"Hong Kong at Night": I strived to complete this painting, including the sketch (which was done by the grid system) in 4 days at the John Salminen workshop in October. I put in a couple more days of work-I still need to add some shadows in the foreground...the painting is on a full 22"x30" sheet. This is one of the 13 paintings I am featuring in my 2011 Watercolors Calendar.

"kitty" was awarded an honorable mention at the Annual Show this Fall- juried by John Salminen. Not sure if likes cats, his workshop I attended on the same weekend was on painting urban scenes...

Edwards Place- home of the Springfield Art Association (SAA). I completed this painting in October for the Annual Sangamon Watercolor Society Show- at the SAA.

I am planning to have cards made for sale at Tinsley's Dry Goods.

Fresh from the Garden Series

I enjoy planting, eating and painting from my garden...

Happy Summer!

Lincoln Memorial Gardens

Upcoming LMG Events:

October 9-10 Indian Summer Festival

November 13-14 Holiday Market

Council ring watercolors. Both paintings were donated for the "Art in the Gardens" event this year. The Spring scene was painted "en plein aire" outdoors on the day of the event. Thank you to all of the art fans who bought works!

Old State Capitol Building

This watercolor is featured at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, Board Room from now until September 11th. Cards are available at Tinsley's. A set of 6 note cards 2 each of the Lincoln Home and the Vachel Lindsay Home and the Old State Capitol building is also available.

On September 11-12 I will be showing watercolors at the "Art Spectacular", Rees Memorial Carillon with the Sangamon Watercolor Society. We will be "en plein aire" at the booth.

Lincoln Home

This watercolor is now made into a card available at Tinsley's Dry Goods, downtown Springfield.

Relay for Life

Springfield, IL, Fairgrounds. I walked for five hours for the American Cancer Society with "The Church Ladies and a Few Good Men". Next time I will bring a sketch book...

Sketch for Symphony fundraiser

It was a lovely morning in the late spring- I managed to do this plein air sketch right before a thunderstorm.

I will feature this sketch at "Artiture" the IIDA's annual fundraiser, on June 18th this year for the "Make a Wish" foundation.

"Art in the Garden"

Lincoln Memorial Gardens is sponsoring "Art in the Gardens" again this year. The candleholders I made are for the new green art category. They are on display until June 26th at the Springfield Art Association, along with a watercolor painting I submitted for the silent auction.

Lenten Banner Series

To add to the challenge this past month, I have been working with the banner committee. We have been designing, sketching then tracing the projected images with Sharpies (love the smell) onto huge sheets of plastic table cloth, fun! From the sanctuary they look like satin fabric with professionally printed ink, an awesome idea from Sue's principal.

Lincoln Home

This is the painting in progress...I completed it the morning of the show, ran out to get a frame and made it to the Hoogland Center for the Arts for the hanging at 9:30. This last week has been like design studio all over again- pushing late nights until the day of the crit, dressing up and making a presentation wondering if you will still be standing when it is all over. I leave for California in 2 days.

Art Show Opening Reception

Me and my fellow artists, Carolyn Owen Sommer, Linda Jones and Michael Delaney. We had plenty of paintings between us, at least 7 paintings each, and a roomful of guests all evening. Thanks for coming everybody!

Parkway Christian Church Banner Design

Parkway Christian Church Banner Design

Ventura Coastline

California Dreamin'

It's 30 degrees outside here in IL and I am in the mood to paint a palm tree.

I submitted "Ventura Coastline", "Washington Park" and this pastel painting to the Pastel group to hang at "Dream Makers", a kitchen and bath showroom in Springfield.

Chinese New Year of the Tiger

Gong Hay Fat Choy! This year is my brother Kenny's lucky year.

Last year was my year- the Ox. As far as years go, it has been the most eventful for creating new art work and exhibiting in various venues in Springfield- Hoogland Center for the Arts, Farmer's Market and Lincoln Memorial Gardens. The Wardrobe and Tinsley Dry Goods are carrying my art note cards. I had a few commissions and donated art to local charities.

This ink drawing is one of 12 that I plan to make into note cards someday. I use them for my CNY celebration invitations.

Washington Park

Washington Park in the fall is picturesque. This is the second pastel painting I have ever done using my Dad's set of pastels and a piece of Wallis paper a pastel artist gave me to try out. I joined the pastel society late last year and went to a portrait workshop lead by William Schneider, a nationally known artist who has a published instructional book on pastel painting. Needless to say I bought new pastels, stacks of paper and used one half-sheet for the class. Next weekend will be another opportunity to get the pastels out for a plein air portrait/figure drawing session with the same group. Update 2/2010: This painting is now at the DreamMakers showroom in Springfield, IL.

"Architectural views of a banana"

...I painted this for a watercolor class I took circa 1986. For the show last year in May I punched the colors up and gave it a title. I made cards to sell at the Farmer's Market and still have bunches.

Snowy owl

This is a quick plein air painting I did last Saturday at the Illinois State Museum. The display is part of the "North to Alaska" exhibit which included large cibachrome photography by Robert Glenn Ketcham.

art of hearts

"art of hearts" is a series of 8 paintings inspired by and for the Haiti Relief. Note cards are available at The Wardrobe, Springfield, IL. for $3.00 each. I am also giving the cards to my friends with the proceeds going to the Week of Compassion Haiti Relief, Parkway Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) on Lindbergh Drive in Springfield, IL.

The original paintings will be featured with the Sangamon Watercolor Society March 6, to May 1, 2010 Board Room, Hoogland Center for the Arts. The cards will be available at the opening reception March 6th 5:30 to 7:30. Thanks for your support!

Ornament Christmas Cards

I hand cut 100 ornament cards, 70 were for a friend at church who gave them as gifts for her friends and co-workers at the Presbyterian Home. I will have them available at Lincoln Memorial Gardens.

Vachel Lindsay Home

"Vachel Lindsay Home"

This painting will be featured as a card at Tinsley Dry Good's to support the Old State Capitol Foundation.