Jan Dale; at the easel

Nite Light

2010-03-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

6"x6" Oil on gessoed hardboard.
I have been toying for some time with the thought of offering my work as a combination of image and story.

A neighbor had a yard light that could be seen from far away. Its glow guided them to the barn to tend the horses in the early morning and late at night. I sometimes climbed out my bedroom window and stole across to their yard to watch the sparkling snowflakes that drifted down lazily in the cast light. I was mesmerized by them as one might be fascinated watching the flames lick at wood in a fireplace. Sometimes, when it was cold enough, the icy flakes would become tiny round mirrors that reflected the color of the barn and my mittens. I could raise my mittened hand on nights like this, and the flakes near it would turn bright red. Then they would go from pink to soft blue-violet as I slowly lowered my hand. When I would get too cold to enjoy the show, I would sneak into the barn to watch from a window. I'm sure they knew from the footprints that it was I who haunted their premises. If they did, they never gave away my secret. Thank you Bruce and Sue Roberts. What a delightful gift you gave me in that!

Contact me at 313-581-1342 if you are interested in purchasing this work.

Cling to the Promise

2010-03-04T05:04:00.000-08:00

3" x 3" Oil on gessoed masonite.

This post is dedicated to a very dear friend.

When the cares we face seem to pile up like a perpetual snowfall . . . when each step forward we take seems to be countered by some past mistake so that we feel we are struggling uphill through knee-deep snow. . . when feelings of failure overwhelm and our very breathing is a chore . . . this is when we must remember that God's promise of forgiveness and restoration is like the promise of spring; the new growth that follows the hardships of winter and the first tender shoots that herald a rich harvest. This is faith. This is the hope we cling to; that no matter how badly we think we may have messed up, God promises to restore fellowship with Himself and with each other. So we cling to the memory and promise of budding life even while we struggle uphill in the barren snow.

This painting is not for sale.

Salt Shaker

2010-02-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my degree program and am a certified elementary teacher. It has been my lifelong ambition to give back to the community what it gave to me; an education enriched by the personal 'outside' talents and experiences of my teachers. So to Mrs. Fuller, my sixth grade teacher who often brought her Down's Syndrome daughter on field trips . . . to Miss Kroll who saw my clownish antics as an indication that I might possess theatrical talent . . . to Mrs. Williams, the first grade teacher who helped me discover a wonderworld through reading . . . I celebrate you. You were the salt of the earth.

"Cornflower and Queen Anne's Lace" 6 1/8 x 1 1/2" oil on 3/4" hardboard. $45

2008-09-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

I loved getting in the car. It almost always meant fishing or picking berries if Dad was driving. The trip there was as much a part of the adventure as the expidition itself. I know they're only weeds, but cornflowers and Queen Anne's lace were two of my favorite sights along the road. I grew up in that netherworld between "children are to be seen and not heard," and "children are smarter than adults." This meant that I practiced long stretches of contemplative silence punctuated by brief periods of excited chatter. Both enriched me. Had I spent all of my time engaged in chatter, I would have missed the simple beauty growing along the way. Had I no chance to speak, I would have missed the opportunity to ask about what I saw.

Edge of the Field 1 1/2 "x 6 1/8' oil on gessoed masonite

2008-09-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

I've noticed a lot of artists lately using gessoed hardboard with a recess in the back so that they can be hung right away without a frame for a contemporary look. Perhaps one day I'll invest in the tools to make perfectly formed holes in the back of my paintings, but for now, a six dollar set of wood carving knives seemed to do the trick. In fact, I rather like the hand-hewn aspect. It is 1/2" thick, so it can stand alone on a shelf or tabletop. The image is continued on the sides, bottom, and top. This is another in the Rural Michigan series. As you can see, it is signed on both the front and back.

Sanctuary 3"x3" oil on masonite panel $45

2008-09-02T05:50:00.000-07:00

This is quite a common scene in Michigan; one lone tree at the edge of a field, left there when the field was cleared. Farm lore has it that before the days of motorized tractors, farmers would purposely leave one shade tree somewhere along the perimeter or even smack in the middle. This way they would have shelter from the sun at midday when they stopped to eat and rest. The practice of resting under a tree at midday has fallen somewhat out of use, but the tradition of leaving a shade tree seems to have survived. Birds seem to love the arrangement. They can feed on the grain and shelter in the tree. Would that human life were so simple.

