Friday, December 29, 2006


"Watercolor Figures Walking Guy in New York City"

Another from our trip - how amazing it is! Most interesting was the taxi drive. Our driver was telling us how in preparation for the Big Apple Celebration city workers have begun to weld the manhole covers closed and will remove anything normally loose on the street such as post office boxes. 29,000 Police officers will be among the 1 and 1/2 million people in Times Square on new Year's Eve. It is not a little event here!

Everybody is in a hurry to get somewhere, but when you are at a stop light that turns red, you had better stop. Teaching our daughter to look for the little walking guy to give us the okay to walk has been a treat.

watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper
4" x 6"

Thursday, December 28, 2006



Watercolor Painting News Stand Figures

I am in my favorite city in the world - NEW YORK CITY! We spent the day touring and seeing the sights. I have not counted the images I collected, but here is one of the last ones taken and the first to be painted. I love New York! There is no city like it.

Today we walked 5th and 6th Avenues - soooo many people and so crowded. It is really a wonder we were able to move at all. But exciting nontheless. This image comes from a news stand on 5th Ave. Always a line.

Watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper. 4" x 6".

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Xmas Decorations Still Life acrylic and color stix

This is on 12" x 12" white drawing paper. Quite fun really. Stain the paper with a fine layer or two of acrylic paint. then work in dense saturate technique to complete the drawing on the dried stained ground. Sometime working in this way allows you to react to the ground, while other times it simply helps to affect your overall tonal quality.
Either way, sure is fun to play with color!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Watercolor Painting Still Life Meeting Coats #5


I think I am becoming more aware of the subtle effects a little extra color can give a painting.

5" x 7" watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.

For Sale.

$75.00 ($6.00 for shipping) matted and framed.

Monday, December 18, 2006



watercolor in progress....it has been that kind of week. No studio time until today for the past four or five days.

I did get out there today, however, and began work on two larger watercolor still life paintings in my draped series. It feels good to be back.

This painting will be finished tomorrow. My head is in a weird place though. We will see where it leads me, I mean the painting because my head is not leading me anywhere but auto pilot getting through my students' exams this week. Grading ,grading, grading is where I will be if it is not finished.

Friday, December 15, 2006



Oil on Linen Still Life Two Draped Scarves

10" x 10" oil on linen still life painting.

Not all of the richness of color is coming through in this photo. I will have to redo the photo when I can get outside and use natural light.

It has not been a painting week. We have had some family crisis. Getting ready for exams at school. Crazy. Just plain crazy. I actually can not wait to escape to my studio tomorrow morning in order to get into my new shipment of canvases that came in this week. Five boxes of them! Yippee!

I will put this up for sale when I have a better photo of it.

Thanks for looking!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Watercolor Still Life Meeting Coats #4


5" x 7" watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.



For Sale.


Matted and Framed.


$75.00 (+$6.00 for shipping)


Monday, December 11, 2006

Watercolor Meeting Coats #3 Still Life Painting.


Here is the third in my series of watercolors, sixth in the series of draped still life paintings. I am thoroughly enjoying the sense of peace from these paintings. This is another coat from the Meeting house that was left behind. By whom? I don't know. This one has not been there too long, it may actually be gone now. So we might wonder where it next has traveled? I hope the painting can speak for itself.



5" x 7" watercolor on 140 lb Strathmore cold press paper.



For Sale. Matted and Framed.


$75.00 (+$6.00 sor shipping)


Sunday, December 10, 2006



Landscape: Misty Morning Through the Woods

Softs shades and glazes were used to create this painting in watercolor. Morning light shing through the trees even in the beginning of winter helps to warm one's soul.

5" x 5" Watercolor on Rives paper.

For sale. Matted and framed.

$65.00 (+ $6.00 for shipping)

Saturday, December 09, 2006



Watercolor Painting Opened Pomegranate Still Life


One of my students brought in directions on how to cut, open and eat a pomegranate. I never had. So, we drew and painted it. The painting may be small, but the experience feels large.

5" x 5" watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.


For Sale. Matted and framed.
$65.00 (+ $6.00 for shipping)

Friday, December 08, 2006



Red Flower Watercolor Painting

5" x 7" watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.

For Sale. Matted and framed.

$65.00 (+6.00 for shipping)

Thursday, December 07, 2006



Red Tomatoes On The Vine Watercolor Painting

Can not do just one...Again I used watercolors, watercolor crayons and pencil. Tried to work with lightening the ground in this one. I think there is more volume to the fruit.

