"Poppy Crazy"

"Poppy Crazy"
18" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Yes, "Poppy Crazy"...that's what one of my collectors has described as the condition of her back yard. The abnormally warm temperatures here in San Diego have contributed to the current explosion of color, and I'm just giddy, hopping around with my camera in hand. Many more poppy, sunflower, and flowering tree paintings are sure to follow!

"Poppy Crazy" is painted on 1-1/2" depth gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. Purchase this beautiful painting here and have it shipped to your door. $495 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Spring Canopy"

"Spring Canopy"
12" x 16" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub

My early morning walks through the neighborhood are always ripe with inspiration. Currently, the gold and rusty tones of fall have given way to the bright green glow of new growth on the treetops. The smell of Eucalyptus on a crisp spring morning is second only to the cup of hot coffee that awaits at the studio.

"Spring Canopy" is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, offered framed in a wide, dark brown wood, plein air style frame, ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick it up at my studio/gallery at Art on 30th, and I will refund the shipping. $375 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Updated 8/14/16: Sold...at ArtWalk Liberty Station!

"Sonoma Stroll"

"Sonoma Stroll"
24" x 36" Oil on Gallery Canvas
© Monique Straub

With summer fast approaching, my thoughts are on vacation time! The vineyards of central California are always a favorite spot, as hubby and I motor our way to the Monterey and Carmel area each year. A short break from painting, and beautiful scenery is just the thing to recharge the artistic batteries.

Also, in just a few short weeks, it will be time once again for "Friday Night Liberty" at NTC Liberty Station. The date is June 6th, from 5-9pm. It is a fun evening of open art studios, music and dining. Oh, and you can see "Sonoma Stroll" up close and personal.

"Sonoma Stroll" is painted on 1-1/2" thick gallery wrapped canvas. The sides are painted black and it is ready to hang, unframed. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up an my studio/gallery at Liberty Station, Pt. Loma, and I will refund the shipping. $1495 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Updated 1/29/15: Sold...through Inspirations Gallery!

Rainy Lane

"Rainy Lane"
14" x 18" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub
 

Another favorite image of mine, the reference photo for this piece was taken on a rainy day right here in my own neighborhood. I was pulling into the parking lot of a local shopping center after a cloud burst of rain, and noticed these interesting tree reflections in the street and on the sidewalk. Inspiration can strike at any time!

"Rainy Lane" is offered framed in a wide, black,  plein air style frame with gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery and I will refund the shipping. $525 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 3/15: Sold...and on its way to Texas!

Pile O' Peppers

"Pile O' Peppers"
8" x 8" Framed Oil on Panel
© Monique Straub

What is it about peppers that make them such good subjects? They come in bright and beautiful colors, they don't move a muscle, they have great lumps and curves, and you can eat them when you're finished painting! These beauties were just what I was looking for when attempting a fun painting challenge that focuses on limited strokes to achieve volume and form.  Veggie painting is very relaxing...must be the anticipation of a great pot of stew later on...

"Pile O' Peppers" is painted in oil on panel, and offered framed in a wide, dark brown, plein air style frame with gold liner, ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery and I will refund the shipping. $195 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.

"August Breeze"

"August Breeze"
12" x 12" Framed Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

I can feel it coming...the cool breeze of Fall. Not yet you say? Well here in San Diego we've had a more than mild start to summer, and I'm hoping it stays this way right into October. Breezy and cooler than normal days have extended into the beginning of August, making work in the studio more than comfy. I'm off for my yearly visit to Carmel, CA soon, and will surely see my first "pumpkin on the porch" as I always do. Can you tell I'm ready?

"August Breeze" is offered framed in a gold crackle finish float frame, and available here. You can have it shipped to your door, or pick up at my studio in Pt. Loma and I'll refund the shipping. $275 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 4/26/14: Sold...to a new local collector!

"High Humidity"

"High Humidity"
12" x 12" Framed Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

After spending a fabulous week on an Alaska cruise, the return to Southern California weather was a bit of a shock. Yes, I can hear you now..."What's to complain about with San Diego weather?" Well, it's this...my hair is limp and I'm not liking it! Big, puffy clouds over the San Diego skyline are a beautiful site, but inland where I live, it's a different story. It's humidity city right now, and I even captured a mosquito in the house.  I guess sometimes we just don't know how good we have it, so I'll just have to paint my troubles away :)

 

"High Humidity" is offered framed in a gold crackle finish float frame, and available here. You can have it shipped to your door, or pick up at my studio in Pt. Loma and I'll refund the shipping. $275 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 8/25/13: Sold to a new collector at ArtWalk!

"Wide Awake"

"Wide Awake"
12" x 12" Framed Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

I'm so excited about the upcoming ArtWalk at NTC/Liberty Station, I can't sleep! I'll pack up my entire studio and have it all on display on the grass at Ingram Plaza on August 24th & 25th. So it's back to business after a week long vacation. It's been so much fun getting back to my studio, visiting with my art buddies, and moving some paint around.  My first project was painting these big, crazy sunflowers  from Trader Joes. I was intrigued by the purple veins running through the leaves...perfect for the "challenge" painting on DailyPaintworks.com! The challenge this week is all about sunflowers, and I'm on it!

