"The Perfect Couple" SOLD

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Chocolate and a rose---the true perfect couple. Especially when the chocolate comes in the form of a kiss. It seems so innocent setting there in all its foil wrapped glory. The problem is, you can't buy just one kiss. They come in bags. That's all I am going to say.

What happens in the studio, stays in the studio.

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"Leftovers" SOLD

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I started out with a full dozen last week. The white ones have bitten the dust. The lighter pinks followed suit. A few succumbed to the ravages of Eddie (my cat). But good things come to those who wait. Older roses, like older people, become more individualized in their appearance. So these girls get a new vase, fresh water, and a smart trim.

And how do I know they're girls? I overheard them talking about heading out early Friday morning to go shopping.

Guess I better paint 'em while I can.

P.S. I am having so much fun working on petite holiday commissions. I will be posting after Christmas (can't spoil surprises!) I still have time for yours....so get your photos to me already...:)..I will need something to do to work off all the turkey I plan on eating!

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"The Furry Greeter" SOLD

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This little guy is one vocal cat. When I stopped to photograph the flowers in Gretchen's front yard, he showed up and didn't stop meowing! And he wanted his head rubbed, so this was pretty much my one shot at getting him on the porch before he headed my direction!

It's a cold, rainy day here in Kentucky, so I painted sunshine in the form of black-eyed susans and one very furry greeter.....! I liked the repetition of the curves in the grapevine chair on the front porch down to the arched kitty's back and curly tale.

And I like cats. No point in me trying to justify why I painted this. I like cats. Did I tell you? I like cats. Hopefully Eddie won't go into a tail spin once again because I have painted "out of the family:... Pin It

"King of the Jungle" SOLD

Since Eddie has been in a bit of a snit since I painted "Undercover Angel", Carla's cat, I decided the only way to redeem myself was to paint him in all the splendor that is Eddie. I have a lot of ferns, ivy, and various vining growing green things on the back porch. Eddie positions himself carefully in amongst the palm fronds and I know he is pretending he is hanging out on a limb in South Africa.......I usually just pretend I don't see him. It never pays to make eye contact when he is in the zone. So without further ado----- heeeeeeere's Eddie!
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Don't forget to check out my latest art project "30 Days, 30 Paintings" . It's your chance to commission your own painting---an original by me with your favorite subject matter---now it just doesn't get any better than that!

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"Randy's California Irises" SOLD AND SOLD

This is my third piece since I opened up my blog paintings for folks to commission their own. When Randy told me he'd like me to paint his favorite flower, the iris, I was delighted---for it is one of my favorites as well. Maybe, because like most spring flowers, we get to enjoy them for such a brief time we savour their beauty an extra measure.

Only one problem. I couldn't decide whether to do a close-up of the iris or a bunch of irises. So being the extravagant person that I am, I decided to do both......kind of like when I am shopping and can't decide which outfit to get......the obvious answer would be..... BOTH of them!

"Now dreama that was unfair of you...I had to scroll back and forth, back and forth. I even flipped a coin and decided not to take the result at face value. they are both beautiful in their different ways yet they have your signature richness of color.I picked the second one the one with the arches in the background "........Randy

It seemed fitting that the flowers have their roots in California soil, for that is where Randy is from although he is presently a Kentucky transplant! These "friends" I found blooming at the Mission San Juan Capistrano this past March (as you know by now, one of the places that is a veritable feast of all things lovely). Randy is an artist and friend as well---life just fits together so perfectly when we can open our eyes to see it....I like to think these irises planned their blooming just for me so I could capture them on canvas for Randy to enjoy a few months later.

Life is beautiful. Wake up and smell the irises.......

P.S. Randy decided he had to have them both---Go Randy!

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"A Peachy Little Still Life" SOLD

Today was the first day of my workshop at the gorgeous Winchester Opera House. I got so engrossed I totally forgot to snap any photos--sorry! This piece is a mini version of today's class demo. I will try to remember to photograph the demo tomorrow and post it so you can see what we are up too. This mini (done the night before) helped me to sort things out before I started on my demo. Talking and painting at the same time can be risky business, so the more thinking I do ahead of time, the less likely I am to paint myself in the corner (sorry, this is not a pun free zone....)

This class happens to be all girls. So I have already given my word that what happens at the workshop, stays at the workshop. I'm just sayin', I may not be able to post my usual workshop photos in order to protect the guilty, ahem....I mean the innocent. Wish you were here with us!

If you haven't read about it yet, check out my "30 in 30" petite commission idea. You can be the director of one of my blog size originals. Read about it here.

