Sunny Side Up

"Sunny Side Up"
24" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Yup, fall is in full swing in my little world...and what else says fall but sunflowers? I've painted them for years in pastel, and figured I would continue the tradition in oil. There will be many more to come, big, little, and crazy colorful! How can I resist?

"Sunny Side Up" is painted in the warm colors of fall, on 1-1/2" depth gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $800 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Updated 3/6/18: Sold!

"Just Sunnin"

"Just Sunnin"
24" x 24" Oil on Gallery Canvas
© Monique Straub

Things have been hopping in the studio lately, since I'm gearing up for the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival on October 10 & 11. I've been working on expanding my pastel series "Torrey Pines" and also creating many large and colorful oil paintings on canvas. Held on Girard Street in the heart of beautiful La Jolla, this is a fun and festive show, and one of my favorites. Stay tuned for more info on the festival, and more previews of featured art.

"Just Sunnin" is offered ready to hang and enjoy, on 1-1/2" gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my studio/gallery at Art on 30th in North Park, and I will refund the shipping. $575 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Updated 5/1/16: Sold!...to a new collector at Mission Federal ArtWalk :)

"Wake Up to Sunshine"

"Wake Up To Sunshine"
24" x 24" Oil on Gallery Canvas
© Monique Straub

Studio News: Oh how life can change in the blink of an eye! If you're following me on Facebook, you already know that I've been diagnosed with Cancer. Stage 2 Lymphoma to be exact. I've just completed my second round of Chemotherapy, and I'm happy to report that things are going very well. Getting tired easily is the only side effect I'm currently experiencing, so the painting continues at my home studio, and I hope to be ready to show my work again at ArtWalk in Little Italy this coming April.

"Wake Up to Sunshine" is my latest oil painting on canvas, it is 24" x 24" on 1-1/2" thick gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You may purchase here and have it shipped to your door, or purchase here and pick up at my Spanish Village Studio #34A  in Balboa Park and I will refund the shipping fee. $575 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental US. or Canada. Thanks for stopping by :) Updated 5/22/15: Sold...and on it's way to Missouri!

"Don't Look Away"

"Don't Look Away"
12" x 12" Framed Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub
 

Yes...it's time for more sunflowers, but this time instead of soft pastel, they're painted in oil on canvas. As the breezy days of spring give way to summer, the inspiration for this piece was just a bit shy, turning her face with the wind as I snapped away with my cell camera.

"Don't Look Away" is available here, and you can have it shipped to your door, or pick up at my Liberty Station studio and I'll refund the shipping. $275 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Hope to see you soon :) Updated 6/19/13: Sold...and on its way to Lafayette, CA!

"Fall Faces #3"

"Fall Faces #3"
Soft Pastel on Sandpaper
12" x 12"

When it comes to sunflowers, one is never enough. I've revisited my sunflower "close-ups" a few times now, and in fact, this is similar to the image I use on my business cards. Getting nose to nose with botanical subject matter usually reveals interesting patterns and textures we don't see under normal observation...and may occasionally require first aid when startling the bumble bees!

Framed in wide black wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass, this piece is ready to hang and enjoy. Iridescent pastel adds to the glimmer of this colorful piece! $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental US or Canada. Thanks for looking :) Updated 5/10/12: Sold...and on its way to Charlotte, NC! 

Daily Painters "Summer Faces #3"

Hot off the easel, this piece was a request from a family I met at the La Jolla Festival of the Arts. Painted as a companion piece to Summer Faces #1 and #2, they plan on hanging all three pieces together instead of using just one large painting. Hopefully I can post a photo of the finished installation.

I've received several requests for large pastel paintings (24" x 36" and larger), but I've been suggesting the use of two or three framed pieces together to achieve the "grand" effect. I'm finding that I am physically unable to wrestle these jumbo pieces around, since glass and frame of that size can get pretty heavy, and pieces of this size are also difficult to transport and display at outdoor shows.

Typical sizes I offer are: 8" x 8", 12" x 12", 12" x 16", 11" x 17", 14" x 18", 16" x 20", and 18" x 24".
As always, I invite your comments and suggestions.

Daily Painters "Summer Faces #2"

Here is the second sunflower painting, and my final piece before the La Jolla Festival of the Arts this weekend. I'm off to load the van and set up my tent and panels today. The weather is forecast to be light overcast and about 68 degrees...perfect for me!

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner, and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang alone or as a set with Summer Faces #1. Priced at $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Buy it now, or save shipping and come to the show early to see this set "live." See you soon... Updated 6/19/11: Sold this morning along with "Summer Faces #1, to a cute family from Los Angeles, visiting the La Jolla Festival of the Arts.

Daily Painters "Summer Faces #1"

Ahh.... this is the second to last painting I'm preparing for my show this weekend in La Jolla. I'll post the companion piece to this tomorrow, but for now I'm off to my framing bench. I received so many positive comments about the sunflower painting on my new business cards, that I thought a few more original sunflower paintings were in order.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this painting measures 12" x 12" and is framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Buy it here on-line before the show this weekend... $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada, or save the shipping and pick it up in the studio or at the show. Thanks for stopping by. Updated 6/19/11: Sold this morning, along with Summer Faces #2, to a cute family from Los Angeles, visiting the La Jolla Festival of the Arts.

Daily Painters "Sunny Day"

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. It seems after last winter's wind damage to one of the big trees in Spanish Village Art Center, the squirrels have been provided with a makeshift ladder so they can continue to scurry down from the roof of Studio #25 (The Glass Guild) and eat their seed treats. The result is a healthy stand of sunflowers where the tree once stood. Mother Nature fixes everything...

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, measures 12" x 12" and is framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Buy it now price: $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada.  Updated 5/13/11: Sold, as a companion piece to Sunny Times :)

Daily Painters "Suns of Spring Three"

Sunflowers and springtime...just a fading memory as I sit here in my studio watching the rain come down in  buckets. I never realized how much of a "seasonal" painter I've become, until I received this request for a companion piece to another sunflower painting. I'm very pleased with the outcome, but now I'm back to preparing a few larger pieces for my upcoming show...more about that later.

Painted in soft pastel on sanded board, this piece measures 12" x 16" and is framed in coordinating dark wood, and protected with UV/Non-glare Museum Glass. It's ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price: $350.00 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. Note: This is a pending commission sale. SOLD!

Daily Painters "Three Faces of Fall"

It's time for sunflowers, pumpkins, and cute little squash. My local farmers market is the perfect stop for inspiration. I had planned a painting of big, ripe avocados...but hubby had guacamole on his mind and beat me to them.

Painted in soft pastel on sanded paper, this piece measures 12" x 12" and is framed in a coordinating wood frame with UV/Non-glare Museum glass. Buy it now price: $295.00 + $30.00 to ship anywhere in the Continental U.S. or Canada. Updated 9/26/10: Sold...to my "warm tones" collector!