Flower Girl

"Flower Girl" 4" x 6" acrylic on masonite

This sweet little girl brings back memories of when my girls were little and wanted to make a wish on the pretty dandelion "flower", but they almost crush it in the process.    I painted this like a watercolor with the lightest light against the darkest color.   Her head pops against the background and her darker dress is set against the light flowers.. and yes, it is bright!

Tiffany Boots

Tiffany Boots, 16" x 16", mixed media papers, acrylic, oil

It is so unlike California to be getting rain in the Spring.  It usually ends around March and I take out all of our cushions outside for the season.   Yesterday, we had such a torrential downpour that all the cars were only moving 35/hour on the highway and that is unusual for sunny California. 

This gal strolling in her Tiffany-colored boots could have occurred on the beach today after the rains and I felt it appropriate that I share her.  I have been working on this painting transforming it from its original form for about a month and I finally am happy with it.

Paige

Paige "24 x 36" mixed media with acrylic

This is the underpainting of a young woman I've known since my daughter and her became close friends in first grade.  She has grown into a beautiful person inside and out, and I asked to use one of her facebook pictures for this painting.  Although I've painted her a bit older than her 20 years, (which I don't know how to control that),  it captures her inner beauty, too. I keep thinking she looks like a country music singer.  :) 

It will morph into something different, when I start adding color,  I'm sure. 

Tulip Joy

Tulip Joy  12" x 12" mixed media

With spring and flowers on my mind, I bribed my daughter, Kristen  to go with me to the Carlsbad flower fields with a visit to the outlet mall right next store and a Starbucks. 

She said I had her at Starbucks!

Pretty as a Rose

Pretty as a Rose, Mixed Media on Canvas 12" x 12"

This painting started out very, very dark gray and morphed into this painting.  I think I'm drawn to light, cheery and textural.  There seems to be a pattern forming here.    Yes, it reminds me of wallpaper, but I still like it.

Seaside Walk - Revised

"Seaside Walk" (revised) 16 x 16 mixed media

Although I was happy with the original "Seaside Walk", seeing it on the computer always helps give me a new perspective on a painting.

The girl's hair from the original was always fighting with her shoulder line so I decided to shorten it and lighten it.  All the colors blend a little better this way.  She also is looking more straight on...once again I had to let go of the original inspo picture of this girl and just make it work for the painting.

The background was softened by adding more paint even though it covered the fabulous paper texture.  As I have told  my friends..."don't get too attached to your background, it might be totally lost in the end anyway".  This painting started out in acrylic and was finished with oil and a palette knife.

You can see my favorite piece of texture, a braille magazine, peeking through.
I love this poem for the painting..

Ethereal girl walking by

On the lonely beach.

Brisk was her pace,

 Her steps were light and airy.

She disappeared into the mist,

I never saw her face. anonymous

Shell Seeker

"Shell Seeker" 16" x 16", mixed media

This is another figurative beach scene painted for my beach series paintings.  This was painted with acrylic paints over textured paper finishing with oil applied with a palette knife.