Monday, August 31, 2015

Mary McBride

Mary McBride 10 x 16 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD
It's a great source of pride to me that I have eight historical portraits permanently installed in the town hall of Gravenhurst, the small Muskoka town where I now live.  Among them is this painting of Mary McBride (1880-1965). She looks a bit stern here, but was apparently much-beloved by her students. Born in Muskoka, Mary taught for 50 years, beginning in 1899 and continuing until her retirement in 1948.

Gravenhurst's first schoolhouse was built in 1864. It was a one-room log building and its seventeen students sat on rough wooden planks.  The young women who taught in such schools were pioneers indeed.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

How D'Ya Like Them Apples?

How D'Ya Like Them Apples? 8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD
Thanks to a miserable summer cold, I've been away from my easel for what seems like ages. Just so I'm not totally forgotten, I'm posting a little still life that sold from a gallery. Hope to be back in 'real time' soon!

Friday, August 21, 2015

One For All

One For All 5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD
This little painting of three cherries is a companion to yesterday's 'En Garde.'  Their stems really do seem to be indicating the musketeer's refrain of "all-for-one-and-one-for-all."

Thursday, August 20, 2015

En Garde

En Garde 5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD
These two cherries really appeared to be 'crossing swords' and ready for a duel. I just love painting the luscious deep tones of cherries.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Dessert

Dessert  8 x 10 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD
The past few days have been a little zany, so today I'm posting a piece from my archive. It does remind me, however, how much fun pears are to paint. I'm working on some new paintings and  promise some fresh postings soon.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Seated Nude

Seated Nude 24 x 14 soft pastel on Canson paper  NFS
For a period of time I worked a great deal in pastel. This rather large classic nude was one of the pieces I've kept and it hangs in my studio.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Thomas Greavette

Thomas Greavette 16 x 20 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD
Before joining DPW I had spent a good deal of time on portrait work. This is one such example. Thomas Greavette was an internationally-renowned builder of classic boats. His portrait is one of a group of eight that I painted from small, grainy, black and white archival photos. The paintings depict individuals who shaped the early history of Gravenhurst, which is the Muskoka town my husband and I moved to several years ago. I'm very proud to have these portraits permanently installed in the town hall.

Sunday, August 09, 2015

Vino Classico

Vino Classico 18 x 14 acrylic on canvas  SOLD
This is one of my larger gallery pieces. I really enjoyed painting the reflections in and on the wine bottles, as well as the varying light that danced through the rich dark grapes.

Thursday, August 06, 2015

Green Trio

Green Trio 8 x 10 acrylic on canvas  SOLD
This is a small demo painting. One of many of my still life pieces that features a favorite brass bowl.

Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Summer

Summer 12 x 9 acrylic on stretched canvas
It's summer at the lake and nothing beats the wild abandon of leaping off a dock. Life at the cottage is all about joys such as this.

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

James McCabe

James McCabe 20 x 16 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD

This is a historical portrait now residing in the Town Hall of of Gravenhurst, where I now live. It is one of eight portraits that I painted using only small old black and white photos as my reference. James McCabe is believed to be the very first settler in what is now the Town of Gravenhurst,Muskoka, Ontario. For a time, in fact, the town was named McCabe's Landing.