Love Birds

Love Birds Sold

5 x 7 inches, Acrylic on stretched canvas. $95.

Hello. "Love Birds" is the result of the drawing that I posted on May 23. I really do like this painting and I really do love birds, but I have decided to explore a different muse for a while. I will be adding this painting to my Etsy shop at http://www.penelopearts.etsy.com/., probably next week. Hope you like it!

Thanks for looking,

Penelope

TOMORROW

Tomorrow

8 x 10 inches. Acrylic. $125.00

Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Preliminary drawing

Hello! I have decided to take a break from a painting that I drag out from time to time that makes me absolutely crazy and go back to the drawing board. Literally. My best paintings always start with a good drawing. I can work out the values, placement, size etc. without committing to canvas. I moved this Chickadee pair around the page in very small increments until I got the connection that I wanted. I have not worked out what background would be best so I will continue to think and ponder, and wonder, then think some more, until my feelings shove all of that left brain stuff out of the way and the background appears. Even though the hammering, clanging, and screeching of the renovation continues, I will begin the painting tomorrow ( hopefully).

Penelope

YAY II!

Hello! Below are the two paintings that were juried into the 2010 Kent Summer Art Exhibit. The show will run from June 4 through August 27th at the Centennial Gallery at Kent City Hall, Kent, WA.

Visionary

Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 inches, $275.00.

Coneflowers

Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 inches, $275.

Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Fine Water

Fine Water

8 x 10 inch Acrylic on stretched canvas. $145.00

Hello! This is the finished painting of my two favorite chickadees. In the end, I did decide to add the Lily of the Valley foliage that surrounds this small birdbath (thanks Loretta). I decided against adding the flowers as it seemed to detract from the birds. I will also be showing this painting in my Etsy store: www.penelopearts.etsy.com

Thanks for looking!

Penelope

WORK IN PROGRESS

Hello! This is a sneak peek at a painting I am working on. I have had an extremely difficult time painting with the construction all around me so I am trying to finish this painting this weekend. I am very happy with the relationship between these two, and I am almost there with the chickadee feathers, but I am not sure how I want to proceed with the base of the bath. The birdbath that I am modeling in the painting, is in my shade garden. The bath is very low to the ground, and surrounded by all manner of ground covers and flowers. I don't want to distract from the chickadees, but I am not sure I shouldn't add more. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Penelope

YAY!!!

I am so excited to say that of the seven paintings that I submitted to the jury panel of the Parklane Gallery's 18th International Miniature Show, SIX were accepted. I am so pleased. To see all six paintings, go to www.parklanegallery.com/miniatures2010/ My work is on page 37 of the Miniature show. Thank you for your continued support.

Penelope.

Robin

Robin Sold

Acrylic on canvas, 5 x 7 inches. $95.00

Hello! As I mentioned in my last blog, here is my bowl of lemons painting. Just kidding. It seems that no matter what my intentions are, when I actually get into my studio, anything can happen. I really did intend to paint a bowl of lemons. I went to the local big box store and bought a huge bag of bright yellow lemony lemons. But then, the sun came out in my small corner of the Pacific Northwest. It seems that the birds in my yard hide behind every fern, flower, and tree, just waiting for the sun. My whole yard was alive with all manner of my favorite backyard birds. A robin caught my eye, then another, and another. I am always excited to see them but especially in Spring as they signal another Winter has passed and my favorite season has begun. I decided right away that I had to paint a robin and that the lemons could wait for a grayer day. "Robin" is the result. It does make me ponder though, if I had gone to a big box store and bought a box of robins, would I have painted a bowl of lemons? Just wondering. I really like this painting and I hope you do to.

*The computer has decided to cut off a portion of the bottom of my painting. I am trying to fix it. It includes about 3/4" more of sky and branch.

