Jen

Jen 18 x 14 oil on stretched canvas  NFS

This is a portrait study of my niece, done as demonstration. Jen is now a grown woman, but this was based on a rather sweet photo of her when she was a young girl. 

Golden Moment

Golden Moment 16 x 12 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD

As the sun moves low in the sky, we have the golden hours of the day. And so this painting -- golden light, golden hair, golden dogs -- altogether a golden moment.

Chippie

Chippie 8 x 8 oil on gessoboard  SOLD

These little guys are irresistible as far as I'm concerned. Gregarious, curious, and quick to recognize the source of a likely snack, they are one of summertime's joys. Whether I'm reading in a deck chair, tending my planters, or pulling weeds, I can count on a chippie popping up to join me. (Of course, my husband and I do encourage this by always having peanuts at the ready.)

Hail, Caesar!

Hail Caesar!  12 x 9 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

An homage to the mighty Caesar salad, with textures and colors as delightful as the savory dressing they concoct. Must paint another and include the Parmesan as well.

Shannon

Shannon 20 x 16 oil on canvas board  NFS

This oil painting of a lovely, fresh-faced young woman began as a demonstration and ended as a finished portrait.

Muskoka General Store

Muskoka General Store 24 x 20 oil on canvasboard  NFS

This painting is based on one of several old general stores to be found around Muskoka's cottage country. Over the years since we moved here, many of these wonderful stores have disappeared or been modernized. Those that have endured are a charming reminder of a bygone era. Selling everything from sunhats to soda, and detergent to dew worms, they remain a popular attraction for summer visitors.

Lyn

Lyn 20 x 16 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD

This is a portrait commission done in oil. With her striking hair and warm skintones, she made a vibrant subject. I particularly liked the way the sunlight caressed the side of her face.

Cayenne

Cayenne 10 x 20 soft pastel on pastelboard  SOLD

This was a fun small work where I used simple strokes to suggest form rather than fiddle with details. I also wanted to push the values, to evoke a warm, languid feel. Somehow the title, "Cayenne" seemed to fit. This is an unframed soft pastel on pastelbord, with an image size that extends a bit beyond this photo to approximately 10" x 20".

Daisy Days

Daisy Days  16 x 12 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD

Gotta love daisies. In summer daisies can be found all over Muskoka, and our backyard is a virtual carpet of them.  Even in the front garden, cheerful bunches of daisies spring up in the lawn and my husband dutifully mows around them. Appropriately, they are the official flower of the town of Gravenhurst, where we now live. This is one of several paintings I've based on candid photos of my friend's daughter.

Summer Berries

Summer Berries  8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

Just some reflections of summer -- shiny, juicy and delicious.

Re-enactor

Re-enactor  20 x 16 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD

This is a portrait of a local history buff and U.S.Civil War re-enactor, who would actually ride his horse daily through town, dressed in either Union blue or Confederate grey. Definitely one of our town's more colorful characters, he often surprised townsfolk and tourists alike when he rode through the McDonalds "drive thru."

Apples and Jug

Apples and Jug  16 x 20 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

At 16" x 20" this is one of my larger still life paintings. The brown pottery jug is a favorite. It has a simple, satisfyingly-balanced form. It also brings a warm earthy touch that contrasts with the jewel-tones of the apples and grapes.

Luscious

Luscious 5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

Nothing tastes more like summer than fresh strawberries. Their aroma alone can make my mouth water.  Problem is, it seems to take me longer to wash and husk them than it does to eat them!  Frankly, this pair were spared only long enough to pose.  They were delicious.

Hello

Hello 12 x 12 acrylic on gessoboard  SOLD

How can you go wrong painting a face like this? Deer are plentiful where we live, and occasionally they wander through our backyard. They aren't very timid, at least at a distance. They just raise their lovely heads, as if to say hello, then carry on munching. Actually they can decimate a garden -- it's just a salad bar to them.  Fortunately for me and my flowers, so far the deer seem to prefer the wilder areas of our yard.