#29 Lone Oak, End of Hazy Day

#29 Lone Oak, End of Hazy Day, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

When I started this "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge I had only planned to do five—spring, summer, fall, winter and a sunset. That was so much fun that I thought I could do the first half of the challenge with the Lone Oak. I never dreamed that I would still be experimenting on day 29! It's been fun.

#28 Lone Oak, Sunset on Field of Flowers

#28 Lone Oak, Sunset on Field of Flowers, 6x6, oil on panel, Sold, (click here to view)

I love sunsets and flowers — how great is it to paint them together? This is number 28 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge. Only 2 more to go!

#26 Lone Oak, Van Gogh Field

#26 Lone Oak, Van Gogh Field, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

After a Hot Tamale Day, I've tried to tone it down a bit. When I was finished I decided that it needed Van Gogh's birds.

#27 Lone Oak, April Path,

 #27 Lone Oak, April Path, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

After all that spice, here's a bit of cool spring weather.

#25 Lone Oak, Hot Tamale Day

#25 Lone Oak, Hot Tamale Day, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

Just how hot can it get? It's fun to play with colors and see what they feel like.

#23 Lone Oak, Yellow Road

#23 Lone Oak, Yellow Road, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

This "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge has been on opportunity to try out new processes and techniques. This panel was toned a bright yellow — which worked nicely for a yellow road.

#24 Lone Oak, Spring Meadow

#24 Lone Oak, Spring Meadow, 6x6 oil on panel, (click here to bid)

My new process for this painting was toning the panel black before painting on it. I left little bits of black showing through. I was surprised at how bright the painting turned out. I had the opinion that with all the black on the canvas it would make the painting dark. I proved to myself that I was wrong.

#11 Lone Oak, Autumn Glow

#11 Lone Oak, Autumn Glow, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

This painting says "joy" to me. I'm loving painting this series. I'm making discoveries that I never would if I had painted a different composition each time. It's become a journey.

#12 Lone Oak, Flame and Blue

#12 Lone Oak, Flame and Blue, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

This blue was really luscious to paint. Again, this also has a happy feel to it. I think that yellow and orange remind us of the sun. What could make you happier than a summer day with blue and yellow-orange?

#9 Lone Oak, Early Morning

#9 Lone Oak, Early Morning, 6x6, oil on panel, landscape, (click here to bid)

Both of the paintings I'm posting today had a mind of their own. Painting number 9 was in the drivers seat -- it decided to paint itself. It's a very strange feeling!

#10 Lone Oak, Evening Storm

#10 Lone Oak, Evening Storm, 6x6, oil on panel, landscape, (click here to bid)

This is the first time I've tried to paint a "night" painting. Well, I don't think I was in charge, but I like the way it turned out.

I'm posting 2 paintings so that I can catch up to my challenge to paint 30 painting in 30 days.

#5. Lone Oak, Sunset

#5 Lone Oak, Sunset, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

This is the fifth in the series of a lone oak tree in a field. Rich purple and oranges completely reverse the composition. The path is now the lightest area instead of being the darkest.

#2. Lone Oak, Summer

#2 Lone Oak, Summer, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

This is the second in my series of a lone oak tree in a field. This was August — very sunny and stifling hot. I didn't linger long though because I was on my way to Lincoln City on the coast where it was cool and breezy.

Lavender Field & Farm

Lavender Field & Farm, 8 x 10, oil on panel, starting bid $135

This is the Jackson School Lavender field on Old Jackson School Road in Hillsboro, Oregon. It is just a few miles outside Portland but it seems like a hundred miles. It's such a rural, quiet  setting. This is the second painting I did that day. The first one was posted Oct. 1,  and it won a First Place in oil landscapes at the annual North Clackamas Arts Guild last weekend.

Melody in Purple

Melody in Purple, 6x6, oil on panel, $75

This is the first plein-air painting from the Lavender fields. I thought I'd try just a small one first. There were poppies growing around the edges of the field. It was a really hot day, close to 90-degrees. Luckily, there were a lot of trees lining the road, so, guess where I parked my easel to paint?

Blessing in Blue

Blessing in Blue, 24x18, original oil on stretched canvas, SOLD

(click here for larger view or to bid on painting)

I painted with some friends this spring and the studio had this little window—isn't it great?. Another friend contributed the statue of a saint, maybe St. Francis, I'm not sure. It was fun to paint this still life and we all had such a good time. Painting with other artists is great because I learned so many neat and interesting new things. Thanks Kat and Jody and the rest of the gang.

Egg cup and shells

Egg Cup and Shells,  5x5, oil on gessoboard,

SOLD (click here to view this painting)

This little painting managed to hold it's own against many larger still life paintings in the Portland Fine Arts Guild competition earlier this spring. It received Honorable Mention—not bad for a little 5x5!

To Let: English Cottage in Woodland

oil on canvas, 18x24, $395
(Click here to buy this painting)

This is another painting I entered into the Lake Oswego Festival of Arts last weekend. It's based on the small painting I posted on June 8. The little thatched roof birdhouse has been a favorite of mine for a long time. What could say "English" better than a thatched roof birdhouse?

Sunflower Duet

 watercolor, 8 1/2"x12 1/2" image—14"x18" mat/frame, $135

(click here to bid on painting)

The Lake Oswego Festival of Arts Show was last weekend. I entered five pieces, four oils and one watercolor. The watercolor is titled "Sunflower Duet" and has a double mat: dark green with a sliver of white. I'll have to take a photo of the artwork with the mat and post it tomorrow.

This One's for Mom, 6x6 oil on gessoboard, May 23rd blog, SOLD

I also entered two of my small blog paintings: "This One's for Mom," a daffodil; and "The Sky is Falling," three little chicks. I'm happy to announce that the little chicks found a good home. They had won two second place ribbons in two miniature shows this month.

The Sky is Falling, 6x6 oil on gessoboard, SOLD

I'll post the other paintings over the next few days.

A Nod to BFF

(click here to bid on painting)

$75

These little bobble heads make me smile. I'm sure the three of them have been Best Friends Forever! They are just goofy enough to keep my 'inner child' happy. Don't we all need a little of that in this day and age?

The Sky is Falling

The Sky is Falling, 6x6, oil on panel, SOLD

view this painting)
It's no wonder that these little chicks might think the sky is falling. Their three predecessors did have the sky fall on them in the form of a great big hawk that swooped down from the sky! This trio is thriving under the daily care and watchful eyes of my two very capable grandsons.

This One's for Mom

(click here to view this painting)

SOLD
My Mom loved spring time and especially daffodils. This one celebrates every one of the 90 springs she enjoyed to the fullest. This one is for you Mom.