THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE!

 11X14 OIL PAINTING- "THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE!"  2026

During covid our kids moved in and we created our own family compound with a special very small pod of friends. One activity when we got together was to gather around a campfire in the backyard where there was plenty of space to spread out safely with friends and dogs.

 My favorite muse is my granddaughter: she lights up my life!  In this painting, she stands patiently, focused on roasting the perfect marshmallow. I loved her serious concentration, the strong connecting diagonal and the way she glowed as the fire illuminated her with a warm aura. I haven't done a nocturnal scene in a while so wanted to attempt to capture my memories of our nights around campfires. Our very large backyard is surrounded by woods and wetlands which I suggest as a backdrop for my subject. I wanted to keep the focus on the connection between Elo and the fire, so I eliminated ebackground detail and veryone else. The soft blurred edges of the flames and transparency of the logs contrast with Elo's crisp profile. The cool darks contrast with the warm fire and figure. The blue orange color harmony unifies the painting.

San Francisco-cable cars, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge

 This 16 X 20 oil painting preserves a memory from our July trip to San Francisco for our daughter's and new son-in-law's wedding reception. We stayed at the Mark Hopkins hotel right up the street from this intersection.  From here we took the cable car to the waterfront. The view includes the bay, the bridge, Alcatrz, the hill and the cable cars. I knew this was a spot I wanted to paint! When there were 2 cars I quickly snapped a photo (hoping not to get run over). The cars were always stuffed with passengers and it took several coming to the stop to get up in line far enough to board. I wanted to give the sense of overflowing cars, beautiful weather and the feel of the city. I eliminated a buiding and some of the complex details on them to keep the focus on the cars and to make the composition work. The flags on the building add  color help lead the viewer into the scene. Given the dark days we are experiencing in 2025, I chose a high key palette to brighten up the painting and the mood. Our family time together on this trip is a memory I want to preserve.  I love San Francisco.

Cousins

 James and Emerson are cousins, born 2 months apart. They are inseparable. I did a painting of the two of them running by the Lake in Dillon, Colorado. ( see my April, 2024 post). With both boys in the painting I couldn't decide who should have it so I gave the painting to my brother who is their grandfather. My brother and his wife care for them while the parents work. The family is incredibly close both in proximity and relationships. Then I realized I should probably do a painting of each of the boys for my neice and my nephew. On the right is James out with his parents on a hike in the Rockies. Below is Emerson. His parents opened their restaurant, Wildflower BBQ last year, so I decided to put Emerson in the wildflowers. He loves to help my brother in the gardens. Each setting was chosen to reflect the boys in their natural settings. 

The paintings now reside in Colorado.

Memories preserved at TIMBER COVE

 

12x16 oil

Timber Cove in Jenner, CA is where our daughter and new son-in-law got married. High on the cliffs in northern CA, overlooking the Pacific. they exchanged vows. We stayed  across the cove  in a glass house overlooking the site. The Benny Bufano statue stood clearly silhouetted on the edge of the promontory. (https://www.sebastopoltimes.com/p/the-forgotten-peace-monument-of-the) Visiting the statue and learning about the artist was a favorite experience The beautiful "naked ladies" added a pink accent along the edge of the cliff in our yard. I made watercolor sketches and took several photos to note color and to capture the feeling I wanted to convey. When I returned home I created this painting for them as a gift. I wanted them to have something  special to commemorate their special day. I  was drawn by the diagonals leading the eye from the bright foreground along the cliffs to their marriage setting. The land mass encompassed the bright waters of the cove and Pacific beyond. I gave them the painting for Christmas.

ELO and her Cello

 My granddaughter got to choose an instrument to play when she was in 4th grade.SHe pondered the choice for some time, explored her options and finally settled on the cello. The day she got her cello, she sat on her bed just hugging it. It was cello love.

I like to paint special moments in her life and have been trying to do one each year. This painting is her 2024 version.

I strayed from my usual style somewhat creating an abstract background and a splash of blue on the cello where the rflection was to lead the eye connecting her to the cello. I pushed the warmth of the cello and the shirt color to harmonize with the blues. I like the tilt of the instrument tying together the angles of her arms and legs as they encompassed her new love. I learned that painting a head tilted at an angle is much more difficult than one that is upright. She was delighted when I gave her the painting.

"Cheers-How do you like your Bookers?"

It was a commission conundrum.

 My former brother-in-law's request to paint a Christmas present for his son left me free to choose the subject matter. I was baffled as to what to pick. I hadn't seen him since he was 2 years old. What I knew, I learned from my daughter and Facebook. I knew he had bartended and worked in the liquor industry. 

         When thinking about what to paint for him, I flashed back to my daughter's  3rd birthday: there he was scooping the frosting off her cake before we even lit the candles. She was a little perplexed and the rest of us were cracking up laughing. 

