Very excited - I was juried into the 6x6 show!  Below is the direct link to my piece.  Such an honor to be on the wall with so many talented artists.  Can't wait to meet some of them at the opening reception on December 8th at the Randy Higbee Gallery.  Back to the easel this weekend!

http://6inchsquared.dailybrushwork.com/Sort.aspx?uid=4937&GSID=15&pg=1

I am entering this painting in a show for 6x6 size paintings along with a couple of others.  I will let you know if I get in.  This sky is so amazing that when my boss sent it to me telling me she was never coming back to work, I could see why - I had to paint it!

I know it has been a while but after a hiatus, I am back in time for Halloween with Portrait of a Zombie! This started out as a replication of the face of a full-body Velazquez painting but it never looked quite right.  At the time I remember joking that I should just take masterpieces and make them look like monsters since the painting, on its own, seemed to be heading that way. I stopped working on it in frustration and let it sit for a year and a half. Recently, after watching the 50th show on Halloween this month, inspiration took hold and I took out the Velazquez and decided to really make it a monster.  Working on this painting the second time around was a blast and I have to say I absolutely love it now!  I can't wait to see what comes next.

Culver and Barranca

This is an intersection in Irvine, CA at sunset.  The clouds pink, yellow and orange of the clouds were so amazing, I had to try and capture them.  Combine the sky with the dark purple hue of the buildings and you have suburban magic.

Red Leaf

I found this beautiful red leaf outside and decided to render it in markers.  Copic has a lettering and numbering system to identify their amazing range of colors.  For this piece I used R35, R39, R59, C7, and a black multi-liner.  Of course, I can't do the beauty of Ms. Leaf justice but the fun is in trying.

Clouds #1

I have so many photos of clouds that I have been dying to paint but haven't until now.  We have a long, green corridor in the new part of our building which my co-worker has dubbed "The Green Mile."  I was granted permission to hang my work there and when I mentioned it to my co-worker, she thought that maybe other artists we work with would like to hang their work too.  We got permission to open it up to other artists and my co-worker has now dubbed the space The Green Mile Gallery.  I decided on the loose theme of "Clouds" for our first exhibit so that I would have an excuse to do this piece.  I am really looking forward to the announcement going out this week in the office because I can't wait to see what my co-workers will come up with -- so many of them have secret lives as artists.

Crunchy Roll

This is my official foray into fine art with markers!  There are some amazing markers on the market called Copic.  They are from Japan and were originally used primarily in the comic/manga industry.  Lucky for us, an art professor from Oregon happened along these markers while travelling in Japan and he eventually convinced the company to establish a presence in North America.  The markers are alcohol based and come in over 350 colors.  I have admired these markers for the past 3 years, first seeing them at Anime Expo in Los Angeles.  Two weeks ago I had the good fortune to become a certified instructor at the intermediate level for Copic markers.  The possibilities are endless and I look forward to exploring all of them.  I hope you enjoy my first piece of marker fine art!

Orange and Purple

Hello friends!  This piece was inspired by a wonderful plate I found at the Japanese market.  Initially I was going to do a still life of the plate but the whole thing looked too tight and lifeless so I wiped the canvas and started over.  The second time around I kept it loose with plenty of bright elements.