Penelope

LIME

LIME

Acrylic on canvas, 5 x 7 inches. $95.00

Hello! This is "Lime". In case you notice a difference, it is not your eyes, I put up a more accurate photo, but while the limes are very close to the painting, the background has less blue in it. I have been enjoying painting citrus, particularly on this bumpy canvas. I plan to paint a bowl of lemons next, we'll see. Both "Lemon" and "Lime" are also on: http://www.penelopearts.etsy.com/. Back to the studio.

Penelope

Lemon

Lemon

Acrylic on canvas, 5 x 7. $95.00

Hello. Lemon is my new fruit painting. I am trying a new technique and a new background. The technique is impossible to describe but the background is a combination of: titanium white,
yellow ochre, moonglow and marine blue on a ochre and white gesso ground. It is difficult to see the complexity of it in the photo but I do like it and have started a "lime" painting on the same ground. What do you think?

Penelope

Golden

Golden

Acrylic, 5 x 7 inches. $95.00 Sold

Hello. This is my finished painting of an American Goldfinch (Washington's' State bird), and a Species Rhododendron (Washington's State flower). I can't believe that I was able to paint "Golden" with all of its fine detail, amidst the ear-shattering sounds and raucous shaking of the walls, that occur during my remodel. Through it all, I was able to maintain my focus, which is a great thing since I get to do it all over again for the next several months. I will also be showing this piece on ETSY at: http://www.penelopearts.etsy.com/. Hope you like it!

Penelope

Quick "Sky Fruit" Update.

Hello, for those of you who have been asking where to purchase the "Sky Fruit" citrus paintings, they are currently being shown at: Bella, in Kent Station, Kent WA. Her number is 253. 852. 9945. Thanks for asking.
Penelope

Golden in Progress

Hello. This is the painting I am currently working on. I have to say, painting during an extensive restoration of the rooms adjacent to my studio, is a real challenge. Some of my larger bird paintings have even flown off of the wall during some of the more extreme pounding. Kind of poetic for a bird painting. The only thing that could have made it worse was to have my eyes dilated at the same time. So, picture it, an artist at her easel, giant yellow ear phones on, inches from the canvas due to dilated eyes, and paintings falling off the wall. Needless to say, painting is going a bit slowly. I do like this current painting of an American Goldfinch on a Rhododendron species flower. I have a long way to go, but considering the craziness, I am happy today.

Penelope

Sky Fruit

Hello, I finished the fruit triptych. I am happy with all three of them. The pictures do not do the paintings justice and I will probably post more accurate ones later. I am in a bit of a hurry as I have a pretty extensive remodel starting tomorrow, and I have a lot of work to do before that happens. These three 5 x 7 inch pieces are currently being shown at Bella, in Kent Station, Kent WA. It is a beautiful environment as the owner Marci, has wonderful taste with a European sensibility.

One of my discoveries during this process, is that the really textured canvas that plagues me so much when painting fine detail in birds, really lends itself to the texture of citrus fruits. Who knew? Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Sky Fruit Day Two

Hello! Is it a bad sign when people offer to buy the muse? I am making progress on my triptych (set of 3) of citrus fruit. I still have a way to go. I am liking the largest lime, though the leaves need work and highlights, and the smaller limes continue to hurt my feelings. I do like the lemon, but I am unsure if I should add more low lights toward the bottom to make the high lights at the top appear brighter. The orange is coming along nicely, but as you can see, I have not added any highlights at all yet which gives it a very matte finish. This experiment has been very fun and helpful. As I move back and forth between the fruits, the image of a bell ringer in an old talent show comes to mind, fast and a bit crazy. The sides of all three are now painted blue, and the stem of each one continues across the side. My jerry-rigged support system is holding perfectly. Okay, back to the studio.

