Purple Peppers

"Pick a Purple Pepper"   8" x 8"   $225 Framed

There is just something about Farmer's markets. I just love the look of fresh produce piled in the sunlight. The colors and shapes of the fruit and vegetables are a feast for the eyes as well as the kitchen table!

In the grocery store, peppers tend to come in tidy piles of uniform green, red and yellow (and maybe orange). I loved these peppers all mixed together. Many of them couldn't decide which color they wanted to be. And the purple ones were just gorgeous!

Toadstools

"Mother Mushroom"   8" x 8"   $225 Framed

With the fall weather upon us, I thought I'd try painting something autumnal. These are amanita muscaria - the quintessential toadstool. It's so amazing the way these things just push themselves out of the ground where you least expect them; bright red and covered with spots like something right out of a storybook. Such lovely, earthy things!

Stepping Stones

"Stepping Stones"   8" x 18"   SOLD

Just finished this small study of a scene in the Portland Japanese Garden. I really enjoy the movement in the composition - how the stepping stones lead you right up the levels in the Japanese lantern. I tried focusing a bit more on value than on edges in this painting. It gives the painting a bit more atmosphere.

I love stepping stones. They are a very helpful symbol to me. I tend to be the sort of person who impatiently charges ahead and wants to see the end result right away. I forget that it's the journey that matters; that every step along the way is important. Stepping stones remind me that all I can do today is take the next single step forward.

If you live in my area, please stop by Victor's Coffee House in Redmond during October. The place is full of my paintings! I am so excited to be the featured artist for this month in my very favorite local coffee shop! Thank you to all my wonderful friends who've been visiting my artwork there!

Also, this weekend, Oct 13 & 14 is the Snoqualmie River Arts Tour. There are some really amazing artists on this tour! You can see some of my paintings and prints at Quirkz of Art in Fall City (#23 on the map).

Lastly, if you're looking for a unique birthday gift or starting to think about holiday gifts, please check out my brand new spiffy 2013 art calendar at Zazzle.com.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Windows and Doors, Lan Su Chinese Garden  18" x 24"  SOLD

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. What a truly remarkable place! Nestled on one city block, smack dab in the middle of downtown Portland and surrounded by concrete and skyscrapers, is this little island of paradise! Although the size of the garden is limited, the number of special places in the garden seems almost endless. Countless windows and doors frame perfectly-designed views, each view worthy of a painting. Every slight turn of the head reveals another beautiful scene in the garden!
I loved this doorway. Not just a door, but also a window and a picture frame and a magical transition from one place to the next.


"Windows and Doors" detail

In spite of all my attempts to paint more loosely and expressively with watercolor, this painting exposes my continuing fascination with decorative detail. 



October Art Show at Victor's Coffee House

 

I am so thrilled to be the featured "Artist of the Month" for October at Victor's Coffee House in Redmond! This is my favorite coffee place in town and just down the road from where I live! Victors has amazing pastries and panini's, outdoor seating, and very friendly baristas. They even roast their own beans! I am personally very fond of their fluffy cappucinos in the big ceramic mugs.

I have 14 of my paintings at Victors through the month of October - big ones, little ones and even some of my newest and best ones! They are all available for sale. Victor's is at 7993 Gilman Street in Redmond, Washington. Please stop in and check out my artwork this month!