Train Ride in the Autumn

16 X 20 Pastel on Wallace Paper (framed)  Part of a private collection
Autumn is my mom's favorite season and she loved the photograph of this scene, so I decided to get creative with my pastels and gave this one to my parents.  They loved it!  (Of course, they are my parents)

Outdoor Cafe with a Garden

12 X 16 Pastel on Wallace paper (framed)

This is a favorite spot in the summer for my husband and I to take a walk, talk about our day, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. 

Palette Knife Fall Scene

9 x 12 Oil on canvas board

This is the product of a fun impressionist workshop with Ann Feldman. I mostly used my palette knife for this one. 

Birthday Balloons

8 X 16 pastel on Wallace Paper (framed)

Portrait Study: Squinting in the Sun

8 x 10 pastel on Wallace paper

This was a portrait study I did as a follow up to one of Ann Feldman's portrait workshops.

Flamenco Pose

12 x 16 pastel on Wallace paper (framed)

My friend Zulmara always inspires me with her dancing and her poses are very powerful.  She was not dancing flamenco in this performance, but I gave this piece my own twist.

(part of a private collection)

Waterfall at the Chicago Botanic Gardens

8 x 10 pastel on pastel board

Every summer, my husband and I have the tradition of visiting the Chicago Botanical Gardens.  Our first time was on our wedding day in July of 2006.  I know, how romantic! :)

One of My Best Moves!

12 x 16 Oil on Canvas

Here she is again!  Zulmara is one of the best dancers I have seen.  I love to watch her dance- she is so flexible, fast, and powerful with every pose.  She choreographs all of her performances and competitions and she does a wonderful job!  I can't stop watching and most certainly cannot stop capturing those snapshot moments for my paintings!

(part of a private collection)

Polynesian Paradise

   11x 14  Pastel on Pastel Board (framed)

Hawaii’s Polynesian Cultural Center was amazing!  Truly a cultural experience.   We loved it so much that we returned for a second day.  The days were sunny and hot and nature surrounded the entire center with streams, palm trees, tropical plants and flowers, and waterfalls that relaxed and refreshed us as we stood nearby taking it all in.  

A Rose is a Rose..

      20  x  20    Oil on Canvas (unframed)

My proudest moment while painting this rose was getting those water drops to glisten and look like water drops!

Dancing with Herself

8 X 10 Pastel and mineral spirits on Wallace Paper (matted and framed)

I decided that I wanted to play with mixed media and complementary colors.  I used mineral spirits and pastels to create the effect of movement in the background.  My reference drew me in instantly! Of course, it’s a dancer and everybody who knows me, knows that my favorite subjects are dancers! 

Study of a Renoir Portrait

16 X 20 Oil on Canvas Board

Painting this study of a Renoir portrait really opened my eyes to how fun and loose I could get with portraits.  Well, everywhere except the face that is.  I used heavy layers of paint using a palette knife and had the best time.  I felt such a connection to this piece and the process.  

Night Lights in Sevilla

12 x 24    Oil on canvas (framed)

The sun was setting in Sevilla,  Spain.   My husband and I were having dinner at an outdoor cafe across from this perfect scene of warm vibrant sunsetting colors transitioning into the city night lights.  This truly is a romantic city!  

Study of portrait of a Ballerina

16 X 20 Oil on Canvas sheet 

This was one of my favorite studies of a portrait painting in my portrait class.  The subject looked like a graceful ballerina to me and I loved her expression.  I also enjoyed the very loose style of painting.  This was the first study that didn’t frustrate me.  This was also the first time I felt that I was discovering my portrait painting style.  

Portrait of Marianna

16 X 20 Oil on Canvas

For the past year, I have been taking Portrait Classes with Ann Feldman and this is a portrait I started in her class using a live model, Marianna.  It was just  supposed to be a study, but I didn’t want to forget all of the things Ann taught us, so I continued to work on it until I felt happy.   I knew I was finished when Marianna (my model) told me she loved the painting and had her friends come look at it.  

Warm Autumn

22 X 24  Oil on Canvas (framed)  Part of private collection

My mother loves the fall and she had been asking me to paint a fall scene for a while now.  I like the fall as well, but I never like that it signals that Winter is near!  I enjoyed working on the reflection of the trees in the water and my mother loved it!