falling for you original oil painting

I had so much fun with color on this one! This original 8x8 oil painting on 1 ½ inch raised panel is available for $200 in my Etsy shop here. Sides are painted gold.

Happy Friday!

I will be at Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Tap Room, in Lancaster, PA, tonight Friday, February 3, from 7-8. My artwork is beautifully hung and will make itself at home there for the next several months. How lucky am i?!? Stop in and say hi to me, enjoy my artwork, and sample some wonderful olive oils and vinegars if you are in the area. Hope to see you there!

Starting the year off right!

I feel so very fortunate that I will have my work hanging in not one, but two places this spring.

Willow Valley

I just finished hanging work at Willow Valley Communities Clubhouse. It's a super posh retirement community south of Lancaster. I must say my paintings look fabulous on their bright gallery wall. The colors dance and sing together. My paintings will be there from February through the end of April.

Seasons

And then, as the icing on the cake, I was invited to hang paintings at Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom where I showed my work this past fall. My paintings will be there indefinitely and I will be able to change things out as I create new ones. So, I guess you could say its kind of my own "official" gallery. So, if you are in Lancaster please do stop in and stock up on some fabulous olive oils and vinegars and see my art at the same time.

I'd love to see you!

This all means I'll be busier than ever with a First Friday at Seasons on Friday, February 3. I'd love for you to come see me between 7 and 8 and say hi! And I will have a reception and painting demonstration at Willow Valley on Thursday, March 16. And the best part? It's time to work on more paintings to replace the ones that might just find new homes! I have my fingers crossed that it's a sign of a great year ahead.

sassy

This sassy bluebird is 6"x6" and painted in oil on 1/8" gesso panel, sold unframed, for $100 here.

box of memories

A box of memories is another in my beautiful series of vintage Christmas ornaments. Hope they bring back wonderful memories for you.

This original 6″x6″ oil painting on ⅛” gesso panel is available, unframed, for $95 here.

bah humbug

So very much hoping this isn't a reflection of me during this crazy hectic season. Sadly, I think it is. I meant for him to look happy. But this is how he was feeling this morning. Bah humbug. I'm doing my best to keep and eye out for the holiday spirit sometime soon :) This could be a great holiday gift for an art lover/Christmas nay sayer in your life...

This original 6"x6" oil painting on gesso panel is available for purchase, unframed, for $95 here.

hello

Part of the fun of painting birds is seeing them come to life. It's almost like I start the painting with a vision of what it will become, but then it takes on a life of it's own. Before I know it, there is a bird, with it's own unique personality, looking right at me. :)

And here is a glimpse of who might be looking up saying hello, back.

This original oil painting is sold.

framing art

Seeing it all start to come together makes me smile!

A great big thank you to Jenny at State-of-the-Art Framing for doing such a fabulous job framing my paintings. The perfect frame just brings it all together.
Here are a few more of my pieces waiting to be delivered to Seasons Olive Oil & Taproom for my art show, opening on First Friday, October 7th...

berry bird

This original 6"x6" oil painting is available, unframed, for $85 here.

sassy blue bird

Loving the process and letting myself get lost in the act of painting is so magical. I lose track of time and worries. In the craziness of life I need to count my blessings that this can happen at least sometimes, right? Can I wish to feel this way all the time? I hear it's possible... This original 6"x6" oil painting is available, unframed, for $85 here.

chasing dreams

It's the possibility of realizing a dream that makes creating art, and living life, interesting.

Never lose sight of your dreams.

Original 10" x 10" oil painting on 1" think gesso panel. This is suitable for framing, or hanging as is, unframed. You can see purchase information here.

the blues

The Monday blues. I think I actually have the Sunday blues. When Monday comes around, I'm ready to roll right into the new week, filled with optimism. This is sure to be a good week, better than last, no doubt. Lot's of fun things on my to-do list including another newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter just let me know and I'll be happy to add you to my list to be kept up-to-date on what's new, special sales on my artwork, fun and inspiration things that I come across, and more!

This original 8"x8" oil painting is available, unframed, for $140 here:

just breathe

The pace of life is just so crazy that I am so very grateful for any minute when I can slow down and paint. Painting is something that can't be rushed. Not ever. It only works when you slow down and just breathe...

This original 8"x8" oil painting is available, unframed, here.

hit pause

Just hit pause. I wish that at least once every day. Hit pause to slow time down, at least for a moment. Hit pause, just to have a minute to rest. Not how it works, I know. At least while I paint I lose time, or at least, for a moment, I forget what time it is...until the alarm goes and it's time to be off and running! This original 6"x6" oil painting is averrable, unframed, for $85.Click to Bid

slowing down

I've been reading Thrive, by Adrianna Huffington. Loving it. Last night I was reading about slowing down, which I really, really, really need to do. I'm hoping she can tell me how to do it. She says "Learning the wisdom of slowing down, of truly living, is itself a journey." So that means I don't need to figure it out by tomorrow. But just like working out and eating right and getting enough sleep, you just wake up each day and try again. I can do that. I'm certainly not off to slow start today, but I'm not going to hurry through my day today. At least I'll try not to :) This original 6"x6" oil painting is available, unframed, for $85. Click to Bid

happy-go-lucky

Primroses are a sure sign that spring is coming. With a beautiful week ahead it's easy to think that winter is behind us. Maybe not, but hopeful for sure. That happy-go-lucky feeling that comes with spring is so good for the soul! This original 6"x6" oil painting is available, unframed, for $85, in my Etsy shop here.

effortless

Love this:

Live life as if everything is rigged in your favor!

This original 12"x12" oil painting on gesso panel is available, unframed, for $320, here.

calm

I had a weekend with no time for painting. Every time I take a few days off I fear that I will forget everything I ever learned! We were at a swim meet at Penn State. It was fun and the weather was amazing for the middle of February. I did have a little bit of time this morning before work so I fit this little gem in to get myself back into the flow. At least while I was at the swim meet I had some time to read. A decadent treat! This 6"x6" original oil painting is available, unframed, for $85. Click to Bid

Here's my reading material from this weekend, if you don't have time to paint, at least there's time for some good reading! I adore flow magazine and just started the book Thrive and am enjoying it very much.

French chair

This morning I painted this French chair from Dreama Tolle Perry's online class. My goal is to paint more loosely and more colorfully. She has such a magical style. Someday I would like to spend more time learning from other artists. Right now I just don't have the luxury of time to walk away from life to do something so selfish. But as I read everywhere, you can't wait forever to start doing what you love. That's why, a few years ago, I started painting every morning. And if I can fit it into my schedule, anyone can! I paint between 5:30 and 7 each morning (I do miss a day, now and then). Today this is what happened. What a wonderful way to begin each day. And thank you Dreama for creating a course where I can learn when I can fit it into my crazy busy life.

intuition

I have a very keen intuition. But learning to listen to it is my constant challenge.
This is a quote from the next book on my reading list:

Even when we're not at a fork in the road, wondering what to do and trying to hear that inner voice, our intuition is always there, always reading the situation, always trying to steer us the right way. But can we hear it? Are we paying attention? Are we living a life that keeps the pathway to our intuition unblocked? Feeding and nurturing our intuition, and living a life in which we can make use of its wisdom, is one key way to thrive, at work and in life. –Thrive, by Ariana Huffington

Here's a must read list of the 10 things highly intuitive people do differently, just in case you are on the same quest to listen to your intuition as I am!

This original 6"x6" oil painting is being donated to an Alzheimer fundraising event.

Painting detail: