite

2011-11-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

11x14 Pastel $200.00

I started this pastel while in California, right after we returned from our week in Yosemite. I never finished it, although I've been puttering around with it for awhile. As usual, I sometimes lose interest in a painting, put it away and then pull it out later. Sometimes years later.....and finish it. Although we're now in New York, I decided to finish it yesterday, before starting one of Cape Cod. That mist in the background gave me trouble, as this is a view of the running water under the Bridleveil Falls, where the mist turns into rain as you get closer to the Falls. It's really fabulous to stand so close, but I just love the rushing water further back. It reminds me of the Adirondacks, too.

Ava with Hibiscus

2011-10-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

9x13 pastel

My daughter sent me this picture of Ava, my granddaughter, holding a hibiscus. I just loved it and decided to try a pastel on the velour paper again. I'm beginning to like this paper for portraits, as it seems to blend very nicely using girualt portrait and landscape pastels. Looks like I may just try one of my husband next! (and, yes, she does have those very light blue eyes!)

Girl in a Turban

2011-10-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

In Albuquerque at the IAPS convention this past June, a beautiful girl was sitting in the grass at the Hotel as we returned from Old Town. It was such a hot day, almost 90 degrees and she looked so spotless and cool, underneath that gorgeous turban. I asked if she would mind if I took her picture and a few of us artists started photographing her. I planned to paint her asap, but, of course, that didn't happen.

14x11 - Pastel

Was going through my stash of pastel papers and found some velour. I think I used it once and wasn't happy with the results. Asked an artist friend how she applies pastel to velour, and then got that photo out and started this painting. I've been working on it for a few days. It takes applying hard and medium pastels and I tried building up some layers so that I wouldn't loose the pastel on the surface, which happened to me the only time I tried this paper. I think this worked and I'm very satisfied with the results.

Country Road to Blue Mountain

2011-10-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

With all the rain we're getting this week, the leaves are finally falling, so the peak is over. I hate to see it end - I love fall the best. it's an artist's dream season, I think. I took a photo of Blue Mountain from the road a couple of weeks ago, when the leaves were still glorious with color. It's amazing how great my camera is, it got the shot at 50 mph!

11x14 - $175.00

This weekend I spent it at a quilter's retreat in Lake Pleasant. I finished a crib quilt for my soon-to-be grand baby and then did this painting from the photo. I love it when the road seems to reach up and has a life of it's own.

At the Butterfly Garden

2011-10-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

14x11 - $225.00

Since getting to New York, I haven't had too much opportunity to paint for myself. I was painting for the Old Forge Paint-Out, then for the Moose Festival in our town and now I'm actually working on a baby quilt for my soon-to-be new grandbaby. You could say, I've been busy......Anyway, this week I got the pastels out once again and did this of the butterfly garden at my mom's place - in Mission Viejo. Some of the residents there took it upon themselves to create a beautiful oasis near their community center at Casta del Sol. We visited it a few times this summer, each time I took photos and this painting is from one of my photos. I'm not sure if I'm going to paint someone sitting on that chair, or not. Have to give it some thought, but, for now, I like it the way it is. I just wish I knew the names of all the flowers surrounding that walk!

Nancy's Bouquet

2011-09-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

16x12 - $225.00

Today is a sad day, remembering 10 years ago.....my friend called me this morning during the memorial services and we talked awhile about that day. We were together, she was visiting me in California and we were enjoying some fun time in the sun - no worries, just laughs for a week. That morning, her daughter woke us up and told us to turn on the tv - well, my daughter was living just 15 blocks from the World Trade Center and I guess I had a panic attack, right there in my living room. Thank God Mary was there to calm me down and help me get through that day. My daughter was fine, in most ways, but shocked and very traumatized by all she saw. Anyway, today I wanted to paint something beautiful and natural and happy. My neighbor, Nancy, grows the most amazing flowers around her house. She gave me these two varieties of hydrangea and so I used pastel and painted this still life. I never paint still life.....but it made me happy today.

Moose pictures

2011-09-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

In our town of Indian Lake, we have a Moose festival every September. People come up from all over New York for the festival and I've been asked to paint some pictures of moose to sell. Last year people were complaining that there wasn't enough moose things to sell! This year, our club is selling gorgeous, homemade quilts and I'm doing some moose paintings in oil and some in pastel. All are small, 5x7, 6x9, 8x10. I plan on having 10 available for sale - some of the proceeds go to the Volunteer Fire Department in town.

From the Green Bridge

2011-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I painted at the Old Forge Paint Out for the arts center auction. They've changed the name of the center to The View and it's such a beautiful, state of the art center that I'm always excited to be a part of this fund raising event. This is one of the paintings I gave them for auction. I painted this from the Green Bridge in Old Forge Sunday morning for the auction that night. I also brought two other paintings for them to auction. The three small paintings brought over $900 for the center! Yeah!!

