Pelican on the Bay

Oil on Panel - 4 x 4"

The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds that spends its summers in Wisconsin. They migrate in flocks like Canada geese, except they are very quiet. They can be easily overlooked because of this and their mostly white feathers. Their landing takes forever, hovering in circles. Think of a really long spring coil pattern with no ending.

Louie II

Oil on Panel - 8 x 8"

This bird continues to be one of my favorites, what more can I say? He is a male house finch in case you're wondering what kind of bird he is.

Fryderyk

Oil on Panel - 12 x 9"

This painting depicts a ruddy turnstone splashing the beaches in the warm sunlight of Sanibel Island. These shorebirds can be found along many shores throughout the coastal regions, and are often blazing the salty sands alongside sanderlings. As their name indicates, they turn over stones looking for food.

Phoebe on Thermometer

SOLD

Eastern Phoebes in the summertime, now there's a familiar sound that means home. Along with the Eastern Wood Pewee, this bird's call reminds me of harvesting vegetables from my Dad's garden on hot and humid days, aka doing chores.

Tskili 2

Oil on Panel - 10 x 8"

This is the second painting I have done of Tskili, a great horned owl from the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee. More of her fluffy feathers are showing in this one. In order to obtain a soft look, I used a couple of different brushes to soften the initial paint application.

Rousseau takes Award, Tskili, and More

Oil on Board - 8 x 10"

Rousseau, my painting of a blue-winged teal in Lion's Den Gorge, Grafton, took the People's Choice Award at New London's Wolf River Art Festival, held Jan. 23-24. Hooray! I was so excited!!!

In addition, look below to see my newest bird, Tskili, a miniature painting of a great horned owl who lives at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee. Tskili was taken from her nest as a baby and fed inappropriate nutrition and also became imprinted on humans. She is now a permanent resident of SANC and has a delightful personality.

SOLD

And finally, you are invited to The Arts Mill's 2nd Anniversary Event and Peep Show, held March 22, 6-9 pm, 2013. As many of you know, this is where I have a studio where I display my work and also paint on occasion. (I split my painting between home and the Arts Mill.) This event is coupled with a Peep Show, a juried Exhibition of Fine Art Nudes. I've added new, signed prints of some of my latest work, too. I hope to see you there!

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Oil on Panel - 16 x 12"

This is a painting of a yellow-crowned night-heron in J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. I was one of the lucky ones able to watch him stalk a bug, up close and personal. He paid no attention to us humans, and was solely focused on breakfast. This chap swayed his neck back and forth like a king cobra and wiggled his tail feathers just before striking. As far as birding goes, this remains one of my favorite experiences.

Sunflower

SOLD

Sunflower - Oil on Canvas

This piece was sold at The Arts Mill's 24-Hour Auction, held Saturday, Jan. 26th. All pieces had to have been created in 24 hours on 11x14 inch canvases.

In 2012, I joined a community garden. I can't remember the last time I stood next to a sunflower and admired its beauty. One day, I walked over to another gardener's plot and stood underneath one. I felt really small. When it comes to plants, sunflowers are pretty cool.

Wren

Oil in Panel - 6 x 6"

The poetry of a wren's pose wraps fallen leaves in splendor, and moves the forest's energy onto one tiny little bird.

Santiago

Oil on Panel - 14 x 11"

Ospreys will always remind me of visiting my friend's family cabin in northern Minnesota where these raptors nest across the lake in the summertime. Besides ospreys, loons are fairly abundant as well. Santiago's name comes from the main character in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.

Chip

Oil on Panel - 6 x 6"

Sometimes as a way of breaking out of the monotony, or just for art's sake, I paint something new and different. Meet Chip. He's a little rascal that eats my mom's birdseed and chews on her house. Referring to the background, I have seen the back and forth brushstrokes come out in quite a few of my paintings. It's something that feels natural to me when creating.

Fisherman II

Oil on Panel - 5 x 5"

Here's a painting of a fisherman that I finished yesterday at The Arts Mill where I rent space to show my artwork and paint at my $20 desk that I got at a local thrift shop last year. It rained all day. I welcomed visitors that dodged the raindrops while a great blue heron hunted for food and preened just outside on the Milwaukee River. It was a great day. A pot of coffee and Coltrane on the radio topped it off. 

Otis

Oil on Panel - 10 x 10"

Otis is a tree swallow from Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park.  The day before he came to life as a painting, he got caught in a windstorm and received specs of dirt, pollen, and other debris all over the sky. I spent hours cleaning him up, so now he's much better. Transporting wet paintings with inadequate coverage only invites trouble. If you ever want to know just how much stuff is in the air we breathe, just paint something and set it outside on a windy day.

Fisherman

Oil on Panel - 4-7/8 x 4-9/16"

This was one of those paintings that evolved on its own. Originally, there was more to the scene and it was painted on a larger canvas, but after working on this particular figure, I let him develop into a painting all to himself.

Curtain Cat

Oil on Panel - 6 x 6"

Continuing with the cat theme, this is my bad cat, Mandy. She is a Texan and I was smitten by her flirtatious window rubbing at the San Antonio animal shelter when we laid eyes on each other. Her personality is "Play with me, or I'll torment you," except when she's sleeping, of course.

