Daily Painters "Pink Protea Two"

Odd blooms and interesting leaves capture my attention, and a visit to the flower market will always yield new ideas.  These Protea were just begging to come home with me.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 11" x 17" and is framed in dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now $375 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Thanks for looking :)

Daily Painters "Urban Lore"

Along with Halloween, and some of the more common traditions of Fall, is the celebration season of "Dia de Muertos" or "Day of the Dead." I always chuckle at the raised eyebrows and averted glances when visitors to my studio encounter skulls and dancing skeletons in my artwork this time of year.  Day of the Dead is an important traditional Mexican celebration that takes place every year on November 1st and 2nd. This celebration of dearly departed loved ones began over 500 years ago and was central to most ancient civilizations, with the Aztecs being the last and most famous. While the traditions are pre-Hispanic, the celebrations we now see are the result of a complex mixture of indigenous beliefs and practices and those imposed by Spanish Catholics. Catholics celebrate All Souls Day, which like all celebrations commemorating the dead happen during the dead time in autumn, after the harvests have come in. This coincidence of timing and belief, allowed Day of the Dead to survive the Spanish Conquest of Meso-Americans, and accounts for its continued existence in modern Mexican folklore. So...now that you know all that stuff...you need not be afraid :) Dancing skeletons, sugar skulls, and Marigolds are just a few of the embellishments you will commonly see depicted in this celebratory art work.

Each year at this time, I break from my traditional landscape and floral works to create a few "celebration" pieces of my own. This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper and measures 18" x 24". Framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, it is ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $550. This piece is available in my Spanish Village Studio #34a only. Shipping not available.

Daily Painters "Golden Sunrise"

It's official...Fall is here! Now we look forward to beautiful sunrises with colorful clouds and fields of deep, long shadows. I haven't spied my first pumpkin yet, but I'm sure it's just around the corner.

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper and measures 12" x 12." Framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner, ready to hang and enjoy with a cup of spiced cider :) Buy it now price $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.

Daily Painters "Willow Road"

While vacationing this summer, and along the way to the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse, I spied this interesting side road. The trees curved over the road, all the way down to a very interesting old abandoned house, reminding me of something out of a thriller movie.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 12" x 16" and is framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass. Buy it now price $365 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.

Daily Painters "Poppyfest #1"

What's not to like about a happy poppies?

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 8" x 8" and is framed in wide, black frame with gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now $165 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 9/4/11: Sold...to a new collector in Norrkoping, Sweden!

Daily Painters "Autumn Skies"

Dark clouds are swirling high in the sky,

shadows grow longer as days go by.

A cool breeze blows through late in the day,

crows caw in trees to hold cats at bay.

Sunflowers droop from the August heat,

leaves crackle loudly beneath my feet.

We're bidding adieu to Summers long scorch,

soon seeking a pumpkin to dress the front porch.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 8" x 8" and is framed in wide, black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $165 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.