Penelope

Work in Progress

Hello everyone! I am trying something new. I have been asked to paint a triptych of fruit. Originally I was supposed to paint a lemon, orange, and pear. Well those of you who have been reading my blog know how excited I am to paint pears, but I thought in order to appeal to my sense of symmetry, I would substitute a lime. As you can see, I just started. I decided that since they are all going to be the same size and subject, that I would like to put them all on my easel at the same time. My support looks really strange, but it works very well. I taped two stir sticks to my Masonite drawing board with blue tape. I used a level to make sure they lined up and were on the same plane. I used museum putty ( holds like iron, comes off easily) on back of my canvases in the center of each wood piece. Then I set the canvases on the level sticks for support and pushed the puttied backs against the board. Voila! It worked. The canvases are absolutely supported, level, and attached. I can now move back and forth between them very easily.

I was lucky enough to acquire a lemon and a tangerine that still had its leaves on. Now I am in dire need of a lime. Even though I know the color of a lime, I like to turn the fruit over in my hand and mind from time to time. Thanks for listening.

Penelope

Spring Rising

Spring Rising NFS

Acrylic on stretched canvas, 16 x 20 inches.

Hello. At last, Spring is here! "Spring Rising" is one of my favorite paintings as it captures my feelings about Spring. I like the abstraction of the background colors as they rise from soil, through new growth, to sky. The rusty garden stake is a popular choice for the backyard birds to perch on. The single bud is always a hopeful symbol of mine. Possibilities abound.

Penelope

Big Red Barn

Big Red Barn

Acrylic on Stretched canvas, 2" x 2". $65.00

Hello! "Big Red Barn" is my smallest painting so far. I have framed it in an ornate black frame that is 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 7/8 inches, has an easel back and a framing hook, and can be displayed either on a table or on a wall. The frame is hinged so that the painting can be easily removed. The canvas sides are unpainted due to the frame. The canvas is an actual stretched canvas and is so cute. Hope you like it!

Penelope

Small Talk

Small Talk
Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 6 inches. $95.00

Hello! "Small Talk" shows a pair of one of my favorite birds, American Goldfinches, on my favorite birdbath. I really like to paint on canvas but it does present a problem solving opportunity when painting in fine detail. The texture of the canvas appeals to me, but the tiny "bumps" in the weave tend to assert themselves at the worst locations--like where I want to place the bird's beak or eye. I grab my reading glasses and my big magnifying glass, then pick up my tiniest brush (the hummingbird's eyelash size), then dip my brush ever so carefully to collect a microscopic dot of paint, then approach the canvas, hold my breath, then gently place the dot for the birds eye. Sometimes the stars are all aligned and all goes well. Other times, I hit a small bump and my brush glides right off. Curses. Erase and try again. Curses. Erase then try again, and again. I can almost hear the choir sing when the eye dot lands perfectly. You know, its really not fair that the viewer gets to use their computers to increase the size of a 6" x 6" painting, that was never meant to be viewed too closely, to the size of a billboard. But I digress. The finches in "Small Talk" both have their eyes and beaks in the right place today, and that makes everything okay. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

** I always paint the sides of the canvas, in this case dark green, and include the hardware, so that my paintings are ready to hang without a frame.

The Proposal

The Proposal
Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 6 inches. SOLD

Hello. The Chickadee females answer to the proposal is not to be taken lightly. Chickadee couples are very close and they mate for life. They build their nests together and they take turns nesting and parenting. This is very different behavior from the wild and crazy hummingbird males. The hummingbird males flit from female to female and then they fly away--permanently! They do not help with the nest building or the raising of their young. Their proposals can be taken much more lightly. I like these two as a couple. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