I figured he loved a party then and from what I could tell that hadn’t changed-so “Cheers-how do you like your Bookers?” is my painting for him. 

      I was figuring out my set up to paint with one of our go to favorites-Bookers**, when my son suggested I use the  Mad Men glasses. I agreed they were more fun than the cut glass I had originally put there, so the idea was a bit of a collaboration. The orange is in case you'd like  a Manhattan, but also to create a bit of color harmony.

      I hope he enjoys his painting.

An unusual commission

Usually when people commission me to do a painting, they have a specific idea of what they want. When my former brother in law requested I paint 3 paintings for each of his grown children for a Christmas present, he told me to decide what to paint. He gave me a budget and a time frame. It was freeing, but at the same time daunting. I had only kept in touch through facebook since my divorce almost 50 years earlier.  I had spent a lot of time with them when they were little at Cape Cod. This seemed like the obvious choice for me as it connected us with memories at their grandparents summer home in Brewster.

When I was trying to decide what to paint, I wanted to have two paintings that were  completely different but definitely and completely connected, because that is how I always think of the twins. 

My thoughts of times shared at the Brewster house seemed the perfect choice. The place is so beautiful (like the two of them) and offered great memories as well as many choices for subject matter.

So here are my paintings  of the Brewster beach. This was one of those rare times that low tide coincides with sunset and the flats reflect the light in all it's glory. 

It is a cosmic experience-same night, same beach, two different views. My daughter suggested they could trade the paintings back and forth or even take turns hanging them together.  I hope that they bring joy for years to come.

 

Filoli Rose

On a recent trip to CA, my daughter took us to Filoli. in Woodside, CA. (https://filoli.org/ ) The place was incredible. The history and the formal gardens were captivating.  I knew immediately that I had to paint something to commemorate the experience. My own roses always end up with japenese beetles. The roses here were perfection. SO the decision was an easy one.

I choose to paint looking into the rose itself with it's varying shades of pinks and peach hues and it's highlights and shadows. I cropped it to focus on that particular aspect rather than the shape of the entire rose itself. It was challenging to try and capture the feeling of depth and the curling petals. In the end, it was rewarding to have a little bit of Filoli on  my canvas.

 

My Hollyhock obsession

 This 12x36 canvas seemed to call out to me to paint more hollyhocks. It was during Covid and most of my painting was plein air in my yard or working from photos. These gorgeous flowers growing right by the back door were a no brainer. Because the yard sloped down in back, the hollyhocks stood out against the clear blue sky. Having only a few feet between my subject and my canvas gives an intimate view into the flowers themselves.  I liked the immediacy of the experience, the multiple views of the flowers themselves as they rotated around the stalks and the various stages of development from buds to full blooms. The pink and red flowers allowed for mixing a range of values with a very limited palette. I intentionally let the lower section begin to dissolve into an abstarct area to keep the viewer in the scene. This painting won first place at the Patriot Place  Gallery show. I  am keeping this one  for myself.

Painting Plein Air in the back yard

Painting plein air in my own backyard provides me with multiple possibilities, a convenient setting for taking breaks, and an opportunity to revisit the same spot on multiple days with the assurance that it will remain unchanged. This 18x24 painting, "Standing Tall" was done over several days.  Being able to look into the flowers and see the subtle variations in color is something that can't be done using a photo reference. These particular flowers grow along the edge of my vegetable garden. The woods that are behind provide a deep dark backdrop to the scene. The rhythmic pattern of the leaves and flowers creates a  pleasing path moving the viewer through the painting. The vertical repetition gives a sense of regal importance to these beauties as they rise up tall and impressive along the fence. The reds and greens create a natural color harmony and a warmth to the sunlit flowers. 

 

These Martha Washington peonies grow outside my back door. Peonies are one of my favorite flowers and over the years I have added different varities to my gardens. To me, this variety is one of the most bautiful. During Covid most of my painting was done outside in my yard. This is one of those paintings. The beautiful centers contrasting with the pink petals is part of what I love about these flowers; so I decided to focus on them close up and detailed rather than in a big bunch. The rich red green color harmony and the beautiful texture of the petals stand out against the neutral negative spaces. This painting was recently selected for the Norwood Art association cover photo for their facebook page. The painting sold immediately after I painted it. I set up some paintings on easels in my yard for one of my collectors who was missing coming to the gallery while we were closed for Covid. She immediately picked out this one. She told me my paintings brought her happiness.

