239 Cardinal

Reference phot  by Brian Hansen, permission granted

238 Blackburnian Warbler

reference photo taken by Brian Hansen, with permission

237 Black and White Warbler

Reference photo by Brian Hansen, with permission.

236 Patchwork

Having been a quilter for 30 plus years, I was immediately drawn to this scene, located in Marjeyoun, Lebanon, a beautiful village in the south.  I have always shied away from painting landscapes, but am learning so much by painting them, even if this isn't my usual style.

235 Path Among the Cedars

While in Lebanon, we visited the cedar forest at The Garden of the Gods.  Many of the trees are hundreds of years old with graceful branches.  It was a spectacularly beautiful and peaceful place.  Rather than taking down the dead cedars, a French artist carved many of them with faces and one with Jesus on the cross.  We saw the tree that is the image on the Flag of Lebanon and the image on the Lebanese passport.  Some of the trees were so large that when hollowed by time, two people could stand inside of them.  It was a memorable day.

234 Take Me Back Again

This is another painting of the same scene in Marjeyoun, Lebanon as painted about a week ago.  Please see my blog for the story of this painting.  I am having great difficulty getting the colors right in the photograph.  The background behind the trees is more greyish-light turquoise than appears here.

233 Inside of a Tulip

232 Exotic

231 Picasso and Me

I thought this would be an appropriate painting for today as I was in Chicago this weekend for the One of a Kind Art Show at the Merchandise Mart.  It was fabulous to see so many artists with their work.  I saw many familiar vendors but the biggest surprise was meeting fellow Daily Painter Angela Moulton there!  I recognized her work immediately before seeing her name and felt like I knew her.  I'm sure my bear hug and exuberance took her by surprise.  Her work is even more delightful in person--so fresh. 

230 Continuous

Apple peeling for Thanksgiving pie.

229 Sweetheart

228 Quartered

227 Fruit of the Gods

I have never eaten a persimmon, but I sure enjoy painting them. 

226 Take Me Back

This may just look like a row of pine trees to you, but to me it represents so much more, a feeling of solitude, of appreciation for the past and my ancestors, and awe for the sheer beauty and expanse of this beautiful place that is in southern Lebanon, the village of Marjeyoun.  I first saw this very long row of trees while visiting in 2008, and was so captivated by them.  I tried so hard to paint them several times, but no matter what I did, I was never happy with the painting.  Again in 2011, I visited and learned, to my surprise, that this row of trees was planted by my family so that they could readily have pine nuts.  With this simplified style of painting I am experimenting with, I thought it might work, especially in a smaller format.  I am pleased I could paint this scene and still have that special feeling inside of me as I recall this most spectacularly beautiful place.

225 Under the Golden Gate

224. Hen House at Beltane Ranch

223 Peter Piper's House

Trying something new.  Love the happy colors.

221 Silly

Portraits are so difficult.  This is one of my first. 

220 Calla Lillies

219 Sunbathing

Many years ago, my husband I visited San Francisco and at the time, everyone was so excited and baffled by the influx of sea lions who beached themselves at Pier 39 of Fisherman's Wharf.  We visited there again two years ago, and the sea lions are still there, basking in the sun, and now protected.  It's a very touristy attraction, but so much fun to observe these funny animals.