August Sabbatical

Silver Springs Sunset

Oil on Linen, 24x24

Sold

Just yesterday, I was informed that my painting Silver Springs Sunset was sold.  Lisa, the owner of American Artworks Gallery called and let me know.  I love it when my paintings go out into the world with a brand new owner!

I have been on a painting sabbatical for weeks now.  My daughter is getting married in September and there are lots of exciting plans being made.  This Sunday is her bridal shower.  So my head is full of things like flowers, wedding dresses and such.  

So I'm thinking that come October and November,  I will get back into the gentle, quiet days of painting in my little sun room studio.  The paints, brushes and canvases can wait.

Feeling Right At Home

I have been looking for the right gallery to put my work in for quite some time.  I found American Artworks Gallery last fall when my brother, Joel, told me about it.  He thought it might make a good fit and he was right.  This gallery not only has paintings, but also has beautiful handmade jewelry, textiles and many other original craft works.

This is one of my oil paintings sitting on a beautiful wooden ledge.  The building was actually a pharmacy at one time and the woodwork was part of the store.  It's hard to believe that a pharmacy was so elegant with all the architectural amenities.  My, times have changed.

American Artworks Gallery is located just east of Chicago and right next to Oak Park, Illinois.  Maybe you are familiar with Oak Park.  This is where Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio are.  Also there are many  of Wright's original homes and other buildings.  This area is an Arts and Crafts paradise.

My paintings feel right at home in this wonderful gallery.  That is, until it is time to go to a new home.  Thanks for taking these pictures for me, Joel!

Joy

Joy

12x16

Oil on Stretched Canvas

This is my latest painting called "Joy".  I've been away from the easel and computer lately because I'm involved in a different painting project.  Not my favorite though.  I've been prepping and painting the master bathroom.  It's not nearly as satisfying as painting oil paintings:)  

I find that when I can't paint at the easel, I'm still painting in my head.  I'm looking forward to getting back to doing what I love most, which is painting oil landscapes in my little sun room.  

Autumn Oldie

Autumn Woods

Oil on Canvas

18x24

I was going through some of my old paintings and came across this one from years back.  This style is so foreign to me now.  It was done when I was just learning to paint with oils.  But I just had to pull it out because autumn is my very favorite time of year.  It's hard to believe that it's almost October.

Here is my favorite autumn quote:

The fields are harvested and bare,

And Winter whistles through the square.

October dresses in flame and gold

like a woman afraid of growing old.

                        - Anne Mary Lawler

Distilling Down to the Essence

Beatitude

Oil on Linen

16x12
Sold

As I look back on all the paintings I have done over the years, I realize that I am painting with less detail.  Years ago I would get so wrapped up in the details.  And when a painting was finished, I was rarely happy with the result.  Now my goal is to capture the essence of what I am trying to say.  My paintings have become much more distilled.

No longer do I sit when painting.  I constantly stand in front of the easel.  This gives the painting focus and energy.  I also back up every so often to see just exactly where the painting is going.

These days, my paintings seem to come from somewhere in my subconscious.   

Summer Stillness

Summer Stillness

8x8

Cradled Panel

My favorite time of day to be outside in July is early evening.  When the sun starts going down, it's a great time to go for a long walk and enjoy the outdoors.  It's when the fireflies make an appearance and we experience the magic hours.

Summer can be a time of intense activity and social gatherings.  It has been that way for me this summer.  That's why I try to make time to be alone in nature, just observing all the beauty around me.

Meaning, moods, the whole scale of our inner experience, finds in nature "the correspondences" through which we may know our boundless selves.

- Kathleen Raine

  

Lambert Lake

 Lambert Lake

18x24

Oil on Linen

About a month ago, I went for a walk with my daughter.  She never cares how hot it is.  She always manages to get me to go.  We went in a different direction from our usual walks.  She took me to an area right near our house where I had never been.  I couldn't believe it!  Here was a beautiful landscape area called Lambert Lake.  I had never been tempted to go to this area because it's right behind an ugly water treatment facility.  

Two weeks later my husband and I went back for a little picnic with wine and appetizers.  We walked around the lake at dusk and I found the inspiration I needed.  Funny what gifts are available when we least expect it.

Following the Muse

I'm getting ready for a big lifestyle change. Over the next months and coming year, my husband and I will be preparing to move out to the country on 200 acres of property. I can't go into the details, since that would involve privacy issues concerning other family members, but ... there's no way I can continue this blog without mentioning it.

After all, I'm a landscape painter. So I'm thrilled that I'll finally be in touch with daily reference material. Open skies and land. Yes!
Here's a little gravel road leading in to where we'll be living. Is that sunlight shining on dust? Or maybe a woods faerie?
The deer decided they should run for cover after staring at us for a full two minutes. I need to be quicker with the camera.

So I imagine that I'll be posting my paintings as they come off the easel from now on. But you'll also be hearing about painting walls and all kinds of projects that come with getting an old house ready for sale. Our target is to move next year. But there are so many projects to get ready in the meantime!