Frisco Lady

Don't you just love these San Francisco houses? This was done for the Vacations exchange I'm doing on WetCanvas. This is 4 x 6 done in ink & watercolor from one of my own photos.

Chianti Vineyard

This is 4 x 6 and was done in ink & watercolor for the WetCanvas Vacation exchange. I did it from a photo I had taken of the agriturismo we stayed on in Castellina, Italy.

High Road from Taos

Here is another 4 x 6 ink & watercolor that I did for the Vacation exchange on WetCanvas. I use a reference photo that I had taken leaving Taos. I love the rustic barn in the field of dry grasses.

Angel Falls

4 x 6 also done for the Vacation exchange on Wet Canvas. I believe my reference photo was also from Yosemite.

Yosemite View

This is another 4 x 6 done for the Vacation Exchange. I used a photo I had taken when I visited Yosemite about 20 years ago. That park is so gorgeous!!! No matter which direction you look, there is something beautiful to see. I would love to go back!

Building My Castle

This was done for the Vacation exchange that I'm part of on WetCanvas. It is 4 x 6 and was painted at the beach a few weeks ago. I loved the little girl's curly hair.

Snorkel Senorita

This 4 x 6 was also done for the Vacation exchange I'm doing. That is me (the snorkel senorita) in the water. It was my first time snorkeling and I'm glad they suggested using flotation device since we were in deep water in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I enjoyed doing this, especially all the ripples in the water.

Gondola on the Canal

This was also done for the Vacation/Holiday Dreams exchange. It is 4 x 6 and done in ink & watercolor. I combined a few images from my photos of Venice for this one.

Fortress in Old San Juan

I am presently taking part in another WetCanvas exchange with a Vacation/Holiday Dreams theme. This 4 x6 was done in ink & watercolor from an old photo I had taken in San Juan.

At the Wharf

I think this is my favorite of my paintings that I did in Maine. It is 7 x 10 done while sitting on a picnic table at Shaw's Wharf in New Harbor, Maine. It is a lovely spot to paint, but the delicious aroma of lobsters cooking at the wharf was a bit distracting. But as a dedicated artist I didn't let the desire for lobster take over.

Pemaquid Beach

This is a 7 x 10 painting that I did in Maine. This beach is lovely. You can see islands and land far off into the distance, and the rocky shore and trees are perfect to paint.

Marginal Way View

In Ogunquit there is this great path out along the rocks by the ocean called Marginal Way. It is one of my favorite spots there with the rocks and wild flowers. This is 7 x 10 and was done while I sat sunning on the path. Often you can see sailboats heading out and they just add to the charm of the scene.

Ogunquit River View

This is a 7 x 10 painting done in plein air when I was up in Ogunquit, Maine. It is just so scenic there!!

Quiet Cove

I just came back from vacationing in Maine. This 7 x 10 was done in a cove in Bristol, Maine. It is fun to do plein air painting up there since there are so many wonderful views.

Careful Stance

Here is another 4 x 6 of one of the beach princesses. The little kids are priceless at the beach!

My Watch

This 4 x 6 ink and watercolor was done for another WetCanvas exchange that I'm doing..."Vacation/Holiday Dreams." I appreciate all the safety the lifeguards provide to those of us enjoying the beach. I painted this while I was at the beach last week. He looks ready, and strong enough to rescue me!

Beach Ahead

My favorite beaches are those that have sand dunes and grasses. I love the interesting patterns in the grasses, especially the dried leaves and roots. This is 7 x 10 and was painted while I sat in the beach walkway last week.

Special Seat

Here is another 4 x 6 painting done at the beach. I think he needs a Carona in his hand...

Hydrangeas

I've always loved hydrangeas. We had them growing in our backyard as kids, but we always called them snowball bushes. This is 4 x 6 done sitting out in the courtyard of the hotel where I did the "Shady Gazebo" painting. It started raining before I got it as complete as I wanted...maybe that's a good thing.

Playing With Mom

Here is another beach scene I captured. This is 4 x 6 done on a nice sunny day! Enjoy!

Wetting Her Toes

Who can resist a little girl with ponytails and sunglasses? Not me. This is 4 x 6 done at the beach last week.

Contemplating Life

These two women caught my eye at the beach the other day, so I pulled out my 4 x 6 little pad and my small paint set to capture them. Later when they came back to the blanket in front of me, I noticed that the one on the left was pregnant (I couldn't see her tummy from where I was painting her) and found out that they were mother and daughter. I should have called it "Three Generations."

Cherries

I had to try a larger painting (11 x 15) before the cherry season was over. IRL the cherries are darker, but I couldn't get the photo to show the darker colors! Enjoy!

Stranded

I did this 4 x 6 while sitting on the beach last week. I love sketching the children there as long as they can stay still long enough.

