Entries categorized as ‘ala prima’
“Storm Watch”
This painting is framed and matted to 14″ x 18″
Please email me if you are interested in purchase.

Where I live, there are a lot of open fields. We’re facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca with our back against the Olympic Mountains. Although the weather changes frequently, because of the mountains, we are saved from the worst of the rain that blesses the State of Washington. However, the combination of sea and mountains makes for some pretty dynamic weather effects. One of my favorites is when the sky darkens with heavy clouds and the sun is low enough to shoot underneath lighting up parts of the landscape. This happens here quite frequently and I paint it whenever I can. While not as dramatic as some I’ve done, I enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of this piece. There is something exciting about to happen, but the land the is waiting and watching. Nothing stirs.
Categories: ala prima · meadow · pastel painting · sunlit fields
“Two Poppies and a Chinese Vase”

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Price: $69 USD plus $8 USD s/h
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Today was just a crummy day. I was tired after my long haul back from my Seattle based atelier class (three 1/2 hrs) the night before I had to get up early to clear the studio and set up for teaching. The class was good but I finished tired and then after lunch couldn’t get myself moving again. I was just brain dead. Nothing inspired me and I seriously considered just fading into the couch with a good book. But guilt, the driving force behind my self discipline, got me moving — trudging actually. As I set this still life up, the lamp came apart and hit me in the head, I turned too fast and knocked the newly primed board off the easel, knocked over the space heater and scared the bejesses out of my cats! I need to take a copy of this post and pin it to my studio door. One of the things I should know about myself by now is that the discipline of focus on a painting will usually chase the cobwebs and fatigue away. I felt abut two hundred percent better about half way through this little. And now I’m fully recovered – well about ninety percent. I’m going to make dinner, try not to have an accident, and then fade into the couch with a good book. Guilt be damned.
This painting is also available framed. Email me for details.
Categories: Asian Still Life · Asian subject · ala prima · daily painting · flower painting · flowers · oil painting · red flowers · red poppies
“Peonies and Yellow Apples”
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Price: $125 USD plus $15 USD s/h
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I recently finished a commission of peonies and had so much of the color left on my palette, I decided to do another peony painting. I just couldn’t see wasting all that luscious pink paint. The apples were green originally but I liked them better as yellow. They were left over too. Not anymore…I just ate the last one.
Categories: How to paint roses · Roses · ala prima · apples · floral · flower painting · flowers · oil painting · original · pink
“Dogwood and Chinese Apples”
SOLD

I recently sold a small nude to a collector and framed it for her in one of these hand finished frames. It looked so good that I decided to offer them as an option on some of my other pieces. This little floral was so charming, I decided it needed its own little frame. The painting is available both with and without the frame. This frame is available for all my 5″ x 7″ pieces.
Categories: Asian Still Life · Asian subject · Food · ala prima · apples · daily painting · floral · flower painting · flowers · fruit · white flowers
“Antique Vase with Yellow Flowers”
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Price: $125 USD plus $15 USD s/h
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I actually painted two paintings today but decided to rework the other a bit in the morning. I was striving for just the right tone in the background here and more texture on the vase.
Categories: Asian Still Life · Asian subject · ala prima · daily painting · flowers · oil painting · original · original oil painting · romantic painting · yellow flowers
“Watching TV”
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Price: $30 USD plus $15 USD s/h
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I spent a good part of the day starting a commission for a large peony painting. Check out my teaching blog for peek at the beginning stages. Just when I had wrapped up the first session and was ready to start another small oil for this blog, I received a phone call from my good friend and walking buddy who’s snow birding in CA. Chat, chat, chat…and nothing got done for the space of an hour. So I decided on a quick watercolor for a change. I could keep the lights bright and play for a bit. Hope you enjoy her as much as I did.
Categories: ala prima · daily painting · figure painting · nude · reclining nude · watercolor
“Afternoon Browser”
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Price: $45 USD plus $8 USD s/h
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I recently met a friend for an coffee break and a chat at a local cafe. A young woman who was intent on her computer while sipping her latte caught my eye. I loved the way her red wool dress and gray scarf were bundled about her. She was totally oblivious to my sneaky camera.
I used to be fascinated with airports and people watching at them until flying became such a hassle. Now I enjoy just looking at folks doing their thing at everyday places.
I did this painting as a poster study with large shapes and simple colors. These are good exercises and I enjoy the compositional problems that need to be solved on small pieces. Enjoy.
For those of you who have purchased work previously from me, I’d like to let you know that paintings are now being varnished with several gloss coats which brightens the painting and brings out the color passages.
Categories: Interior Scene · Internet Cafe · ala prima · figure painting
“Evening on the Meadow”
SOLD
I rarely paint in pen and ink anymore but it used to be something I enjoyed doing a lot. A bit like doodling but more detailed. In fact, it’s so different from my usual stuff that I post here, that I decided to sign it with my maiden name.
This little watercolor is already matted to an 8″ x 10″ standard size and will easily fit in a picture frame.
Categories: ala prima · california landscape · meadow · pen and ink · sunset
“Arc of Orchids”
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Price: $99 USD plus $15 USD s/h
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Today was a better day sold some work and someone actually showed up to work on my studio! Hooray!! So, being in a brighter mood, I painted something to reflect my mood. It’s been awhile since I painted Orchids. These colors are always a bit touchy to do. I want them bright, but not glaring. Hope I accomplished this. Enjoy! To see how this painting was done, click here.
Categories: How to paint orchids · ala prima · daily painting · floral · flower painting · flowers · orchids · pink
“Arc of Orchids”
Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $99 USD plus $15 USD s/h
Or, send me an email
Today was a better day sold some work and someone actually showed up to work on my studio! Hooray!! So, being in a brighter mood, I painted something to reflect my mood. It’s been awhile since I painted Orchids. These colors are always a bit touchy to do. I want them bright, but not glaring. Hope I accomplished this. Enjoy! To see how this painting was done, click here.
Categories: How to paint orchids · ala prima · daily painting · floral · flower painting · flowers · orchids · pink