Artist's Statement

A quote from Grant Wood describes a condition from which he and many of us suffer: taking too much for granted. Wood said, "...To my great joy, I discovered that in the very commonplace, in my native surroundings, were decorative adventures and that my only difficulty had been in taking them too much for granted." Woods' words ring with truth. My goal as an artist is to capture the wonder of the often overlooked ordinary, the commonplace beauty around us, those little details that make all the difference in our daily lives. The rough hue of rocks, lush blue woodlands, weathered wood grains, and distant meandering dirt roads never cease to appeal to me. I attempt to share the beauty from which routine blinds us. My work can be purchased on ebay or by contacting me personally.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Interior 8x10 50.00

Light has an incredible imagination; she is able to turn an ordinary scene into extraordinary. I was interested here in the light on the furniture and corresponding values. Interiors of homes appeal to me, especially old paintings with elaborate settings and figures in period dress. Most of us forget that 90% of the population bore little likeness to those scenes and life was certainly not that romantic. The world has always been a brutal place to live; we tend to forget our history.



Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Tack Room 14x16 125.00

My friend let me use this saddle and bridle in this study. I draped the saddle and blanket over a frame. When I picked up the saddle, the unmistakable smell of horse greeted me, such a wonderful, pungent smell. The saddle blanket had horse hair on the underside, and horse sweat was absorbed in the fabric. During those moments, I had a visitation of years ago when I would spend summer days with a friend of mine who lived "in the country." She and her sisters were horses lovers, and I learned to love the horse and all things related. Thank you Raynell (Miller) Fetner for such wonderful memories.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Updraft 16x20 100.00

One of the most beautiful metaphors used in the scriptures depicting God's relationship with his people is that of an eagle. Just as the eagle soars on the upper air currents, above the fray, those who trust in God's  grace and loving care are under-girded and restored by an unseen power. What a lovely picture of God's love and care.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Yellow Brick Road 16x20 100.00

...Just a fun piece using mixed media. The art students last year tried something like this in a smaller version, and I thought I would do something larger just for the fun of it. After pouring a stream of latax paint (the black and yellow), the remaining spaces were painted with oil paint. This is simply a celebration of color. Sometimes, celebration is just good for the soul.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Hollyhocks 20x24 400.00

I've been making a conscious effort to improve my painting of the human figure. I've had many bad moments. This piece is one of the best projects to this point. Many have the erroneous idea that artistic ability is simply a gift that is indiscriminately doled out. Not so...Artistic ability is 10% innate ability and the rest is simply hours of HARD WORK as far as I can tell. However, the work is a joy that at times is all-consuming. In the hollyhock garden is a place in which  I would like to be.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Citrus 11x14 50.00

Oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, citrus of any kind, are favorites of mine both to eat and to use as painting subjects. I never tire of the fresh zest they add to a still life.  Their colors create a sensation of crispness, even cleanliness, possibly because of the association we make with their smell and taste. One of my treasured Christmas memories from childhood  is my Dad purchasing 50 lb. bags of oranges and grapefruit. The bags would be stationed under the tree as part of the Christmas bounty.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Collie's Drive 11x14 50.00

...just an ordinary street in an ordinary place. However, every place, every street has a story, and I'm sure this one is no exception. People live here. They are living life. Each is in the midst of his or her own story.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Pig Sack 14x18 Sold

"Paper or plastic?" Same question every-time. I always say, "paper" for a number of reasons. First, I seem to be able to handle the sack better. They don't stretch with the weight. Instead, they just tear like this one. That's OK with me. I like them better anyway. Paper, uncolored paper, is good to use with compost piles. If placed on top of soil and covered with dirt, it gradually decomposes and adds to the sI like that idea. Lastly and foremost, I just 
like the pig.


Saturday, September 5, 2015

Copper Arrangement 11x14 50.00

This painting has been in the archives, so I thought I would pull her out and download her. She matches my mood...feeling somewhat old myself today. A bad cold has me in its grips. For two days I have been dragging myself to work. Maybe a long Labor Day weekend will do the trick. Copper items are always good subjects with which to practice the role of reflected light. Copper does have its color, but it also "takes on" surrounding color, such as the fruit in this painting.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Collie's Room 11x14 50.00

Light has an incredible imagination, always having a unique effect. Never impacting an object in an identical way, light is an innovative dancer who has an endless repertoire.  In this painting, sunlight is casting striking shafts of light across a room.  Little wonder that light is used in the metaphorical sense in literature; the most familiar is the multitude of Biblical references. In the Old and New Testament alike, light is used to describe the impact of God's presence in the world.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Silver with Lemons 11x14 50.00

Any silver object is actually not painted by applying a silver color paint; actually, silver is a combination of the surrounding objects, a reflection of that with which it is surrounded.  For instance, this silver pitcher is a reflection of the burgundy drape and the lemons. That principle applies to human relations as well; we tend to cultivate the habits and mannerisms of friends. My mamma must have been saying that when she would say, "Birds of a feather flock together."  My mamma had many expressions like that, her own brand of wisdom.