351. Red, White and Ice Blue

 

'Red, White and Ice Blue'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

Winter is not my jam, but snow can be soo beautiful!

This lovely house is right next to the school in my hometown in Minnesota.

I don't really get attached to my paintings, but this one has captured me.

I'm so happy with how it turned out!

My reference pic was taken last second through the dirty back window of our pick-up as we drove by, so it wasn't great. I gave it a shot anyway, and this time, all the winging-it worked out.

I really love how the light and shadows bounce around and play together.

View auction and bid here.

347. Poolside Bungalow

 

'Poolside Bungalow'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It's Fall for sure, but when I was scrolling through my pics looking for inspiration, this summer scene caught my eye. That tree! I enjoyed the challenge of all that green; and that charming blow-up pool is calling my name. We had one like it when my oldest was two and I was pregnant with my second. 

My toddler and I enjoyed many days of leisure in our own 'bungalow pool', lol. 

Miss you, Summer!

View auction and bid here.

344. On Parade

 

"On Parade"

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

I love the 4th of July parade in our little town. 

This shiny '39 Chevy was a treat for the eyes and a treat to paint. :)

View auction and bid here.

Also, my 2023 art calendars are ready to ship.

Order here.

298. Gauteraux and Co.

'Gauteraux and Co.'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Wallace, Idaho, is a beautiful little town tucked in the mountains of northern Idaho.

We've passed through via I-90 dozens of times, but I don't recall ever stopping there before this summer. It's a gorgeous place, and I've wanted to explore since learning that the movie Dante's Peak was filmed there. (Yup, I'm old.)

My family and I spent a couple hours wandering the streets and shops of Wallace, and this was our last view as we headed back to our vehicle. I just love how the sun is glowing on the hills behind that  wonderful bootmakers sign. So lovely. 

View auction here.

226. Gallantly Streaming

'Gallantly Streaming'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It's July! Time to paint a flag! ;)

Yippee!

I nearly gave up on this one, - I'm wearing some trial contact lenses that my eyes have not adjusted to, and, it's like 114° in my painting corner. Ok, probably only 80-something, but it is HOT. 

We're having an unusually warm summer here in the pnw, and even though I whine with the best of them, I actually kinda love it. 

(Except for the extreme fire danger and drought and all that, of course.) 

Summer is supposed to be hot! :)

So, here's my flag painting - I had a grand ol' time, even with all the extra challenges. ;)

(This flag adorns the retired Coast Guard lightship 'Columbia', now residing at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon.)

I hope you all have a happy and safe Independence Day! 

Click here to bid. 

214. Little League

'Little League'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Hey gang!

I'm trying hard to ignore the too-big number of days since I last posted a painting...ugh.

I have a zillion excuses, but let's pick something fun...I blame Little League. Ha!

Two of my three boys are learning the game of baseball, and even though our very busy calendar is testing my preferred 'homebody-make-no-plans' way of life, I really do enjoy watching them - especially the littlest ones - too stinkin' cute.

Today's painting is a sampling of some other cute little things I collect.

I have always had an affinity for these pin-on buttons - I mean, hello, 1989! 

(My sister Rita had a great collection on her stone-washed jean jacket.)

A few years back I found an old tackle box at a yard sale with a bunch of these oldies in it. Score!

I've blown them up almost three times their size here; that awesome little flag is only a half inch tall in real life.

Thanks for viewing - I missed ya guys!

Click here to bid.

205. Green Light

'Green Light'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Hey!

After enjoying a little break from painting, it always seems to take a few (several?) days of frustration, wiping off, trying, trying again before things seem to jive. 

Those days can be long and rough. (And chocolate-filled.)

Eventually, though, the grrrs turn to grins, I don't hate everything I've ever painted, and, I start to remember what I love about this job. Today was a good day. Whew! 

(Sorry, tend toward the dramatic at times like these.)

Anyway, I found a sunny little scene from my neighborhood to finally get me out of the funk.

With a flag! You know I cannot resist. :)

Ok, here we go, 2015! Paint on!

Click here to bid.

176. Block Party

'Block Party'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

To celebrate our tenth anniversary, my husband and I spent the day doing two of our favorite things; driving around and eating. :)

An hour or two south of us is some of the best farmland in the pnw, and it's one of my favorites places to roam. The day was sunny and warm, and after stumbling upon some rolling fields of drying hay near an old barn stocked with goats, well, my senses were having a party. It brought me right back to the summers of my youth, and made me super homesick for Minnesota.

I love a farm in the summer. :)

This particular barn is one we've seen often; it's right next to the road heading north out of Yamhill, Oregon. 

The sign reads, 'Block Party USA, Yamhill OR 2005'.

sold

118. Rain on Your Parade

'Rain on Your Parade'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

(My no. 13 in the 30/30 challenge.)

