Original oil painting, gold cat

Master of the Harbor, Oil

11x14

available for a short time through eBay

partial funds to Pasado's Safe Haven

Ropes are slung along the docks and boats creak against the weathered boards. Sailors come and go and some stop to bid good-day. But this cat’s heart is as strong as the sea and he sits steadfastly waiting for his master to return. He will; he always does. No one doubts that there is only one love for this Master of the Harbor.

Original pastel painting, gold ginger tabby

Reflecting Gold, dry pastel

8x10

Sold $280

partial funds to Sarvey Wildlife Care Center

Everywhere I look, I see Gravy. Everywhere Gravy looks, he sees me smiling back at him with my heart.

Gallery Show

I can't believe how time is flying past and how long it's been since I have posted. I am just finishing details for my gallery show that opens this Friday at Scott Milo in Anacortes, Washington. I really had fun Celebrating Summer for this show! We continue to have gorgeous weather on Whidbey Island so I am completely in the mood, still, even though I am framing which isn't really my favorite part of the process.

Stop by if you get a chance. Here are the details of the show.

June 5th, 6-9 Artists' Reception (I'll be there from 6-8)

Show runs June 5th - 30th.

Hope to see you there!

Pastel Study, Seascape

Water Me - a study, dry pastel
18 x 15
Sold 185
partial funds to Pasado's Safe Haven
As part of my upcoming gallery show, I am doing some color studies and experimental pieces to figure out which ideas I want to pursue further. I will be offering a few of these on eBay. This study is from a beach along the Oregon coast which has always been one of my favorite spots to gather some inspiration.

This is some smashing fun water! I mixed up the media a little and used a small amount of acrylic in this, mostly for the rocks. Oh, and as usual, I probably used most of the colors in my pastel box for the water :). This is usually what goes on under the water before I start putting final coats on it. You can see all the activity starting to build. In this case I liked it so much at this stage, I put it in a frame and called it Macaroni. Just kidding, I called it
Water Me.

Original pastel painting, Golden tabby cat

The Beckoning Cat, dry pastel

5 x 7

Sold $256

partial funds to Animal Dreams
I have used this pose of Gravy in a previous painting and just love it so much I decided to use it a little differently this time because I felt it so fitting for this piece.

My niece first introduced me to Neko by gifting me with this little porcelain version (that I used as the model for the painting) after one of her trips abroad.

The story is about a cat in Japan (Maneki Neko) who beckoned several samurai to follow it into a temple, near Tokyo, by raising its left paw. There the samurai took shelter from a storm and then spread the word of the shrine and the cat who found them shelter from the storm and brought them luck. Since then the cat with the raised paw has been a symbol for good luck and wealth.

My story is about (our) Gravy who, like Neko, brought nothing but good fortune to those he met. When we found him, he raised his paw and placed it directly and very intently on my husband's leg and there and then he entered our hearts forever. He always brought us a wealth of love so I guess that paw thing works!

Tuxedo cat,original pastel painting

Love bug

5 X 7

Sold $205
partial funds to Animal Dreams

Another "caught by the sun" moment with Biscuit. I was actually trying to work on a landscape painting when she pulled this little number on me! Look at that face ~ just begging to be painting. So, this is how we spent our afternoon together. Sweet, huh?

Pastel 100 Competition, Wee Three

I’m happy to share some great news with you. One of my pieces, “Wee Three,” was selected as a finalist in the Wildlife/Animal portion of the Pastel 100 Competition and appears in the April issue of the Pastel Journal. My thanks to the Pastel Journal for including my work alongside some great art! I have to admit, it is really humbling to have my piece be one of only nineteen (in the animal category) selected in an international competition.

You can see a closer view of the painting on my website, by clicking here.