EARTH, WIND & FIRE, 9070, acrylic abstract diptych




This abstract diptych features strong textural elements and an interplay of warm/cool vibrant colors. I like the way the neutral browns turn on the colors of the orange and blue hues. I started this painting with the grid pattern made from white acrylic modeling compound. If you look at some of my other abstract pieces, you'll see that I love squares. Don't ask me why, but they show up a lot.

I worked on other paintings while the little white squares sat quietly observing my activities. I'm not a nut case, but some times I think these incomplete paintings are watching and waiting - kind of like the ghost of our departed cat, Garfield. I swear I see his ghost out of the corner of my eye every once in a while.

But I digress. One day last week I had the urge to confront the squares and decide their destiny. I had a vague idea of using a combined warm/cool palette, but that's about it. Since the squares were in a grid pattern, a geometric design was a natural outcome. What else could one do with dozens of little white squares in a grid pattern? I threw the circles in the mix so as not to be too much of a Mondrian clone.


My husband thought I should call this "Gridlock". That is a good name, and I almost called it that, but I wanted a title that celebrated the colors.
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RAZZLE DAZZLE, 9069, orange poppy diptych


This painting is done on two panels measuring 8x24 inches each. I never tire of painting poppies. I tried a new technique on this piece. I tried texturizing the panels with venetian plaster before painting the flowers. Venetian plaster is used in the decorating business to give walls a textured, marble look. I really like the effect. I would not use this on a flexible surface, like canvas, because it could be popped off I suppose. On half inch thick panels there is no danger of that. For purchase information, please see my website.

Special Morning, 9068, Colorado landscape original oil painting






This painting was commissioned as a most unique wedding present for a couple who became engaged on an early morning hot air balloon ride in Colorado. This painting shows their balloon floating over a vast panorama of foothills and distant mountains.
I am showing the progress of the painting almost from the beginning. The canvas was primed with Terra Rosa, which imparts a warm under tone. The mountains get lighter and less detailed as they recede in the distance.
The balloon was the interesting part, because the reference photo I was working from was a panorama shot taken FROM their balloon. I also had a photo of their balloon on the ground so I knew what the colors were. The trick was to superimpose their balloon on the aerial scene and make it look like it was floating over the terrain. Also I had to make the balloon large enough to be recognizable, yet keep it in scale with the magnitude of the view.
I'm very happy with how it turned out, and I hope the bride and groom will treasure this painting of their special morning.
SOLD