Yellow Harbor House

2011-08-23T06:40:00.000-07:00

11x14 - Pastel

I'm painting for the Old Forge Labor Day Paint Out. I was invited to join the artists for a plein air event, but they also sell paintings and this is one I'm bringing for sale. In Old Forge, it's a local treasure and sits across the lake from the downtown area, so it's very visible and loved by tourists and locals alike.

The Loon at Blue Mountain Lake

2011-08-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

6x9 - Pastel

One of the most fascinating creatures in the Adirondacks - the loon. The other morning, about 7 a.m., I took coffee out on the porch and listened to them calling on the lake. This pastel was done from a photo I took in the kayak last summer. I was glad I took this photo in high resolution because I wasn't actually close to this loon. I was able to crop and paint a close up view. They very rarely let you come that close.

The Adirondack Arts Center has this one for sale.

Rock Island Dusk

2011-08-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

8x10 - Pastel

Rock Island on Blue Mountain Lake is a wild and lovely little island in the middle of a large, deep, cold lake. I've painted this island more times than I can count, but I still keep going back for photos and plein air. This is from a photo I took a few years ago when we were canoeing the lake at dusk. Thank goodness I had my camera with me at the time, otherwise I would have missed this gorgeous pink sunset on those thirty foot rocks. I think I've mentioned that my grandson goaded me into jumping off that rock at one time and it was hair-raising!

This painting is going to the Adirondack Center for the Arts for sale. They've asked me for a number of pastels to sell this summer and I'm happily obliging! I'm thrilled that they're selling these small pastels.

Waterlilies on Racquette Lake

2011-08-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

8x10 - Pastel

I'm participating in the Old Forge Paint Out Labor Day weekend, which includes being able to bring and, hopefully, sell some work. I decided to paint waterlilies for this gallery, along with a few scenes of Old Forge. Haven't started them yet, but have finished these waterlilies. They are beautiful this year. I guess they're beautiful every year. I can't wait to paddle among them next week!

Cabin on Blue

2011-08-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've been able to post any new work. We've been traveling to New York and our cabin in the Adirondacks and I'm finally settled in and able to paint.

9x12 - $85.00

This week I gave a beginner watercolor class at The Hedges, a resort on Blue Mountain Lake. Usually I demo before we start painting and this was the view from Blue that I chose to paint. Before the class was over, I decided to add my pastels to the watercolor painting I had started. It was a lot of fun to hear the student's comments once the pastel was applied. I decided to leave the mountain and some of the trees in watercolor alone. I liked the effect. I hope it spurs my students to try pastel over watercolor.

Moving Along the South Inlet

2011-06-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

18x12 - $175.00

I'm in a canoeing mood and painted another of a couple on the South Inlet near Racquette Lake. We're hoping to canoe this in August, as there's a waterfall two miles upstream and it's suppose to be beautiful. We'll have our granddaughter, Ava, with us and I hope she'll appreciate a day on the inlet, lunch included!

Yosemite Valley

2011-06-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

18x24 $650.00

I'm still looking at my pictures from Yosemite Valley and this one was calling to me to paint. I was reluctant to start, as I didn't think I could capture the majesty of those mountains. I decided to work larger than I usually do and I'm still fiddling with it here and there, but I thought I'd post it and see what you think.

Beach Tree

2011-06-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

14x11 - $140.00

We went out to paint this afternoon at the edge of Doheny Beach. I thought it would be foggy, as it was all morning, but the fog lifted and we had some nice shade to paint under and nice sun for cast shadows. I brought some larger paper, 11x14 and some 12x16. Used the 11x14 and am happy with the results. Painting outdoors is the most wonderful experience, even with the moving sun, the changing light, it's exciting and different every time I go out. After the painting was done, a sailboat came into view and I added it at the last moment.

Canoing the Moose River

2011-06-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

11x14 - $145.00

I found some photos I took last summer of people canoing the lakes in the Adirondacks. Just had a feeling I wanted to paint one of them yesterday. Finished it this morning and now that I look at it, I want to grab the canoe and get back to those beautiful lakes! I hope this conveys that feeling and the knowledge that those guys are jut loving it, too.

Girl with Scarf

2011-06-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Got back last week from five days in Albuquerque at the International Association of Pastel Societies. It was a whirwind of demos, workshops, visiting with artist friends and making new friends with artists from around the world. This organization brings together all pastel societies from around the country and the world to educate others about the medium of pastels.

20x16 - $200.00

I went to an all day workshop with Bill Hosner, and award winning pastellist who paints people in outdoor settings. After watching him demo with this model, it was our turn and this is my version. His is fabulous, I have much to learn.

