Monster Kumquats

We have a small kumquat tree in our backyard and the first two years it had regular sized kumquats on it. Since then, they have been about 3" long and 2" in diameter! I have never seen another one like it. I've asked a couple of people at nurseries if it is possible for it to have cross pollinated with the meyer lemon next to it but they claim that is impossible. Whatever caused it, I just glad it happened. They are great sliced thinly in salads or just to eat by themselves. That way, I can get rid of all the seeds since I really don't like crunching on those. It also makes a great conversation topic since nobody can guess what kind of fruit it is.

Monster Kumquats
Image size 9.5" x 7.5"
Watercolor
Unframed

Florence Flowers

This is painted from a picture I took several years ago in Florence, Italy. I love how they have little pots of flowers in so many of their windows. It was fun to try to get the effect of the old chipping wall with the silk dyes.

Florence Flowers
Image size 19.5 x 15.5"
Silk dyes on silk
Framed
$375.00

Magnolia

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I love the dark green leaves with their rusty colored backs in contrast with the huge white blossoms on the Southern Magnolia trees. I've got to get a couple of these trees for our yard so I can get plenty of reference photos for future paintings.

Magnolia
Image size 8" x 11"
Watercolor
Unframed

I just found out last night at the "City of Trees" opening at Chemer's gallery that I received 1st place in the professional division for last week's painting "Old Tustin". I'm very excited. I'm glad that this show divided the categories into amateur and professional rather than by medium. I usually can't enter my silk paintings into contests because there isn't a category into which they fall. Even though silk dyes are a water-based medium, they don't fall into the watercolor or acrylic categories. The other usual mediums are oil, pastel and mixed media which also don't apply. So..... this was a rare opportunity for me.

Old Tustin - Silk Painting

This is a painting that will be displayed at Chemer's Gallery in Tustin, CA until May 30th as part of their "City of Trees" exhibit showcasing work by both amateur and professional artists. The art shows vignettes of Tustin that include at least part of a tree. You can go to their website,www.chemersgallery.com for more info.

Old Tustin
Image size 16" x 16"
Silk dyes on silk
Framed

Eucalyptus I

I painted this to enter in a local Tustin juried show that will open on May 16th. It has to be turned in this Wednesday so as usual, I am cutting it a little close. This is an acrylic painted on a gallery wrapped canvas so that no frame is required.

Eucalyptus I
Image size 24" x 18"
Acrylic
Unframed - no frame needed

Drifting Kelp

The art show and garden tour is over and now I can get back to some serious painting. I just got some new acrylics in the mail so I wanted to play with an abstract again this week. I just love using them like watercolors. I started out with an entirely different idea for this one but this is how it evolved and I really like the effect.

Drifting Kelp
Image Size 14" x 14"
Acrylic
Unframed, gallery wrapped canvas, no frame necessary.
$150.00

Lake Powell I

I'm still trying to get ready for the art show I'm involved with this week so this is a tiny watercolor painting. I am anxious to get back to some serious painting.

Lake Powell I
Image size 6" x 3.5"
Watercolor
Framed

Lichen

This is an acrylic that I did with very thin paints on a wet canvas. It was really fun to play with the movement of the paint.

Lichen
Image Size 20" x 8"
Acrylic
Unframed - Gallery wrapped canvas
$125.00

Hibiscus

This is a watercolor and is 4" x 6". We were out of town so this was a quick one.

Hibiscus
Image Size 4" x 6"
Watercolor
Unframed