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"Undercover Angel" SOLD

Meet Gabriel--angel of light (although, like any cat worth his salt, he has been known to throw some hissy fits..) Gabriel is my second painting in the "Direct Your Own Painting" commission series! I am having so much fun with this. Kind of like Forrest Gump's words "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.." it has opened up a whole world of fun in the studio.

This is the other half of Carla Pasley's furry kids. My cat, Eddie, has been in a bit of snit since I had the nerve to paint another cat so he has spent the day sulking under the bed. Both Gabriel and Carla have approved of this portrait...

"It is so fabulous! I love that you were able to get the flowers in the painting, too. Gabriel will be so pleased with it! He looks as noble as ever and I cannot wait to see it in person!!! Tell everyone, that I know they are jealous, but you are painting my kids best sides (and it shows!!).I am so happy that you decided to do this project. I have commissioned other small paintings of my Gabe and have enjoyed them, but yours shows his true self!Thanks, again!!"Carla

Don't disappoint me---you know you want to get in on this game. Send me your favorite thing captured in a photo and let me have at it. My appetite is whetted for adventure!

Note: Just on an art note...black fur is always a challenge to capture. Not much shows up in photos value wise. Carla had a good photo to work from and I called upon my "cat" memory to place some lighter values in areas to give definition....but this really proves the point in art that, as I tell my students, the outside edge of any object is what gives you the most information as to what it is. This shape, by any other name, would still be a cat! Pin It

"Morning, Glory!" SOLD

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This scene is from San Juan Capistrano Mission. I always swing by there when in California because it is such a treasure trove of blooming things mixed with old brick and mortar. Each time of the day and each season yields a different glimpse of nature at her best. This pergola is near the front entrance and was showing off her newest stars.

Tomorrow starts my "Intimate Landscape" workshop and I will be doing this piece in a larger format for the demo---so this is a bit of a "warm up"!

Forgot to sign it.....I will have to do that later--I have a workshop to pack for!

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"Embrace" SOLD

N/A (Temporarily on hold by the artist)



Sometimes less is more.

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"California Ed Meets Kentucky Rose" SOLD

Donation to P.A.W.S.

Eddie takes time for the important things. Things like napping, finding a strip of sunshine to sun himself in, and stopping to smell the roses (he's pretty much into smelling tuna fish as well, but I don't know that I would follow his lead on that....)

This painting is being donated for the annual fundraiser for P.A.W.S. this Saturday, here in Paris. Eddie is (was) a pound cat himself. He was adopted in Carlsbad, CA. about 6 years ago. Our dog, Maggie, was adopted from the animal shelter here in Paris. It goes for a good cause, so if you're interested in purchasing this piece and helping animals like Eddie and Maggie, call Sue at 859-987-2582 for more information.

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"Dream" SOLD

N/A (Temporarily on hold by artist)

I have been letting some ideas percolate for upcoming paintings. If you don't see me posting as often, it probably means I am painting and not sharing at the moment! This piece was under painted in an almost black acrylic. When the background was applied, I first painted it with my clear medium, then used straight undiluted paint---it slid on (literally) and allowed me to do somethings I liked...reminded me a bit of painting in watercolor. I have been feeling the love from everyone and boy, it does a body good. A big thank-you and hug to everyone!

I am so happy to be painting....and writing......and reading. Speaking of which (the reading) new book recommendation is "Standing by the Waters Edge" by Anne Paris. It is on the process of creating--I am about 20% into it and lovin' it!

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"The Envelope Please...."

We have a winner for July's Free Painting Giveaway. The winning painting is posted here ("Just a Couple of Daisies" ) and the winner is....................drumroll...................hushed silence falls over the audience.......................sound of envelope being torn open.............................break for commercial .................(oh, I forgot, this is a blog, not t.v.) ..................and the winner is, Ann Pass of Lexington, KY. Congratulations ANN!!

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"Twins?"

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Looking at the two brown eyed girls got me to thinking back when I was growing up and running around the southeast with my sister, the one question that inevitably came up--"Are you all twins??" I am not sure who was more insulted--me at 14 or my sister at 18! Looking back now at our then, stick straight hair, parted down the middle and matching brown eyes (not to mention matching dresses....we sang in a gospel group and you had to have matching outfits), I have to get a bit tickled. We did look alike --kind of like my brown eyed girls in this glass. I bet they're sisters too (I started to ask them if they were twins, but figured they would just get annoyed..) Pin It

"Simple Pleasures" SOLD

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Nothing says summertime like simple daisies paired with a canning jar. It doesn't take money to have a bouquet that brings pleasure. Many years ago, much younger and short on funds, I would gather flowers from the woods where I lived. Trilliums, forget-me-nots, and of course the occasional daisy. I had a worn white table cloth trimmed in blue that I would place the simple bouquet in the middle of. It brought me much pleasure then and the thinking of it still does to this day. Crystal clear water, flowers made by God's hand and a simple blue canning jar--such are the things that a life is made of. Needless to say, I enjoyed my painting time today---and just in case you were wondering--hot pink was the flavor of the day for the undertone on my canvas--can you see it playing hide 'n' seek?

