Custom House Portrait

Commissioned House Portrait
16x20, acrylics on canvas
SOLD

My latest house portrait, this one for a family in Oregon. I get a real kick out of knowing my work is hanging in homes all over the U.S. and even abroad. Who'da thunk it?

Red Barn

Red Barn
18x24, acrylics on canvas
AVAILABLE

Another of my early paintings, loosely based on a farm I used to drive past somewhere between Augusta and Skowhegan. It was one of my first forays into light and shadow, and I've always loved the way the fence posts and their shadows came out.

Paul Camping

Paul Camping
11x14, acrylics on canvas, year unknown
NOT FOR SALE

Just thought I'd post this one for fun. It's one of my older paintings (hence, the childish foliage and water!), but it's a fun painting of my husband in a rare moment of vegging in a lawn chair with a bag of potato chips by his side. One of the few paintings I've ever done en plein air. As I recall, we headed out for this particular camping weekend on Friday the 13th of May in a snow squall, and nearly froze to death before the wind finally died down and it warmed up late on Saturday afternoon, which is when I caught Paul stretched out and snoozing. Ah, memories!

Memories

Memories

16x20, acrylics on canvas
SOLD

I painted this a few months ago and for some reason didn't like it, so I set it aside and didn't even look at it for a very long time. Recently, I pulled it out and defined the problem areas: the sky was too warm, the shadows weren't blue enough, and the grass was way, WAY too green. So I changed the colors and values without altering the composition of the painting. The improvement, to my eyes at least, was vast. Suddenly, I liked this painting I thought I hated. It's amazing what a few value and color changes can do to a piece.

So I took a couple of photos, posted it to Etsy, and last night it sold. This proves to me that no painting is hopeless. Even if you think it's finished, even if you think you don't really like it, sometimes you just need to let it simmer for a while before you go back and make the necessary changes so that suddenly that hated painting becomes a favorite.

Showdown at the OK Corral

Showdown at the OK Corral
9x12, acrylics on canvas
SOLD

At high noon on a hot summer day, with the sun baking overhead, these two crows are having a showdown. You can see them eyeing each other. You can feel the tension. Who will win the prize? And what, exactly, is the prize? Tasty roadkill? Only time will tell.

I think this is finished, except for varnishing and finishing the edges. Another in my crows series. I'll probably list this one on Etsy; birds seem to do well there.

Green House, Mid-Day

Green House, Mid-Day
16x20, acrylics on canvas
SOLD

I photographed this house one day around lunchtime, didn't like the original color (beige), so changed it to suit my tastes. I loved the way the light fell on this amazing Victorian, with all its bumps and bulges and differing shapes.

Little Pink Houses

Little Pink Houses
9x12, acrylics on canvas
SOLD

My latest, another little fun fantasy style painting. I've been experimenting with color, and I love those coral pinks and turquoises.

Crow-Versation

Crow-Versation
9x12, acrylics on canvas
NOT FOR SALE

Just for fun, I thought I'd paint some crows. They're such fascinating creatures, and we have hundreds of them all over campus, so I snuck up there while hubby was working on the 4th and took some photos. Crow-Versation was the result.

Bridge Street Afternoon

Bridge Street Afternoon

16x20, acrylics on canvas
NOT FOR SALE

Here's the latest. Two houses at the corner of Bridge and Summer Streets in Augusta on a sunny summer afternoon. Love that light and shadow!

Evening

Evening
9x12, acrylic on canvas
SOLD

My latest, another rooftop painting of a summer evening on Augusta's Sand Hill.

January Sunrise

January Sunrise
16x20, acrylic on canvas
SOLD

This is one I painted this past winter, and I set it aside for the longest time because for some reason, I didn't like it. I recently pulled it out and realized that the colors--especially that coral-orange sky--are lovely. I gave it a couple coats of varnish, and now the colors shine dramatically. I wish I could get a better photo, but the camera insists on turning the orange a slightly harsh hue. In real life, it's much better looking!