Light Show 3"x3" oil on masonite panel $45

2008-08-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

The skies in Michigan go grey by the end of october and generally stay that way until the end of March. But Summer evenings here are often spectacular. Perhaps this is only perception. It could be that sun deprivation for a goodly part of the year produces in us an exaggerated sense of what is spectacular. If so, then it is a willing delusion.

Last Dance of Summer 3"x3" oil on masonite $45

2008-08-27T07:30:00.001-07:00

I love to watch birds chase one another and I love open spaces. This then is a composite of two of my favorite elements.

Coffee Klutch 3"x3" oil on masonite panel $45

2008-08-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

Morning is the sweetest time of the day. I so enjoy awakening to the chatter of busy birds. Once upon a time you could even hear the quiet rustle of wheat in the breeze. There are still a few places like that, but they're being steadily overcome by folks on exodus from city life. I don't blame them. There's much to recommend about living a tad bit closer to nature. I plan to do it myself one day. The unfortunate side effect is that the more folks move out to the country, the more like city it will become. Don't get me wrong. That does not obligate us to stay huddled together on our concrete oasis. I just think that when we do live on farmland, we ought to at least consider what affect our sojourn will have on the place. I just visited some friends who moved to an area that I personally remember as all corn and wheat. I passed it on the road time and time again as a child. They have been very careful to preserve the nature around them. They're growing their own produce and preserving it and they're encouraging the wildlife. I find that gratifying.

Watcher on the Marsh 3" x 3" oil on masonite $45

2008-08-25T04:46:00.000-07:00

Here's the second of the rural Michigan paintings. I've finished seven now and waiting for them to dry so that I can post them is excruciating. I'm anxious for you to see them. There are two that I want to use as a springboard for larger (perhaps sofa-size) paintings.

I have looked at my work on computer screens other than my own recently and was shocked to see that the images were cloudy looking, not at all as they really are or how they appear on my own screen. Perhaps that's because I use my scanner like a camera. That's why I have to wait until they dry before I post them. When I figure out how to make sure the images you see more closely fit reality, I'll replace the whole website with better images.

Contact me at jandale@jandalefineart.com or call 313-581-1342

Rural Sky 3" x 3" oil on masonite panel $45

2008-08-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be a nice change of pace to paint a few miniature landscapes of Michigan as I saw it in my childhood. I have three completed and will post them over the next few days.

Honk if you love Michigan....or just leave a comment.

p.s. Make that seven landscapes completed. I need to find a better way to photograph my work. Otherwise I will have to wait until they're dry before I post them and that sort of defeats the purpose of the daily painting thing.

You may contact me with questions at jandale@jandalefineart.com or call 313-581-1342.

Committee Meeting (Oil, in progress)

2008-08-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Each panel is 3" square and could be displayed as a 6" x 6" set or as a group of four smaller paintings.

I was going to elaborate on why I chose this title, but I think it best to let the viewer draw from it whatever meaning evokes personal memories.
I hope to have it finished by the end of this week.

Contact me; jandale@jandalefineart.com or call 313-581-1342

About Giveaways

2008-08-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you love to own original artwork..for free.... then this post is for you! We artist types understand that the economy is tight right now, but we have to keep painting toward the day when it will inevitably loosen up. So artists sometimes post giveaway paintings on their blogsites. I'm giving away the painting you see to your right.
But I'm not alone...Read on..

...In fact, I used to not believe that real people really won those. That is..until I began engaging in online dialogue with other artists, most of them by far my superior (by design). That's when I met Judith D'Agostino, an impressionistic landscape artist. She encouraged me to enter her giveaway. So I trusted for once. Imagine my joy when she announced me as the winner of a gorgeous New Mexico oil landscape!
Now, while Judith is possibly one of my favorite landscape artists, Jeff Hayes is one of my top three favorite stillife artists. I love how he creates a glow around the edges of glass objects. And he's giving away a painting this month!!!!!!...and what's even better is that he's quite well known. I've read possibly everything he's posted over the last year and learned a great deal from him. While what I'd REALLY like to win is that painting of a glass oil cruet he posted some time ago, I'm still entering this one because it is a Jeff Hayes work afterall and quite collectable. If you have a blog, you can enter his drawing too. Click on ...Free Jeff Hayes Painting. Let me know if you need help. I'd be happy to support this highly respected artist. Remember to enter mine as well. Who knows? You could end up with your own miniature gallery.

