This header is a pastel painting I did in 2009 is of a place in the Netherlands, my country of origin, after a photo shot by Dick Witte.

Some of the painters who have influenced me:
Mondriaan, Hopper
O"Keefe, Weyeth
Singer Sargent
van Gogh, Rembrandt
Picasso, Escher

Since this is my second blog page, it generally takes me longer (sometimes very long) to reply to your comments, but I do read and love them!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

BEAVERDAM

Beaverdam, 12 x 18 inch, Pastel, St.Germain

NOTES
Even though I had a photo, I had to make decisions about a number of things 
Color-wise:
My decision was to play up the yellow, red and green  colors
All the other colors had to fit around them.
It still made for a serene painting, because
there was still quite a bit of white and shades of gray

Design -wise:
It may work great for a photo, but for a painting 
it's kind of tricky to have three "horizons" on top of each other, in an oval frame!
 I lowered the bottom part  so I would NOT have the beaverdam 
cutting through the middle of my paper!

About Focus of Interest:

I had to choose what would be most important for me in my painting.  
I didn't think the grey reflections would pop, 
when there are so many colors in the surrounding areas 
- unless I would paint only part of this scene. 
I lowered the bottom part, so I could have the beaverdam  
and the reflection of the trees (not seen in the scene) as the focus of interest.

original pic of Becky and Gary at woodynookcreations

Did my painting decisions change the mood of the original photo?
What are your thoughts on it?

Monday, February 21, 2011

THE LATE BLOOMER


The Late Bloomer Oil, 24 x 24, St.Germain

NOTES
Not intended to imitate Georgia O'Keefe! But just came out this way... 
a wilted rose on my table kept in this position for longer than a week
so I decided to use my 24 x 24 inch canvas that I didn't know what to do with for a year.
(nothing is cropped off the painting)
It was like the lid was blown off
of something I did not know was in me
and I painted 14 more flower paintings
all 24 x 24 and a few 24 x 30 inches.
That was a few years ago. 
I called them my Celebrity Collection.
Lately I've been feeling inklings 
to do a few more:)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

ANGEL OF THE MUSIC ARTS

24 x 30, Oil, 

NOTES

Okay with me if you don't believe in angels. You can still enjoy the painting:)
But to make my intent clear, this is an angel of music and worship unto God. 

- On top of the left sleeve are different kinds of flutes  
- on  upper right sleeve are paint brushes.
- included ballet slippers for dance and a banner or flag, for artists who do flag work. 
One time I saw a guy dressed in a white shirt and black pants 
in his twenties (?) handling 4 white shiny flags at once -it was pure artistry! 
- for the story on the flutes, 
go to main blog page at end of weekend January 14 (click on right side bar Mysteries)

Friday, December 24, 2010

THE POINSETTIA TREE

18 x 36, Oil, St. Germain

NOTES
- Still need to put in place finishing touches, here and there. 
I call this my poinsettia tree, 
a variant of the tree that is decorated in this season. 
Three colors  of this plant is all I could handle:)
- The Christmas balls were an afterthought. 
Decided to add them after one of my friends imagined the balls
in the Christmas tree to be gifts.
All you had to do, was grab 'em!  Thought that was a wonderful idea for life.
Go ahead, get any gifts being up there - they're there for the taking!

Thursday, December 16, 2010


WHAT AM I PAINTING ?  Find out  around Dec. 24....

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS WATERCOLOR

NOTES
- One of my early watercolors, signified by the sharp edges of Bridal Veil Falls at Yosemite. This scene was this year totally immersed in water!

Thought it would be fun to do my pic of my painting for Midweek Blues, hosted by Rebecca
 for Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/, hosted by 2sweetnsaxy, 
for Skywatch at http://skyley.blogspot.com/ on Friday, and for 

Weekend Reflections at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/hosted by James. 
I thank all these hosts!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

ASCENT AND DESCENT

Ascent and Descent, 36 x 36 inch , oil, St.Germain

NOTES
- In one of my next posts (in next few weeks) on main blog MYSTERIES
read why I posted this painting....
Some interesting anecdotes surrounding the painting when it was  finished
- Design wise, the "ladder" (ascent and descent) started with an "X" 
with the angels displayed on the "X" with more of a loop.
- my take on angels is that they have different personalities, fitting with their task