DON'T MESS WITH BREEZIE, OIL, 8X10 - SOLD

Meet
Meet Breezie, puppy with attitude! This is a commission I finished up a few weeks ago. Actually I was asked to paint out the "mask" on his face as the owner had it removed from the dog. I took this photo before I "adjusted" the painting as I think it gives him lots of character.

BEACH SUNRISE, 5X7, OIL - SOLD

I really enjoy doing these small seascapes. I always seem to relax when I am working on them.
This one seems so tranquil, I think I may just go back to bed now.

HENS AND CHICKS AND BABY TOES, 6X8 SOLD, OIL, CA SCHIFF

I

I know that you have seen "hens and chicks" around, everybody has them, but have you ever seen "baby toes"?? This was something new to me and I liked the way they looked together. However, it was not a match made in heaven. We are in the rainy season here in Florida, and one day I went out to the garden and the baby toes had melted away. Too much rain! Maybe I will get lucky and find them again someday.

DSDF ROWER, OIL 8x10

I am sure you all recognize this as the challenge painting from Karin Jurick's blog, Different Strokes from Different Folks. Week after week Karin posts photos that appear to be "easy".

Ha! I should know better than to be lulled into the fire, but no, I convince myself that this one is easy and will not take long. Ha again! They take me twice as long as any other painting and I always hate the way they turn out and WHY IS HER HEAD SO SMALL?? Oh well, always another photo on the horizon.

WILDFLOWERS, ACRYLIC, 20X24, SOLD

This is definitely not my usual painting! A few years ago, I took a month long workshop with Fritz VanEeden. Fritz is a very well known and respected artist from Holland who has been living in our town at least part of the year. I was fortunate enough to work with him for over a month, 3 days a week, for 4-5 hours. Fritz is obsessed, and if he is awake, he must have a paintbrush in his hand! He is also a wonderful man. I do enjoy this type of painting, but I just couldn't get the hang of painting out of my head. So this is my one and only true abstract!

Now, my varnishing question got several replies, both here and on facebook, and the winner is......retouch varnish! I have run to my art supply store to grab a can and now feel much more confident in my technique. So, thank you all very much for your replies!

LOTUS POND, OIL, 8X10, SOLD

While I was finishing up this painting I decided to ask for help from all of you. I am in a state of varnish confusion! As you know, we are all advised to wait at least 6 months before applying varnish. I don't know about you, but I don't have 6 months of paintings stored up, waiting to be varnished before I display or sell them. I usually finish them up by letting them dry several days until they are dry to the touch, and then I apply a light coat of liquin which I lightly rub over with a paper towel. This gets rid of the dull finish and makes the hues richer. If the painting is still around later, I varnish. Liquin's makers do not recommend the process I use but I think that is a cover your a-- move. It is really not any different than a very light glaze. I won't send a painting out without some time of finish. How do you all handle this?? And, what type of varnish do you use? I have read about several professional artists who apply varnish within 10-14 days. Do you?

SOUTH CAROLINA MARSH, 9X12, OIL,SOLD

A view of South Carolina, one of their famous marshes, painted plein air last summer. My paint peeps and I we lucky enough to be invited to Spring Island for a week of painting and other misadventure.