Contact me at jandale@jandalefineart.com or call 313-581-1342

chessmen series in progress

2008-07-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Can you think of a good title for a series of chessmen that includes a rook, knoght, bishop, and pawn? I dunno..."Support Staff"? I'm trying to go for a red glass look. I usually work from life, but I can't find red glass chessmen, and I felt compelled. I had to study the way light falls on tinted glass and then imagine my chess-pieces made of that. I'm a few days from completing the set of four. The other three are about as far along as this one. My original purpose for the border was to make it look like the chessmen were in shadow boxes, or that the images were framed. I haven't decided which way to go but keep watching.

Please be sure and email me if you'd like to be entered in the painting giveaway drawing at right.

You may contact me at jandale@jandalefineart.com or call 313-581-1342

Rescued

2008-07-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

This is a little deviation from my usual fare, but I really have been wanting to share this for some time. I found this old rocking chair sitting out on the curb on trash day and rescued it. Then I stripped it down through six different colored layers of paint to the bare wood and gave it a new life. Now it sits proudly in my livingroom-studio and seems to be the first place visitors want to sit. Do you get the idea that I like checked patterns?

Now here's a close-up of the flowers I painted on the seat. I love turning trash into treasure!
P.S. Look to your right and enter this month's Giveaway!

"Family Night" Finished

2008-07-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

12 x 12" oil on masonite panel

Donated to Mrs. Simoni's 4th Grade class.

Here it is. Now I need to find some chessmen to go with it. Leave a comment or ask a question. I love dialogue.

"Family Night" almost finished detail

2008-07-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

oil on masonite panel 12 x 12"

Here's a closer look at the chess pieces as I am modeling them. I can't wait til it is dry enough to play on; about two weeks. Perhaps I'll find some unwitting soul to play chess with on it. Perhaps I'll sell it. If you think you might be interested in having it when it is finished, let me know. Just leave a comment here at the bottom where it says..well..'comment'. Watch tomorrow. I'll unveil the finished chess board sometime in the afternoon.

"Family Night" 12 x 12" oil in progress

2008-07-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Chess is one of those games that a person either really loves or really doesn't. I love Chess. I love watching other people play it. I love the idea of it even though I'm no good at it. My brother George ruined it forever for me when at the age of 10 he beat the ever-living socks off me six times in rapid succession. When I became a foster mom I thought, 'ahah! now I might just have a shot..' But beating a five year old just doesn't quite carry the thrill of victory...especially when you authored their agony of defeat. And even that was short lived. By the time Damean was seven, he had learned the game...which again led to my utter demise.
I decided to make fun of Chess in this Trompe L'Oeil chess board. I only scanned a portion of it because I'm not finished. When it is done and several coats of protective varnish have been applied, it will be an actual functioning chess board.

Notice that there are three figures. The King and Queen are lying down pell-mell and the little pawn is still standing...which is exactly what used to happen by the end of our own family nights. Of course, no game night is complete without coconut macaroons and coffee.

Candle in a Jar 6 X 6" oil

2008-07-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

$85

I love thunderstorms! When I was setting up this stillife, a storm began whipping up outside. Short blackouts are common in my neck of the woods so I lit the candle in anticipation. I loved the glow of the candle on the wood table surface. This piece was completed last summer.

I don't know why, but I imagine opening the little box and smelling my Dad's aftershave. When I was 5 years old I used to watch him shave. I hoped secretly that he'd wait til I was grown and marry me. Watching my spouse shave the other day, just between you and me, I'm pretty glad that little girls do not marry their daddies.

Laynie: (almost finished) 8 x 10" oil on hard panel

2008-06-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

.............

a message from Laynie........
"Happy Fathers' Day Dad! The painting is for you."

Ken Brown is my pastor. I cannot count the number of times both he and his wife Kim have helped me gain perspective when I was stressed out. Their daughters Laynie and Anna are delightful young ladies who grow sweeter by the minute. I love this family! Preachers' kids get alot of bad press these days and I'd like to use today, Fathers' Day 2008, to set that record straight. I see a calm and loving interaction between Ken and his children. These two girls are nearly always smiling. We notice things like that.

