Aug 6, 2013

The Long Hall - Study


This is a quick study of the Long Hall pub in Dublin, Ireland. I am painting a large picture of this and wanted to make sure the composition would work out. Instead of using black and white, as in my other recent studies, I included a bit of color to get a better feel for how the color will impact the large painting. Oil on 7"h x 5"w canvas board. SOLD.

Jul 26, 2013

Cape May Beach IV


A painting of Cape May beach at mid-day when everyone is out and about. People are pointing at the water; I think there were dolphins that day. Oil on 11"h x 14"w stretched linen.

Jul 25, 2013

Cape May Beach III


A view of the beach at Cape May, New Jersey from the ocean. It is late afternoon, and only a few people remain on the beach since the lifeguard has left. Oil on 11" h x 14"w stretched linen. SOLD.

Jul 23, 2013

Jul 21, 2013

Cape May Study I


I've started a series of studies. I literally have hundreds of photos that I want to paint from my travels. I've narrowed it down from thousands of photos. This will satisfy my need to paint them all right now. I plan to do larger, finished, color paintings of the ones I like the best. As an example, I will have the color version of this composition on 11" x 14" stretched linen finished this week.

These studies are on 5"h x 7" canvas panels. I used my black mixture, wiped out the light areas, used white on the brightest areas, transparent red on the intermediate colors and a bit of gray. These are fun to paint and take the worry out of possibly wasting a good canvas on a mediocre painting. After completing one of these, I'll know whether I will like the finished painting. Also, I often like the slightly abstract way a painting looks when I first start it. I'm often tempted to leave them that way, but of course I can't stop painting. This will allow me to experiment more with different styles. SOLD.


Jul 12, 2013

Cape May II


All I seem to want to paint right now is beach paintings. This is another scene from Cape May, New Jersey. I painted this from a photo that I took last year.

Standing in front of the easel, looking at beach images and listening to Chopin is almost as good as being there. I spent a summer at the Jersey shore in college and worked at a store on the boardwalk. I was often alone in the store that sold gifts and collectibles between the hours 5 and 6 pm. There weren't many customers during that time because they were usually leaving the beach to prepare for dinner and evening activities. So, I would stand by the counter with my coffee and look out the big window at the ocean while listening to Chopin. That particular music wasn't allowed to be played in the store because we didn't have that CD for sale and the owner wanted me to only play the music that was for sale. It was the only CD that I liked, so I didn't comply. Who knew that listening to Chopin would make someone a rebel? I hope my old boss isn't reading this. Oil on canvas on 6"h x 8"w Ray Mar panel. SOLD.

Jul 10, 2013

Jul 7, 2013

Girl Talk at the Pub


This is a painting of a pub in Dublin during a quiet afternoon. Two girls seem to be sharing stories about their days. Oil on 12"h x 9"w stretched linen canvas. SOLD.

Jul 3, 2013

Cape May I


I've started the numbering system over again, since this is my first American beach painting of the year. Oil on 6"h x 8"w linen on 1/8" Ray Mar panel. SOLD.

Jun 20, 2013

The Streets of Dublin


This is one of the streets in Dublin, Ireland on a cloudy/sunny day. I've found that all weather can be experienced during the span of a day there, which is fine with me, as I liked the variety in lighting. Oil on 12"h x 9"w stretched linen. SOLD.

Jun 13, 2013

Rossbeign Beach II


A painting of Rossbeigh Beach in Ireland on a cold, windy day. Oil on 12"h x 18"w stretched linen. No matter what I do, I can't get a good picture of this painting. My camera was purchased in November, yet somehow I can only get fuzzy, dark pictures, and I have used every possible setting combination. My cameras never last long due to overuse. So this is the best I can get. The waves are much more crisp, and there is a better range of light to dark than what you see here.

Jun 7, 2013

Off Duty Fisherman


I'm not sure if the man in the painting is a fisherman or not, but this is how I've always envisioned them, so that's what I'm calling him. He is waiting for a friend to return, probably from the super-crowded restroom (I had to wait in line forever because we thought someone was in there, but it turned out that the door was just stuck.) This was at a pub in Cork, Ireland on a Sunday afternoon. Oil on 8" x 8" x 1 1/2" stretched canvas. SOLD.