**The 7/8" sides of the canvas are painted green.

Wild Rose

Wild Rose

Acrylic on stretched canvas, 5 x 7 inches. SOLD

Hello. I haven't written about my ongoing problem-solving battles for a while. One of the dilemmas that I had with my "Wild Rose" painting, was that the muse fell apart in my hand. A vanishing muse. That's a new one. Here is what happened. I was walking the woodsy trail by my house when I came across the Perfect branch of the wild Nootka rose. Of course, still being a bit lawless, I plucked it and spirited it away to my studio. I was unable to finish my painting in one day, so as I entered my studio on the next day I discovered that the top flower on the branch that I had found so compelling, no longer had its petals on. I began again. I painted the remaining stamens and such, as fast as I could, then I moved on to the lower bud that had decided to bloom overnight. I was about half way done when, in order to get a better look, I picked up the branch. Even though I picked it up very carefully, one petal drifted to the floor. Yikes. Needless to say, one of my petals is now imaginary. I have heard that some artists spray their more fragile muses, like dry grasses and the like, with hairspray to keep them attached. It just might work, but I can't bring myself to do it. My solution? Paint faster! Despite the challenges of this painting, I enjoyed painting it and I am happy with the results. I hope you like it too.

Penelope

Robin's Egg Blue

Robin's Egg Blue
Acrylic 16 x 20 inches. $325.00

Hello. This is Robin's Egg Blue. Even though it is a rainy cool day in the Pacific Northwest, you can feel Spring in the air. The daffodils are starting to bloom, flower buds are just beginning to open, and many of the back yard birds are back. What I am trying to capture in this painting, is the realism, promise, and fragility of the eggs, with the careful and nurturing support of the nest. I like the combination of realism and abstraction, which is one of the themes of my work. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

Chilly Hummingbird

Chilly Hummingbird

Acrylic on canvas, 5 x 7 inches. $95.00 Sold

Hello. Just like clockwork, the Rufous hummingbirds came back when the Red Flowering Currant (Ribes Sanquineum) started to bloom. It is still pretty cold here in the Pacific Northwest. These tiny birds, which are usually so sleek, puff up their downy under feathers to keep themselves warm. I think it actually serves two purposes, it helps them keep warm, and causes the backyard birder to rush out with fresh nectar to reward them for how cute they are. Hope you like it.

Penelope

** The 7/8" sides of the painting are painted in blue and the framing hardware is included.

Sarcococca Branch

Sarcococca Branch

Acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches. $125.00

Hello. The common name for the Sarcococca shrub is Sweet Box. It blooms in Winter with tiny white flowers that have the most amazing scent, a sort of blend between lilac and vanilla. Heavenly! The birds agree. They love the gorgeous blue berries. I am not sure if I am finished with this painting. The upper branch that I chose did not have a berry on it. I decided rather than to ruminate on--berry in? or berry out? for a second longer, I would sign it, back away slowly, until a decision comes my way. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

I Am Now On Etsy!

Hello! I have decided to start selling some of my smaller paintings on Etsy. You will find me there at: http://www.penelopearts.etsy.com. When I started my blog on January 1, my goal was to begin selling online. Listing some of my work on Etsy is the next step toward that goal. Please take a look! Thanks!

Penelope

Sunbather

Sunbather

Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 4 x 2 inches. $55.00

Hello. I painted this charming little bird last summer. Relaxing has always been a little hard for me. Even when I appear to be relaxing, my mind is usually in some kind of dither over what I should be doing, what I want to do next, where I should be going, oh, and --isn't that a weed that needs pulling over there? Several years ago, I decided to set a goal of doing absolutely nothing for five minutes. Five Whole Minutes! Impossible. No reading, ruminating, or, renovating. Well, last summer, I was finally able to go out on my deck, recline on my chaise lounge, and just do nothing. It was during those times that I became most in touch with nature and particularly my backyard birds. In the beginning, all I saw was a flock of something or others. Over time I learned that the "yellow guys" were in fact our state bird, the American Goldfinch, and that the delightful little black and white birds, that come back to my bird house every year, are Black-capped Chickadees. I also learned that if you look closely enough, they each have their own personalities and that their relationships with each other are complex and fascinating. They have a lot to teach. "Sunbather" was so content and happy in her moments in the sun. I am learning to be the same.

Penelope.

Spring!