Happy Fathers' Day Ken!

Memorial Day

2008-06-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 3" x 15"

SOLD
***** I use my scanner to get images my smaller works. At 3x15" this painting was too wide to fit, so I had to scan it twice. If you know how to splice the two images together so that they will upload as one image, I would appreciate your input.

Every year on Memorial Day, the Willow Run Airfield hosts an air show. The flight path runs straight over my neighborhood.
It’s a real treat to watch from the second story balcony as planes from each era in aviation remind us that freedom has a price. My father, my spouse, and five of my ten brothers and sisters have served in the military.

My brother Ira, a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, is an avid storyteller. He held the family mesmerized as he told how he heard the high pitched whistle of a bomb while he was shaving. He ran out of his tent clad only in his undershorts and his watch. When he went back to look, there was a large crater where his tent had been. I guess you could say that was a close shave.

The spires you see at left are from Fordson High School just two blocks away. An historical landmark in itself, Fordson High is a massive and
breathtakingly beautiful structure.

"Peppermint Oil" 2x3" oil miniature

2008-06-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

....

SOLD
At no time in the 26 year history of my marriage have we ever been without a bottle of peppermint oil. I use it in my coffee, desserts, and sometimes in my homemade lemon/mint salad dressing (when fresh mint leaves are unbearably pricey). If you want the recipe, I'd be happy to share it via email.

This view shows the painting under diffused indoor light.

Orange Slices 3" x 3" oil

2008-05-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

...

$45

Some time ago, I painted a series of oranges; oil on canson paper. Canson paper is generally used for high quality works in color pencil and charcoal. Many Color Pencil Society of America artists use it. It had the acid-free quality I needed for oils. The colors, therefore, are just as strong now as they were a year ago when I painted them. It was also the perfect ground for experimental work since it was inexpensive and very durable.

Google evidently liked them because I had visitors from all over the world look at them, including places like Pretoria and the Brittish Isles. Because there was so much interest in them, I am going to do another series of orange and other citrus fruit images this summer. This time, they will be painted on my new ground of choice; gessoed masonite panel.

Make sure your framer uses only acid free materials.

Spring

2008-05-16T03:47:00.000-07:00

4" X 4" oil on masonite panel $50.

School is winding down..or shall I say hurtling headlong into that state of oblivion called the fourth card marking. After a particularly trying day this week, I saw these brilliantly colored seed spinnies scattered about on the walk as I approached my house. So I kick off my painting season with a calming image; the very essence of renewal and hope. Enjoy!

I will be posting this painting on e-bay sometime this weekend. Watch for it.

Laynie; a work in progress

2007-10-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

oil on masonite panel , personal collection

This is one in a series of experimental child portraits. I plan to write an accrostic poem that typifies this intelligent and gentle spirited girl. The words will be painted in a vertical format along the left side of the painting. This is why you see so much open space there. Please be patient. I am working toward teacher certification at UMD and have little time to paint during the school year. Most of the commission work that I do is completed during the summer months.

Evening Rain

2007-08-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Daily painting #38

2"x3" oil on masonite panel
$85 plus $5 shipping

I keep a few of these smallest panels handy for warm-up sessions. I currently have four larger works in progress, but I sometimes need to loosen up my brush strokes before working on those.

ANNA; finished!

2007-08-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

private collection

There comes a time when an artist knows that to add just one more brush stroke will kill a painting. For "Anna", that time is now. What made me decide this? First, I couldn't think where to continue. That's usually the first indication that one should stop. The second, and most compelling reason is that three people who know Anna, gasped upon seeing the painting as it sat drying on the easel and said, "Is that Anna _____!?" Now I could paint in the gingham pattern in her dress, but I sense that it would distract from her sweet face. I think that simplicity serves this subject best.

So here's Anna, the girl who is always in one of three states; on the go, poised to go, or (as in this painting), having paused for a nano-second from being on the go!

Work In Progress (not yet titled)

2007-08-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

This was started with a reference photo from the same shoot as the three little girls. The model is Sarah's little brother, James. After Norman Rockwell fashion, I wanted to use the exaggerated gesture. IBut I didn't have to exaggerate. James was walking goofy, and we caught it on film. It seemed to shout, 'little boy teasing big sister'. If you have any suggestions for a title, please comment. Again, the goal is not a perfect likeness of the boy, but telling a story with paint.