"Wide Awake" is offered framed in a gold crackle finish float frame, and available here. You can have it shipped to your door, or pick up at my studio in Pt. Loma and I'll refund the shipping. $275 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Hope to see you soon. Updated 8/25/13: Sold to a new collector at ArtWalk!

"Tangles"

"Tangles"
12" x 12" Framed Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

Mmm...I open my studio in the morning and I'm greeted by the smell of oil paint! Painting poppies in pastel is one of my favorite things to do, but it's also a really fun challenge to navigate them in oil paint. Every two weeks or so, my hubby and I visit a local buffet restaurant that always has a huge patch of blooming poppies in the front. I just can't get enough of them...but too many visits to the buffet make for a chubby artist!

"Tangles" is offered framed and available here. You can have it shipped to your door, or pick up at my studio in Pt. Loma and I'll refund the shipping. $275 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Hope to see you soon :) Updated 11/1/13: Sold...to a collector in Washoe Valley, Nevada!

"Road Trip"

"Road Trip"
24" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

It's summertime...time for a road trip! This was the scene out the windshield on my way to Las Vegas last summer. Perfect puffy clouds, wide open road, and not another car in sight. The first in a continuing series of "on the road" paintings, this piece is painted in oil on 1-1/2" deep stretched canvas with sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy.Buy it here and have it shipped to your door. $475 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 7/17/13: Sold...to a new collector in Sandpoint, Idaho!

"Spring Blush"

"Spring Blush"
12" x 16" Pastel on Sandpaper
© Monique Straub
 

A quick trip to Best Buy after a spring rain created a scene that stopped me in my tracks. I've done a few different versions of this piece from the photo I snapped, and I think this is my favorite. I'm not sure what made my fingers reach for the red, but then, I don't question those things. Maybe it was the disco music in the studio?

"Spring Blush" is offered framed in a wide, dark brown, plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it here and have it shipped to your door, or buy it here and pick up at my Pt. Loma studio and I'll refund the shipping. $365 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 4/26/13: Sold!

"I'll have Tomatoes" by Monique Straub

"I'll have Tomatoes"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
12" x 12"

Yes, that's what she said..."I'll have tomatoes."  From time to time the "Paypal trigger fingers" of some of my top collectors are pretty fast. In some cases, too fast for some of you that see one of my pieces that you like, but hesitate to purchase. Sometimes the size or color may not fit exactly what you need. No worries...I love to work with your requests too. "I'll have Tomatoes" has been created with direction from Kathy S. As with all of my "special request" pieces, there is no obligation to purchase, and no up front charge to make the request. Just drop me note if there is ever anything you "miss out on" or if you see something you would like in a different color/size and I'll give it a shot.

Framed in wide brown wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. $295 + $35 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. No Paypal button yet, we'll see if Kathy likes it :)

So, here it is Kathy, how did I do? Updated 8/24/12: She loved it...and even decided to add "Casa de Pico" to her collection!"

"Sweet Summertime" Pastel by Monique Straub

"Sweet Summertime"
Pastel on Sandpaper
12" x 12"

Pop one in your mouth for a sweet explosion! Tiny tomatoes and green beans are center stage at my local Trader Joe's this week, and I've been lurking in the produce aisles with my cell phone camera. Can pumpkins and speckled corn cobs be far behind? Actually, this is the first painting from my new studio digs...oh yes...I've moved from that beautiful studio with a fireplace and expanded my work space. I'll have pictures and details in the days to come.

"Sweet Summertime" is offered framed in wide black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Easy to purchase here and have it shipped or pick up at my studio in Spanish Village and I'll refund the shipping charge. $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Thanks for stopping by :)

"Red Hot Summertime"

"Red Hot Summertime"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
9" x 12"

Red...I mean really RED...don't you love it? I was thumbing through images of some of my paintings recently, and realized that I rarely use red. These Amaryllis were just beginning to bloom out in the planters on the patio at Spanish Village Art Center, and I figured they were the perfect subject for my red adventure. They are also perfect for the introduction of my new gold plein air style frames. You can click to my blog and see this painting in one of those new frames along the right hand column. Red/gold...what's not to love?

Offered framed in wide gold plein air style frame with UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it here and have it shipped, or arrange for pick up at my studio and save the shipping. $235 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada.

Daily Painters "Just Add Onions"

"Just Add Onions"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
8" x 10"

Bell Peppers are favorite subjects for many an artist. Crisp, clean color and those sumptuous curves make for a great design. This is a fun piece for your kitchen, or just the right "gift" size for someone special. Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 8" x 10" and is framed in wide, dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it Now price: $165.00 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Thanks for looking.

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 "Delight"

Red sky in morning, sailor take warning,

Red sky at night, sailor's delight!

This little gem was painted for the weekly Daily Paintworks Challenge. The object here was to paint an image representing a superstition. One of the artists painted "Red Sky" in morning, so I thought it appropriate to paint the "Delight" half of this superstitious rhyme.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 8" x 8" and is framed in wide dark wood with thin 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 12/8/11: Sold...to a new collector in New Westminster, B.C.