Arizona Daily Star, December 25, 2016

Arizona Daily Star, Sunday, December 25, 2016

A wonderful Christmas feature on Tucson artists.

I thought you had to die to become famous - maybe not!

"Pink Roses"

Order a Print

These pink roses will last forever. 

Pastel on dark gray PastelMat

The Green House

"The Green House"

$140

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Plein air palette knife painting on an 8 x 8 inch Raymar canvas panel.

Several of us spent two afternoons in Barrio Viejo, one of the historic 

neighborhoods in Tucson, painting the delightful homes.

 I love the yummy colors. 

Twisted Juniper at Kodachrome Basin

"Twisted Juniper" - $245.

Click to Buy with Paypal

I volunteered at Kodachrome Basin State Park a few years ago and loved 

this twisted old juniper tree which was the view from my RV site. 

The late afternoon light was wonderful on the tree and cliffs.

Palette knife oil painting on 12 x 9 inch canvas panel, unframed.

30 Paintings in 30 Days

Results of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

I actually managed to do all 30 paintings though four are 

missing in the collage above. After spending an

hour with PicMonkey, trying to put it all together, I thought I

was going to lose my mind, so quit while I still had

a bit left.

All but two of my pieces were pastel, usually with an

under-painting of one color, done with Createx water-based

pure pigments. Once dry, I used charcoal on some to scribble

in my composition plan, then brushed on a coat of Golden Acrylic

Ground for Pastels. Pastel colors were chosen ahead of time, and 

once the acrylic ground was dry, I went at it. 

Lots of fun!

"Lost River"

Click to Buy

This one is Day #11 of the 30/30 Challenge.

Soft pastel on 6 x 6 inch Rives BFK. 

Love the textures and how the 

river leads you into the distance. 

"Native Dancer"

SOLD

Soft pastel on 6 x 6 inch Rives BFK

This one was such a joy to paint for some reason -

maybe the colors, which I love.

It reminds me of the feathers and bells

fastened around the ankles of Native American dancers.

I thought the titles were going to be a big problem,

but in most cases they come to me out of the blue

as I finish a work.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Celebrate"

Click to Buy

Day #7 of the 30/30 Challenge - ink, pastel ground, soft

pastel on 6 x 6 inch Rives BFK.

Love how the red under-painting adds texture. 

I'm really enjoying this exercise in abstraction,

though they don't always work out as 

well as this one.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Flirting"

SOLD

Day #6 of the 30/30 Challenge - inks, pastel ground, 

soft pastel on 6 x 6 inch Rives BFK.

You'll notice I've skipped a couple of days - that's because I only feel 

I've been successful about 50% of the time.

The red flecks peek coyly out from the 

green - naming it was easy!

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Nesting"

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Day #3 of the 30/30 Challenge - inks, pastel ground and soft pastel on 

6 x 6 inch Rives BFK.

This one just came together for me - so easy! Wish they 

could all do that. The shape has a protected feel, 

thus the title.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS CHALLENGE

"Basket"

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Day #2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

6" x 6" soft pastel on Rives BFK

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Vroom!"

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Day #1 - 6 x 6 inch pastel on Rives BFK. 

I've decided to do abstracts for this challenge, a genre I have absolutely no 

experience with, so we'll see what happens. The diagonal lines 

show great energy and made me think of

 a motorcycle's roar.

Doors & Gates of the Southwest

"Sweet Poppy"

$100

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The most charming shop entrance in the

 totally charming town of Tubac, AZ.

Palette knife oil on stretched canvas, unframed.

Doors & Gates of the Southwest

Courtyard at Hubbell House

$100

Click to Buy at PayPal

Palette knife oil painting on 8 x 6 inch stretched canvas.

The Historic Hubbell House in Ganado, AZ, was home 

for the family who started the Hubbell Trading Post back in 1878. 

It is now a National Historic Site and well worth a visit if you're ever in that area. 

This little courtyard is so private and peaceful.

Doors & Gates of the Southwest

"Meyer Ave. #2"

$100

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Palette knife oil painting on 8 x 6 inch canvas panel, unframed.

