Old Soul

Old Soul

11x14 oil on gessobord

While out exploring some "off the beaten path" side streets on the island with my children recently, I happened upon this beautiful banyan tree and made a mental note to return with my easel. If trees indeed have souls (and I like to believe that they do) this one's an old soul indeed. It's also obviously beloved by all the neighbors surrounding the lot on which it grows, as several of them stopped by to admire it (and the painting too.)

Longing

Longing SOLD

8x10 oil on canvas

I painted this last Monday morning (on t"he last day of summer") right after I kissed my 11 year old son goodbye and sent him off to his first day of 6th grade at a brand new Middle School. I titled it "Longing" because that morning I was still kind of wishing summer (and his childhood!) could last forever... yet at the same time thinking how all summer long a part of me had been longing for this day.

Harbor Light

Harbor Light

8x10 oil on canvas

 Loved the silvery shimmer of light silhouetting the sailboats moored by the Bridge Street Pier this morning!

The Backyard

The Backyard

8x10 oil on canvas

I look out on this view every morning (and afternoon and evening) as the area behind our condo is strewn with seagrasses and sand dunes. And every single time I walk along the path out to the beach my heart skips a beat. You'd think that after 2 years of living here (and over a dozen paintings done from the same spot) it might get old or start to lose it's excitement... but it never does. 

On the easel

Dune Study

Dune Study

5x7 oil on gessobord

Squeezed in one more quick little study of wispy seagrass dunes and their shadows on the sad before the sun was high overhead.

Tranquility

Tranquility

11x14 oil on gessobord

I (literally) ran across this stretch of Anna Maria Beach while on a morning run earlier this week. It was around 8am and the soft shadows cast by the seagrasses on the sand just struck me as so lovely. I returned the next day to paint them and a 2nd morning to explore it a bit further. For whatever reason, I find endless joy in the challenge of how I can best to capture the effects of sunlight on sand with paint!

On the easel

Sea Breeze

Sea Breeze

8x10 oil on canvas

This is the path directly behind our place on Anna Maria Island.  It's one in a series of paintings I've been doing over the past year from nearly the same spot amongst the dunes, exploring one landscape from various points of view on different days and at different times. Am realizing the possibilities are truly endless!

Morning Glow

Morning Glow

9x12 oil on gessobord

It's good to be back at work (on the beach) after a vacation (spent painting) in Tennessee last week!  

And apparently, my love for the glowing blue shadows of these dunes on the north end of Anna Maria Island has not waned in the least.

Tennessee Paintings

Leaving the Farm

9x12 oil on panel

After spending all last week at our family's farm up in the hills of East Tennessee, I am back in (soggy wet!) Florida and catching up on my blog. As much as I enjoy painting along the beautiful beach where we live, I have to say,  it's always a nice change of pace to return to my native home and have barns, tractors, dirt roads and farms as my subject matter! Not to mention, the weather was gloriously sunny... meanwhile Florida's been stuck in a very rainy weather pattern lately. Below are some of my paintings from Tennessee (all of which are available.) Thanks for looking!

Rock On

8x10 oil on museum board

Barn Study #1

6x9 oil on paper

Barn Study #2

6x9 oil on paper

I Think Your Tractor's Sexy

6x9 oil on paper

Little Red Wagon

6x9 oil on paper

Clematis by the Cabin & Tennessee Roses

9x6 oil on paper

Ain't She a Beaut

8x10 oil on gessobord

By the Lake

By the Lake SOLD

11x14 oil on gessobord

This painting was commissioned by a dear friend of mine who lives on a lovely lake just outside of St. Louis, MO. She is planning on moving next year and wanted me to capture the view of the lake from their backyard to remember it by.