17. Last Light

'Last Light'

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

This charming church is right around the corner from us - I have photos of it in nearly every light and weather condition. 

This light is one of my favorites.

After a solidly gray day, the sun drops below the cloud layer and momentarily highlights the land with warm, orange light. 

Long, deep shadows and brilliantly illuminated trees and rooftops. 

A lovely goodnight.

SOLD

16. California Poppies

California Poppies

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

Did I mention that I bought new paint? 

Frugal-me was trying to use up my starter stuff before I moved on...but I kept getting frustrated. Ack! Why did I wait so long? 

This stuff is amazing -- and actually quite frugal!

I literally just copied (the amazing) Carol Marine's palette -- took my list to Utrecht and am now a very happy camper!

As a novice with oils, I had no idea where to start - Carol's tutorials on DPW have been invaluable to me. I especially appreciate the 'My Materials' one - if you're interested in oil painting and are clueless like me, I HIGHLY recommend.

Anyway, today's painting...I love, love, love California poppies. Yesterday, I snapped a few photos of them beaming at the incredible blue sky.

 They make me smile. :)

SOLD

15. Dusk on top of the World

Dusk on top of the World

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

A couple of summers ago, my husband and father-in-law rebuilt a washed-out road high up in the Willapa Hills of western Washington. 'Hills' being a grand understatement in this flat-lander's opinion -- the highest ones are over 3000'! 

I took our two (at the time) little boys up to visit the job site  - the drive would have been harrowing were it not a bright, beautiful August day. Once we arrived at the peak of this knob, the views were incredible -- we were, for sure, on top of the world. :) 

We stayed through a beautiful sunset and then my kind husband drove ahead of us back down the 'hill', so I didn't have to navigate in the dark. 

SOLD

14. Finnish Glass (Iittala) Votive Holder

Finnish Glass (Iittala) Votive Holder

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessoboard

Got new paint! 

Happy Birthday to me.

:)

Can't wait 'til tomorrow to play with it some more.

13. Jar, Blocks and Hymnal

Jar, Blocks and Hymnal

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

The morning sun through this frosted window is just so pleasant -- 

I grabbed a few things and tried to capture it. 

Adams Peanut Butter jar (partially filled with water), some of my baby's blocks behind it and all resting on an old hymnal.

The toys and hymnal are vintage, well used and loved -- my favorite sort of thing, and I have a strange fascination with those peanut butter jars! They're just so simple and substantial and sturdy. When the PB is gone, I use them to store raisins and other snacky things. And brushes and pencils and whatever I can find. It just kills me to let one go to recycling! I like 'em a lot. :)

12. Truck Shop

Truck Shop

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

In our small town, this shop built into a hillside is one of my favorite structures. A local logging company uses it for maintenance on their trucks and equipment. This is the narrow end, it continues to the right with half a dozen doors of varying sizes, all in a lovely faded red.

It reminds me of my childhood on the farm.

sold

11. Zero Fan

Zero Fan

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

I love these mid-century fans. This is not the first attempt I've made, and I'm sure it won't be the last. The shiny-shadowy-complexity is super challenging and (mostly) so much fun.  

This time around, loosy-goosy was the goal, but it was still difficult to put the brush down. I could easily get carried away and avoid all other responsibility for days. 

But, on to the next. Whew!

SOLD

10. Tomato, tomato

Tomato, Tomato

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

I have a small collection of vintage hand/shaving mirrors that I love - the less refined, the better. This is one of my favorites.

Even though the shocking red tomatoes jump right out and grab ya, I can't stop looking past them to the shadows. I'm kind of diggin' 'em.

9. Upright Fork

Upright Fork

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

A little change of pace today. 

Painting as quickly as I can and trying not to get too fussy.

What do you think?

SOLD

8. Milepost 75

Milepost 75

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

A little more blue sky in May...

In May of 2010, my husband and I went on a weekend road trip in Washington state for my birthday. This painting is based on a photo I took as we headed east on I-90 and waved goodbye to the rain.

I actually really like gray and overcast, but nothing beats a deep blue sky with lots of fluffy, white clouds.

7. Mt. Hood in May (Re-do)

Mt. Hood in May

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard

Yay, May!

So nice to see blue skies a little more often.

This painting of Mt. Hood was inspired by a photo I took in May of 2009.  

The view is from the east, a side of the mountain I rarely see.


Update:
So, shortly after I photographed this painting, it took a nosedive onto my front step. In the process of 'fixing', I changed it up a bit.

Here's how it looks now: