Ghost Dance, 8x10 Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas, Red, White, Black, Gold

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For this abstract, I painted a canvas panel with beautiful gold gesso, then I mixed fluid acrylic paint with liquid pouring medium. I poured and manipulated until I got the result I wanted. I made a huge mess, as I always do with this process, but I like the result. 

Carmen

Pinwheel, 8x6 Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas, Original Art

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I'm off an an abstract tangent now. I wanted motion in this one, and I think I got it. The background is creamy white, though it may look pale yellow on some monitors. 

Here are a couple of the giclees I have for sale in my shop. Click on the titles for sizes and prices. They are printed on high-quality canvas and look just like the originals.

Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

Reflections on Breakfast

Copper Pot with Apple, 10x8 Oil on Canvas

$99, Click to Purchase

Taking a break from my San Miguel series to post a still life. This one was started in the Qiang Huang workshop in Melbourne. I have been so pleased to get thank-you notes from some of the people attending the class. Learning from Qiang is a very enriching experience, and some people came from a long distance and were glad they did. It's so gratifying when all the effort to put on a workshop is appreciated.

Ruby Beach in Black and White, 7x5 Oil on Canvas

There was so little color when the mists were over Ruby Beach that I saw it as an opportunity for a black and white study. The Pacific Ocean comes rolling in, making a stark contrast to the dark rocks. Qiang Huang's gorgeous paintings with grays have really inspired me lately, and not mixing color was a nice little rest for my brain. 

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Out of Obscurity, 7x5 Acrylic on Canvas

I toyed with the idea of calling this "Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave." I find it a lot harder to title abstract paintings, though some of them are easier than others. I can't get enough of that bright turquoise color. Makes me think of when I lived in Bermuda, where the water is that color and didn't even look real at times.

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Aquamarine, 7x5 Acrylic on Canvas

I like color, can you tell? Vivid, deep, inviting color. Painting these abstracts is an adventure, and I look forward to trying different color combinations.

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Night Flight, 6x6 Acrylic on Canvas Panel

There's a lot going on here, but it all suggests flight to me. I am really enjoying doing these abstracts, it is so freeing and creative. It's like a dance with paint.

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Ready For My Closeup, 24x30 Oil on Canvas

This painting is currently displayed in the Pieces of 8 art exhibit at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida. Our exhibit is called "Black and White and Red All Over" and features all different media and quite a variety of styles. This painting comes with a story, and the story just keeps growing.

This is my dad's cousin Florence Chumbecos, who was a chorus girl on Broadway. I had a couple of her publicity shots but didn't know her last name. My cousin Vicki, who lives in Virginia, discovered our side of the family a couple weeks ago. She never knew we existed, and we have been solving genealogical mysteries via emails to each other. Neither of us knew Florence's last name, but Vicki found it through some detective work, and she found an article written by Florence about dancing with Fred Astaire. It was just like the movies: the lead dancer got sick, Florence filled in and danced in the role for a year. Mr. Astaire was just like you'd think--the nicest of men. Here is the article: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23388711

Vicki found this picture of Florence on eBay and bought it. Next we want to know when and where she died.

Stormy Deep, 6x6 Abstract

I've stepped way outside my comfort zone to do this one, and I'm so excited about it that I'm going to do more. The first thing I thought of was deep water in a storm off Bermuda, where I used to live. What a contrast to the misty grey scene I photographed at our beach in Florida the other day. It was beautiful in its own way too.

I'm happy to announce that I won Best of Show in the Contemporary Fine Art International show (www.cfai.co), "Summer Fun" for my painting Leap of Faith.

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Cyberspace, 5x7 Abstract Acrylic Painting

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This is poured acrylic over stamped gold gesso, and the title is a nod to the internet, because of the most amazing coincidence this week. In our painting group, when it's someone's birthday, that person brings the cake. This keeps it simple. This week I brought a pineapple upside-down cake for my birthday (more about that later), and Carol Schiff gave me a birthday card that I immediately recognized as being made by my niece, Marta Pelrine-Bacon. Carol's cousin bought a set of the cards on the internet and sent them to Carol, who gave me one for my birthday, having no idea I was related to the artist who made the card. What are the odds?