Spring!

Acrylic on canvas 5 x 5 inches. $95.00 Sold

I love Spring! Although it hasn't officially arrived, the return of the Rufous hummingbird, drawn back to my yard by the Red Flowering Current, brings the certainty that Spring is on the way. It is the fifth sunny day in the Pacific Northwest with no rain in sight. I am off to the corner of my yard to snip a Currant clipping to paint. Glorious!!!

Penelope

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake
Acrylic on canvas, 5 x 7 inches. $95.00

Hello. I have painted several small landscapes lately and I am really enjoying them. I am currently painting a hummingbird. A young person, who is very dear to me, has asked me to paint a hummingbird wearing very large glasses. I thought I might give it a try. One would think that after painting and drawing many many birds, I might have noticed that most bird's eyes are on the sides of their heads, and, that they do not wear glasses. Occasionally a bird will fly into one of our windows. While they almost always shake themselves off and fly away, it is a pretty painful event for all concerned. So, I am thinking glasses on hummingbirds may be a really good and necessary accessory. The difficulty is how to put glasses on a bird with an eye on the side of it's head that does not look odd. Okay, I know the whole idea is a bit odd but there is a real perspective puzzle here. I have drawn more than a few pictures, nothing I am happy with yet, but if I could just get a hummingbird to hold still for a bit...

Penelope

A Little More Yellow

A Little More Yellow

Acrylic on gessoboard, 4 x 4 inches.

This painting is currently in the Parklane Gallery International Miniature Show in Kirkland WA. View all of my miniatures in the show at www.parklanegallery.com/miniatures2010/ My work is on page 37.

Hello. "A Little More Yellow" is one of the miniatures that I will be entering in the Parklane Miniature Show in Kirkland, WA. Please ignore the shadow in the picture caused by the frame. The competition is a bit daunting as it is an international show and much of the art is amazing, while the rest of the show is just really really good. I don't paint miniatures too often, but I really enjoy doing it. Painting on such a small canvas, or board, can be quite the challenge, especially with brushes the size of a hummingbird's eyelash. It takes a bit of getting used to, but apart from the usual hair-pulling angst and plaintive cries of "Why Me?" it is actually kind of relaxing. The show is in the Summer and I will be posting more of my entries in the future. Oh, I did finish and send in my entry into the Kent Show. Ta Da!

Penelope

Valentine

Valentine

Acrylic on canvas, 5 x 7 inches. $95.00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Penelope

Visionary

Visionary

Acrylic 16 x 20. Entered in Show.

Hello. "Visionary" is the last of the five paintings I am entering in the Kent show. If I am really drawn to a subject or pose, I will paint it several times, in several sizes, until I feel I have reached an inner goal that, for now, eludes me. Sometimes I am very clear about what each element in a painting means to me, the colors, shapes, placement, etc. and I paint them with intent. At other times, I just don't know why I make the choices that I make. What I do know, is that in art, as in all aspects of life, more will be revealed.

Penelope

Pear

Pear

Acrylic 5 x 7 inches. $95.

This is "Pear". It is the last of my fruit paintings for a while. I am still working on my entry into the Kent show. I am finding it hard to maintain my focus on the entry details, in part because many of my backyard birds have found their way back. There are lots of Pine Siskin finches at my thistle feeder, the gorgeous Stellar's jays , with their black crests and deep blue bodies, (why haven't I painted this bird?) are eating the winter berries, Juncos and Chickadees too, Oh my! So, when I should be focused on how many ppi's my CD image must be stored at and that the image can only be 9.5" on the longest side, I find myself noticing that the native Red Flowering Current in the corner of my yard is beginning to "leaf out" which heralds the return of the Rufous hummingbird back from the South. I imagine painting a currant shrub, lush with pink flowers and surrounded by flitting hummingbirds, when I should be deciding whether to include the Optional Artist's Resume in my entry. And now I am thinking maybe I should include "Open Window" in my entry with its Rufous hummingbird and single currant flower. Okay, enough. Back to the studio.

