Fruits and Veggies 30" x 54" SOLD

I was commissioned to paint this uncharacteristic pastel painting of fruits and veggies! It certainly was a challenge, a thrill, and a different sort of landscape. Finally, I got to use the most intense colors in my collection of pastel sticks!!

End of the Road, 6 x 9 in. $165

This little painting went remarkably fast! I must be getting the hang of this. Anyway, this scene was near Los Alamos this past winter. I love painting snow because almost none of it is really white and I can work with blues, pinks, purples and yellows that I don't normally work with.

Sun Rays Sedona 6"x9" $165

This little painting is inspired by the last of the sun's rays touching the red rocks and green valley in Sedona a few weeks ago. I wish I could describe the sounds, the feel of the air, and the grandness of the views in all directions! What a beautiful place.

Rocky Start to the Morning 6x9in $165 framed

This is a little painting I created from a morning hike in the Sandia mountain foothills. The previous day's storm was clearing and there were spectacular scenes in all directions. I love the way the rocks are piled up in these mountains! Sometimes it's a puzzle how some of the rocks look like they should fall over with the slightest breeze, but they never do.

Foothills Fairyland 13 x 18in SOLD

Last Friday morning I was prepared to dash out the door in anticipation of the latest storm breaking up. I had a hunch the skies would open up and the scenery would be dramatic. I went on a hike in the foothills near me and wasn't disappointed. This is the first of what could be several paintings from that one morning!

Swiss Village 12x8in Unframed

Wow, the memories flooded back making this painting. There were so many scenes like this on the hikes in Switzerland this past fall. After months of being back, I am starting to think it couldn't have been THAT beautiful, but it was.

The Saddle 6x9in. $165 framed

This little painting is from an area I painted before (on the road heading towards Los Alamos). I think people who drive it daily don't consider it a scenic route, but I can't think of a spot along this road that isn't scenic!

Juniper Hill View 6x9in. SOLD

I was recently asked by a gallery owner if I would be interested in trading one of my small paintings for a set of pastels a 90 year old artist was ready to part with. How could I refuse? It turned out the set he gave me more than doubled what I already had and I think the honor of him choosing me, seeing my little painting hung next to well-known artists that I admire, and the feeling of encouragement I got, made for a very lopsided trade. I hope he is half as thrilled as I am. This little painting, "Juniper Hill Loop" is the first one I've made using some of the new pastels.

Mountain Climbing Clouds, Switzerland 6x9in. SOLD

These sunset clouds were moving rapidly up the side of the Eiger in Switzerland when I was there in September. This scene alone would have been amazing enough, but all around were beautiful green foothills and gingerbread houses with window boxes overflowing with flowers. That's a moment that is unlikely to escape my memory!

Southwest Holiday 6 x 9in $200 Framed

I have painted these church arches in Old Town Albuquerque several times and just love the way the sun streams into the breezeway. This time the arches are decorated for the holidays.

Red Door 6 x 9in. $165 Framed

I love the adobe buildings of New Mexico, but usually the doors and trim are painted blue. This building had a red door and trim which caught my attention and seemed to fit the holiday theme.

Highs Below Freezing 9" x 21" unframed $375

Here's a scenario I love...I'm in my kitchen cooking dinner, I look out my front windows and see the late day light, clouds and mountains combine to create another perfect scene for a painting. This happened last week and this is the painting I was itching to finish!

Catalina Cove 14 X 14in unframed size

What a treat to use blues and greens I rarely get to use. This scene of water and boats is unusual for me, but so much fun to paint. I spotted this scene on a trip to Catalina Island this summer.

Yucca in Winter 6 X 9in $165 framed

It seems like a contradiction to have palm-like plants growing where is snows, but these three yucca plants are just around the corner. I've been eyeing them for a painting for quite a while and finally got around to it!

Cliff Hanger 7.5in X 13in SOLD

This view is from my early morning drive along the south rim of the Grand Canyon. I contemplated this painting for months, trying to figure out whether the river or the lone rock should take center stage. A nice problem to have. The Grand Canyon is so rich in subjects!

Ordering 12X16 in. Unframed

For this painting, I broke my rule of not painting a place where I haven't stood. From a borrowed photo that I couldn't resist, came this painting of a cafe/market scene from Interlaken, Switzerland. I was in Switzerland 14 years ago and will be there again next week, so maybe the self-imposed rule is only partially broken. The brilliant yellow umbrellas just had to be painted though!

First Light 21.5 x 12.5 in.

This is the image I had in my mind when I returned to the Grand Canyon this spring. It was just a matter of finding a spot that matched my imagination and getting there early enough in the morning to capture it. I loved the challenge of painting the distant canyon in combination with the very close chunk of yellow rock.

Teamwork 16 x 21in. SOLD

This painting I started as a demo piece for the Pastel Society of New Mexico. I started it before the demo and had to hold myself back from completing it so I could show the audience how I can create dust and clouds without disturbing lower layers of pastel. The scene is of a mule train coming up a trail in the Grand Canyon when I was hiking out this spring. We had to squeeze against the rocky cliff rather than the edge of the trail just in case a mule bumped us.

Green Reprieve 14" x 14" $400 unframed

This image is the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near Phantom Ranch. It was late in the day when the air temperatures finally dipped into the low 100s!! Any water was a welcome reprieve.

Inside Angel 20 x 28 inches $700 unframed

This painting is much larger than the small ones I've been posting, but it's the first painting from a very special trip into the Grand Canyon. I was lucky enough to be able to hike with a group last month for three days. On the way out, we took the Bright Angel trail. Between huffing and puffing, I was able to snap off some photos that will inspire paintings for months, including this one!