Jun 5, 2013

Reading at the Pub



We almost didn't find this pub in Cork. I had researched pretty pubs in Ireland before we left, and even mapped out each one so we could find them all in a timely manner. But this one was hidden on an unsuspecting street. There was a curtain in the door which seemed to tell non-regulars to go away and to welcome those to whom the pub is a living room away from home. But my husband and I went in anyway. It was not very busy, yet there were little groups of friends hiding out in the pub's nooks and crannies. More people entered as the evening went on. Some of them looked like they were having bad days, which provided very interesting subject matter. However, my normal cloak of invisibility didn't work, and every person always noticed when I tried to snap a photo of them. Throughout Ireland, most pub goers didn't mind, and even were happy to be in my pictures, but not at this pub. So I sort of felt bad about taking pictures there, like I was invading someone's house. So, I painted a picture that featured my husband catching up on the news because taking the reference photo only made me feel like a tourist, rather than a burglar. And I liked the lighting. Oil on 14"h x 11"w stretched linen. SOLD.

May 26, 2013

Killarney National Park


A small study of a spot in Killarney National Park. I plan to paint a large one as well. The colors are not as gaudy in real life, I just can't get a good photo of the painting. I will try again when I have more time. Oil on 6"h x 8"w stretched linen canvas. SOLD.

Rossbeigh Beach




This is Rossbeigh Beach along the Ring of Kerry. It was very cold and windy when we were there, which produced very moody pictures. I found some interesting seashells there. Oil on 8"h x 10"w stretched linen canvas. SOLD.

May 22, 2013

Morning in Killarney


Not to be confused with "Christmas in Killarney." With all the pretty sights to be seen, however, it felt like Christmas to me. Oil on linen on 8"h x 6"w Ray Mar panel. SOLD.

Early Lunch


If you want a good table, sometimes it is best to show up early for lunch. I'm not a morning person, so I was just having my morning cappuccino at the bar when I took the reference photo for this painting. Oil on canvas on 12"h x 16"w Ray Mar Panel. SOLD.

Dublin Cafe


This was painted from a photo I took in Dublin. Oil on canvas on Ray Mar panel. 16"h x 12"w. SOLD.

May 20, 2013

Wexford Boat


My husband and I recently took a whirlwind trip to Ireland. We spent a week visiting Dublin, Killarney, Cork, and Wexford, as well as a few towns in between. It will be difficult deciding which photos to paint first, as Ireland is so varied in its landscapes. It seems that an entire world exists within one country. I plan to have many paintings of pubs, castles, mountains, beaches and boats on the way! Oil on linen on 6"h x 8"w Ray Mar panel. SOLD.

Apr 18, 2013

Thirsty Cat


When it comes to drinking water, my cats prefer the thrill of the hunt. They would rather drink a few drops from a dripping faucet, from the bottom of the bathtub, or from a glass than from their designated cat bowl. Oil on stretched linen, 11"h x 14"w. SOLD.

View from Vinegar Hill


This is the scene from the top of the Vinegar Hill steps in Indiana, PA. Oil on linen on 6"h x 8"w panel. SOLD.

The North Side


This is the North Side in Pittsburgh, PA on a sunny afternoon. Some of the houses there remind me of the brownstones in Manhattan. Oil on linen on 8"h x 6"w panel. SOLD.

Meyersdale


This is the town of Meyersdale, PA, which is home to an annual maple festival in March. Oil on linen on 6"h x 8"w panel. SOLD.

A Dog Named Dickie


This is Dickie, he is a friend of the family. He is also the dog in the Babysitter painting and one of the nicest dogs on the planet. In this painting, he is ready to take a walk. Donated to Thea's Promise Pit-bull fundraiser.

The Babysitter


Why pay some teenager to watch your child when a nice dog will happily do it for free? Oh, wait... dogs can't change diapers. Oil on linen on panel, 8"h x 6"w. SOLD.

Apr 9, 2013

Demel of Vienna


Oil on 8"h x 6"w linen. For sale at Gallery on 43rd Street, Pittsburgh, PA. SOLD.

Give Me a Bite!


Oil on 8"h x 6"w stretched linen. For sale at Gallery on 43rd Street, Pittsburgh, PA. SOLD.

Brasserie Lipp


Oil on 8"h x 6"w stretched linen. SOLD. 

Portrait in Pittsburgh


Oil on stretched linen. 14"h x 18"w. Commission

Portrait of Emily


Oil on 8"h x 6"w stretched linen. Commission

Apr 1, 2013

Affordable Art Fair, New York City, 2013

Some of the most recent paintings that I've done for Ugallery will be at the Affordable Art Fair in New York City next week! CLICK HERE to see the Ugallery page that shows many of the paintings that will be at the booth. This includes my paintings as well as work by other artists.