Welcome to Livermore #1

My son Geoff and daughter-in-law Jenise got a sheepadoodle puppy in October. (He's adorable and ever so smart.) I painted my first pet portrait as a gift for Geoff's birthday in January. I am very pleased that my painting really looks like Brewer!

Oregon Coast wildflowers

Jamie and I loved Cape Blanco. The state park there has really nice RV sites, and there's a great hike along the coastal cliff. 

Last spring the wild irises along the cliff hike were in their glory.

Adding to the Oregon Coast Memories series

The Oregon Coast, especially the South Coast, has pristine rivers. This one culminates at Winchester Bay, one of Jamie's and my very favorite places to park our rig, fish for salmon, go Dungeness crabbing, visit with delightful people, and enjoy the views. Jamie was soooooo at peace here!

'Up the Umpqua', 8x10 watercolor on paper.

Another Oregon Coast Memory

This is one of Jamie's and my favorite views from the cliff hike at Cape Blanco State Park Oregon. I took my reference photo sitting on a park bench that was conveniently placed to just sit and watch the ocean, listen to the breezes, and relax. Jamie loved this spot and so did I --- how I miss that fella and how I miss the OR coast!

High Tide at Cape Blanco. 16 x 10 watercolor on paper

New painting!

 Fresh off the easel:

I've had a hankering to do a Dungeness Crab on Yupo for a very long time. This joins my Oregon Coast Memories series.

'Washed Up', 10x5, watercolor on Yupo.

Painting again!

Every February my friend Billie Colson sponsors a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis research at her Independence Gallery in Loveland Colorado.  The Gnomes I painted at Christmas were so much fun, I decided to do a Gnome and Gnomess, following the Rose theme, to donate this year.

I have such wonderful memories, with Jamie, of the Oregon Coast. I promised myself that I would capture favorite subjects & places and hang the series in my new apartment in Livermore CA. These will always bring a smile, often a tear, when I think of the great times Jamie and I had together and wish for them to be continuing now and for a very very long time. How I miss that guy! 

So here are the first couple: Wild White Foxglove we happened upon on a hike up the Chetco River on the South Coast, and Wild Iris on the Cliff Hike at Cape Blanco.

My son Geoff got an adorable sheepadoodle puppy in October, named him Brewer. Geoff just had a birthday and I decided to try something I'd never done before as his gift - a pet portrait. I'm happy to say it turned out pretty darned good, looks just like him.

My sister-in-law Barb Bethel was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is in the fight of her life. I painted mini Nurse Gnomess to be with her during treatment and give her courage and strength. 

Now I'm caught up with my posts. Back to the studio and another Oregon Memory!

2023 Paintings

I didn't do much painting in 2023. Here are the few I managed to crank out.

We loved camping at the South Monticello park near Elephant Butte NM. This is the view we had from our rv site. Jamie & I loved sitting here and watching all the birds on the lake.

 

Another favorite place: Cape Blanco State Park near Port Orford Oregon. 

And the ever present wild foxglove that grows everywhere along the South Oregon Coast. 

I painted miniatures to use as Christmas gift tags for family; they do double duty as tree ornaments. The Gnomes were especially fun, and very well received.

My final 2023 piece was pretty special. My daughter-in-law Jenise is a great gardener and has a masterpiece yard. This is her agave, the photo taken by Jamie many years ago when the plant was just a baby. I painted it for Jenise, from Jamie & Me --- need I say there wasn't a dry eye in the house?