Yosemite Falls

2011-06-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

9x12 - $100.00

These are the upper and lower Yosemite Falls near Yosemite Village. It's so amazing that these wonderful falls are so approachable from the meadow and there are hikes that go up to them. We didn't have the time for that, but I was able to take loads of pictures and did this at the park. We would love to go back and do more hikes, especially to the top of one of these falls.

River View

2011-05-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

9x12 - $100.00

We just got back from four days at Yosemite National Park. Wow!! What a place - you can almost feel John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt's presence there to this day. At least I could, especially when we climbed almost 1,000 feet to view half dome, Bridalview Falls and the Valley Floor. We stayed at a campsite just outside the park, which was right beside this river. In season the fishing is suppose to be really good, but there was still snow in parts of the campground and it hadn't been stocked yet. Oh, well, I still sat the first afternoon and did this pastel in the quiet.

Water Falls

2011-05-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Last summer we had Ava with us for a month. She was six at the time and we wanted to keep her excited about places and nature and so we took her to Pottersville, NY and the Natural Stone Caverns and Caves. It's a truly remarkable place where the moving water has carved out caverns within the rocks. They claim that it's the oldest natural rock formations in the Northeast (we've heard that before....), but it just might be!

12x16 - $100.00

I took lots of pictures and started this pastel before I left New York. This week I decided to rework it. My picture was head on and just wasn't that interesting to me so I changed the composition and now am happy with the results. Sometimes I have to put it away and come back to it to find out what's wrong or what's right. By-the-way, you can take a look at this place on line. They have cross-country in the winter and diving in the summer. Quite a place!

Park Path

2011-05-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

12x15 3/4 $100.00

It's a wonderful experience, painting on location. We went to Laguna Niquel Park this week, even though it looked like it might rain. Actually, the sun kept coming out, then going in - we had a few sprinkles, it was warm, then cool. Had a great time, even though we have to chase the light throughout the day.

The Bue Door

2011-05-13T23:27:00.000-07:00

13x10 - $100.00

Went out to paint today at San Juan Capistrano. Not a sunny morning, but pleasantly cool. For some reason, I really struggled with this painting. Couldn't get the strong darks in at first. Had to put it away and worked on it when I got home, to finish. Anyway, had a great day, painting with two women who inspire me to be better and had a wonderful lunch with them afterward. Life if good.

Shade Trees

2011-05-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

9x12 - $100.00

Yesterday we decided to paint in San Juan Capistrano. I found a shady spot in Los Rios away from cars and other people and set up the easel. I wanted to paint one of those historic houses there, but didn't have a clear view. Being comfortable and cool, I decided to paint what was in view, which was the trees across the street. Hey, there is so much to paint, no matter where we are! I'm definitely going back to try painting a house next time.

Man with Cap

2011-05-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

Took Alicia Sotherland's one day workshop this week and was totally blown away with her pastel portrait technique. She's a terrific teacher and subscribes to negative shapes in painting portraits. I'm here to attest that the process works. I have lots of practice ahead of me, and with her help, I produced this portrait from one of her photos. Now my husband wants me to paint him!

19x15

Beach Afternoon

2011-05-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

6x9 $65.00

I like to take my watercolors to the beach and do small, liquid compositions. The beach in the afternoons are as beautiful to me as in the late afternoon, when all those long shadows appear. I like to paint that bright ocean, too.

Quiet Water

2011-05-02T15:53:00.000-07:00

9x12 - $100.00

Had a peaceful afternoon at Laguna Niguel Park last Wednesday with one of my new artist friend from the United Society of Pastel Artists here in California. I hadn't been out painting on location since last September in New York and it felt good, but also a bit intimidating. Looking around, trying to decide what to paint - your eyes take in so much stuff - simplifying is the most difficult process for me. It's going to take awhile for me to feel comfortable painting outdoors again, but it was a good start.

Night Lights on the Seine

2011-05-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

12x18 - $225.00

I keep going back to our pictures of Paris and there are so many I'd like to paint. There just isn't enough time in the day for them all, plus, I want to get out and start painting plein aire now that I'm back in California with all these beautiful hills and wildflowers at this time of year. With this painting, I wanted to get bolder with my pastels and so laid them on thickly with many short strokes. I used Wallis white paper. I never think I get bold enough and this might just be over the top. I don't even know if I'm done yet with it. We'll see.....

Light at the Drainboard

2011-04-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

11x14 image, 16x20 framed

I haven't had much of a chance to paint in the last three weeks and I'm really eager to begin again. We've been traveling - first from upstate NY to Florida to visit the grand kids. Then Florida to California, where we came back to the condo and a termite tenting process. We didn't even unpack the car, just moved things out of the condo to my mom's home for three days while the tenting went on. Now, we're finally home and, after two days of cleaning, I can sigh in relief that my paintings are now out of the car, safely put away and I can go out painting next week in the beautiful California landscape. Anyway, before we started our travel back to California, I did this painting, with permission of Randy Schaeffer, who is the wonderful photographer. I loved the photo and wanted to try to paint it in pastel. It was juried into the United Society of Pastel Artists Membership show April 30-May 14, Chemers Gallery, Tustin, California. Still life isn't really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed doing this one.