Penelope

Waiting

Waiting

Acrylic 16 x 20 inches. $325.

"Waiting" is another painting that I am planning to submit to the City of Kent jury as a possibility for their 2010 Kent Summer Art Exhibit. The big presence of this tiny bird captures how I feel about hummingbirds. I have finished my pear and I will probably post it tomorrow. I have a good start on a small landscape. The goal, as always, is to keep the spontaneity while making the necessary improvements. Wish me luck!

Penelope

Painting is difficult.

Coneflowers

Acrylic, 16 x 20 inches. $325.

The first line of M. Scott Peck's book, "The Road Less Traveled," is "Life is difficult." I first read those lines more than twenty years ago. I return to them often when I become overwhelmed by the task at hand. Although I know that I am being overly dramatic, especially when I am referring to painting, and he was referring to living with integrity when faced with living life on life's terms, his words have always spurred me on when I wanted to throw in the towel, or in this case, brush, when things get really hard. I am, of course talking about painting a Pear. It is my Moriarty. My nemesis. My Achilles heal. My.... Oh, whatever.

I am taking a break from painting my pear to work on the entries I am submitting into upcoming juried shows that I am interested in. Currently there is a "Call to Artists" to enter into the Kent Summer Art Exhibit. I exhibited in this show last year and it is a very good one. I am planning to enter about five 16 x 20 inch paintings and hope that the jury will accept one or more of my pieces. "Coneflowers" is one of the pieces I am entering. I also plan to enter "Fall", and "First Flight", both of which I have posted before. I am not all that tech-savvy so I will be spending time filling out forms, composing my artist resume, editing photos, burning a CD, etc. I will post the other paintings I am thinking about over the next few days. After that, I won't have many more excuses for not finishing my pear.

Penelope

Limes

Limes

Acrylic on canvas, 6" x 6". $55.

We have limes! Whew! Fruit is still hard. I didn't help myself by painting a striped support. For some reason, I did not figure out until after I painted the stripes, that it would have been a whole lot easier to paint one solid color and then paint stripes on it, then to paint the dark stripes, let that dry, then paint the light stripes, let that dry, then clean up the dark edges, then clean up the light edges... Oh well, I will just file this experience under "new things learned" and then hope that I remember it. I do like my limes. Now onto pears!!!

Penelope

Apricots

Apricots

Acrylic on Canvas, 6 x 6 inches. $55.00

I painted Apricots yesterday and a little bit this morning. I know that I am psyched out by fruit so I tried thinking of them as really exotic eggs. I love painting eggs. Today, I am starting on a pair of yellow/green eggs. They are actually limes, but I am hoping I am on to something here. I'll let you know.

Penelope

Apples

Apples

8 x 10, Acrylic. $145.00

I have decided to try to stay with one subject for a while. For those of you who know my work, you know that I paint a wide variety of objects, including, African collectibles, birds, landscapes, decoys, vintage collectibles, etc. It has been a while since I have painted fruit. I don't know why, but, for me, painting fruit is very difficult. I have heard it said that "anybody can paint a pear." What could possibly be the difference between painting a pear, and say, painting a fish decoy? They both require a lot of color, their shapes are interesting but not impossible, they are both small and charming in their own way. I don't know what it is except that fruit psyches me out and decoys don't. So I will work on fruit for a while, alas.

Speaking of psyching out, I have discovered that I am unable to finish a painting in a day. Adding the pressure of finishing a painting every day ups the angst ante to a level that negates the reason I paint. I do paint everyday. Well, almost everyday. When I am not painting, I am reading about painting, or researching painting at galleries or museums, or buying supplies, or blogging, or, well, you get the picture. I think the value in finishing paintings more quickly, is that it does not allow you to spend endless hours massaging every bird feather and nest twig. Two of my favorite daily painters are Qiang Huang and Carol Marine. Although their styles are different, they each paint quickly and loosely, a painters holy grail. I haven't given up, but for now, I just need to have an extra day, or two.

