Stellar's Jay

Stellar's Jay

10 x 8

2007 - 2008

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Reference photo by Jared Hobbs

I painted this in December 2007 and never have been happy with it. One day I lightened the dark head and added some color. Today I did some finishing touches and finally have a prettier bird perched on the birch.

Flowers

As the weather gets colder and winter approaches, I thought it would be nice to post some spring flowers. The reference photo for the crocus was taken in Farmington, CT, by my friend Sherry Perrie. I took the photo for the pansies in Rheinbeck, NY.

Purple Crocus
8 x 10

2007

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8 x 10 signed giclee print: $55

Note card: $2.50

Pansies
5 x 7
2007
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Note card: $2.50

Another German Shepherd Portrait

Sophie
16 x 20
2008
Commission



I finished Sophie this week and my customer seems very happy. This photo was taken when it was cloudy out and she looks better in the sun.

Loon Lake

Loon Lake

9 x 11.5

2008

I finally finished this painting. It started as a plein air painting in July at Loon Lake in the Adirondacks. I do not excel at plein air painting. The painting is only complete because it is a gift to our friend Jeff who lets us stay at his lovely camp, and this is the painting that he wanted. Many hours in the studio pretty much salvaged this attempt at a plein air painting. Jeff says he likes it so I guess that is all that matters.

Sophie, the next German Shepherd is close to being done!

German Shepherd Portrait

Elsa Marie
2008
16 x 20
Commission



I finished this painting today and I sure am glad that it is done. It took about 30 hours over 3 weeks. I used my own photo as a reference. I am doing another 16 x 20 German Shepherd for the same customer. Sophia will be a bit more challenging because I will work from old, less than perfect photos, since she is no longer with us. I guess I am a portrait artist now! :)

Tomorrow my show starts at the Gallery at the Mill House in Chester CT. For more information got to MILL HOUSE. My art will be on display there for the month of October, with an opening reception Saturday, Oct. 4, from 2 - 5. Sunday I plan on displaying prints, note cards and a few paintings at the New Hartford Festival of Arts, on Main Street in the center of New Hartford. Yesterday I met with the staff of Piccolo's restaurant in Farmington and made plans to display my art there and at the Peppercorn Grill in Hartford, starting in November. I am in the process of having giclee prints made of some of my favorite bird paintings, and I have sold three paintings in the last 10 days! So, the lack of posts on this blog is because I am crazy busy being an artist and promoting my work, and occasionally acknowledging my family, not because I am slacking off!

Bald Eagle

This is a PHOTO, not a painting. (Yet.)

I took this photo while paddling on Lake Wentworth, in Wolfeboro, N.H., over the weekend. It will make a great reference photo for a painting, when I get a chance to do it.

I apologize for the lack of posts. I do have another Loon Lake painting, complete with loons, that I will post as soon as it is done. Meanwhile, I have been commissioned to paint two 16 x 20 German Shepherd dog portraits which will keep me busy for a while, and possibly a third dog. I went to New Hampshire this past weekend to take photos for a painting my friend wants me to do. We are deciding on a view of her camp from the lake and/or a panoramic view of the mountains as seen on the far side of the lake. It is great to have commissions! I just don't know when I will get back to the Neuschwanstein Castle, or my bird series. Life is good.

Gregory the Corn Snake

Last night I found Gregory, after she (or is it he, we don't really know) was lost in the house for three days! After ransacking and searching through the whole house and cellar for a large portion of those three days, I found her in a box of tissues in Leif's bedroom, right near her cage.

The first photo is Gregory on me, minutes before I put her away without remembering to put the heavy books on the lid of the cage. The second photo is Leif and Gregory this afternoon. We are all very happy. Special thanks to Darlene, a California psychic, for her remote viewing to help find Gregory. She assured me for three days that he was alive, still on the second floor, and most likely in Leif's room. Check out her site at Psychic readings by Darlene. She specializes in finding what is lost, and has a host of other very cool gifts. She is a fabulous resource.