5" x 7" watercolor, watercolor crayon and pencil on Strathmore 140lb cold press paper.

For Sale. Matted and framed.

$75.00 (+6.00 for shipping)

Wednesday, December 06, 2006


One Big Red Tomato Watercolor Painting

I tried something fun and differen today. I used a combination of watercolors, pencil and watercolor crayons. The colors are more intense and richer than I usual get with my usual methods. It is easier to find the Light with these denser colors.

5" x 7" watercolor, watercolor crayons, and pencil on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.

For sale. Matted and framed.
$75.00 (+6.00 for shipping)

Tuesday, December 05, 2006


Still Life of Meeting Coats Watercolor Painting
Who fills these things? Where are the people? Why are these items left behind? So much can be told about a person, or wondered about the person who might now be chilly without their coat.
Part of my series...draped things including dish towels, scarves and coats.
5" x 7" watercolor on 140 lb Strathmore cold press paper.
For sale matted and framed.
contact me if you would like the price.
Thank you for looking at my work.

Monday, December 04, 2006



Still Life of Meeting Coats 1 Watercolor Painting

I think about place. I think about environment. I think often of how I feel in a given place. Is that place calm or chaotic? Can I find peace where I am? What story do these places have to tell when evidence of life is there, but no people are there to help fill the space. Is it silent?

Can we live with silence?

I love silence. I love to sit in Quaker Meeting and listen.

This series tells a story. But the viewer has to fill in the blanks. The viewer has to wonder and ask their own questions.

5" x 7" Watercolor on 140 lb cold press Strathmore paper.

For Sale. Matted and framed.

$75.00 (+6.00 for shipping)

Sunday, December 03, 2006


Challenge Egg Watercolor Painting

What fun! Thanks for the invitation to be a part of something bigger than myself, fellow Gallery Bloggers! I really liked the hour spent painting this cracked up egg.

4" x 6" watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.

For Sale. Matted and framed.

$75.00 (+$6.00 for shipping)

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Watercolor Painting Mother Sheep With Lambs

I love sheep. I love to visit with them in their meadows and barns. They are sometimes very shy. Funny.
I love to spin and weave and knit. There is something quite beautiful about a mother sheep with her labs.
5" x 5" watercolor and ink on Rives paper.
For Sale. Matted and Framed.
$65.00 (+$6.00 for shipping)

Friday, December 01, 2006


Watercolor Painting Herd of Sheep

Yet another quick painting. These sheep paintings are coming from a series of photos that my husband and I have taken.

5" x 5" watercolor and ink on Rives paper

For Sale. Matted and framed.

$65.00 (+$6.00 for shipping)

Thursday, November 30, 2006



Watercolor Painting Some Sheep in a Meadow

Okay, the dentist thing, not good. My mouth still hurts from yesterday. So...more happy thoughts of happy things, hence, more sheep.

5" x 5" watercolor and ink on Rives paper.

For Sale

Matted and framed.

$65.00 (+$6.00 for shipping)

Wednesday, November 29, 2006






Watercolor Painting Sheep By The River


I had to visit the dentist today - not fun. I love that song from the Sound of Music, "I simply remember a few of my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad..." I love sheep, I love spinning and weaving and knitting too. So, in my pain, I painted sheep.


5" x 5" watercolor and ink pen on Rives paper.


For sale. SOLD

Tuesday, November 28, 2006



Oil Painting Dish Towel Still Life

I am working on the series I talked about with the posting of Toni's Scarves. Here is a single dish towel sort of being swept by a little breeze. My aim is to capture a quiet place telling a story of the work that has already been done or the work that needs to be done. Again, simple setting. Quiet place.

10" x 10" oil on stretched linen.

For sale. Framed. Please email for sales.

Monday, November 27, 2006



Oil Painting Dried Gords Still Life

Painting in neutral tones has been a good exercise for me. I am able to find more light and work at the cool shadow areas. Again, for me this painting has a farm house folk feeling. An old painted wooden bowl to hold the dried gords, yet not picturing it all.

Thanks for looking!

10" x 10" oil on stretched linen.

For sale. please email for details on sales.

Sunday, November 26, 2006


Oil Painting Still Life Eggs in a bowl.

We have eggs most every morning. To me, this painting is like the familiar sounds of the morning. It has and feels like a country farm setting. I grew up in an old farm house. Some of my favorite memories are of the breakfasts we would have on the weekends when the whole family was together. Times long gone, but my husband and I see to it that our children are building such memories.



