346. Straw Pile

 

'Straw Pile'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

A county fair will always bring me right back to my childhood.

I brought a couple of my boys to our county fair last week, and we had a great time hanging with our friends and doing the fair things.

This sweet pile of straw was hanging out behind the pretty 4-H barns.

Just a pile of straw in the sun. Love it.

View auction and bid here.

Bethesda Terrace

 

'Bethesda Terrace'

6" x 8"

oil on gessoboard

A few months ago, my family and I celebrated my birthday by visiting New York City.

We had an incredible trip and I can't wait to return.

This scene is from our time in Central Park.

We were walking slowly; resting our feet after hours of speed-walking those mean Manhattan streets.

Late March was mild and sunny; the little hills of the sparsely populated park unfurled quietly on our way.

As we approached Bethesda Terrace, lilting music bloomed through her arches and drew us in.

I'm sure I've never heard one before, but the sound of the Erhu is now etched permanently into my memory. My ears were captured; my eyes were agog. I stopped to listen and take some photos of this beautifully set scene. I grinned. My family walked on and I paid no attention. 

And, true to form, I had a few errant cynical thoughts...maybe he isn't even playing...maybe there's a hidden speaker on the other side, lol.

I smiled even more and laughed at myself.

Cheesy tourist set up or not, who cares. It was a delight.

Well done, NYC.

View auction and bid here.

Thanksgiving

 

'Thanksgiving'

12" x 12"

oil on gessobord

My grandparents peeling potatoes together before Thanksgiving dinner.

I painted a quick version of this several years ago and always wanted to give it another go.

It was very difficult, but I am so happy with how it turned out.

This painting was one of my contributions to the auction at our recent family reunion.

(not for sale)

Auringonlasku (Sunset)

'Auringonlasku' (Sunset)

12" x 12"

oil on gessobaord

The sun sets beyond my grandparents' farmhouse in rural Minnesota.

This painting was one of my contributions to the auction at a recent family reunion.

(not for sale)

 

345. Two Number Twos

 

'Two Number Twos'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

My last painting of 2022!

You know I love me a Ball jar, especially the blue ones, and this (mini) 'bouquet of newly sharpened pencils' is all ready to tackle the New Year. :)

Thanks, friends, for another year of cheering me on.

You're the best! 

Happy New Year!

View auction and bid here.

** I still have some 2023 calendars available. Order 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.

343. Sweet Stripes

'Sweet Stripes'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

One of my favorite candies this time of year. Or any time. :)

View auction and bid here.

My 2023 art calendars are available now!

Order here!

$25 plus shipping.

 

342. Canyon Colors

"Canyon Colors'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

This is another scene from our hilly little town. 

I drive this narrow, curvy road often and two things always stand out; -one, the incredible view of the ridges layering down the canyon, and, two, why are there no guardrails?? 

To be fair, as a flatlander/snowy winter kid, I say that ALL the time in this part of the country. 

(I've been in too many cars sliding into too many ditches, lol.)

View auction and bid here.

Also, my 2023 calendars are in, check them out here!

 

341. Goodnight, Rocks

 

'Goodnight, Rocks'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

The sun had set, and dusk was reflecting in the rocks of the Umpqua River in Southern Oregon. This one was really fun to paint. 😊

View auction and bid here.

My 2023 art calendars are here. Check them out!

340. Street Racer

 

"Street Racer"

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

Last winter we had a generous dumping of snow in our corner of Oregon.

This a scene from that week; - one of the neighbor kids taking a run down our 'main street'. 

That snow stuck around for a few days and we thoroughly enjoyed it while it lasted. I especially love how it changes the sound; it's so quiet! And the light; - so much more light bouncing around! It's a remarkable interruption of our typical dark green/gray winters. I will never miss the extreme cold of the Minnesota winters of my youth, but there is so much beauty in the snow and I appreciate getting a taste of it here. Just a taste. ;)

View auction and bid here.

This painting will be one of twelve featured in my 2023 painting calendar.

The calendars are on their way to me, and I plan to start shipping them out early next week!

    Click here to pre-order.

($25 + $5 ship.)

339. Road to Monument Valley

 

'Road to Monument Valley'

6" x 6"

oil on gessobord

Another scene from our summer road trip. 

This view will forever make me grin because we only saw it thanks to a last second turn off our intended route. We went from dozing to dazzled, and this little corner of Utah quickly became a trip highlight. (Even if the youngest son is still a little disappointed we didn't make it to Four Corners, lol.)

