Blog

Welcome to my blog! Although I’ve been sharing back-stories, announcements, and insights online for a number of years, I make no promises since I’d rather be painting than writing about painting any day. Still, I’ll update this area from time-to-time. And so here we are. If you’d like to have future posts show up in your inbox, please visit this page to subscribe. I hope you’ll enjoy what you read here and as always I look forward to connecting with collectors and art-lovers who visit!

collaboration, creativity, events, exhibits, Landscape, ocean, Oil Painting, skies, waterscapes collaboration, creativity, events, exhibits, Landscape, ocean, Oil Painting, skies, waterscapes

Checking In After a Summer Filled with Art Activities

It’s been a while since I took the time to write here, and I have things to catch you up on! What have I’ve been doing for the past nine months? So much… especially on the art front. I’ve been in two different art shows with an exciting group of artists called the 50+ Artist’s Community... meaning everyone in the group is over 50 years old.

I was also a participant in a show at

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challenges, change, collaboration, critique, flowers, learning, Oil Painting, still life, technique challenges, change, collaboration, critique, flowers, learning, Oil Painting, still life, technique

Red flowers anyone? An advantage of painting with oil.

One of the best advantages for me in my art journey is using oil paint. This blog post is about a recent re-working of an oil painting. It was started maybe 7-8 years ago. I found it a while back, cleaning my studio closet. 

Here, to the left, is what the painting looked like when I found it. Well, let me say this: at the time I painted it, I was proud of it. Loved the colors of the flowers as well as the color of the vase. I'd been in a Jim Crompton workshop...

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challenges, collaboration, creativity, emotions, inspirations, learning, Oil Painting, palette knife, process, technique challenges, collaboration, creativity, emotions, inspirations, learning, Oil Painting, palette knife, process, technique

Is it Talent or Learned Skills When it Comes to Doing Fine Art?

I just found this wonderful blog by Carole Ridrigue for you. It's a subject I know I've wondered about and heard other artists talk about, so actually here are two articles for you to read and give....

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abstract, change, events, exhibit, marketing, new, Oil Painting, palette knife, people, studio abstract, change, events, exhibit, marketing, new, Oil Painting, palette knife, people, studio

I've moved my studio to Artmongerz Gallery downtown. Come visit me!

It's said that if you're stuck... just stick around and things will change. Well, I have a change to announce here! A new door opened for me, early October, and I took a big leap. I was interviewed, along with my art, and soon was offered a space....

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abstract, challenges, creativity, flowers, learning, Oil Painting, process abstract, challenges, creativity, flowers, learning, Oil Painting, process

Are we all diverse and inspired artists?

When asked "what do you paint" I always say I'm a landscape painter. Yet, when I take a look back at my iPhoto file of 'My Paintings' I see lots of things, not just landscapes. So who am I as a painter? Well, it's obvious I'm more than a landscape painter. 

When I started out painting I thought I'd be a flower painter. I had enjoyed...

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abstract, announcements, challenges, creativity, events, exhibit, inspirations, new, Oil Painting, process, skies, technique abstract, announcements, challenges, creativity, events, exhibit, inspirations, new, Oil Painting, process, skies, technique

As promised 'A Pale Blue Dot' finished and on display.

As promised, an image of the final painting is included here, at the bottom of this post. BUT I want to tell you something that I'm really excited about, as I've contemplated the progress and completion of this painting. Although my painting is filled with a large expanse of blue, I also included dark at the top and side to represent distant space. And in distant space, nothing shows up clearly. Instead, what does that look like? 

Here's a photograph I found back in December,

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challenges, inspirations, Oil Painting, process, skies challenges, inspirations, Oil Painting, process, skies

In-process painting, inspired by Carl Sagan quote, planned for "Visual Spirituality Show"

My second painting for The Creative Center's "Visual Spirituality Show" isn't nearly as completed as the one in my post Jeffrey Dunne's beach sunrise photo inspired my newest oil painting. Here's what I'm using to accompany this painting, called 'A Pale Blue Dot', a part of a Carl Sagan quote, which will be posted beside it in the show. 

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change, home studio, Oil Painting change, home studio, Oil Painting

I have built a new Winter studio at home

I've build myself a tiny little studio at home. Yep, something I said I'd never do. I said oil paint and my home can never mix because oils are so messy. And I'm a messy painter! Oh, I don't mean to be; it's just that you're in the midst of painting & 'bam' there goes your brush across the room. Or I'm cleaning my brush in turps and it spills someway. Therefore I felt I couldn't bring oil paints into my home. 

Then last winter the weatherman was reporting a storm was moving in and we were going to get 6 to 10 inches of snow and I knew

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