Penelope

Elephant Vase

Elephant Vase

8" x 10" Acrylic. $125.

Hello. Elephant Vase is another painting of my vintage bronze vase. I posted a miniature earlier under "Small Asian Vase." The vase and the painting are not as blue as it looks on the post. Capturing a metal patina is so difficult. When I went back to look at the 4" x 4", I realized that I am not happy with the patina or the shape. I was so pleased with the Elephant ears that I didn't finish the vase in a way I am happy with. One of the values of blogging, is that you can see your work in a completely different format. The colors may not be accurate, but the values, shapes, composition, etc. are. Also, as I recently mentioned, I can enlarge pictures of my work to a very large size and really take a look. Although in some ways, it may not be fair to the artist, as paintings are meant to be viewed from six feet away, and it can turn up some surprising results, especially on a miniature painting, I am finding the enlargements really helpful. I do enter my work in various juried art shows, most of which, require a photo of each work submitted either by CD or online. It helps me to see what the judges see. I know I can enlarge my own pictures, but there is something about this that I like. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

African Bowl With Handle

African Bowl With Handle

11 x 14 Acrylic. $225.

This is another of my old African bowls. I really like how the patina came out in this piece. I also think the tattered rim looks good. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

Who Knew?

I was surprised to find out yesterday that if you click on a posted image, it comes up REALLY BIG! It doesn't work on Renee's New Brush, but it works on the daily postings. It amazes me just how tech un-savvy I am. I especially liked seeing the brushes in the 4" x 4" Studio Pose painting. Very interesting.

Penelope

Chickadee On Berry Branch

Chickadee On Berry Branch

8" x 10" Acrylic. SOLD

Who doesn't love a chickadee! Chickadees are very social and often called the "clowns" of the back yard birds. There is something about the look in their eyes that I find irresistible. In this painting, the way the blue sky background makes the red berries really sing was a surprise to me. Normally, I use colors that are opposite on the color wheel, to set off the focal point, as in Cardinal on Branch, where I used a green background to enhance the reds of the bird. I was surprised and happy to see how effective the blue background was. I know that cool colors recede and warm colors advance, but I didn't see just how much until Chickadee On Berry Branch. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Snake

Snake

22" x 28" Acrylic, $350.

Snake is one of my larger paintings. One of my goals here was to move from the expressionism of the background, to the blending of expressionism and realism in the branch and nest, to the realism of the eggs.

Penelope

Another Day, Another Decoy

Small Ice Fishing Decoy

5" x 7 " Acrylic on canvas. $95.00

This is the third Ice fishing decoy I have painted and posted. It is the smallest decoy in my collection. I love the way the spiky metal dorsal fin looks like a mohawk. I am always happy when I complete a painting. My happy dance is usually a bit short-lived as I slide across the floor to greet the familiar--problem #1: What do I paint next? Two decoys? My black teapot? No, Oh, I know, toddlers cowboy boots. Wait, what about the...

Penelope

Cookies Inside

"Cookies Inside"

8" x 10" Acrylic on canvas. $125.

Hello. Cookies Inside is the larger version of the mini I posted Jan 3. It is a painting of my ceramic cookie jar that was manufactured by Hull around 1940. I have a lot of these jars, and the shakers that match them. They always make me smile to look at them. I really liked using all three primaries and the challenge of having the cool greens come forward while the warm yellows and reds receded a bit. The warm colors do not always play nicely, as they usually demand center stage, but I was pleased to see the green out front. I plan to start the 8 x 10 version of the matching shakers when I am done with the fishing decoy I am working on. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

Is It Done Yet?

"Alliance"

"11 x 14" Acrylic on canvas. $225.

