It has been such a long time since I have posted any of my work. My pre-New Years resolution is to keep up to date with my website and social media. That is a difficult resolution for me to keep, all I want to do is paint. This is why I am starting before the New Year. So wish me luck!
Here is a painting that is part of a series of  'Scrabble' paintings. The Scrabble game came from my Mother-In-Law and is an older one with the wooden tiles. They are fun paintings to do and the reactions and memories from people that view them are great!

Double Word Score

12" x 12"

Oil on Canvas

Gallery 402 Show

I will be showing my small works at Gallery 402 in Toronto, Ontario December 4th through the 14th.  I am showing with fine artist Don Graves and wood turning artisan George Wilkinson.  We are having an opening reception on Wednesday, December 4th, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Anyone who is in the area please stop by to join us for a glass of wine and meet the artists.

We titled the show Nature's Full Circle.  We thought our work represented Nature in it's raw, true form with Don Grave's landscape paintings, what Nature bears is represented in my still life paintings, and the recycling of Nature's fallen trees in George Wilkinson's wood turning pieces.

A Cause for Celebration

5" x 7"

Oil on Gessoboard

 

The last day for Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Painting Challenge.  I thought a celebration cupcake would be well suited for the occasion.  As well it is my birthday today so more reason for celebration.  I had a great day today and finished it off this evening by painting my cupcake.  It has been fun the past month!

Bowl of Boscs

5 " x 7"

Oil on Gessoboard

Day 29 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  The second to last day.  Another weekend with too much to do so I had to squeeze the painting time in.  I have painted this pottery bowl in pastel before and could capture the texture very well.  I found it difficult to do it with oil in one sitting because of the wetness of the oils.  I will probably go back to this one once it dries and work on the bowl a bit.

Slice of Lemon

3" x 4"

Oil on Cradled Wood Panel

Day 28 of the Painting Challenge.  This one was a challenge for me.  I haven't painted anything this small before.  I think I bought the small board to do a Christmas ornament a number of years ago but didn't use it.  It was sitting on the shelf for ages so I thought I would give it a try.  I would have liked some brushes that were a bit smaller, it got quite frustrating to work with.  Larger size from now on.

Lemon Yellow

5" x 7"

Oil on Gessoboard

Day 27 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  Only three more to go.  I really do enjoy doing these and they have become a warm up for working on larger paintings.  When I work on small pieces I don't feel the same hesitation that I feel when working on a larger piece.  If a small painting doesn't work out, it's no big deal.  If a larger painting isn't working I feel I am wasting materials and time.  Working on a small painting before moving to a larger piece allows me to loosen up and relax.

Cherry Perfume

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 26 of the painting challenge.  It is getting down to the final few.  I am hoping to continue to paint regularly but not daily.  I don't want painting to be a chore.  Also, I find I am not spending as much time with a painting as I would like.  I will probably go back to a number of the pieces I have done over the past month and add some more to them.  With the oil paint I would like to give it a chance to dry before I add final details and trying to finish one each day means that the paint is too wet to add any details.

Lean on Me

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

Day 25 of the painting challenge.  Another song going through my head as I am painting gives it the title.  I should have done my whole thirty paintings based on song titles.  Maybe next time.  I don't have much time for painting today so I decided to do another pear.  The background color is different for me and it gave me some trouble so it took me longer than usual.  I just notice as I am writing this that the shadow for my stem in the front pear isn't right.  That's what happens when you are in a hurry and don't spend time with the painting.

Under the Sea

5" x 5"

Oil on Board

Day 24 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I have been watching the Little Mermaid with my Granddaughter lately.  I seemed to be singing 'Under the Sea' while painting so that's the title it is given.  You know how it is with little kids, you watch the movie over and over again and sometimes you can't get a song out of your mind.

I am on the Dundas Studio Tour in a couple of weeks and today I set up some of my paintings in a cafe in town to advertise the tour.  Hopefully it will help attract people to my studio.  We have seven studios with 30 artists participating.  I am looking forward to it.

Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 23 of the painting challenge.  Is there a saying 'Life is like a bowl of Cherries'.  I kept singing it while I was painting it so I couldn't call it anything else.  I am caught up again and only 7 more to go.  I really admire the true daily painters.  It is a real commitment to keep this up for a long period of time.  I think I could manage Monday to Friday, but I really get behind on the weekends.

On the Slope

8" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

This painting is for Day 22 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am a day late today.  I had a show to do yesterday and thought I would get a chance to do some painting but it was busier than I thought it would be.  I sold some paintings, met some new people, and listened to some great music.  It was a little cool yesterday but it did turn out to be a great show.  Now I have to paint one for today. 

Perched

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

Day 21 of the painting challenge.  Time constraints today, so we have a pear.  I think I will go back in and work on the grain of the wood box a bit more but it will have to wait.  I have a preview show today for a studio tour I am on in November and I have an outdoor show Sunday.  Lots to do!

Plum Tired

4" x 6"

Oil on Board

This is Day 20 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  Ten more to go.  I didn't do a pear this morning, I decided to paint my breakfast instead.  It took me about 40 minutes to paint and then I was able to eat!  I have to spend the rest of the day preparing for the show on the weekend.

Snuggle

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

We are in Day 19 of Leslie Saeta's Painting challenge.  I have a show this weekend so I will be doing some pears the next couple of days.  It only takes me about 45 minutes to do a pear and I am short on time right now getting ready for the show.  I will be painting during the show as a demo, so I should be able to get a few small ones done then.

Coffee and Kiwi

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

Day 18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I am counting down to how many are left.  I wasn't really in the mood to paint this morning but I did it.  Not really happy with it.  I think it comes across in the painting if you aren't really in the zone.

Orange Tea

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

Day 17 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I love the little teapot and I have cups to match which I will have to include in another painting.

Antique Crock

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am quite happy with this painting.  Normally with small paintings I would do a close-up of an object and have stayed away from complete still life setups because I thought they may prove to be too difficult on a small canvas. This wasn't too bad.  It took me just over two hours to complete.  I think I will try some more!

Bartlett in a Bowl

5" x 5"

Oil on Board

This is day 15 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  Half way there!  I was in a hurry today so I did another pear.  I like painting pears but I think everyone else must get tired of looking at them.  I painted this in an hour and didn't spend any time looking at after so I can see a problem with my bowl that I will go back in and fix (just not today).  I find that painting everyday is difficult to accomplish for me on the weekends, too much going on.  I will start fresh tomorrow and spend more time!

Cherry Martini

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessoboard

 

 

This is Day 14 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  It is 10 p.m. for me and I just finished the painting.  We were babysitting our 3 year old Granddaughter today and only got a chance to finish the painting once she went to bed.  I am so tired, those 3 year olds never run out of energy!  I could use a martini myself about now!

Refelctions of Cherries

8" x 8"

Oil on Gessoboard

It is Friday the 13th today and day 13 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30.  I was happy with this painting.  I think I will do a bit of glazing once it dries to give it some more depth.  I love painting this type of tablecloth, gives it some interest.