From A to Z: (The) Red Hot Poker

Sometimes a flower comes along that begs you to draw and paint it! This one from a photo by Jerod Haskins (taken while he was a missionary to orphans in Africa), did just that to my soul. The multiple petals and the triple colors cause me to praise the God who has endless creativity and imagination!

From A to Z: Rancho San Antonio Park

This painting is one of my personal favorites since this is one of my favorite parks to walk in. We went on many field trips here to see their working farm called Deer Hollow Farm. Docent tours also offered talks to my school age children on the life of the American Indians that originally lived in the area.
A good healthy walk or bike ride through the oak woods and open hills to the top of the hill will rewards you with a panoramic view of the entire San Fransisco Bay Area. I suggest you make it a point to visit this park at least once in your life.

From A to Z: Pony on the Moor

While in England, my husband and I saw these wild ponies racing along the Moor. Some were tame enough to come up to our cars and nuzzle for food!

From A to Z: Pirate Ship Battle

A commission from my daughter. The sky was challenging but I'm pleased with the results that happened from an unconventional method!

From A to Z: (Aletheia's) Pegasus over the Ocean

Here's a commission from my creative daughter and named for her.

From A to Z: Peach Blossoms and a Dragonfly

I added the dragonfly to this painting for my niece who loves them.

From A to Z: Pansies

Another commission from my daughter...

From A to Z: Owls in the Blossoms

A favorite of mine. I painted it twice.

From A to Z: North Georgia Trail (My Dwelling Place)

This was a commission for someone who wished to have a painting of good memories of when she rode horses in woods just like these.

From A to Z: Mustangs Wild and Free

This was one of my first paintings. I added the horses in the foreground years later.

From A to Z: Mountains to the Sea

From A to Z: Japan's Mountains

A class study.

From A to Z: Lilies

From A to Z: Little Lamb

I think this lamb's eyes look innocent and peaceful.

From A to Z: (A) Lady and her Horse

This was a commission for a woman and her horse. She wanted me to paint them into beautiful setting.

From A to Z: Katherine's Jungle Painting

A painting of the fantastic Luong Jungle in the country of Gabon in western Africa. Here jungle meets the ocean and Hippos go surfing on the ocean waves. This was a request from my lovely daughter, Katherine, for her birthday.

From A to Z: Irish Setters in the English Countryside

I painted this from a photo I snapped while my husband drove along a narrow road in the English countryside. We rounded a corner and just at the bend these 2 Irish Setters stood at the gate to pose for the picture! Ah, thatched roofs , Irish Setters, and the English countryside, all three of my loves together for that one instant.. I thought I died and went to painting heaven.

From A to Z: (An) Irish Farmer and His Helpers

Ah Ireland, land of my ancestors, one day I'll visit ye.

From A to Z: Irish Dancing Girls

I painted this from a newspaper photo by Joanne Ho-Young Lee. Their cheery smiles and the bright colors on their dresses can brighten anyone's day.

From A to Z: (A) Humpback Whale and Her Calf

This is a large 24x36" oil painting. I loved painting the barnacles on these whales.

From A to Z: (Wild) Horses in Colorado

This is a large watercolor painting on a full sheet of paper. I wanted to convey the feelings of freedom, power and magesty.

From A to Z: (The) Great Horned Owl

A pen and ink watercolor painting done for my daughter.

From A to Z: Grapes and Leaves

This is a study from a coffeetable book with photos of Vineyards.

From A to Z: (In the) Forest

This painting was copied from an art book for a class study.

From A to Z :Gladys's Geese

This was a class lesson from Gladys Robinson, a fantastic watercolor teacher/artist.

From A to Z: Fuchsias at the Winery

This was painted from a photo I took while at a friend's wedding in a mountain winery.

From A to Z: (The) Flower Girl on Nantucket Island

This is from a photo I took while visiting Nantucket Island in Massachusetts with my sister.