Ocean Path

2011-03-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

9x12 Oil

One more of Dana Point and the beach path that I'm eager to walk again. This is an oil, something I'm not doing much of lately. I've been so obsessed with pastels for the last few years.

Above the Ocean at Dana Point

2011-03-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

6x9 Watercolor

Well, we're leaving the Adirondacks today to visit our grand kids in Florida and then on to California for four months. I've been thinking a lot about beautiful Dana Point and I'm now eager to return and paint. This is a small watercolor, 6x9 of the cliff and houses above our beach.

Chickadee Perched

2011-03-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

11x14 - $125.00

Here is the second Chickadee. I used the same basic snow background, and sat that cute guy on a branch by the snow. I think he looks quite regal.

Lucy, the Artiste

2011-03-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

12x18 Pastel

My aunt sent me a photo of my cousin's daughter, Lucy, at her easel, engrossed in painting. Lucy is such a smart, creative person, just like her parents. Of course, my aunt did her rendition of the photo and I did mine - they are both very different. I thought I'd share my vision of it with you.

Chickadee Winter Song

2011-03-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

11x14

It's almost the end of winter here in the Adirondacks and the chickadees are going crazy on our feeder. They are the cutest, most vocal of birds - and they're not afraid of people. My husband swears that, when a squirrel toppled the feeder over, and he couldn't find the knob that would hold the top in place, a chickadee "told" him where it was! Actually, the chickadee was sitting on the flat hanger right next to the knob and kept cheeping, cheeping, at Bill, until Bill looked up and saw the knob. That chickadee wanted to eat and needed that knob back on the feeder.......well, that's the story and we're sticking to it!

This is my third try at the chickadee. I love the grosbeaks, too, but they just aren't as cute to me!

Wilderness Sunset

2011-02-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

9x12 - $95.00

We are all in awe of our sunsets in the Adirondacks. A friend gave me some photos she took of sunsets recently and asked me to paint them. How could anyone resist?

Love Along the Seine

2011-02-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

11x14 - $150.00

For Valentine's Day, from a photo I took in Paris a few years ago.

Lakeside Birches

2011-02-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

12x9 - Sold

This is a plein air pastel, done at The Hedges in Blue Mountain Lake. It now hangs in a friend's home. She spent many years working at the resort and I hope she's enjoying this painting.

Autumn Mountain

2011-02-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

9x12

Painted from a photo I took when I went with my cousin and a friend to the mountains in Oak Glen, California. It's apple country and so gorgeous in the fall. What a nice day we had - I think we were there right before the place closed for the winter. Bought some delicious apples and certainly would like to go back soon.

Late Afternoon Snow

2011-02-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

11x14 - $150.00

Took my camera when we went cross country skiing. We went late in the afternoon and the sun was low on the horizon, shining through the trees on the path. Wonderful shadows, cold but silent and beautiful. I might still be working on this one, but thought I'd share while in progress with it. This on the Northville Placid trail near Durant Lake, Blue Mountain Lake NY.

At the Forest's Edge

2011-01-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

14x11

This is the second deer painting. I'll be donating this one to the arts center for their February 5th fundraiser.

Canoeing Henderson Lake

2011-01-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

12x18

This past summer, we went canoeing on Henderson Lake, which is near the high peaks region of the Adirondack Park. From this lake you can look out and see the mountain that leads to Indian Pass, an incredible natural wonder, painted by many artists in the 19th century. Many of the canoers actually decided to paddle Henderson, then carry their canoes one mile to paddle another, smaller lake at the end of a hiking trail. Needless to say, we didn't do that, even with Hornbeck canoes, which weigh only eight pounds. Here's a painting of Eileen, who is trying to canoe as many Adirondack lakes as she can in the next few years. She's a real inspiration.

Sunset on Long Lake

2011-01-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

9x12

After visiting Lake Placid a few weeks ago, Bill and I were coming through Long Lake just as the sun was setting over the lake. Long Lake is just that......a very long lake, with an incredible mountain range in the distance. This pastel was done from a photo where I used the zoom lense to get a shot close up on those mountains.

Ava in the Blue Cap

2010-12-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

14x11 - pastel

We had our granddaughter for the month of July and she loved to wear her grandpa's caps. In the kayak, on the trail, at a campfire, everywhere she went.