Work In Progress (New Red Dress)

2007-08-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a series of child portraits for the last week and a half. You can view the sketches that they are from at Paily Painting Watcher. These will all be rather small; 8 x 10" mostly. I like to tell a story with my models. The exuberant hug and the pretty dress suggested a story of a little girl's gratitude for her new home-sewn dress. Working this small presents some challenges. Getting a likeness on a head that measures one inch square is tricky to say the least. Most portrait artists I know work life size for this reason. But here, I am trying to force myself to simplify, and an exact likeness is not the main goal. The work is more illustration than portraiture. Keep watching. I'll have it done soon.

A visitor most welcome

2007-08-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

daily painting #37

3x3" oil on gessoed masonite unframed

SOLD

My Dad and one of my sisters live right next door to one another, in Kingsport, Tennessee. I had the pleasure last week of rising early each morning and watching six hummingbirds feed at a flaming Mimosa tree which grew at the common fence which separated the two yards. Obviously, I could not work from life this time. The tiny visitors flitted too fast to capture. I had to use a combination of quick sketches, photo references, and my previous knowledge of hummingbirds. They feed about 4-5 times every hour of daylight. These appeared to be of the ruby-throated variety, but I couldn't get close enough to tell for certain. Next time I go, I plan to take a better camera with a quick zoom...and of course my field glasses.

Stormy Feather

2007-08-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

daily painting #36

3x2" oil on gessoed masonite

$85, $5 shipping

I found this feather on the ground beneath a tree in Kingsport Tennessee where I was visiting my 90 yr. old Dad. The feather is scarcely an inch and a half long, and appears to be from a wing. Please contact me if you think you know what kind of bird it might be from.

The title comes from a naming contest I ran. Kim Brown of Michigan supplied the winning entry. Thanks Kim!

Community

2007-07-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 35

3 x 3" oil on masonite

$85, $5 shipping

This painting created itself. I took a handful of fresh blueberries and opened my hand just above the table to see how they would fall. They looked like a group of people gathering together. They seemed to be turning their faces toward one another in pleasant, casual conversation. Reminds me of my friends. When one of us is hurting, someone is quick at our side, comforting, praying, running errands, taking care of the kids. And when one of us has great news, we know it really matters to the rest. The encouragement is genuine and meaningful. Looks like we're celebrating something.

Ripening

2007-07-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

daily painting #32
3 x 3" oil on masonite
$85, $5 shipping

My husband and I went blueberry picking near Grand Rapids, the home of my sister Lois. We brought back 11lbs of blueberries..about enough to last a few weeks.

I had difficulty getting a good shot of the mixed bunch with the digital camera. But I'll post it as soon as I get it figured out.

Peppermint Oil

2007-07-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

daily painting #31
aprx. 2x3" oil on canvas
$85, $5 shipping

I love to cook. My husband loves to eat what I cook. Life is good. But there is one thing that absolutely sends him running for the fork drawer. That... is peppermint. I keep a bottle on of peppermint oil in the cupboard always. I put it in brownies and in any other thing that seems compatible with it. I get bored, but he never does. I've decided to play an April Fools-in-July trick. I plan to put a drop of the peppy flavoring on the bottom of the oven and turn the thing on for a few minutes....say..a half hour before he's due home. We have lately cut back on sweets, so treats taste especially goood when I do make them. When he sniffs the air and asks what I made, I will feign confusion. As I envision the crestfallen look on his face, I realize that I can't do it. It's just too cruel.

Most Valuable Player

2007-07-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

daily painting #30

3x3" oil on canvas
Private collection NFS

One either loves chess or loathes it, but folks are rarely ambivalent. My brother, George, used to go for the throat! Perhaps that's why when I played Stratigo with my nephew, Damean, I didn't just "let" him win. When he finally beat me at the age of 9, he did it on his own steam. The wild jig he performed upon finding my flag rivaled River Dance's most lively number. Damean, if you come across this, I love ya, man!

'Yanny'

Eggplant Slices

2007-07-22T04:34:00.000-07:00

daily painting #29

3x3" oil on canvas

$85, $5 shipping

I normally do not post on Sunday, but these were just too much fun. I don't really like eggplant (too slippery), but they are too interesting not to paint.

