Hope Valley, California

This is the first in a series of paintings I’m doing on Hope Valley, CA. There will be about 20 in the series. It’s based on photographs I took there in 2002. Watercolor, 13” x 7.5”. Sold on eBay to a collector in Southern California.

Fruit Tart Digital Art

My philosophy is usually "eat dessert first." However this time my dessert was so pretty I photographed, then ate it. then I started making digital art.

Top: Digital impressionist oil painting with ink outline. Image size 8" x 10" printed on 8 1/2" x 11" canvas paper. Also available as ACEO (3 1/2 " x 2 1/2"). Make an offer on eBay.

Bottom: Digital chalk drawing on rough paper, image size 8" x 10" printed on 8 1/2" x 11" canvas paper. Also available as ACEO (3 1/2 " x 2 1/2")

"Wigs" Original Oil Painting 9" x 12"

"Wigs". Oil, 9" x 12" on stapled canvas. This is my contribution to the Feb. 18, 2009 Different Strokes challenge. SOLD
to a collector in New York City.

San Francicsco Victorian

This is what I did for the Feb. 4, 2009 Different Strokes from Different Folks challenge. I didn't post it in time for the deadline, so you won't see it on the DSFDF site. Oil, 9" x 12".

My cousin Jenny

This is my beautiful cousin Jenny. When I first posted this painting she was about to give birth. Congratulations to Jenny and her husband Patrick on the birth of Mason Feb. 18 at 6:45 p.m. With love to Mason from his Auntie M. Oil, 9" x 12". NFS.

Zodiac Reflections

A.K.A. "Full Moon in Cancer over the Jefferson Memorial". This is my entry for the latest challenge on the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog, the Jefferson Memorial at night. It's oil on acrylic, on 12" x 12" gallery-wrapped canvas. See earlier version two posts down.

Fruit Still Life

A painting I've been meaning to do for a long time based on a photograph I took in 2006.

Jefferson Memorial

This is the first draft of my entry for the latest challenge on the Different Strokes blog. Of course I don't think it's good enough, in fact this version doesn't exist any more and has been painted over, and I have 15 other versions in mind. However, my friend Vero encouraged me to post all my finished work no matter what I think of it, so here it is. Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper.

Somebody's Licking My Toes!

I was looking at photos of birthday parties from days past and found this photo of my friend's son getting his toes licked by a dog. Digital art, oil painting style.

Black-necked stilt, wetlands bird of the Americas

Digital art print of black-necked stilt, standing on one leg.

The black-necked stilt is one of the characteristic birds of fresh or salty shallow sloughs and grassy marshes. It is known for its uncommonly long red legs. This bird prefers to run about and feed in shallow water, although it can swim and dive iif necessary.

This bird's population has been affected by the decrease in wetlands on the Pacfic flyway. To learn about conservation efforts regarding the black-necked stilt, see the Monterey Bay Aquarium website. You can also view a live aviary webcam at the site and see the black-necked stilt in action.

About the artwork:

• printed on 140 lb. rough Arches watercolor paper
• measures 11" x 14"
• printed on a Canon 9000 wide-format digital printer
• Arches watermark in the lower right-hand corner.

Based on an original photograph taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sandy Shore/Aviary Exhibit. This is an open-edition print. Available now on eBay.

Indoor Pool

More Monterey Bay Aquarium Aviary photos. Digital art, watercolor painting style.

Adirondak Chairs

These chairs sitting in the shade of a tree during a fall sunset caught my eye. Digital art, watercolor painting style

Pumpkin Harvest

I visit Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, CA, every fall to get a Halloween pumpkin, buy some fresh cider and a homemade apple pie, and, if I get there early enough in the season, to pick apples. Sometimes it's a school field trip and I have an excuse to go there twice in one year! Digital art, watercolor style.

Aquarium Inspiration

More photographs from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Carly in the Bedroom

This is my 14-year-old cat, Carly, in front of the sliding glass door in my bedroom. I'll see how it looks tomorrow and work on it some more if necessary. Old Holland watercolor paint and Holbein gouache on 11" x 15" Arches 140 lb. cold press.

Girl with an Artificial Pearl Earring

Copying Vermeer: I found another art "challenge" blog on the Web: Project: Old Master Copy. The challenge was to choose either "Portrait of Durer’s Mother" or "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and copy them. Since I just found the site Dec. 31, I did not meet the Jan. 1 deadline for the project. The painting on the top is the second stage of my painting. The one on the bottom was the first stage. I'm adding in a lot more warmth than Vermeer's version. More to come. Check out the site. Many people have submitted masterful paintings inspired by this challenge. Oil on 9" x 12" stapled canvas.

The Mark 3000

Now that I've finished the painting for the portrait project on the Different Strokes blog, I can reveal who it is. The subject is fellow artist Mark Bridges. I call it "The Mark 3000" because it seems like the 3000th version that I've painted. This is oil on an 8" x 10" gallery-wrapped canvas. I hope he has a sense of humor. Click here to see his portrait of me.

Work Boots

This is my second entry for Karin Jurick's excellent blog, "Different Strokes from Different Folks." Jurick challenges artists to draw or paint their interpretation of a photo she posts weekly or biweekly. This is from the Dec. 4, 2008 challenge, "Work Boots."

This was painted with acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas.

Buddha Morning

This is my first entry on Karin Jurick's excellent blog, "Different Strokes from Different Folks." Jurick challenges artists to draw or paint their interpretation of a photo she posts weekly. This is from the Nov. 19, 2008 challenge, "Buddha and Hydrangeas."

I initially planned to do a representational version of the image, but then I found others had done it much better than I ever could, so I started playing around with the large shapes in the composition in search of another approach.

This was painted primarily with Winsor & Newton Artist's Watercolor. I created many layers of grey for the solid figures in the image. For the foreground figures I used Winsor Violet and Cadmium Yellow to create a warm grey. In the images near the top of the painting, I used Alizarin Crimson and Viridian to create a cool grey. The hydrangea flowers are painted with Winsor Yellow, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Gold, Alizarin crimson, and Burnt Sienna. The brilliant colors were created with Posh Rainbow acid-free non-toxic ink.