I loved how the gate was just hanging on the hinges - looked like 

it had been there a long, long time. Meyer Avenue is one of most charming

streets in El Presidio Historic District, Tucson, AZ.

DOORS & GATES

Blue & Green Entry

$100

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Palette knife oil on 8 x 6 inch stretched canvas, unframed.

A charming gateway in Encinitas, CA. It spoke to me,

saying, "Paint Me" - so I did.

DOORS & GATES: Disappearing Arches

Temple of Music & Art

$100

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Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch stretched canvas.

There's a mystery here. Where are the arches leading me? 

I don't know, as I didn't follow the path, just 

thought of how I would paint them.

Complementary Colors - Blue & Orange

 

"Bighorn Sheep"

Click to Buy with PayPal

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils.

This was a workshop assignment about using complementary colors.

I used just Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Orange as

you see in the palette above. The two are mixed with each other across

the top, then those are mixed with white going down. 

Beautiful grays and browns result, and, for this painting anyway,

the colors worked perfectly. This particular Bighorn is a

resident at AZ Sonora Desert Museum, and

painted from one of my many photos.

Doors & Gates of the Southwest - Washington Street

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"Washington Street"

$100

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Palette knife oil on 8 x 6 inch canvas panel, framed

​The first in a series of about 27 doors in the series. 

Doorways have always fascinated me - what is behind them? 

This one is on Washington Street, El Presidio Historic District, 

near Tucson Museum of Art.

Doors & Gates of the Southwest - El Presidio Historic District

"El Presidio Historic District"

$100

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Palette knife oil painting on 8 x 6 inch canvas panel.

This door is in what is left of the old fort at the Presidio

in Tucson, and is now almost totally hidden by a tree.

You need to access the ruins through El Presidio

Visitor Center.

Doors & Gates - The Pink Door

"Meyer Street #1"

$100

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Palette knife oil on 8 x 6 inch stretched canvas, unframed.

This charming door is in the El Presidio Historic District of Tucson, AZ.

I loved it the minute I saw it, especially with the straggly 

prickly pears growing in front. 

New Series - Doors & Gates

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"The Eclectic Flea"

$100

Click to Buy

The Eclectic Flea is a re-sale shop in Lost Barrio, here in Tucson, AZ. 

I have always been fascinated by doors and gates 

and had been collecting photos of them for decades. 

Last year I finally decided to paint a series of my favorites.

Palette knife oil on 8 x 6 inches on 

stretched canvas, unframed.

Looking Back

"Cruz #2"

$160

Click to Buy

Another pose by my favorite mountain lion.

Palette knife oil painting on 8 x 8 inch gallery-wrap canvas, 

so there's no framing needed.

The Secret Life of a Tulip

"Rising"

SOLD

The final painting (for the moment) in the Secret Life of a Tulip series. 

Who knew a tulip could be so incredibly sexy?

6 x 6 inch palette knife oil painting on Arches paper for oils, 

mounted on Crescent mat board.

The Secret Life of a Tulip

"Dreamtime"

Click to Buy with PayPal

Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper

for oils, mounted on Crescent mat board.

If you look closely at the interior of a tulip, you will

discover a lot going on. So amazing!

My Favorite Mountain Lion

"Cruz"

$160

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Cruz is the resident mountain lion at AZ Sonora Desert Museum, 

an extremely handsome fellow!

Palette knife oil painting on 8 x 8 inch gallery-wrap canvas with painted sides,

means he's ready to hang, no need for framing.

Orange Flash

"Orange Flash"

SOLD

Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils, 

mounted on Crescent mat board.

 This is my last orange - until next winter anyway. 

Painted using the marbleizing effect. 

I love how the colors fly off in every direction.

Orange Mosaic #3

"Orange Mosaic #3"

SOLD

Palette knife oil painting on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils, 

mounted on Crescent mat board. 

You're probably thinking "this girl is in a serious rut" at this point.

I assure you, there's only one more orange to come, then I'll get 

on to other subjects. They have been so much fun to paint!

Pink Lady - Destroy & Rebuild

"Pink Lady"

SOLD

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper for oils, mounted 

on Crescent mat board. This is one of my absolute 

favorites - using the destroy and rebuild method results in such 

a lovely soft look.

