"Grandmother"

8 1/2" x 11"
Pencil on Mat board

In searching around for things to paint, I find myself recently drawn to items that are old and have some kind of meaning, even if only for me. I guess that is the only way to make great art- to find the things you are passionate about and to create with them. This is a portrait of my Grandmother, my dad's mom. I don't do a lot of portraits because, as Sargent once said "A portrait is a likeness with something wrong about the mouth." However, drawing her helped me to connect with my past in a very unique way. I have similar pictures of my other grandparents, and may make them into a series. I am not sure this one is finished yet, as I would like to do something with the background.

"Painting History"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I mentioned several days ago that my great-grandmother painted china. I now have her chest where she kept all her paints. It is a metal box with several plastic drawers in it. The drawers are meticulously organized with labels on the outside of each where she has noted what colors are in each drawer. They are powder pigments in little glass tubes, like the ones above. I know that this chest and its contents will be the subject of many paintings to come.

"An Excuse to Eat Chocolate 1 & 2"

#1

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board

#2

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board

These two pieces are not currently for sale, because they are going to be a part of the "Art in the Market" show at the Whole Foods Market on Woodruff Rd. here in Greenville, SC. The show is sponsored by Upstate Visual Arts, and features food themed art by artists all over the upstate. The first rotation is currently on display. Look for these two pieces in the next rotation beginning in May.

"Lilly"

5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Pencil on Mat board
SOLD

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This is the necklace that I wear most days. My aunt gave it to me when I graduated from high school. Both of my sisters have the same necklace. I love that something so small can connect me to so many of the people that are important to me.

"Diego

I will be out of town this weekend to celebrate my nephew's 2nd birthday. In honor of him, here is a portrait I did of him for my mom. Happy Birthday Diego!

"Teacup"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Oil on Mat board

$80

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I made this teacup as part of a set several years ago. It usually just sits on a shelf in my living room, but last night I was drawn to the deep blue color, that is probably my favorite color. I don't usually paint things so round and symmetrical, but there was something soothing about the simplicity of this form.

"Nana"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

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This is a painting within a painting. My great-grandmother used to paint china. She was a daily painter long before I was. Everyday she used to paint pieces, and now there are literally hundreds of pieces of china that she painted. This is a dish that I keep on my dresser, usually with my rings and my Bobbie pins and things like that on it. As I was painting this, I thought about what it was like for her to paint these same forms. It is interesting how a simple painting can connect lives so many years apart.

"Sisters"

6" x 8"
Oil on Mat board
$80

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This one is from a photograph of me and my two sisters. I think my little sister was holding the camera out at arms length and pointing it back at us. We were all squashed together on the couch, and laughing so hard we couldn't keep our eyes open. I love pictures like that.

"New Growth"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Oil on Mat board

$80

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Last night's painting was another 30 minute painting, and also gives me a chance to introduce you to Frankie the plant. Frankie has been with me for several years, and I named him so that I wouldn't forget him when I went home for long holidays. It hasn't always worked, and Frankie has had a few near death experiences, but always seems to come back strong. I really love the color in this one- the lush green leaves and delicate blooms. It really makes me excited about the upcoming spring.

"Trio"

6 1/4" x 8"
Pencil on Mat board
$70

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This has been sort of a tough week for painting, but I have been able to fit in some drawing time, as I can be away from the easel and still draw. I continue to love these paint tubes, and am planning to do a larger painting of the box of them. I will make sure to post updates as it develops.

"View From the Studio: 9 am"

15 1/2" x 13"
Oil on Mat board
Work-in-Progress

The beautiful weather yesterday inspired me to work on this larger piece that I started several weeks ago. It is still in progress, but I thought I would show you an example of one of my larger paintings. I will post more updates of this one as it progresses.

I received an email notification about an art show titled "The View from the Studio." That got me thinking about my own little studio and its view. The windows, on two walls, look out at other buildings in the complex, and overlook a grassy yard. But out those windows I see people living their lives-families walking dogs, the dad who plays with his kids dressed in costume. I hear laughter and the things people say to their pets late at night when they think no one is listening. The space itself is cozy, not the spacious studio I always imagined, but I love my little top floor corner of the world- my place to observe life, as well as to create it.

"Fortune Cookie on a Purple Cloth"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

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Monday nights are typically pretty hectic, and I often don't start painting until 10pm. So, last night I had my first "30 minute Monday!" In an effort not to paint until 2am, I decided that on Mondays, I will complete a painting in 30 minutes. To make sure that I stick to the time limit, I set a kitchen timer to go off at the 30 minute mark. These will be a fun way to loosen up some of my paintings as well. The fortune from this cookie: "You will be unusually successful in an entertainment career."

"A Kiss for You"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.


In continuing with the food theme, here is a bit of chocolate. All these are making me hungry.

"Good Fortune"

#1

4" x 51/2"
Pencil on Paper
$50


#2

4 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Pencil on Paper
$50

My little sister is visiting this weekend, so I haven't had much time to paint. I did find time to draw these fortune cookies from our dinner last night. The fortune is "An unexpected visitor will bring you good blessings."

"Natural Blue"

6" x 6 1/4"
Oil on canvas
$80


"Hidden Beauty"

5 1/2" x 7"
Oil on canvas
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

These are a couple more of my pile of shells. I love the variety of shapes and colors, and how every one is different. It is amazing to me that something so small, that spends much of its existence under the water or buried in the sand has such beauty. These are the things that make me appreciate the small things around us everyday.

"China Doll"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Oil on Mat board

$80

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My little sister suggested that I paint something colorful for the day's painting. I figured this bright red dress would do it.

"Caps Off"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I guess it is a natural progression to go from paint tubes to the caps from the paint tubes. The next step might be painting the blobs of paint themselves.

"Uncapped"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I have gotten several comments from people about these paint tube paintings. I keep the box of them in front of my easel, so when I am looking for a subject for the day, they are all right there waiting for me. I like this one with the cap off because, really a tube of paint is not a useful thing until you open it up and let out what is inside- like most things, I guess. They may be ugly and beat up on the outside, but it is only when you open something up that its real worth becomes apparent.

"Scrabble, Anyone?"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.


I guess this one is pretty self explanatory. Except that these are not real Scrabble letters. They are little cardboard replicas of them that are used for scrap booking. I wasn't trying to spell anything with this one, at least not intentionally. Let me know if you see any hidden messages.

"Free Writing"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

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I spent the day on a photo shoot for work, so I didn't do any painting. Instead, here is one from several weeks ago. These are some beads that are made to look like old typewriter letters. Just for fun, I made sure to include all the letters for "Emily."

"Spool"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

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My mom has a great collection of old spools of thread. This is just one of them...probably with more to come!

"Broken Hearted"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I spent New Year's at the Isle of Palms with several friends, and we took several walks on the beach and collected shells. While my friend Sara collected nicely formed shells to make jewelry, I picked up anything twisted and broken and strangely colored. This pile of odd forms has been a great source of inspiration for these daily paintings, as each one is completely new and different.