A Dusting on Blue Mountain- Sold

2010-12-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

8x10

Not much snow yet, although it looks like we might be getting more this week. It's snowing this morning and very cold, so it's looking good for lots more. Crazy weather this winter - yes, there is global warming.......I just finished this small painting of Blue Mountain with a dusting of snow. We went up to the Adirondack Museum Saturday to Christmas shop at the gift store. There was only a dusting of snow on the mountain, but in the hour we were in there, the entire top was covered in snow.

Matt's Attitude

2010-12-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

8x10

This pastel was done from a photo I took of my grandson, Matt, when he was a teenager and in his "renegade stage." Actually, he was always an easy kid, but every once in a while, he'd try for an attitude and this was one of those times.

The Hiker

2010-11-30T14:18:00.000-08:00

14x11

A few weeks ago, we hiked with the Adirondack Club to Mitchell Pond in the Moose River Plains. The hike was about 8 miles, round trip and a lot of fun. We saw lots of beaver dams, trees cut down by beaver, and actually had to cross a river by walking over a beaver dam because the bridge was out. I took lots of pictures of this particular hiker, mainly because I loved that hat and the way the light hit that yellow and orange.

After the Storm - Sold

2010-11-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

12x18 - Sold

Our condo in Dana Point, California is above a golf course and we love the walk through it to the beach. A few years ago, it was incredibly rainy ( very unusual) and I decided to take a walk with my camera and get shots of everything in the rain. This tree is near the golf links and was bathed in this incredible red light, with the storm clouds surrounding it. My cousin purchased it and it hangs in her and her husband's home in Aliso Viejo. I'm very happy they're enjoying it. I don't think I've ever seen the light like that again.

Last Rays at Salt Creek Beach

2010-11-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

11x14

Last year I went back to doing some oils and this is one from the beach at Dana Point, California. I love the way the sun sets and everything shines in those last brilliant rays of light.

Storm over the Everglades

2010-11-27T16:05:00.000-08:00

20x30 - Sold

This pastel was done many years ago, went into a show in Florida, and then was sold not long after that. Storms over the everglades are awesome and scary at the same time. It's such a beautiful place.

Morning Mist

2010-11-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

18x24 - NFS

This is another pastel from the past. I'm working on two new paintings, but am taking lots of time with them. One is a portrait and I haven't done portraits in quite a while so I'm taking my time and trying to get it completely right. Anyway, I did this one a number of years ago when we went to the resort, The Hedges in October. The mist was rising off the lake in the early morning and I think I got it. I gifted this to the owner of The Hedges because she's such an amazing lady, who took this rustic place and lovingly restored it to it's glory days. We all thought, before it was sold, that we would never be able to enjoy it again, but we're still going back, at least for dinners, whenever we can. She has it hanging in her office and I'm very pleased she's enjoying it.

After the Ride - 20x30

2010-11-10T12:57:00.000-08:00

A very early portrait of my daughter, my grandson and my daughter's best friend. We all went to Disney World and they were bathed in light when a ride they were on was finished. I snapped the picture and painted it when we returned home. I still like the light and I did get their likeness, but I was just beginning to paint at the time and I feel it's too stiff. My grandson is now 20 but wasn't he just too cute then?

Cutter's Cabin - Sold - 11x14

2010-11-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

I've been painting this cabin for years - sometimes better than other times, but it just calls to me to paint every summer. This painting sold almost immediately, which really encouraged me at a time when I was just starting to paint plein air. The house is now in disrepair, the paint is pealing - I don't know what's happening with the property, but it still sits in a lovely place on Blue Mountain Lake, New York

Yellow Sails

2010-11-10T12:36:00.000-08:00

11x14 - $100.00

I'm posting some work that was done awhile ago. This pastel was done plein air at Dana Point, California one early morning. The sky was a beautiful pale yellow and the students were getting ready to take their boats out that morning, for a lesson in sailing. I had to work fast, as they were starting to pull the boats out.

Foxy Lady

2010-11-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

14x11

We've been so lucky to have a gray fox return to our yard every few days. Apparently, she's living somewhere in our woods and comes to eat some of the bird seed now and again. The first time she turned up, last week, I started taking pictures of her from our window. I think I've taken about 200 pictures - she's just so beautiful. I started this painting yesterday and finished it today. It's from the first photo I took of her, looking so regal, sitting at the furthermost part of our yard.

Twilight Fire on Lake Durant

2010-11-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

11x14

Painting the lake in twilight - I was at the Adirondack Museum last month and was in awe of an oil painting of an Adirondack lake done around 1840. Can't remember the artist's name, but have wanted to paint the setting sun on the lake ever since. I've put in a lone camper sitting by the fire, with his boat pulled onto the sandy beach. Lake Durant has a couple of lovely sandy beaches, which is unusual.