I'll Always be by your side

This 16x20 oil painting is dedicated to my brother, Ken, who was always there for me. We grew up with a beach house in Marshfield MA that our grandfather built. Growing up, we spent every summer and most weekends there. When we arrived on the weekends we woud walk to the beach to see what changes happened since our last visit. Walking through the dunes to get to the beach always brought anticipation of what lay just ahead. We never know what lies ahead. We had a shared childhood and he was the only one who knew me since birth after our parents died. I hoped he would get to see this painting, but unfortunately we lost him before that happened. The painting was to be a beacon of optimism. In a way it still is. We had so many great years together and this is a tribute to that now. The path being traveled is symbolic in this painting. We never know what lies ahead.

Boys and their trucks-Pure Joy!

< These best buddies romping through the field are cousins. They love their trucks and their time at Lake Dillon with Grandparents and family. This 16x20 oil painting tries to capture the joy of youth. I eliminated the boats that were up close and emphasized the setting that brings so much joy. The vast space, with both the lake and mountains, brings a feeling of limitless freedom. The midday sun enhances the bright colors and highlights the boys as the main subject-the vehicle of this JOY. The color harmony of the landscape is incorporated in the boys clothing. The trucks, although small, stand out as their colors contrast with the blues, greens and violets. The boys connection is both physical and spiritual. These cousins were born only 2 months apart and have been inseperable. Hopefully that connection will continue throughout their lives.

A Ripple in TIme

At the Hill Lifesaving Museum Juried Show

"A Ripple in Time" 11x14 Oil

 Each year I paint my granddaughter. I love watching her grow and try to preserve a special moment as well as create an interesting painting. We spend a week together on the Cape each summer. She spends most of her days alternating between the ocean and the pool and playing in the sand. The water can sometimes be full of seaweed and she's not a big fan; But on this day the water was crystal clear.

I was drawn to the transparency that exposed the ripples in the sand created by the movement of the water. This was complemented by ripples created by Elouise as she moved through the water. The sunlight was strong and provided perfect lighting. I used many layers and transparent glazes to create the effect that I wanted. 

It will be a gift to her.  Before gifting it, I submitted it to the juried "Sea and Sky" show at  the Hull Lifesaving  Museum. It is one of my favorite venues as it is all about the ocean. The title was suggested by my husband. I loved his title idea because it really expresses the ephemeral quality of such a moment.

The Long Goodbye

"Outbound" 11x14 Oil

Walpole, MA has a beautiful old train station. I have been meaning to paint it for years. That plan somehow kept getting pushed back on my to do list. One day while standing on the platform and watching the train approach, it was the ah-hah moment. I decided I would paint it including the train instead of focusing on just the station This meant viewing it from the platform instead of approaching it as I came up the hill. I may still do that view at some point, but I wanted to include my daughter hugging her friend one last time.  We never know when we may never see someone again and we should always savor any time we have with our friends and family. This hug was one of those moments. I think it is important to keep precious memories alive.
I combined several photographic images to create the composition I wanted. I had to take a picture as the train was moving as it never actually stops with this view. I liked the strong verticals and diagonals that seem to complement the station's angular appearance. The viewer's eye is led to the strong vertical of the figures that is slightly off center. The lines seem to encompass them like an additional hug. 

 

Seacliff Beach Birds Gather together

"The Gathering"
24 X 30 oil painting
Seacliff Beach, Aptos, CA

The brilliant colors that dance across the water and beach  at sunset are tantalizing. The hues vary as the sun gets lower in the sky and finally disappears below the horizon. Once it disappears the afterglow continues to paint a beautiful scene for anyone who lingers. One thing I love is the gathering of seabirds that seem to come out for sunset each evening. In the painting above using a blue orange harmony, I wanted to create a warm and inviting aura with the birds bathed in the warmth of the setting sun. Their casual meandering is calm and unhurried representing a  sense of another day's satisfactory completion.  

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" Seabirds at Sunset"
24x36 oil painting
Aptos, CA

In this version of birds gathering on the beach at dusk, I was drawn to the color harmonies and repetition of the skies  colors in the wet sand. The zig zag diagonals in the wet sand leading to the pounding surf  echo the sounds and energy that I felt in this scene. A large gathering of birds scurried about in the last lit section of the beach taking in the final rays of the January sun. I used a limited palette on a very large canvas. My goal is to achieve a painting that reflects the  multiple senses that are being bombarded at the time; The harmonious colors, the salty spray, the tumultuous surf, the fading sunlight and the wet sand.
 

Walpole's Iconic Dog Rock

                                                                                                                  

DOG ROCK   8X8".   oil painting

For many years a resident has been painting the rock at the bend in the road by the Neponset river. As you come across the bridge, the smiling face greets you. Whenever the paint starts to fade, the resident returns to repaint the rock. During covid, he painted a mask on the dog and this resulted in great controversy as someone took it upon themselves to paint over the mask. This played out over and over during the pandemic as people followed the painting skirmish on social media. One of our gallery artists painted mini masked dog rocks to raise money for the original artist to buy paint to repaint the mask each time.  I brought my grand daughter down to visit the rock as I explained to her the controversy and the rocks historic roots.