Crystal Bell

2007-07-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

daily painting#28
4 x 6" oil on canvas
$125 + $5 shipping

A really sensible artist would begin an exploration of glass with a simple straight-sided and empty juice glass. Then, she/he would progress with ever increasing complexity. But NOOOooooooooo...I had to just jump right in there with a tiny crystal bell that defied me to mentallty freeze its flickering shapes! I know, I know....and I really really tried to do this in one sitting like most of the rest, but it just didn't happen. In the days before I discovered the painting a day concept, I might have abandoned the thing before I gave it a second chance. But now? All I can say is thank you to Duane Keiser and all the other first runners in this daily painting marathon. Incidentally, check out Duane's Topophilia Project..inspiring!

Baladi Grapes

2007-07-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

daily painting #27

4 x 6" oil on canvas

SOLD

These grapes are painted actual size. Yes, they are this tiny.

A very special thanks to my grocers at Chase and Greenland Markets in Dearborn, Michigan for supplying me with the luscious fruits that have been the subjects for my most recent paintings. They carry an amazing variety of things not found at larger chains. When I got these teensy pearl-like grapes home, I asked one of my neighbors what "baladi" meant. What a delight for this old farmgirl when he told me it meant that the store bought them locally from someone growing the grapes in their own backyard. Baladi literally means home-grown. My neighbor pointed upward and, sure enough, there was a grape arbor over his carport. He invited me to have some when they ripen. How sweet!

Oops!

2007-07-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 26

3 x 3" oil on canson paper

Click to bid.

This was the fridge preserved half left over from the previous three paintings. It's a little more dried out and old looking. Not as pretty as #24, but good for study.

Chocolate dipped orange slices

2007-07-16T04:05:00.001-07:00

daily painting #25
3 x 3" oil on canson paper
Click to bid.

More oranges. Makes me thirsty for orange juice.

Orange Slices

2007-07-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

daily painting #24

3 x 3" oil on canson paper

click here to bid

As you can see, this week is all about oranges. Thank you for visiting. Keep watching.

Orange Reflections

2007-07-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 23

3 x 3" oil on Canson paper

Click to bid.

I'm working on more accurate reflections and experimenting with oil paint on paper. I like the smooth texture. It's less rough than canvas.

Olive Oil

2007-07-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

daily painting #22 completed July 8

6 x 6" oil on canvas on beveled wood

$130

Fresh olives and raw almonds are some of the many abundant treats available on the East end of Dearborn, Michigan. I never knew there were so very many varieties of olives or how delightfully pungent the flavor of fresh parsley. This painting represents one of my healthier shopping forays. The jug holds olive oil (not in the jar it came in). The dark background represents the enjoyment of nourishment together when the day's work is done.

Grandpa George

2007-07-08T21:28:00.000-07:00

aprx 14 x 11 Not For Sale completed May 30

Now that I have my daily works posted up to this point (though pitifully out of sequence) I will begin to post as often as I have a piece that is dry enough to scan. Soon, I hope to set up a site that features my larger works. Just for fun, here is a study I have done for a larger painting. It is of my Brother, George and his grand-daughter on the shore. I borrowed the photo several years ago and tried to do this same painting first in watercolor, then colored pencil, and then in acrylics. It just never seemed right. About three months ago, I began to experiment with oil paints. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I think I'm home. Since I had been graciously asked to return the photo, I only had the black and white blow-ups I copied for value study to work from. The final larger painting, (about half finished) will have a darker sky and a more sunlit shore.

Apple

2007-07-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

daily painting #7 created June 6

4 x 4" oil on canvas

price: $85

What can I say? I love apples. They remind me of falling leaves and chilly walks in Apple Charlie's Orchard.

Teacup

2007-07-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

daily painting #9 created June 8

3.75 x 3.75 oil on canvas

price: $85

I started a collection of teacups years ago, but I keep giving them away when they are admired. This happens to be one of only three remaining. I keep it because it was a gift from a dear friend and I couldn't bear to have her visit and find it missing.

Bowl of Cherries

2007-07-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Daily painting #18 June 27

6" diameter oil on canvas on beveled wood

price: $135

My husband and I found a cherry orchard hidden deep in a hollow while we were driving a few summers ago. We can't find it now. It was about the most enchanting place I've ever been to. Dragonflies with gold lace wings flitted amongst the trees as we picked ripe juicy cherries for pennies a pound. We only happened on it because of the hand lettered corrugated cardboard signs meekly pointing in its general direction. If I ever find it again, I'll ask for permission to do some plein aire painting there.

