Eta

4 x 4" original oil

sold

I'm off to Missouri for my baby sister's wedding. When did she grow up? I remember taking her to see the premier of Little Mermaid with a friend from school. I had to wake her up and get her out of her crib. I love her and I'm so happy for her and can't wait to see her in a bridal gown. I will have tissues handy. 

Mandarin

 

23 x 23" original oil

sold

I have finished this latest painting of some tulips from last years Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival. I remember finding these tulips and being so excited to paint the ones with the red stripes. The color palette of this painting reminds me of an old restaurant in town where I grew up where my family would eat Chinese food. There was a lot of dark, lacquered wood as well as little red lanterns and yellow lights. Even the tulip going out of the frame on the upper left edge reminds me of an open parasol illustrated with a Geisha. 

I plan on having this painting in my upcoming show in Salt Lake on November 8th. Click here for some more details.

The easiest parts of this painting were the red stripes . The most difficult was the white blossom. Whites are such chameleons.

Mandarin: Part I

This is a 23x23" oil painting in progress titled Mandarin. It's dramatic with great light. I can't help myself. The blurry background will work in the end, but for now it weighs too much. As soon as I add the yellow tulips with the red stripes down the petals, it will all balance out.

Lavender & Lace

17 x 17" original oil

sold

There is a little place to stay in Manti, Utah that is a lot like the Anniversary Inn of Salt Lake. They have a themed room called "Lavender & Lace." It's of course decorated with dried lavender, but there is the light purple color mixed with creams throughout. I had help from friends in coming up with a title for this piece, and when one mentioned "Lace" it reminded me of the Lavender & Lace room I've stayed in before, and I felt it fit the purply grays and creams, as well as the older, more elegant feel of this painting.

Fall is coming. I am getting excited for anything with spices and pumpkin, as well as comfy cardigans and good books, clearer air and crisp mornings, rainstorms, colored leaves sticking to the wet streets, and wind! I love a good night wind when there is a full moon and low, scuttling clouds.

October will be a busy month of production for me as I get ready for a November show. At this moment I need to pinch myself to see if I really am living this life: I wake up, I walk to my studio, I paint. Nice.

Here is an early shot of Lavender & Lace before I saved it from the horrible peach color it had as the background. Black works much better to sharpen the image and "grow it up". Peach. Ick. I don't know what I was thinking. Peach would have worked better had it not been for the darker midtones.

Butterfly Wings

33 x 49" original oil

sold

This is my favorite painting of 2012 (so far). Thank you Cindy for the title idea. Butterfly Wings perfectly fits the colors, shapes, edges and translucence. This painting will be at my art show in Salt Lake on November 8th. Click here for a link to my website with info.

Thank you also to my friend Elise who gave me some advice earlier in the week to remember to enjoy the process. I replayed her advice daily as I worked and worked on this painting.

I am a sucker for deep colors and dramatic light. Those reds...I can't get over those crimson, crimson reds. I just want to eat them up. 

I've been excited to share this one all week, so here you go! You have seen my new favorite.