We came through Monument Valley from the south, so this viewpoint was in our mirrors as we headed east toward Colorado. A sign alerted us that we were approaching "Forrest Gump Hill", and we gladly joined the other tourists darting in and out of the road to capture the scene. So majestic!

PS, I'm working furiously to finish up my 2023 calendars, so watch for them coming soon!

View auction and bid here. 

338. Howdy Hotel

 

'Howdy Hotel'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

This one was just fun from start to finish.

A road trip sunset over the Howdy Hotel in Forsyth, MT.

View auction and bid here.

337. All Aboard

 

'All Aboard'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Silverton, Colorado; another beautiful and historic stop on our road trip.

This 1880's steam-powered locomotive runs daily from Durango to Silverton in the summertime. 

A stunning ride, I'm sure. Maybe next time we'll take the train!

View auction and bid here.

336. A Grand Old Time

'A Grand Old Time'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It's been a few years since we road-tripped to Minnesota, but we recently made the jaunt via Nevada/Arizona/Colorado. It was the 'long way' for sure, but so worth the swollen feet and 63 hours of driving. We've been road-trippers forever, so my boys are well-practiced, and let me just say, traveling with older kids is dreamy. They pack/feed/entertain themselves without (much) fighting or complaining, and I rarely carried more than my pillow. We saw so many amazing things, but the sweetness of just being together will forever dominate my memories. I will not look at a pic from this trip without smiling at the thought of my entire clan teasing me for repeatedly describing things as, 'Wild! That's wild!' Oh, the irony and mockery when I insisted that one of my children find different words instead of blurting, 'I don't know', when asked to make a decision about anything. Good times, lol.

This was one of my favorite scenes from the Grand Canyon.

We arrived at the South Rim about an hour before sunset, and it was delightful.

View auction and bid here.

 

335. Praise For the Morning

'Praise For the Morning'

6" x 6"

Oil on gessobord

I'm not actually a morning person, but when one must be up with the sun, there is much to be appreciated. 

This eastern view is just around the corner from us, and I've painted a few versions of it before. 

For now, this is my new favorite. 

View auction and bid here. 

334. I See Right Through You

'I See Right Through You'

6" x 6"

oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Hi, friends!

We're in the heart of baseball season and I somehow managed to finish a painting!

Feels good. :)

This lovely lady is aging gracefully in the farm country just south of us. 

I couldn't resist her transparency. ;)

View auction and bid here.

 

333. Eye Candy

 

'Eye Candy'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

My annual attempt at a glass jar painting.

It's always a fun challenge. :)

View auction and bid here.

Also, my 2022 calendars are ready to order!

Here are the paintings included...

($23 + s&h)

Click here to view and order.

332. Fall's Filter

'Fall's Filter'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

 Fall is not my favorite season, but it has its delights. 

I love how the fog makes a familiar landscape feel just a little dreamy.

View auction and bid here.

 

Camera Phone

'Camera Phone'

12" x 12"

oil on gessoboard

Just a couple of old friends hanging out.

(Painting is bigger than my usual.)

View auction and bid here.

 

331. Broad-side Blush

'Broadside Blush'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Honestly, I was driving by and held my phone up towards the passenger side window and just hit the button a bunch of times without even looking. Flipping through my photos later, this one jumped out at me. It was a beautiful warm day; - very sunny, very shady. But, the shadowy side of this tall lady was totally blushing with reflected light. I had to try capture it. I just want to pull up a hammock under that tree and watch it glow. Kinda missing summer today. 

View auction and bid here.

 

330. Gorge Glow

'Gorge Glow'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

I started this one in May, and then, well, three boys in multiple sports took over our lives and it was a crazy-busy-good time. They are all back in school now, so it feels like I can fit some painting back into my life! Yay for me, yay for them.

This scene is from the incredible Columbia River Gorge. The sun is getting low in the western sky, and the deep canyons of the gorge give us an ever-changing light show. I know cars and freeways aren't necessarily beautiful, but especially in a scene like this, I think they balance the 'pretty' with 'real', - just like life, right? And, they provide needed scale for those massive ridges. Stunning, always.

View auction and bid here.

