Doctor Banjo

8 x 8

oil on panel

I needed to do a portrait today and our friend Mike was the perfect subject. One of his occupations is being a luthier, which means he builds and repairs instruments. He's also a terrific musician. I took the photo I used for this portrait, when he was doing some work on my banjo. I love the great character in his face. And he IS a character and a good guy, so this will be a gift to him.

Rose Nouveau

5 x 7

oil on panel

My sweet husband Scott brought me beautiful roses for Valentine's Day so I popped one into my favorite art nouveau vase and did this quick little painting. This was the first time I used the light and shadow box I built using Carol Marine's design which is available here.

Last night was the artist's reception for the Valentine's Day show at The Castle Gallery of Fine Art and as always, we had a wonderful time visiting with friends, enjoying gorgeous art, and even jamming a little music. My painting "Be Mine" looked great in it's new frame and though this isn't a good photo, I wanted to share it. It was actually beautifully lit as well.

Updo

8 x 8

oil on panel

After finishing the last larger, more detailed piece of cut glass, I needed to loosen up with some quick paintings. I did a couple small ones including this guy which was an older one that was started and set aside. I totally enjoyed doing both in quick, broad strokes with lots of linseed to make the paint nice and juicy. This little magpie duck with the tufted head feathers reminded me of the fancy updos of the early sixties, (when I was a kid!).

Be Mine

19 x 25

oil on canvas

Valentine's Day is coming and I had it in my mind to do another painting with glass, maybe Ball jars, but in pinks. Obviously as I started setting up my arrangement it morphed into something quite different, but it's glass and it's pink. I have never tackled anything quite like this, but it was enjoyable.

This is going into the Valentine's Day show at the Castle Gallery in Ft.Wayne, Indiana.