Carley

She looks like she's big and fierce and in charge, doesn't she.  I think she might be one of those three things.  You can guess which?

Here's a peek into the process. Enjoy!

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

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Smoky Mountain Stream

 

I'd love to spend some time sitting on a big rock right there. 

I think there are "beach people" and "city people" and "lake people" and "big-sky people"... Which one are you? I think we're "mountain people."

Ron especially loves stopping at creeks and just spending time watching the water flow over the rocks. Here are some photos from some time we spent in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee a while back.  I used one of them as a reference for this painting.

This pretty little stream is my response to the third art challenge with my friend Cheri.  This week's challenge was "Rocks."

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

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Little Red Tricycle

 

Did you have one of these? I did.  It looked just like this one, and I rode it until I was much too big for it.

This little painting makes me smile. It's funny how an image of something so familiar from the past can bring long-forgotten memories to the surface.

This little tricycle is my response to the second art challenge with my friend Cheri.  This week's challenge was "Three Circles."

Original Oil Painting on 8"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

Click Little Red Tricycle if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

Autumn Buck & Doe

When we go for walks down our road, we're greeted by our forest friends. They stop what they're doing and stare at us until one of them gives the signal (that sounds like a sneeze).  Then up go their tails and away they go into the trees.

We see them every single day, so they know us. That doesn't mean they trust us.  That's okay.  They need to be wary of people.

I do wish I could take some good photos of them, but I've decided that good wildlife photographers have an abundance of patience.  I'm more of a, "Well, hello there!"  📸*point...snap* then keep walking kind of girl.

If you click over to Inspiration Collaboration and look at Sara's Inspiration Image Winter Wonderland, you'll understand exactly why I had to paint my deer friends this month.

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas
Click Autumn Buck & Doe if you'd like to own this little painting.

Mae

This pretty little pup painting will be someone's Christmas surprise.

Sometimes it's fun to watch how a painting comes together. 

Enjoy this little video of the process.

Original Oil Painting on 10"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

 

Christmas Tree Surprise (Mini x 6)

This was a fun little project.

Six tiny paintings for six special ladies.

I'm not saying anything new to say that 2020 has been difficult.  We know it's been especially difficult for some of our older friends who are practically home bound with Covid precautions.

I hope these happy little paintings brought a little Christmas cheer to some who we love... My Aunt Anita in Missouri... Ms. Hannah in the retirement center that my dad lives in... Ms. Francis who took care of my kids in the nursery when they were babies... Ms. Mary Ella who greeted us at the door every single Sunday morning for decades...

 

To give some size perspective, here they are beside a large version of this painting.

Original acrylic paintings on 5"x 7" Canvas Board

[GIFTS]

The 16"x 20" version is available. Click HERE if you're interested.

Mama Hen

 I love how this mama hen puts her wing over her baby when it's cold.

Blueberry Muffin

Blueberries are kind of new to me.  I don't think I ever had one as a kid.  It's hard to believe, but I was actually an adult with kids of my own the first time I had a blueberry muffin made with fresh blueberries. 

Not to worry! I've made up for it!  Several times during the month of June, I'll be at Stay-n-Step Blueberry Farm to fill a gallon bucket. 

I like to put so many blueberries in my muffins that they're just a yummy mess.

This muffin is the first from a weekly art challenge with my friend Cheri. This week's challenge was "Breakfast."

Original Oil Painting on 5"x 7" Wrapped Canvas

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Revisiting Christmas Past

I love coming across old fireplace chimneys.  I wonder about the house that it used to be a part of. I wonder about the family that sat by its hearth.

We discovered this one on a hiking trail in a nearby state park.

 I pass this one on the way to the grocery store.

Sometimes you just have to stop the car right in the road and snap a picture.

Christmas Past
 I painted this chimney twice in 2010 and decided 2020 was a good time to revisit it. 

Remember When...
When I painted this ten years ago, this is what I wrote:
This chimney sits along the road that goes between my two brothers' houses.  It just sits there in a little field all alone, but it's not lonely.  Imagine what this old chimney has seen.  I can imagine it kept  a family's cabin warm for years and years.  I can imagine the farmer who stacked the logs and built the fire.  I can imagine his wife who poked the logs and kept the fire going.  I can imagine the children doing homework in front of it.  I can imagine a cat curled up on the hearth.  I can imagine stockings hanging from the mantle year after year.  I can imagine... 

I knew that I'd revisit Christmas Past the moment I saw Sara's December inspiration image on Inspiration Collaboration. If the black birds could decorate a Christmas tree in a snowy field with lights and ornaments, then cardinals could hang stockings and garland on a mantle.

Original Oil Painting on 8"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

Click Revisiting Christmas Past if you'd like to purchase this painting.

Christmas Past is available in giclee or print. Contact me if you're interested.

Inspiration Collaboration - December 2020

Four new images have been chosen to inspire you to create art of your own.  Click HERE to read the thoughts behind each one.

It's easy to be a part.  Click HERE for instructions.  We look forward to seeing what you create!