My Little Chickadee - Sold

2010-10-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

8x10

We've been feeding the birds near our front window and they love the sunflower seeds. I've never seen so many small, delicate birds come to the feeder. The cutest is the chickadee. They will eat out of your hand, if you let them. We also have juncos, blue jays, nuthatches, redpolls, and pine siskins. And, that's only this time of year. I love my camera - it's got a great Carl Zeiss lense and I was able to take some nice photos from my window to the feeder and trees. This is a chickadee, hanging on to the tree next to the feeder.

Morning Light on Tirrell Pond

2010-10-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

11x14

We haven't walked into Tirrell Pond this year, but I love this place. The hike is about 8 miles round trip and we didn't think the dogs would do it this year. (Yes, we blame the dogs!) This is from a photo I took a couple of years ago. This is the second time I've painted from this photo but the first one sold and I love this place. I thought I'd play around and paint it in morning light this time.

Shadows on the Path

2010-10-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

18x12

This path is located on the Sagamore property in Racquette Lake, New York. The Sagamore is a Adirondack great camp 4 miles from the main road and the wilderness around is just that, wild. This path was actually a wagon road for the farm that was on the property in the late 1800's and is now used as a walking path through the woods. It's a quiet place and I loved the shadows crossing the path the autumn day we hiked.

Lilies in the Wild-Sold

2010-10-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

8x10

Waterlilies on the lake at Lake Snow, Indian lake, NY.

Canoes at Summer's End - Sold

2010-09-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

9x12 - - Pastel

Fall is here and the colors this year are beautiful. I think, because we got lots of rain and it was very hot this summer, the colors are especially brilliant this week. I took a photo down by our lake of the boats, finally put away, waiting for the snow to come in a couple of months.

Setting Sun

2010-09-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

9x12

In this same class, I just started painting a scene on the lake, trying to be very loose. From my own imagination, I was hoping to show the serenity and beauty of the setting sun on the wild lakes here in the Adirondacks.

Rainy Day in the Adirondacks

2010-09-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

10x8 - $65.00

This August I took a watercolor class in Indian Lake. It was a fun day and I really learned quite a bit about techniques in the medium. We did some free flowing paintings and this was one of them. It's loose and I just let it run to see what would happen. So much fun!

Lake Snow Autumn

2010-09-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

12x9 - $85.00

A watercolor done at our lake yesterday, with pastel overlay. I worked on watercolor paper and like the effect. The fall colors are really starting to come out now and the nights are getting colder. Today I was told that, after I left to teach the workshop, a bear turned up on our driveway. I think he was after the birdseed at our feeders. I hope I get to see him before too long.

Marsh lilies

2010-09-08T16:30:00.001-07:00

9x12 -$100.00

This year the lakes and marshes were filled with lilies. I felt such peace and calm canoeing through them and taking pictures of all the blooms and flowers. I have another picture that I feel compelled to paint, so when I finish it, I'll post it, too. They are all very different, just as the lakes and marshes are different and special.

Wild Autumn Apples

2010-09-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

8x12 matted for 12x16 frame - $175.00

My neighbor has this old apple tree on the corner of her property and it's amazing we don't have bears eating the fallen apples but I haven't seen any yet. The other day I took pictures of the light playing on the apples and the leaves and did this painting. I didn't want to get too detailed on the leaves, letting the apples tell the story of the light.

Out of the Woods

2010-09-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

8x10 - Sold
The second painting from the Old Forge Paint Out. I forgot to post that a reporter from the local NBC tv station stopped by the bridge where I was painting yesterday and asked if he could interview me. I think I had pastel all over my face when I was on camera, but didn't get to see the news last night because we stayed for the auction and got home pretty late. An exhausting day, but I hope my neighbors got to see the news and didn't laugh too hard at my pastel smudged face!

On the Moose River

2010-09-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

12x16 - Sold
Yesterday was a crazy and joyful day. I was invited to join artists at the Old Forge Plein Air Paint Out. Old Forge is an hour from my house, so we were up early and there by 9:30 a.m. It looked like rain and who knew if I'd be able to paint. Not only that, but it was 54 degrees out and windy. There were lots of artists braving the cold and in the course of the day I did two paintings. I wish I'd had more time. It was nice because they had two tents set up in town. One tent was for the auction of the work done over the course of the weekend. All paintings done over the three days of the paint out were auctioned off to benefit the new arts center going up in Old Forge. The other tent was for paintings the artists wanted to sell, a portion going to the arts center. I brought three paintings and sold two! And, I'd say, my two small pastels done that day made a respectable amount of money for the arts center. A very nice day!

Unfortunately, I was so cold that I didn't take pictures before the paintings were up and behind glass, so forgive the photo.....