329. Summer Gold

'Summer Gold'

6" x 6"

Oil on gessoboard 

I live in an evergreen part of the world, and it's still amazing to me to have green grass all winter long. All that lusciousness makes gray, cloudy winters completely tolerable, - enjoyable in fact! (Maybe because I'm still comparing it to the frigid Minnesota winters of my childhood. 😉) 

Green, gray, white; I appreciate all the shades of winter, - but the warm hues of summer are my favorite. This little scene is August in our neck of the woods. Golden fields, hazy purple ridges, blue skies... Aah, summer. ❤

View auction and bid here.

328. Goodnight Clouds

'Goodnight Clouds'

6" x 6" oil on gessoboard

I've painted this scene a few times over the years, and I wish I could say it gets easier.

Hopefully the end result is a little better each time. :)

View auction and bid here.

 

327. Cock-a-doodle-doo

 

'Cock-a-doodle-doo'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

A scene from the Columbia River dikelands near our town.

The wide Columbia River is somewhere off in the distance, and on this particular early morning, a huge bank of fog and clouds lingered heavily over it. 

I love the dramatic backdrop it made for this sweet little barn; delightfully lit up by the first rays of sun.

View auction and bid here.

326. Campfire Ahead

'Campfire Ahead'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Hi friends! Long time no see!

This is a little scene from my sister's yard a couple of summers ago.

I'm looking forward to many nights like these ahead. :)

View auction and bid here.

 

325. Welcome Home

 

'Welcome Home'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

We drive through the state of Montana at least twice a year on our way to and from seeing my family in Minnesota. Our drives seem to always coincide with temps below zero or above 90 degrees. I'm sure you can guess which one I prefer. :) For some reason, I just LOVE getting out of an air-conditioned vehicle into very hot, sunny air. Anyone else?

This was one of those very hot days, I think in 2019. We stopped for fuel in a tiny non-truck-stop town, and I wandered around for a bit admiring the vintage architecture. This little house with its perfect porch and glowing shadows just made me smile. 

I enjoyed re-visiting those memories, and trying to capture the warmth of that day in this scene.

View auction and bid here.

This was the last painting I completed before arranging my 2021 calendar.

Click here to view and order. :)

324. Light in Shining Armor

'Light in Shining Armor'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It's been two years since I've attempted a vintage canning jar, and I think this is my best one yet! 

Every new painting, I set up my palette with hopeful anticipation and think, 'this is gonna go smoothly, I'm gonna sail right through!'. Ha! Nope, nope, nope. Never happens. 

Thankfully, it's not all frustration and despair, - there were many moments of triumph along the way. 

Enjoy!

View auction and bid here. 

 

323. Anticipation

 

'Anticipation'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

I've painted this scene before, and it was a disaster, so I thought I'd give it another shot.

Still incredibly difficult! But, I think I did a little better this time. :)

Summer afternoon in Minnesota.

View auction and bid here.

322. Dirt Road Daydreams

'Dirt Road Daydreams'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It was August of 2012, the sun was shining and we were on our way to a wedding.

A little dust was kicked up and the sun did all the rest. 

Dreamy. 

(The wedding was just as lovely.)

I've wanted to paint this scene for eight years, and I finally had the nerve to try.

I'm pretty happy with how it came out! 

Enjoy.

View auction and bid here. 

321. Blue Moons

 

'Blue Moons'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Hi friends! 

I guess in 2020, I can only paint once in a blue moon. ;)

These cute little fellas were very challenging, but I'm happy with how they turned out.

Enjoy!

View auction and bid here.

320. Better Mornings

'Better Mornings'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

December morning.

Fog and sun, my favorite couple.

And, of course, I love how the powerlines add interest and scale.

To better mornings ahead.

View auction and bid here.

319. Sundays of Summer

'Sundays of Summer'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

A scene from Oregon's lush farm country.

Thinking of summer and brighter days ahead.

View auction and bid here.

318. Over and Above

'Over and Above'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

The St. John's Bridge in Portland is just my very favorite. :)

View auction and bid here.

317. Gorge Sunset

'Gorge Sunset'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Happy New Year!

We all had a lovely, restful winter break, and my boys and I are back in the swing of school and basketball and my 'other' job, substitute teaching. Well, until today, that is, - it's a snow day!

Snow is rare in our town, so it makes everyone a little giddy. I love the enthusiasm. :)

My favorite part of snow is all the reflected light bouncing around. We get pretty used to gray skies in the winter, but the brightness of snow and today's sunny skies are a boost I didn't know I needed.

It's wonderful!

This scene is from a drive to my sister's house in the Columbia River Gorge. This is the town of Stevenson, WA, - those lovely hills across the river are in Oregon.