Lone Cherry

2007-07-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Daily Painting #19 June 29

2 x 4" oil on canvas on beveled wood

price: $95

The play of light on a single cherry is fascinating. The color is so dark red as to appear black. If I moved my position at all, I lost the shadow and highlight shapes. To date, it is my best fruit painting. The little fritz at the end of the stem happened by accident. I had the piece tilted up and it tipped forward on its face. When I picked it up, the paint at the end of the stem was spattered. I decided I liked it that way.

Green Grapes

2007-07-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

daily painting #17 created June 26

4" diameter oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood

price: $110

Again, I find inspiration at my favorite fruit market. They almost look like a tricycle. That was unintentional, but I like it.

Strawberries

2007-07-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

daily painting #15 created June 22

4" diameter oil on canvas mounted to beveled wood

price: $110

I can't tell you how many hours my siblings and I spent picking wild strawberries in the field behind our childhood home in Huron Township. Though I bought these at my favorite fruit market, they brought to mind many a happy berry picking hour with Kate, Phyllis, and George.

Apricots

2007-07-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 16

4" diameter oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood

price: $110

I went to the local fruit market and found perfect apricots that were as delicious as they were pretty. I have yet to capture the true color of apricots. It eluded me hour by hour and I finally had to finish or die trying. Eventually I'll get it right.

Candle in a Jar

2007-07-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

daily painting #12 June 16

6 x 6" oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood

price: $135

This is my husband's favorite to date. Candles, next to God, may be the reason we still share a happy life after 25+ years together. He has been enormously supportive of and patient with my various artistic exploits.

Cobalt Blue Vessel

2007-07-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

daily painting #13 created June 19

6 x 6" oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood

price: $135

I found this beautiful piece at a local resale shop called Value Village (lovingly dubbed "Vee Vee's" when I want to sound auspicious). It has no maker's mark. I wish I could find the artist and view more of his/her work. I'm sure I'll paint it again, perhaps embracing flowers.

Mops

2007-07-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 8 created June 7

3 x 3" oil on canvas

price: $85

I wanted to experiment with green backgrounds, and cast shadows. I like these brushes, but my favorite ones were busy painting these.

Birthday Rose

2007-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 3 created May 31

2 x 3" oil on canvas

Not for sale

My husband bought me the most tear eliciting bouquet of yellow roses for my birthday. (My brother Ron would know their actual name) I do not paint flowers much, but I had to try at least one.

Home Canned Plums

2007-07-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

daily painting #5 created June 4
3.5 x 2.5" Oil on canvas

SOLD

I love the nostalgia of home canning. Fruit and vegetables seem to taste better when you know that someone prepared them out of love and not just to mass produce for bucks. My own 90yrs. plus Dad was still preserving his own elderberries until recently. Now my sister helps him pretend he is doing it himself. She is indeed a loving daughter. Maybe I'll pick some elderberries when I visit them down South later this summer and paint them all by themselves.

Raspberry Coffeecake

2007-07-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

daily painting #21 created July 2

6" diameter Oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood.

price: $135

Thank you to Claude and Lynn for your scrumptious harvest of berries. They were as fun to eat as they were to paint. I plan to paint some by themselves in all their glowing redness soon. But I'll need some fresh ones that haven't been frozen yet. (hint hint)

Pumpkin Pie

2007-07-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

daily painting # 20 created July 1

6x6" Oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood.

$135

Ever wonder why restaurants declare pumpkin pie to be out of season when they get the filling from a can? It is always in season for my family. Last year, I got a few pie pumpkins and froze the fruit for winter. Good stuff!

Eggshells in a Bowl

2007-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

daily painting #11 created June 14

6" diameter Oil on canvas mounted on beveled wood.
price: $135

After making breakfast, I thought that the bowl in which I tossed the eggshells made a nice composition.

Red Velvet Cake

2007-07-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

daily painting #14 created June 21

6x6" Oil on canvas mounted to beveled wood and ready for display.

price: $135

This is possibly my favorite. can you guess why? I like the swirls of icing on the top and the shadows in it. I like how that turned out. I want to work on more acurate elipses, though.