Cat Looking Out of Window

Oil on Panel - 6" x 6"

This painting's style is a result of getting to the studio and realizing I had only one brush to work with. You're probably wondering how that is possible. It comes from transporting brushes back and forth between my studio and home. Since I paint in both locations, I incorrectly assumed I had more brushes at the studio. Now if I were like the late artist Mary Nohl, I might have cut my hair to make some more brushes, but I did not.

Buttercup

SOLD

Yellow is such a fine color. It's cheery, bright, and lifts my mood. If you're familiar with goldfinches, you've noticed that they sing when they're flapping their wings, then stop singing as they glide through the air. This scenario is repeated until they land. I had to laugh when my husband voiced his opinion on this. He said, "It's because they need to get rid of the air in their lungs to help them glide more aerodynamically." Thought-provoking or just plain ludicrous, what do you think?

Field of Yellow

Oil on Panel - 4 x 4"

My focus on this little piece was to incorporate bright colors, shadows, and light while not being afraid to let my brush strokes fall where they wanted. I've painted quite a few new pieces in the past few weeks and have fallen behind on blogging. I can't wait for this crazy world of communication methods (web, blog, tweets, etc) to settle down. Will it ever? You can always check out my website for more new pieces, too.

Agatha

Oil on Panel - 6" x 6"

Agatha sat on the docks by herself, surrounded by dozens of barn swallows zipping through the air snapping up bugs. She wasn't sure which direction to go, because she wasn't one of them. She is a northern rough-winged swallow and she really stared at me when I took notice of her. Within moments she took flight, hopefully in the direction where more of her kind were flying.

Vance

Oil on Panel - 6" x 6"

Early spring, an injured heron took refuge near my home. This painting is inspired by that bird, who coincidentally managed to fly away from some kids throwing rocks at him while he was recuperating. One of my friends made a comment to me recently referring to bad behavior. She said, "They just weren't brought up properly." Isn't that the truth.

Song Sparrow in Spring Maple

Oil on Panel - 12" x 16"

Just outside of my window, there is a young maple tree favored by a pair of song sparrows. The male likes to sing high up in the leaves, while his mate prefers rustling around in the lower branches. Chances are, you've heard their song many times, and probably paid no attention. I know I have until now.

Fishin' Pole at Gallery 224

Fishin' Pole - 20" x 24" Oil on Canvas

I am pleased to announce my oil painting "Fishin' Pole" has been accepted into Gallery 224's upcoming exhibit Fish and Ships in Port Washington, WI. Opening reception Friday, June 29, 5-7 pm. Exhibit runs through Sept. 2, gallery is open Saturdays, 9-3 pm.

S/N Limited Edition of 125. Prints available for $95. 

Nashville Warbler in Lion's Den Gorge

Oil on Canvas - 24" x 36"

Taking cover within this fall-colored bush in Lion's Den Gorge is a Nashville Warbler. I knew nothing of this bird when I first saw him last September, and had to search for his identity when I got home. Much of my interest in painting comes from learning new things during the process, and it's especially neat when that information is a species of bird unfamiliar to me. This is my largest oil painting to date, and is the reason you haven't heard from me in a while.

Great Egret on the Lower Fox

Oil on Panel - 8" x 8"

This lovely great egret was hunting for food along the Lower Fox River in Neenah, WI, last September, during a trip I had taken to photograph white pelicans. On a whim, I'd stumbled upon the smallest of parks and from it, a microcosm of wildlife including this egret, wading fishermen, and old, industrialized buildings, surrounded me. The pelicans eluded me, except for snapshots of them flying, but after stumbling upon the scene that inspired this painting, it didn't seem to matter.

Poindexter

Oil on Panel - 10" x 8"

When life throws you a curveball and crushes your boot heels, there's a bird for that. Say hello to Poindexter, a black-bellied plover from Sanibel Island, FL.

Orville and Wilbur

Oil on Panel - 8" x 10"

Introducing sanderlings from Sanibel. These birds are called sanderlings, also known as wave chasers. If you've ever spent any time watching them on the beach, I bet you had a laugh or two. They are simply fun to watch while they chase waves, then stop to eat whatever food the wave has left behind. As soon as the wave comes back, they run away from it, then chase it as it retreats back into the ocean. These two come from my recent birding trip, and were just too darn cute not to paint.

Two Women on Bench

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Inspired by a scene of two women in conversation on Madeline Island,WI, during my first trip there last year, this is one of relaxation and repose. Every soul needs human interaction, a computer simply cannot take its place. Yes, I realize how ironic it is that I'm on a computer blogging right now. Perhaps in the old days, I'd be peddling on a street corner.

Montgomery

SOLD

This is my first piece from a recent, birding field trip to Southwest Florida. This shorebird is from Lovers Key/Carl E Johnson State Park and is an American oystercatcher.  He's a juvenile, because his beak isn't 100% orange yet. I'm not sure if he's actually a male, so I'm guessing on that part. Anyway, the background water scene added an extensive amount of time to get this one finished, so if you've missed me, that's why. I hope you like him!