From A to Z: (Octavia's) Flame Lily

A painting from a photo by Jerod Haskins of an African flower, the Flame Lily, also called the Gloriosa Lily. This the national flower of Zimbabwe.
I was painting this when my beautiful Mom, Octavie, went to be with the Lord, so I dedicated it to her.

From A to Z: Fisherman's Fall Paradise

This painting is dedicated to Bill and Franco and to all those fishermen who love get up in the middle of the night to hike miles into the woods in search of the perfect catch.

From A to Z: Filoli Yellow Rose

I painted this from a photo I took at Filoli Gardens. The bees were in the photo just as you see them in the painting. This turned out to be one of my favorites.

From A to Z: Filoli Gardens in the Springtime

Ahh, Filoli Gardens in Woodside, California. These are 16 areas of lovely formal gardens and they're not too far from my home.

From A to Z: Fallen Leaf Stream

One of my favorite places to be in the Fall. We've many rivers and streams just like this near our cabin in Nevada City, California.

From A to Z: (The) Dancing Lord and Lady

The dancing lady is really me, can you tell?

From A to Z: (A) Doe and Her Fawn

I love animals!

From A to Z: California Cows

My daughter's friend snapped a photo with her cell phone while driving up the California coast on Highway 1. She thought I'd like to paint it and I did!

From A to Z: China Cove

China Cove in Carmel was one of our favorite places to visit when the kids were younger. If you look closely you'll see us all on the beach.

From A to Z: Cement Ship #1

This ship has quite a history and a local favorite.

From A to Z: Carolina's Scarves

This painting was done from a photo by Dieter Mueller of his wife's scarves. She does beautiful work.

From A to Z : Canada Geese at Memorial Park

This watercolor was done from a photo my son took at a local park.

From A to Z : Butterfly in the Blossoms

This watercolor was inspired by a calendar photo. I received permission from the photographer, Darrel Gulin, to reproduce it. I made prints, lavender sachets, and mugs from it.

From A to Z: (Soft and Cuddly) Bunny

This is an oil painting I gave to my son who was only 7 at the time. It's now back in my closet waiting for another home.

From A to Z: (A) Boy and His Balloon

This painting was done in oils while I was taking a class. All of us learned how to paint hot air balloons of our choice, and then we could add anything else we wanted. I chose the boy since he looked like he was determined to fly one day.

From A to Z : (The) Birthday Bouquet #1

I painted this from a lovely bouquet of flowers my husband gave to me on one of my birthdays.
I gave it to a lady a church who has faithfully served there for 50 years.

Creating Aunt Cecile's Window: Day 2

This time I decided to use my Tracer Projector to enlarge the drawing I did on day one.
I taped the watercolor paper to my closet door and away we go. Of course, I drew very lightly so you won't be able to see the drawing.

Creating Aunt Cecile's Window : Day 1 continued...

Speaking of reference material, here's some to begin with. I'm going to use the lace tablecloth as a guide for the curtains.

From A to Z : Bed and Breakfast in Tintagel, the Living Room

Here's the living room in the lovely bed and breakfast we stayed at for our 25th anniversary.

My Adventure in Creating Aunt Cecile's Painting : Day 1

I started a new painting today and I thought I'd show step by step this time just how I'll do it.
Day 1: After choosing the reference material (from my reference file I've been updating for about 19 years and from my art books and home decorating books)(it took about 4 hours), I drew it out(that took about 2 1/2 hours). Here's the drawing I did on vellum paper. Christine and I had a wonderful time drawing and painting together. Check out Christine's blog too.

From A to Z-My Paintings: Bed and Breakfast in Tintagel, The Dining Room

I think it's time to put many of my paintings on this good ol' blog. I'll do it a little at a time and in semi-alphabetical order by the title of the painting. There are no A's so I'll begin with Bed and Breakfast in Tintagel, England. This is the first of 2 paintings in the dining room/ living room area. This home was in the southeast of England, close to Land's End, the very SE tip of the country at the ocean.
What a magical place. Very close to the home of Daphne Du Maurier the author of Rebecca.

Sam framed

Here's what Sam looked like after framing.