Yellow House on the Harbour-Sold

2010-09-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

9x12 - Sold
This unique house sits in the harbor in Old Forge, NY. Old Forge is, itself, a unique little town, on the edge of the Adirondack Park. In the summer, it's the busiest little town, with theme parks and miniature golf places and, if you like the woods and quiet, you should stay away. But, in the winter, it's the the most beautiful place, with frozen lakes and a huge hardware store that sells everything you'd ever want.

Waiting- 20x16

2010-09-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is a watercolor of a woman I saw years ago and snapped a picture. I love the fluidity of watercolor and really enjoy painting figures in the medium.

Waterlilies at Tupper Lake-Sold

2010-09-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

9x12 - Sold

There's a peaceful pond in back of the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY where I painted these waterlilies. The Wild Center is a museum about the natural history of the Adirondacks. It's a sprawling place, with nature hikes and lakes and exhibits that are fascinating. If you ever get a chance, head up there and enjoy the day.

A Stroll through the Past/Santanoni Barn

2010-08-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

There is a Adirondack Camp called Santanoni, back in the woods, about 5 miles back in the woods. It was built in the 1870's by one of those very rich robber barons roaming New York City during those times. He built a Japanese inspired Adirondack home overlooking Santanoni Peak, beside Newcomb Lake. It has history, but getting back to it takes time and patience. My husband and I have walked the 5 miles in and 5 miles out a number of times. About a mile in, they put a farm in an open clearing, built some stone and wood buildings for the managers and workers. Put in a silo and barn. During those times, all they had to do was get back there (which wasn't an easy thing, even for them) and all their food for the summer was grown and stored right on their own grounds. Now, that's the life! Unfortunately, a few years ago, someone burned the barn buildings down, including the silo. The police have concluded it was arson. I recently found this photo of my husband walking near the farm. Of course, I wanted to paint it. I hope to include it in the solo exhibit I'm having this January at the arts center here. If you get a chance, google Santanoni and you can see the camp. It's in the process of being restored and I feel lucky to have seen it before the restoration and after. It's so beautiful.

At the Campfire

2010-08-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

We were at a resort/Adirondack Camp a few weeks ago, visiting some friends who stay there every year. It's called The Hedges in Blue Mountain Lake. Before building our house, we used to take our grandson there every year for two weeks in the summer. What a great place this is! We left at night as the campfire was lit and I took this picture. I'm sure, after we left, a lot more kids were sitting around that fire, roasting marsh mellows, just like we used to do with Matt. It took a couple of weeks to get to it, but I enjoyed painting this.

Pasley Falls, Indian Lake, NY

2010-07-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last fall we hiked to this beautiful spot in Indian Lake. It was a little bit hard to find, as the trail had become overgrown, but we made it, with the dogs. I usually have my camera with me on all our hikes, but this time I had to use my cell phone. Call phones in Indian Lake are only good for photos, as finding a cell signal is sketchy, at best. Anyway, the photo came out great and two weeks ago I finally got around to doing a pastel from it. It was raining and I set up on the porch. I got very detailed with it but I wanted it to look like an early 1900's painting. That's the feel we got when we hiked back there and I hope this painting has the same feel to it.

I haven't had much of a chance to paint lately, as we've had our granddaughter with us for the last month. I take her back to Florida tomorrow for five days, then I can paint to my heart's desire!

Flamingo -

2010-06-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

The oil spill in the Gulf is so upsetting. We spent 28 years in South Florida and took the oceans and the parks for granted. We enjoyed the everglades and used to go to Flamingo Gardens to spend the day and admire the beautiful flamingos.

Laguna Niguel Park - 8x10

2010-06-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day at the park near our condo in Dana Point.

At the Market

2010-06-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

A Market in Peru, from a photo taken by my sister-in-law, from their many travels. I tried simplifying the scene, especially the background.

Water Lillies - 20x30 - sold

2010-06-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

We're on the road now, heading to the Adirondacks of New York from California. A week before we left I had a commission to paint - water lillies. It's nice when someone decides they want a piece of art and they want you to paint it. I'm always thrilled and then a bit apprehensive that they'll like my interpretation. The client had a photo for me and I actually simplified it for the painting.

Waiting for the Parade 15x30

2010-06-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

We attended the parade last year in San Juan Capistrano and I took way too many pictures! I was considering painting those beautiful horses, but decided that doing the people across the street would be more fun. Didn't know if I could accomplish it - so many different people...

A Day at Buttermilk Falls

2010-06-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

Buttermilk Falls is a serene place near Long Lake, New York. It's easy to get there, no big hike, very close to a road, so it's usually very busy in the summer months. At the bottom of the falls, kids can wade in the pool of water, so there are usually lots of kids climbing the rocks and parents yelling at them to keep away from the edge! It's not easy painting children from a distance with pastels and I hope I've done them justice. It wanted to just let people feel the falls and the fun kids have on those rocks

Autumn Birches on Blue Mountain Lake - Sold

2010-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Done recently from a photo taken at The Hedges. This is such a magical place. We used to spend two weeks every year here with our grandson. Families from all over would spend the same two weeks so Matt grew up knowing that every year he would see certain friends and they would be free to roam the place, kyack, fish, swim, canoe. A very Adirondack experience and one we're both happy to have given him.