Fernando

Oil on Panel - 6" x 6"

Growing up, my family rarely went out to eat. We just didn't have money to do that, and ate a lot of casseroles instead. But the few times we did, I remember Friday fish fries and the jukebox at a restaurant called Perks. Of all the 45s that played on that jukebox, only two songs remain in my memory: Fernando and Philadelphia Freedom. Both take me right back to eating fried perch with tartar sauce and rye bread.

Face 100

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Well, 100 is finally here. It's been a wonderful journey, and under no circumstances do I feel done. I thought I would, but there's so much more that lies ahead. So, in case you're wondering, I didn't dance a jig, hula-hoop or twirl a baton...not that I would do those things anyway. I'll probably go bowling. I'm not embarrassed to say that. Okay, maybe a little.

Along the way, I've been asked quite a few questions about the artwork. So, I've put together a FAQ sheet to help address those questions. Click here to read.

Don't forget, Little Faces, Big Expressions debuts in its entirety February 17th, 5-7 pm, Gallery 224, Port Washington, WI. I hope to see you there!

Face 99

Oil on Board - 4 x 4"

I have become very fond of painting these faces over the past 16 months. They've taught me a lot, some of which I'll touch on when I finish 100. See you soon!

Face 98

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

This painting seemed to come together nicely in that the warm and cool tones of her skin jumped out at me right away. It was a good day in the studio. All that really means is that whatever's on my dinner plate that evening won't be leftovers.

Face 97

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

I am pleased to announce that all 100 faces of Little Faces, Big Expressions will be on display at Gallery 224 for their upcoming Portrait show in Port Washington. As a featured artist, I'll be there, and hope you can make it, too! Free and open to the public, everyone is welcome.

224 E Main Street, Port Washington, WI

Opening Reception: February 17, 2012, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm 

Face 96

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Things are crazy in Wisconsin, and many are smiling. We're having such a mild winter, flocks of geese were flying north yesterday. I've never seen anything like it, not at this time of the year. There is no snow on the ground, and today will be in the 40s F (about 6 C). If you're a snow lover, head to Michigan. They've got it, but it's melting fast!

Face 95

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Keeping this a little more on the simple side (by simple, I don't mean simple, just less detailed), I left his hair with big brushstrokes. To me, it helped give him the look of fun.

Face 94

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

I am beginning to feel many emotions as the 100 mark draws near. When the collection is done however, I know I will reflect only for a short while, and then look forward again. My character has been such as long as I've known. 

Face 93

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

I am often asked how long it takes me to complete one of these paintings. Lately, it's been taking me about 8-20 hours.

Face 92

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Another one from last week, I liked how the subtle tones came out of my palette and found their way to the painting. My first strokes of the day almost always determine the mood of the painting, and I generally don't interfere with that. Interrupting a painting's direction is like peeking under the cloth of a rising mound of bread dough. Leave it alone, let it rise and hope for a good ending.

Face 91

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

This is from last week, so I'm in catch up mode. Besides his expression, what I liked best about painting this man were the yellow lines that carried his suit to his hat. When I put the lines on his hat at the very end, I said, "Wow, now that works." Of course, the only ones that heard me were myself and my two cats. No matter.

Face 90

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

If you want to attract more attention than the person next to you, wear a hat. After painting 90 of these little faces, I am absolutely convinced of that.

Face 89

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

This man's wrinkles were the predominant feature of his face and could not be ignored. Perhaps years of working outdoors or smoking contributed to them. I am not sure. If we are provided a life of longevity, we will all have these lines of knowledge and experience in our old age. They tell a story of their own. I do not consider them unsightly in any way, they are simply who we truly are as human beings.

Face 88

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

It seemed to take me forever to get this woman's scarf just right. It was more about the subtleties in contrast, and re-training my eye to recognize them. Once finished, the rest seemed to go rather smoothly.

Face 87

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

When working on these small portraits, I have found it helpful to establish the center point to get the spatial relationships correct on the face. This is often done after I sketch a rough outline of the body and head. Three visitors at The Arts Mill in Grafton saw this when it was smokin' hot off the easel on Tuesday, just after the snow was added and more black was applied to the sunglasses.

Workers' Rights takes 2nd Place

Workers' Rights - Oil on Board, each 4" x 4"

Workers' Rights took 2nd place out of 95 works of art in an international, Protest-themed contest administered by Dirk Gyhs from Brussels, Belgium on Fine Art America. As stated in the contest, 20 euros (about $27 US) will be given to UNICEF in my name. I am very honored to have taken second and thank everyone who placed confidence in my work and voted for me.

Face 86

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Face 85

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Face 84

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Few things teach patience better than painting a full set of teeth.

Face 83

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Here's to tough guys wearing hats. In Wisconsin, a lot of these trapper hats are worn in cold weather, and without shame, I'll have you know.

Face 82

Oil on Board - 4" x 4"

Yesterday, hundreds of red-breasted mergansers visited our marina. I've never seen so many, and according to research, their flocks are usually smaller. Today, they are gone. It's hard to know where they went, but they typically migrate towards the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, although a few stay in the Great Lakes region for winter. My painting Gondomar is a red-breasted merganser.