I wrote to my niece, who has had serious health problems lately, and saw that she was having a big craving the same day for pineapple upside-down cake!  Again, what are the odds?
Here is the very cute card:

 Link to Card

Sedona Sunset, 5x7 Oil on Canvas

I just paint what I see, and this is what I saw. I told you it wouldn't look real. A lot of things around Sedona don't look real, yet there they are.

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Mystery Bird, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

I am not sure what this bird is, and if anyone knows, please let me know. He was hanging out in the Everglades looking so cute, I just had to paint him. I donated him to the Lagoon Fest to be held in October 2014 to benefit Oyster Restoration for the Indian River Lagoon.

I read in the paper that a large number of pelicans and manatees have died here on the Space Coast, and it's likely because of the sorry condition of our waterways. The Banana River and Indian River are polluted by runoff from pesticides and fertilizers, and this is good for no one. Our river used to be full of clammers and I never see them any more. I don't think a green lawn is the priority here. I think I should have pride in the sorry-looking lawn we're sporting these days. I'm looking at it in a whole new way.

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Everglades Sunrise, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

I left my warm and cozy cot with sleeping bag, blankets, and jackets, to go look at the sunrise. It was worth it. The birds loudly proclaim the morning, as do the rich colors. I forgot to even notice where the alligator might be lurking, the one we saw in the lake the day before.

There is a fine line between not being at all scared of alligators and being too scared of them. Stay fifteen feet away, the rangers advise. Don't crouch down and look small and edible. This is very good advice.

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Siesta, 8x8 Oil on Canvas

Ahhh, the warm Mexican sun...just makes one (or should I say Juan?) want to have a little snooze. I thank my sister Genie for the photo that inspired this.

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Winter Sunset, Oil on Canvas Board, 6x6

This was the view outside my house the other night. It actually was more vivid than this, but looks so unbelievable if it's painted that way. Florida sunrises and sunsets are just so hard to portray without looking exaggerated, because sometimes they are so dramatic that you feel your eyes are deceiving you. God's paintbrush uses some loud colors very effectively.

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View from the Top, 20x20 Oil on Canvas

When the Pieces of 8 were in North Carolina, this is the sort of view that greeted us every morning from Cindy's balcony. I don't think I have done it justice. The mountains are like islands in the clouds.

SOLD

My good news: I am featured in an article in Space Coast Living Magazine, a beautiful local publication. Here's the link: Link to article

Nightlife, 8x10 Abstract Oil on Canvas

It's rather freeing to paint an abstract occasionally, and just "let go." This one has a dark and mysterious tone, depicting the shadowy yet vibrant atmosphere of a city at night.

Our painting group, Pieces of 8, is off to the North Carolina mountains again this week. We can't let Cindy continue to have fun up there by herself. After what I call the Summer of My Discontent, this is a much-needed change to recharge my batteries. This has been quite a year, and I don't mean that in a good way, so I am looking forward to our annual art retreat.

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Summer Fun, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

What a great feeling, having the water go back out, dragging sand between your toes. There is nothing more exhilarating for a boy than going to the beach.

By the way, I am now convinced my husband can fix anything. Our car was stuck in reverse, wouldn't go into drive. He said, "The linkage is slipping," and he got under the hood and fixed it with two zip ties. That is one handy man to have around.

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Spoonbill Ballet, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

This is another Spoonbill by request. I love doing these things, but they do make my brain tired. First, I draw it; then I scout the magazines for the colors, shapes and values I need; then I have to picture whether each piece will create the proper illusion. Then I make a huge mess and get glue all over my hands. I have dispensed with the waste of time and effort caused by trying to use a brush. Fingers work quite well and are much more easily cleaned.

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To Paris With Love, 7x5 Mixed Media

I began this work with the stamp of French handwriting. This is all acrylic, with the exception of the flower and leaves, which I painted in oil. I like anything that reminds me of Paris. It's just romantic. A person could say, "Take out the garbage" in French and it would sound romantic.

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