Portrait of Marilyn Monroe, "Red," 14 x 18 Oil on Canvas Panel

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My painting group, Pieces of 8,  had a challenge: "Red." This is what leapt into my mind--the iconic Marilyn.

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Brass Bowl, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel, Still Life

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The only thing that would make this painting harder would be to add a lemon. You can see the influence of Qiang Huang in this one. If you like a challenge, try painting pewter, glass, brass and fruit in one painting, like this one.

The other day I painted one that was a "scraper." I don't often scrape a painting away, but the one yesterday deserved it. A large part of a still life painting is the actual setup, and I should have known the pot was too bright yellow and the spotlight too far away. The irises were beautiful, but they got scraped too. Darn yellow pot. Not every painting has a happy ending.

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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. 

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Copper Pot with Apple, 10x8 Oil on Canvas

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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.

San Miguel Morning, 8x6 Oil on Canvas

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This is the sight that greeted me on our first morning in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The little bird posed obligingly on top of the dome. Bougainvilleas bloom profusely there, and there were many flowers I didn't recognize.

One night we went to Mi Casa, and heard incredible music; it was so good that there was no conversation or clanking glasses. The violin practically wept with the sound of moving Argentine music. It was worth the trip to hear something so profoundly beautiful.

One night we had a fiesta at the villa, and eleven Mariachi players strolled in playing their wonderful music. They had everyone dancing and our cook demonstrated how salsa dancing is supposed to be done.

So Festive

Surrounded by Mariachis

Beautiful Music

Dragonflower, 20x20 Oil on Canvas

When I shot this picture I practically had to stand on my head; it was fairly dark but the light was shining through the flowers. This is the flower of the dragonfruit, and I have always heard it referred to as Night-Blooming Cereus. After doing a lot of daily paintings, and I mean a lot of daily paintings, I just had the urge to paint a big floral. I like using my big bristle brushes now and then.

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Eye of the Eagle, 6x6 Acrylic Abstract

I think this is a patriotic painting, with a slightly frazzled eagle. Maybe he is sick of the do-nothing Congress, or maybe he just suffers from allergies. I read that the United States is the most allergic country on earth. Is it the genetically altered foods? How about those hormones in meat and milk? Global warming and the highest pollen levels ever? Maybe my eagle is like that Indian in the old commercial--remember him, the noble man with the tear? Actually, that looks like a red tear running down Mr. Eagle's cheek. Is he sad, or is it just his allergies?

I know, you're thinking I've gone off the deep end...don't worry, it's nothing new, and I'm still treading water.

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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.

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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Marilyn, 20x20 Oil on Canvas

Only Marilyn Monroe could wear a hat like that and look so good. This is one of my favorite pictures of the photogenic Miss Monroe. I really enjoyed painting it.

Referring back to my post before last on the 26th of March, I now believe my "Mystery Bird" is a Tricolored Heron. Bird lover Kelly Ricetti's "Red and the Peanut" blog was very helpful.

I'm so happy to announce that my painting of the San Marcos Piazza in Venice won First Place in the Contemporary Fine Art International challenge, "Places I Have Been." Here's my painting:

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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Elaine's Flowers, 10x8 Oil on Canvas

Some people in New Jersey and New York probably had gardens like this, and now they have destruction. It is so sad. We worry about hurricanes all the time in Florida, but who would expect this in the Northeast? To be hit by a snowstorm afterward is just unbelievable. My prayers go out to all the suffering people, and especially those who have lost everything.

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Hurricane: Before and After, 8x10 Oil on Board

Before the Storm

After the Storm

My first reversible painting! It's stormy on one side, sunny on the other. I'm always fascinated by the changes in the ocean, and a hurricane passing by Florida creates awesome drama. This family wisely stayed in shallow water and watched the mighty waves crashing.

Hurricane Isaac was long and drawn out, so it was many days before the peaceful, warm, sunny scene in the "After" painting. I am so lucky to live here--barring storm surge, of course.

This painting comes with an easel so it may be easily displayed according to your mood. It's kind of a "Mood Ring" of art, and it's two paintings in one!

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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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Perky Poppies, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Board

I have so many wonderful things to paint, I guess I will soon get off the poppy kick. I haven't tried them as collages yet, though. Hm. That might be interesting.

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Poppies at Brookgreen, 10x10 Oil on Canvas

 I love poppies, and these were abundant at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. They surrounded a long reflecting pool and were so beautiful against the dark background of the water. This is painted on a deep stretched canvas. Look at the photo below to see why I love my iPad. It's wonderful to paint from.

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Denette, Cindy, Me on Surfside Beach

Plaid Pears, 8x10 Mixed Media

This was just plain fun. I didn't know where I was going with this, but I rather enjoy the result. It's hard to get me away from oils and collage, but sometimes it's good to play around with other media. This is definitely a kitchen painting, wouldn't you say?

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Nighttime at the Loveless Cafe, 8x6 Oil on Canvas Board

I feel very good about finally getting something out of the evening I spent at the Loveless Cafe, trying to get a table. It just wasn't going to happen, as we realized when a busload of people was unloaded and paraded in before us. We gave up for the night and had breakfast there the next morning. We can't leave Nashville without our Loveless Cafe ritual. The place has been there since the 50s, and is attached to a funky old motel that now has shops in its rooms. The Loveless is known for its biscuits and jams. Yum.

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