Ocean Dunes on Cape Cod

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

 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

 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

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

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

 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

 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.