Worldwide Sketchcrawl #19 - June 20, 2008

My sister, Michelle and I did the Worldwide Sketchcrawl on Saturday, June 20. We went to Van Saun Park in Bergen County, NJ. Our sketching started with the Bergen County Millennium Carousel which has assorted animals, not just horses. It was fun to sketch, but the carousel isn't designed for artists who are sitting there trying to sketch or paint. It doesn't stop with the same animal in front of you each time, so we kept moving each time the carousel stopped. I got to do one traditional carousel horse and a lion. Next we headed into the zoo, looking for the slower-moving animals to sketch. I did get to do the Greater Rhea (which looks like an ostrich), some Red-Footed Tortoises, an American Alligator, a Great Blue Heron, an American Bison (mine looks like a large furry rodent to me), and some American Elk. We finished up with a trip back to the carousel to do another animal. I picked the camel and finished it just in time because they shut the carousel down promply at 5. Once they put down the solid metal gates you couldn't see anything. All in all, it was a fun day of sketching!

Yellow Umbrella

This is one of my recent small beach paintings. It's postcard sized (4 x 6). I enjoy capturing some of the finer beach moments!

Woods

This is 4 x 6 and was done while sitting on my patio gazing out at the woods. Of course in real life you can see the fence and roofs in the background. It was fun to just paint the woods.

Bridge at the Lake

This is 7 x 10 and was painted at Hecksher Park in Huntington, Long Island. The lake is man-made with a couple of nice stone bridges. I caught the swan passing by. He was on his way back to sit with and protect the female swan who was sitting on their eggs.

Empty Chair

This is about 6 x 6 and was done while I was at the beach last week. There is always something to capture there!

Rhodies

This is 4 x 6 done from one of the bushes on the property where I live. I had to paint the rhodies again before they were gone.

Greenport Porch

This 7 x 10 watercolor was done in Greenport at the end of Long Island's North Fork. At one time this was called "The White Lion Inn" but is now a private home. Either way it looks like a nice place to sit in the shade and watch the world pass by.

Fruit Delights

This is 7 x 10 and was done for the scavenger hunt on WetCanvas. We needed to sketch (or paint) 2 different fruits. I bought cherries for the specific purpose of painting them...eating them will come later. I think they balance nicely with the purple grapes.

Shaded

This is the time of year I get to try my hand at painting lots of people at the beach. Since I spend so much time at the beach in the summer there are constant unknowing models to pick from. This is 4 x 6. I couldn't resist this little girl with her big floppy hat and those big red sunglasses. I just kept hoping she would stay there long enough for me to finish painting.

At the Waterfall

This waterfall was done as part of the WetCanvas "Let's Get Wet!" thread. It is 11 x 15 and was done from several of my photos combined into one painting. I'm happy with the way the splashes and the refelctions came out.

Secluded Pond

This 7 x 10 painting was done at the same arboretum as the last painting. They have gorgeous rhododendrons in bloom there. They even snuck into the pond area making this spot look even nicer than usual.

Pink Blooms

I don't paint flowers very often, but the abundance of flowers this spring has called me a few times. This was done in plein air at the arboretum I've been going to. The rhododendrons have been spectacular. This is 4 x 6.

Vined Porch

4 x 6 ink and watercolor done of one section of the porch on the manor house at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. I love vines that climb and creep along the roof. Tried to capture them while the flowers were in bloom.

Sandy Beach Path

I did this at the beach the other day. It is 7 x 11 and I painted sitting between the dunes to keep out of the wind. I'm always fascinated by the dune foliage and the fences. This particular beach has had such erosion the past two winters. The water is so far up the beach.

Sunlight and Shade

This is my second painting of the historic house on the Longwood Estate on Long Island. It is a pre-Revolutionary war home. The last time I did the right side of the house. I plan to go back and do some of the barns on the property. This is 7 x 10.

Beach Sentry

I did this 7 x 10 watercolor of the Fire Island Lighthouse in plein air last week. I really love lighthouses, and this one is one of the few that I've found that you can get close to from any angle. I did hike about 1/2 mile to get to be right in front, but it was worth the walk.

Over the Rocks

I did this 11 x 14 painting for a class I was participating in on the WetCanvas site where we were doing water. We worked on reflections for a while and then everyone started doing waterfalls. I always found waterfalls difficult to paint, but after reading the tips given by the people in the group, I did two paintings. I was pleased with the way this one came out.

Crimson Fire

This 4 x 6 was done for the WetCanvas postcard exchange. I used a sunset photo I had taken when my husband and I were driving cross country. I love the silhouette of the tree against the colors of the sky.

Seat at the Edge of the Lawn

This 4 x 6 ink and watercolor was done in plein air this weekend at a local arboretum. It looked like a perfect place to sit and contemplate life.

Sunset Walk

This was done for the WetCanvas postcard exchange. My reference was a photo I had taken at Hilton Head, SC. It was actually a sunrise photo. I like the silhouette of the couple walking along the beach...sort of romantic!