in-progress: Travels North

This is a painting I started when I was planning a trip to Iceland. My head was full of images of icebergs and stark mossy landscapes. I love planning trips and discovering the beauty in all the corners of the world. Plus there is nothing better to get you through a tough week than knowing you have an amazing vacation on the horizon.

There is also that dreamy idea you form of a place when you start learning about it. All the images you have seen and the things you have learned and all your excitement and anticipation mesh it into a sort of surreal magical idea of a place. I wanted to capture that for this painting.

More work to be done, but it is a good start. I need more icebergs and some other surprises maybe.

in progress: in the garden

This is a painting I started just before the holidays. I have some more work to do but it's shaping up nicely. I like how the blonde is turning out and how the dark and lush greenery behind the women adds some mystery. My husband says it's creepy and that's why he likes it. I am happy with that. I like paintings with a little unease or mystery about them. That, or something playful or unexpected.

I taped up the edges because I wanted to do a white or color border around the edges, reminiscent of the edges of an old photograph. I think it will frame the painting nicely. This was painted with oil on cradled wood panel and the color of the border on the front will extend to the sides as well. I have some work to do on the redhead...her face is looking a little lumpy, but it should be done soon.

I'll be sure to post pics as soon as something is actually finished. :)

in progress: pierogi

This is a painting I just started so I am the most excited about it. The style is more illustrative and playful than what I normally do so it's a bit of an exploration. I wanted to include elements from Polish decorative pottery and some fun elements such as the pierogi dancing above the pot. This is just the underpainting with color blocked in for composition/layout but I am liking it so far. It is 6x6 inches on cradled wood panel.

nine works in progress...oh my

I currently have 9 paintings that are actively in progress (I'm ignoring the others, tucked in closets or hung half-finished) so I have created this site to keep me working and creating. I'm terribly good at starting something and never finishing it. It's hard when you don't have real deadlines — I paint for my own enjoyment — so there is no set time to finish a project. That said, I would like to paint more, explore more and try new styles and methods. So, here I am, posting to the world, in an effort to keep myself accountable and hopefully more prolific.

Off to paint!