Hey gang! Yes, I'm still painting. ;)

 Clearly, I will most likely not reach my goal of 20 paintings in the 30-day challenge, but I am oh-so-ok with that. :)

'Creating' has always been life-giving to me; it spurs me on like nothing else. Because of that, I feel infinitely blessed that I get to chase this dream from the comfort of my home. And, because I'm also immeasurably blessed to have a family, the balance of all these things requires an ebb and flow, win-some, lose-some, one day at a time approach. This day (and the last several), I'm taking it easy. :) We're all a little sick, we're all still adjusting to the school schedule (okay, maybe that's just me), and I'm trying hard to choose my bed over my paintbrush. It's been good - my blood pressure monitor is thanking me. :)

Ok, this little guy - I took this photo several years ago while visiting family in New Hampshire. It was early November, it was rainy and it was lovely. I've yet to visit New England at the peak of fall color - would LOVE to. I get serious east coast envy at this time of the year. ;)

sold

105. Color Guard

'Color Guard'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Ack. This is why I don't paint people very often. They're tough!  

Truth be told, I nearly wiped this off in complete frustration last night, but, after sleeping on it, I muscled ahead, and I'm glad I did.

I could go on and on fiddling with it, but that's enough learning for one painting; -- time to move on! ;)

This scene is from our town's Independence Day parade -- the Color Guard starting things off. Ok, a confession. I cannot witness a passing of the colors or a rendition of our national anthem (no matter how poorly sung) without welling up. Even reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at my son's school assemblies turns me into a puddle! 

Lest you think I'm some sort of super-patriot, I do the same thing watching sports - the younger the players, the more pathetic I am. Don't let your small children go scoring any touchdowns or baskets 'round me, - I'm likely to burst into tears. :)  

Seriously, though - this sight at the parade brings all to their feet, as it should; - respect shown to the flag and those who carry it. 

Grateful.

sold

101. Star Chief

'Star Chief'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Our small town has a parade on the 4th of July - I captured this scene this year. The weather was perfect and my boys got a lot of candy. ;)

This 50's Pontiac Star Chief was just glowing in the sun - and, of course - you know I looove to paint the American flag. 

I have many treasured parade shots from over the years --  can't wait to paint more of them!

sold

95. Banner and Horn

'Banner and Horn'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Yay, the weekend is here.

Enjoy. :)

sold

94. Star and Stripes

'Star and Stripes'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Same pinwheel, with the addition of a vintage flag.

I did a little painting of another sort with my boys this afternoon.

I have fond memories of finger painting when I was their age - great fun!

(I'm 'noraellen23' on instagram)

93. Pinwheel

'Pinwheel'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Red, white and blue all over my palette this week;

 hope you're feeling as patriotic as I am. :)

sold

87. Cougar Pride

'Cougar Pride'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Sometimes I just love getting lost in the details. :)

This is my first grader's school and I thoroughly enjoyed painting it.
'Specially that American flag - love, love to paint the flag. 

And, I'm very glad I spent some time staring at it after calling it quits last night - something wasn't quite right. I finally realized that the stripes were paying tribute to two extra colonies! Considering this is a donation to the school's fundraiser auction, I should probably get the flag right. 

Well, almost right, - don't try counting those stars. ;)

60. Old Glory

'Old Glory'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

This lovely church is right around the corner from our house.

I have photographed it dozens of times, but recently I captured the late afternoon winter sun making some really great, long, shadows. 

I borrowed from one of last summer's pics for the flag - it is not currently flying. 

My almost-five-year-old astutely pointed out that it was missing from my reference photograph. That made me smile because usually he and his older brother pay very little attention to what I'm painting. :) 

sold

46. New England Patriot

'New England Patriot'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Foggy November day in New Hampshire.

I took this photo years ago - maybe even a decade -- and it's been waiting patiently in my 'painting ideas' folder. 

Today, it called my name, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

A flag on a building - two of my very favorite things to paint.

not for sale

34. Astoria Trolley

'Astoria Trolley'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

I like this one. A lot.

Especially the bell on top.

Happy Friday!

sold

20. June 14

'June 14'

6" x 6" 

Oil on gessoboard

Hmmm, another flag. 

They've really captured my attention.

Happy Flag Day!

19. Whose Broad Stripes

'Whose Broad Stripes'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

A few Memorial Days ago; saluting the brave.

A slow start this week - being tired makes it very hard to get in the groove!
I tried and gave up on a handful of other subjects before finally settling on this one. I rediscovered this photo from five (or so) years ago and thought it would work nicely for the Stripe Challenge on Daily Paintworks.

This was so much fun to paint and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. The stars on the biggest flag were the most difficult part - super challenging to keep a star just the right amount of 'loose'.

It's so exciting when a painting comes out relatively close to how I imagine -- really spurs me on to the next. I love this kind of learning!