Aspen Road 11x14

2010-06-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here's another from Colorado. This was done plein aire - the house was there but the road wasn't. I just thought it would make a better composition with a road and it sure worked. This is also at the Cottage Gallery in Laguna Beach. I love those aspens!

At water's edge

2010-06-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

This is actually one of the first pastels I ever did. Ever since going to the IAPS convention in Albuquerque last May, and taking an "art business" demonstration, I've been organizing all my work. It's unbelievable that I've done as much as I have and have actually sold as much as I have, considering the learning curve I've gone through. That two hour course was such a necessity, as far as record keeping is concerned and pricing your work. Now that I have pastels in a Laguna gallery and also will have them in a gallery this summer in Indian Lake, NY, it's so important to have very good records. It's taken me six months to finally organize myself. Now it's just upkeep and I can breathe a sigh of relief and just paint! Oh, btw, this tree sits at the side of Blue Mountain Lake at a place called The Hedges, a beautiful rustic Adirondack resort.

Solitute at Laguna 12x18

2010-06-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

This pastel was done a few years ago (I'm still going through those older pastels). My aunt and I wanted to paint together in Boynton Beach, FL and I had this photo. I drove up to her house and we spent the afternoon both painting this scene. If you google Sarah Spina, I think you'll see her version. She put some other people on that beach and it's so amazing to me how each artist interprets the scene differently. I miss painting with her, now that we've moved, but we still critique each other's work via email and always have Skype!

Contemplation

2010-06-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Another older pastel - this one of my grandson, Matt, when he was only about six years old. We were at the Miami Zoo and he was munching on a sandwich and watching it intently as he ate it. This little girl walked over to look at something and I took the photo. I was just starting to paint using pastels at the time and just loved the photo, but decided to turn the sandwich into a flower. At the time, I was totally flabbergasted by the background, which was very busy, with lots of trees and a fence and didn't know how to approach that kind of background without taking from the kids. I still have this painting in New York and I keep thinking I'm going to change that green. This one is 20x30

Aspens

2010-06-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to pull some older pastels to post and here's another one done plein aire in Colorado. It's also at The Cottage Gallery in Laguna Beach. I remember trying to get very impressionistic with this - also trying to impart how I felt that day - free, happy to be painting those gorgeous aspens in that gorgeous place. George Inness said that a work of art's "aim is not to instruct, not to edify, but to awaken an emotion." "the real beauty of the work consists in the beauty of the sentiment or emotion which it inspires. Its real greatness consists in the quality and the force of this emotion." He did this so beautifully - I keep practicing, with some success, but not as much as I'd like. 11x14

Aspen Glow

2010-06-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here's another pastel from some years back. I was learning how to lay down pastel and then drip mineral spirits over it to create these wonderful patterns and shapes. This was done plein aire in Colorado. It's 11x14 and at The Cottage Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA.

Desert Destiny

2010-06-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

This pastel was done on pastel board a number of years ago. I was going through some of my old work and decided to post it. I think you can see that I've gotten looser from when I first started. This one never even got framed, although I kind of still like it. We were traveling across country from Florida to California and stopped in Arizona, to see a ghost town. We had our grandson with us and he was a bit grumpy and impatient that day. On our walk to the town, we found this old abandoned car. After I took this photo, we got to the ghost town and it was closed! Didn't make the grandson any happier, I can tell you! This one is 18x24

Rock Island-Sold

2010-06-06T01:07:00.000-07:00

Rock Island is part of Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondack Park. Most people like to canoe out to it and jump off the 30 foot rock into the water below. It's always fun and very scary, because that rock sort of juts out and it's difficult to get up the nerve to jump over that hump. If you have the nerve, it's really exciting and the water is sooooo cold!! "Rock Island" is 8x10

Autumn on the Hudson

2010-06-06T00:58:00.000-07:00

Autumn in New York State is so gorgeous and there is nothing like the changing of colors on the trees surrounding the Hudson River. I've excited that we'll be there this autumn to see this in person again. Sorry for the not so great photo - some light leakage, I think. This is 11x14

Moose River Plains

2010-06-06T00:51:00.000-07:00

Last summer we took our granddaugher, Ava, to the Moose River Plains for a picnic and fishing. It was fun and I took so many pictures. I've just found out that the plains is closed for lack of state funds and that is a real tragedy. So many people enjoy the wilderness, which is unique and not that far from civilization. This painting is 20x30