The dog now has it's original smile as life returns to pre pandemic levels. I will be taking part in the town's annual Uncommon Art on the Common and  in selecting Walpole scenes to paint, I thought Dog Rock deserved a place on the Common this year.

 

JB's Bench/Bird Park

 Plein Air painting at Bird Park usually means being watched while I work. Passerby often stop to chat,  comment or just watch.  Today was one of those days

“JB’s bench”is a  5x7 oil done Plein air painting at Bird Park this morning. I went with Lisa to grab a bit of the first sort of cool morning in a while after weeks of oppressive heat. As we were painting, a gentleman stopped by, excited to see us painting. It turns out he grew up in Walpole and that the bench I was about to paint is his father’s bench. I went over after finishing and took a photo of the plaque. It felt like serendipity that we picked that spot today. Love to make people smile.

Having spent years visiting the park when I was a child in the1950's & 60's, it is like a magnet for me when it comes to subject matter. I have painted the bridges, gates, pathways and music court. I have painted the old cement benches that were there when I was a child. The trustees have been replacing them with these more modern benches and this is my first  attempt at the new benches. The landscape design with it's meandering paths,  sloping  hills and contrasting mowed and wild areas creates many compositional possibilities. Mature trees, ponds and wild life offer a plethora of choices. Scenes that are primarily greens I find challenging to paint. The red tree on the upper left and the reddish sidewalks helped create a nice color harmony and influenced me when choosing this spot. The water level in the pond was quite low as it  had dried up from the drought. I chose to paint it as I remembered it with the water level up and duckweed floating on the surface picking up the light values in the birch branches further down the path.

I hope you like it!

A Peaceful Oasis

                                                       "A Peaceful Oasis". 16x20 Oil-2022

Summer on Cape Cod can be hectic. There are a lot of tourists and a hum of activity most places. I often go out to catch a good sunset or sunrise and there are many others doing the same thing, cameras in hand and children and dogs in tow. 

There is a little park along Bass River that we walk to where peaceful contemplation is a break from the frenzied tourist scene. In this painting, I wanted to convey a sense of calm and peacefulness that I experience there.  Benches are located at the top of the steps from this little beach. Here one can sit, relax and watch the boats coming in and out from a day on the ocean. Once in a while children come and dig in the sand looking for treasures in the sand. A 1700's Windmill is adjacent to  the benches. If you are so inclined, you can make an appointment to tour the Windmill. This scene is from late August. Orange seed pods have replaced the once aromatic pink beach roses. The horizontal bands in the overcast sky create a sense of calm. The little boats are lined up as though resting and awaiting another day and another outing.

The dinghies are resting. I used subdued colors to enhance the restful feeling. A single boat in the middle ground contrasts with the usual summer congestion. The rocks, boats, waterline and seaweed are used to move the viewer's eye in to the scene.

Salem's Abby Road! First Day of school 2021.

              Salem's Abby Road - First Day of School 2021

              oil painting -24x36

Remote learning was hard and unprecedented in my lifetime. It was especially hard for the students.. As a former teacher myself, I am so amazed at the teachers that persevered through covid, with the daunting task of remote learning and constantly facing the unknown of-“WHAT’S NEXT?” I was in awe of Miss Powers as she provided daily inspiration and love to her students  through it all. I was happy to be retired and able to be there for Elouise. She missed her friends. She missed Salem. 

After 18 months of remote learning and being away from friends and classmates, Elo and her friends finally returned to school in Salem. They were together again-at last!  Elouise and her friends met to walk to school together. The exuberance they displayed and the joy at being together once more was a feeling I wanted to capture. Hopefully, the situation that caused remote schooling,(covid), is in the rearview mirror. Hopefully they will always feel excited to return to school in the fall. The excitement on this day  I felt needed preserving: So I painted it.

An added bonus is Webb Street’s resemblance to Abby Road. Thanks to Don Seiffert for taking his life in his hands to capture the moment with his camera and for sharing his photos of the girls from that morning. Thanks Don for allowing me to take liberties with your photo.  (Sorry to the young man I eliminated. ) The resemblance to the Beatles  Abby Road  album cover was too good to pass up. I changed the colors of the houses for a more harmonious painting. I used  reds to help move the viewer's eye though the scene. To establish a sense of the times, one girl is wearing her mask, one has hers dangling from her wrist and the others have theirs in their backpacks. Little did I know the controversy that would result from the masks! 

I hope to preserve a bit of history for the girls. Each girl (as well as Elo's teachers) received a print of the painting.

I hope this painting brings you a smile. We all need one.