Enjoy!

View auction and bid here.

316. Let it Snow

'Let it Snow'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Apologies to those of you already over it. :)

We haven't had snow here yet, so instead, I made a few paper snowflakes. 

It's one of those mindless creative activities that I find soothing and nostalgic this time of the year. 

I painted a couple paper snowflakes several years ago and thought it'd be fun to try again.

Enjoy!

View auction and bid here.

315. Chillin'

'Chillin''

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

A little scene from last winter in Minnesota.

I love that round bale just perfectly frosted with snow.

View auction and bid here.

314. Fangirl

'Fangirl'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It's been a few years since I've attempted one of my vintage fans.

I'm really happy with how it came out!

Enjoy!

View auction or bid here.

313. Let's Skip!

'Let's Skip!'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Hey friends!

This is a re-try, - my first attempt was a disaster!

This tree-lined street is in Longview, Washington. It is beautiful year-round, but especially in the fall.

I'm much happier with this go 'round, although I'm not sure why I always choose such difficult scenes after an extended painting break. (In my defense, difficulty is not necessarily predictable. :) )

Thanks for watching my work, - hopefully they'll be more of it to see soon!

View auction and bid here.

312. Morning Glory

'Morning Glory'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

From last summer in Minnesota, - my sister's yard in the morning.

Sun and fog and puddles and those trees! Glorious!

That sister and I were up early to bring another sister to the Minneapolis airport.

We mourned her leaving with a little retail therapy, - Ikea, Target and Chick-Fil-A. :)

View auction and bid here.

311. Don't Blink!

'Don't Blink!'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Another barn face staring me down. :)

This guy is very intent. Or just bored?

View auction or bid here.

310. Snappy

'Snappy'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

These mini-snapdragons have been begging to be painted all summer.

Enjoy!

View auction or bid here.

309. Hang Time

'Hang Time'

5" x 7"

oil on gessoboard

Yellow lawn chairs, just chillin'. :)

Spotted at the lovely Suttle Lodge on beautiful Suttle Lake in central Oregon.

This state is jammed-packed with gorgeous places, but for this Minnesota girl, nothing is so wonderful as a lake. Suttle Lake feels like home.

View auction or bid here.

308. Cherry on Top

'Cherry on Top'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

This is the Umpqua River Light, standing proud near the mouth of the Umpqua River on the southern Oregon coast. She's a beaut. I painted this one several years ago, and it's fun to see how my methods have changed.

Here's my 2013 version: 

Maybe I'll paint it again in six years. :)

View auction and bid here.

Crimson and Clover

'Crimson and Clover'

8" x 12"

oil on gessoboard

Hi!

It's summer, and I finally found some time to paint!

I live in a lovely, very hilly part of our state. It is stunning. 

But, the Minnesota farm girl in me sometimes has cravings for wide open spaces. 

(I just want to see the sun actually set, is that asking too much? ;) )

On Mother's Day, my sweet husband took us on a jaunt to the beautiful farmland about an hour to our south. The crimson clover was blooming and it was so cool. We spent the whole day wandering back roads and taking photos. I loved it! (Even the bored back-seaters didn't complain. Too much. :) )

View auction and bid here.

Peter Iredale's Sunset

'Peter Iredale's Sunset'

18" x 10"

oil on gessoboard

The sailing vessel 'Peter Iredale' ran aground on the northern coast of Oregon in 1906. The crew of 27 were all rescued, and the ship sustained minimal damage. Before it could be towed safely back to sea, the ship became embedded in the sand, and the Peter Iredale was there to stay.

My family and I love to visit what remains of old Peter; this is a sunset scene from a few winters ago.

(This painting is my donation to the annual fundraising auction at my boys' grade school.)

Enjoy!

307. Meet Me in Montana

'Meet Me in Montana'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

Much of my painting inspiration comes from photos taken on our road trips to Minnesota.

My husband does most of the driving, and I chill in shotgun position watching the scenery. I always pack some sort of reading material or activity for myself, but inevitably spend most of my time taking and editing pics on my phone. (And handing out snacks to all four of my guys. So many snacks! :) ) 

I just love these family road trips and the memories we make along the way.

This is one of those road trip scenes, captured last summer as we cruised back home through a sunny and very hot Montana. (I love hot Montana.) I google-mapped it when I finished the painting and found this little gem is Snook's Diner in White Sulphur Springs. Enjoy!

View auction and bid here.