In Honor of Pi Day 2016

"Cherry Pie"

Click to Buy with PayPal

Painted in honor of National Pi Day.

6 x 6 inch palette knife oil on Arches paper,

mounted on Crescent mat board.

Prickly Pear Close-Up

"Prickly Pear Close-up"

SOLD

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 inch Arches paper, mounted

on Crescent mat board. Absolutely love the delicately colored 

blossoms on prickly pear.

Squash, Anyone?

"Squash Trio"

Click to Buy

Don't Move!

"Black-tailed Jackrabbit"

8 x 6 inch palette knife painting on stretched

canvas, unframed.

Why You Should Finish What You Start

"Prickly Pear"

SOLD

8" x 10" palette knife oil on canvas panel, unframed.

Started on site, finished in the studio. I posted earlier versions of

this painting as I worked and have just, finally, finished it this week.

Why should you finish what you start? It feels so good!

Spinning

"Spinning"

SOLD

I get a little anxious with this "destroy and rebuild" technique as I'm never

sure what will happen after I pull a brush through a "finished" painting

in every direction, really messing it up. However, interesting things occur

during the rebuilding process. This one worked, and there's a definite

sense of movement through space.

Broken Color #2

"Broken Color #2"

SOLD

I'm getting good at using these techniques with pieces of fruit, but am

still struggling to do it successfully with other subjects. I'll keep

trying though, as I love the effect.

Painting Progression - Prickly Pear

Yesterday I started a "Self-Study" workshop with Meredith Milstead. It meets 4 Sunday afternoons in May and I've chosen to work on my "unfinished plein air" pile of paintings which is getting rather large. I'm starting with the one I began a few days ago. The top photo is my subject at a plein air paint out with Tuscon Pastel Society at Tanque Verde Ranch. Next is the block-in, value study, done that morning and the bottom photo shows what I accomplished in class yesterday - still a lot to be done, obviously. I'd like to achieve more of a broken color effect on the prickly pear pads, but am not sure I can manage that. 

I'll be working from photos in class, though she prefers we work from life - thus my homework will be studying reflected light, and I'm tasked with painting something each day and sending her a photo - to prove I'm working! It's getting hot here in Tucson, and I'll be working from a still-life setup, so I bought 3 pretty Bartlett pears this morning.

Fractured Orange

"Fractured Orange"

SOLD

This "fracturing" process is one of my favorite things to do. 

The result is like looking through a piece of broken glass, or like stained glass.

Splish Splash

"Splish Splash"

SOLD

I love the effect of marbleizing, with colors spinning off in every direction.

 It doesn't always work this well, but when it does, wow!

Barn Owl

"Barn Owl" - 8 x 6 on stretched canvas

SOLD

I frequently visit the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and one of the highlights there is something called Raptor Free Flight. Harris Hawks, this barn owl, another owl and a raven all fly free and have been trained to swoop in and grab a juicy tidbit (probably a dead mouse) from the handler. This one, with its lovely heart-shaped face, was thoughtful enough to pose for an instant so I could get a picture. It's always a thrill to watch them.

Fractured Granny Smith

"Fractured Granny Smith"

SOLD

Palette knife oil on 6 x 6 canvas panel.

Granny Smith

"Granny Smith"

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Lovely Granny Smith apple - tart, crisp, mouth-watering delicious. And a pleasure to paint. I used manganese blue and cadmium yellow light to get those yummy greens.

When Life Hands You Lemons...

Paint Them! - "Two Lemons"

SOLD!

This is a bit of a change from the splashy style of the

oranges and apples. There must be something about using

lots of different colors that puts me in a playful mood.

"Opal in Gold" 

SOLD

This is one of my favorites - it seems to glow. 

I held the values more carefully this time - didn't splash

the colors around as much. I had never heard

of Opal as a variety of apple before - it's quite tasty.

"Opal in Lavender"

SOLD

I had never heard of this variety of apple before - it was pretty tasty.

6 x 6 palette knife oil painting on Raymar panel.

Orange Crush

"Orange Crush"

SOLD!

6 x 6 palette knife painting on Raymar panel.This one

has a marbleized effect that I really like.