"The Pewter Pitcher"
E-mail Susan about this painting or to purchase for $39.00





This painting of a Pewter pitcher and silver server was my holiday escape! The tinsel and wrapping paper was starting to get to me. I was going to paint another holiday themed piece and just couldn't muster the enthusiasm. My soft, reflective, much loved "stuff" called to me - and gave me a little peace. Polishing this stuff is kind of a Zen exercise.

I haven't been able to get into the studio for a few days so this was kind of nice. The holidays have really put me behind. This sort of disruption gives me cause to think of Duane Kaiser's commitment. I stand in awe of that man. When does he ever clean his house? I'm going to be opening this blog up to comments in the next week or two. Also a note to those of you who have my old web site address as http://www.sparart.net/ - I'm working on a new website which will be ready in a couple of weeks (holidays and power outages permitting). You will be forwarded to the new site automatically. I'll be maintaining both this blog and the new website so you will be able to bid on paintings from either location. I'll have a new domain name and will give you the particulars when that happens. The old one will still be good for several years, though, so no need to worry.

Christmas Ornament

"Swingin Snowman" or
"Leader of the Icepack"
E-mail me about this painting.



L

This is the last of my Christmas Ornament Series. With the holiday just less than a week away, I have lots still to do so I'll be posting less often until after Christmas. This little guy is so big, we often have trouble finding a branch on the tree big enough to hold him. He's all glass and very delicate. His body is pearlescent and I love the way he steals the show. I really think "Leader of the Icepack" fits best but I just couldn't make up my mind!

Roses in a yellow glass petal vase

"The Yellow Petal Vase"
SOLD




This painting of roses is really about the vase. This delicate glass vase has beautifully turned edges - much like a flower in itself. It's quite graceful and often the flowers placed in it take second place to its beauty. This painting is done in a soft realist painterly fashion.

Fried Egg on Delft China

"Sunday Breakfast"
E-mail me about this panting.




How time flies! Seems just yesterday I painted some eggs. Well in honor of tomorrow, Monday, daily painters around the globe, paint eggs. Don't ask me why. But here it is. This painting is of an egg sitting on my good Delft China. If you've been watching my work, you'll know that I have a lot of this stuff and it creeps into many of my still lifes. Lots of thick juicy paint in this picture and I especially like the feel of the cool light coming from my studio window.
Cool light is enticing to painters. The shadows are softer and the atmosphere somehow more immediate. I'm planning a larger piece with lots of delft in it. If I can chase the students out of my studio long enough to leave the set up alone for a week or two.

Reflective Christmas Ornaments in Glass Bowl

"Holiday Toast"
E-mail me about this painting.




This highly detailed pastel is the next in a succession of Christmas paintings. I collected a bunch of bulbs and potpourri (pine cone, nuts, wood curlings, colored straw balls and an ornament or two) and tossed them into this large glass candle holder. The cloth is velvet. Festive - don't you think?
The painting is a standard 9" x 12" and comes with a double cut matt making it easy to frame in a standard size frame. The work is carefully packaged in it's own case so nothing touches the work. The painting is lightly sprayed.

Descanzo Gardens, California Landscape

"A Day at Descanzo"
Email me about purchasing this painting.





This landscape is painted with loose painterly strokes. It has an inviting sense of light. Descanzo Gardens is a favorite destination for gardens lovers in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. It's not far from Pasadena. The path ends at a grand fountain. This painting was painted in an impressionist style.

The colors are rich but depending on your monitor what you see may differ slightly from the painting. The painting is an 8" x 10" which makes it easy to frame in a standard frame.

Silver Tea Pot with Floral Bouquet, 18" x 24"


"Afternoon Tea"
SOLD







Several people have asked me about my pastels and larger pieces. So here you go. This piece is 18" x 24". The opening bid is $99.

This highly detailed pastel is done in the style of Trompe l'Oeil which means "to fool the eye". The actual matt is painted into the painting allowing for me to paint the fabric to appear as if it is falling out of the picture. So it's not really a cut matt. The close up photo at the auction site reveals the careful detail in this painting.

The painting is 18" x 24" and easily framed in a standard size frame. Spacers for providing a 1/4 inch space between the glass and work are included with the painting along with simple instructions on how to use them. It is carefully packaged in it's own case so nothing touches the work. The work is lightly sprayed.

"Balancing Act"
Email Susan about purchasing this painting.




Monday is egg day for daily painters. So in honor of the occasion, I raided the fridge. Eggs are quite difficult to paint. Actually anything white is difficult to paint because in art terms, nothing is white. It's warm white, cool white and all kinds of shades of gray or brown or blue or yellow or orange, etc. in between. So here they are with all their lovely shades. Eggs.

I'll be taking tomorrow, Monday, off in the interest of holiday shopping and mental health. See you Tuesday.

Yellow Tulip Bouquet

"Yellow Tulips"
SOLD





When I first purchased these tulips to paint, I though that I would wait until they wilted a bit as they then make a more attractive bouquet. Sigh. They just wouldn't wilt. Stubborn little buggers. I finally gave up after four days and painted them as is. This painting was done ala prima - in one fast sitting. It has loose brush strokes but maintains a realistic feel.