Christmas Blues 16x16

I remember returning home from a great aunt's house one Christmas Day afternoon. My parents had decided to spend time with the extended family, so we had spent a few hours at my aunt's house, crammed full of food and laughing relatives. As my dad was driving home in the darkening winter afternoon, I remember feeling a blanket of sadness descend upon my small brain. Christmas was over for a whole year. I was overwhelmed with a sense of gloom. Life was over--no more Christmas, no more gifts, no reason for celebration. As a kid, I simply didn't know the truth.  How sad life would truly be if our lives merely subsisted from one emotional high to the next, one manufactured preoccupation to another? In the midst of the baubles and glitz of the season, I am grateful that the true Christmas, namely the presence of God on earth is to be experienced all year, every moment, not just during a window of time. To not know differently would give me the same expression of the pup in the painting Christmas Gloom.

Renee's Garden Tools 6x8

No digging in the dirt for a while.This piece commemorates those long, hot days of summer. Remember???

Sleigh Ride With Santa 16x16

Do I hear sleigh bells?? Santa is on the way! One day I hope to ride in a sleigh, not necessarily with the man himself. However, I wouldn't turn him down. This was a fun piece to paint, one of the few Christmas pieces I have managed to paint this year.

Hot Day in the Outback 11x14

As I type this, I am trying to imagine the heat of such a day, the glare of the sun on roofs, the rise of heat waves from the earth, and the oppressive humidity of the atmosphere. This morning, the temp is in the low 30's, and such imagining is a stretch. One benefit of living in this area is variety of weather conditions. Variety is good for the soul.

Kymulga Mill 8x10

In the early fall, an artist friend and I spent a wonderful day at Kymulga Mill and Covered Bridge in Talladega Co. We painted the entire day, stopping only for a quick lunch. This is the second installment of that day. The first was of the bridge, and this is a rendering of the mill. These two structures have been declared historical landmarks and are open daily to the public. --a peaceful spot.

Gourde Profile 6x8

This little guy won my heart when I spied it in the trashcan. I was attracted by the curving lines and earthy appeal. I thought he would make a winsome subject, and he was taken home to my studio.  There are so many times I fail to appreciate the small revelations of beauty around me. Oh God, help me be more attentive.

Tools of the Trade 6x8

When an artist begins painting his or her tools, perhaps new subject matter is needed. Actually, the orange crock has appealed to me for a long time. I just included a few brushes. This was a fun piece.