Hello. For me, one of the most difficult problems to solve is when to stop. I have heard many stories over the years about artists who could never really stop altering their canvas. My favorite is the instructor who would literally take one of her paintings down, during a show, paint on it, and then put it back up. I was too dumbfounded to ask at the time, but ever since I have wondered if she took all of her gear to each show, or maybe just a small touch-up kit. Still, it does speak to the angst I think most artists have when deciding when to put the brush down and back away slowly. I have heard, "when you think it is 85% done, then that is the time to stop." Okay, no, that has never worked for me. If I can't figure out when it is 100% done, how will I know when it is 85% done. I am bringing this up now, because I am not sure if "Unity" is done. I spent a lot of time and used a lot of paint, trying to capture the perfection of my vase. I ended up with a very overworked vase. Next, I mixed a lot more paint, grabbed a big brush, then repainted the entire vase very quickly. I liked it. I decided that once the vase dried, I would go back over the vase with the lightest tint of the color I had used, mixed with acrylic glazing liquid. Egad! It looked awful, as if I had glazed it with thin yogurt. I took it off immediately, remixed, then repainted. All I got was a more colorful tint of yogurt. Again, I wiped it off immediately. By now, my vase was starting to look really good to me with no glazing. So, I think it might be done, or at least 85% done. "Alliance" is actually more green than it shows on my post. The colors and values are accurate on my computer, but they just don't show the same on my blog, which is another problem. Thanks for listening.

Penelope

Dog Park Berries

Dog Park Berries

5" x 5", Acrylic on canvas. $55.

There is a wonderful dog park in Issaquah, WA where I take my mini-dachshund, Vienna. The entrance is flanked by evergreen trees that I have never seen before. In Fall, the most sensational berries appear on these trees in colors of apricot, coral, oranges and red. I could not resist liberating a small branch. This painting is a result of my lawlessness.

Penelope

Attraction

Attraction

8" x 10" Acrylic on canvas, $125.

I painted "Attraction" to see how small I could paint a hummingbird and still have a lot of detail. I was able to achieve the translucence of the wings I was looking for, (once again using zinc white, moonglow and acrylic glazing liquid), but what I really like are the feet. The bowl of shiny red cherries, with their come hither glow, would definitely attract a hummingbird.

I have to be careful about what I place on my dining table. Anything that catches a hummingbird's eye will draw them closer to investigate, which is great if there isn't glass between the hummingbird and the object of interest. I never put flowers on my table anymore. Most of the time these little birds will come close to the window and just hover there to see if there are any nectar possibilities, however, if the object they fancy is really red or really enticing due to shape, color, or sheen, they have been known to fly into the glass, which is really awful for the bird and the bird viewer. It has only happened once and the bird was okay, but now, for the most part, decorative objects are banned from the table. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Many Happy Returns

Many Happy Returns

11" x 14", Acrylic on canvas. $145.

Hello, "Many Happy Returns" is about the terrific birdhouse that I found that was made by a young artist in Sequim putting himself through school. Chickadees love this house and return to it every year. The branch that the artist encircled the house with has always been a favorite perch and lookout for the chickadees. I have used quite a bit of artistic license here as the birdhouse is actually made of an aged unpainted barn wood. Some day I will paint it as it is, but for now, I paint it in the colors I feel, rather than the colors I see.

Penelope

Fall

"FALL"

8" x 24", Acrylic on canvas. $225.

Hello, "Fall" is one of my rare landscapes. For the most part, they are inner landscapes, as the color and form only exist in my imagination. I am happy with the curvilinear lines and the rich color. One of my goals here is balance. I am trying to balance the weight of the trees and shrubs on the left with the lightness and verticality of the three trees on the right. I think this painting may be done.
Another problem to solve is how to photograph paintings to post and/or enter shows. Lately, I have been doing well with the smaller pieces, but I am still having difficulty with the larger ones torquing. Any ideas?

Penelope