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"Rose Garden Path" SOLD

Aah! Today was definitely a "next" day. Those of you who have studied with me know what I mean. Those of you who haven't will understand when I tell you---sometimes, when you paint, you have to just wrap it up and say "next"! Detach from the outcome. I always assume I will have a great painting day, and for most part I do. Today was one of those days that wasn't. I used a different camera on this shot, late in the day, so I will probably re shoot it again tomorrow to capture it better. I have been juggling with getting everything moved onto my new computer (you forget just how much you have stored on one--including your stuff for your camera--til you switch horses!) I keep thinking I am almost finished when something else rears its ugly little head.......kind of like when you're moving and you think you are almost getting there...and then 3 long days later...you realize now you're almost getting there...and 14 hours later......you get the picture. I am thrilled to be working on my new computer because it is so much faster, but I do better when I am immersed in my painting head....or at least that is what I am telling myself today!

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"Saturday Night in Paris" SOLD

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This was a relaxing piece to paint. I have always loved the time of day when its dark enough to trigger the street lights on but light enough to see the purple blue glow of the buildings and surroundings-- it always feels magical to me. Downtown Paris at night is, for most part, a quiet little town. Varden's is a unique place all its own--an old drugstore restored to a wonderful eating/giftshop establishment. Steve (Walton) adds so much character to the store that it's always like stopping by a friend's house. One of the reasons I guess it appealed to me to paint it!

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"Countryside Roses" SOLD

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I have been preoccupied with other things and had forgotten my trip to Asheville and the Biltmore so I was pleasantly surprised when cruising my photos today to come across some shots from there. I was in the mood for a non-still life subject and this hit the spot. It was a busy scene filled with tons of rose bushes and foliage. As always, one has to think of simplifying and massing things into bigger shapes of color, especially when it comes to painting it on an 8 x 8 inch panel. I like the way that the wires for the roses to climb on repeat the roof line of the garden house. It was an overcast day which always makes me think of Richard Schmid's work when he paints the countryside. The colors look truer to their nature when not bleached out by strong sunlight.

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"Remnants" SOLD

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I have some stemless glassware which I love. They are simply shaped, almost round, glasses. Since my workshop in Lexington begins tomorrow, I had set up the still life for it today and used a potted geranium in one of them. These little fellows had to be cut in the line of duty. I couldn't bear to throw them away. So clutched in hand, I trudged to my hot car in the parking garage and laid them on the seat. I was hungry so I stopped to get a bite to eat--forgetting about my little riding companions. When I came back to the, once again, hot car--there they were. I was surprised how chipper they looked. So I brought them in the house and grabbed my drinking glass by the sink to give them a drink. I didn't have a painting planned for the evening, but seeing them looking so sassy and refreshed, I decided to give in to the urge to paint them. I have a full class of wonderful people tomorrow, some I know and the others I will know by the end of the workshop. Art is such a great vehicle for meeting fascinating, talented, generous, loving people. I will be posting some pics of the group and what we get into. Wish you were painting with us! Life is good. (And I think this little piece will look balanced when my signature goes in--my brush for that is at my workshop location!)

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"Mini Rose Sparkle" SOLD

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I went into the studio to set up a new still life and just could not pass on one more chance to paint the roses and glass sparkles. So this is bit of a reverse. I usually do small ones and then take them on up in size if I like what's happening. Here it's kind of a "Honey I shrunk the roses" theme! That is one of the joys of working small. You can indulge yourself no matter what's going on--kinda like just one Hershey's kiss...

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"Deliciosity" SOLD

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Spell check rolled its eyes at me on this one. Of course, it never seems to know what to do with my name either....

Dreama's Dictionary: "Deliciosity"--the quality or fact of being delicious. Sometimes the English language just doesn't have the exact word I need. The deliciosity of this morning, for example, just listening to the birds singing, chattering and fluttering around in the trees. What a gift to be able to hear them. All of life is so precious and abundant, I am just happy to be here and painting and sharing.

This is a portion of a still life I was painting last evening--it was just a happy little happening in the middle of a larger happening--just like real life!

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