Thanks for looking in.



6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas.



For sale. please email. SOLD

Saturday, November 25, 2006


Oil Painting Lemons and Limes Still Life



6"x 6"Oil on stretched canvas.



For Sale.



this item is for sale on ebay. click: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280054878542&rd=1&rd=1

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Oil Painting Still Life Toni's Scarves


In honor of my friend and colleague, this painting is complete. My friend Toni is an amazing weaver and fiber artist. This painting is inspired by her. Actually, a whole series might now emerge. Quiet places where I might find the simple articles of clothing hanging. At our Meeting, for example, we always have a couple jackets and hats left behind. Months go by and we still see them. There's a painting waiting to be done. I have seen others' do paintings of clothing, without the people in them. Quiet. Leaving us guessing as to what went on before that very moment where we as the viewers come in. Like all paintings, we have a story to tell. Mine will continue to be the Light and atmosphere in those places. Quiet places.



16" x 20" oil on stretched canvas. NFS yet.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Oil Painting Pumpkins on a Shelf Still Life

I worked all weekend on this one. It was great to be back in the studio after my extremely busy week last week. I am trying to work at finding the Light in the paintings still, however, with this one, I am also layering colors and working with the ground.

10" x 10" oil on stretched linen.

For Sale. contact me by email. THANKS!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Oil Painting Still Life Two more Pomegranates.

I was excited about this one. Finally started to get more of a shadow happening in it. Its bigger than what I have been painting. I ordered five boxes of the 6x6 canvases, but they have not come in yet. So, I am using these 10x10s. So much more space to deal with suddenly. Really fun stuff.

10" x 10" oil on stretched linen.

For Sale. please email me.

Saturday, November 18, 2006



Watercolor Painting One Large Pomegranate.

I have been waiting for this one to dry, then realized I could take a digital picture of it since it is a bit larger than the other paintings I have been doing. I am still searching for the light in the paintings. Not too sure I got it with this one, but I do like the image, so it will be okay for now. I will post the painting that came after this one tomorrow.

10" x 10" stretched linen

For sale; please email.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006



Watercolor Painting Still Life Two Oak Leaves.

My daughter was home sick today. We did art together after a long nap. Two oak leaves fell onto the deck outside the kitchen and I uesed them as today's painting in watercolor.

4 1/2" x 4 1/2 " Watercolor on Rives paper.

Matted and Framed.

For Sale.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006



Daily Painting: pears from my sketchbook.

Somedays I only have time to work in my sketchbook. Today was one of those days. At least I have the sketchbook forever at my side.

6 1/2 " x 6 1/2" in my sketchbook.

mixed media - watercolor ground, color pencil and color stix.

NFS

Monday, November 13, 2006

Watercolor painting Poppies.

I went back into this painting with graphite. I like doing that actually. Sometimes when I feel a part of the painting could use more definition or I just want the combination of drawing and painting, I like working into the painting with more drawing.

4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Watercolor on Rives Paper. Matted and framed. Ready for shipment.

For sale.

Sunday, November 12, 2006



Oil Painting Still Life Pomegranate.

I am now doing two other paintings of this pomagranate, the others are on 10x 10 canvasas. This one is a 6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas.

For sale.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Where did Thursday and Friday go? No painting here? No. I had parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday night - at school from 6:50am until 9:15pm. I was exhausted when I returned home. I went out to my studio to smell the paint, then went to bed.

Friday? Great day, 77* when I came home from school, but Molly had a friend come over. and life got in the way.

So, thoughts on painting...Now that I have missed two days of painting, I feel almost lost. It has become such a part of life since my pledge to paint everyday, like breathing. Painting and breathing? Yes. If you paint with a passion, then you understand fully what I mean. How then can life get in the way? Well, I put my painting off for so long, life got in the way all the time. It is easy to slip. But, there is always the return. And not making myself feel so guilty over what simply has to take priorty. Maybe two days will bring a freshness to the new work yet to be done.

...I will breath tomorrow, after I get some well deserved sleep.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Watercolor Painting Poppy Still Life

Here is another done from the poppies that sit on a table in my art room at school.

Watercolor on 300lb cold press Arches.

4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Matted and Framed.

For Sale.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006




Watercolor Painting Ghost Pumpkin #2 Still Life

There are days when I do not have the time to get into the studio. Yesterday was one of them. I painted this pumpkin while my daughter had her playdate. Its actually fun to bounce back and forth from oils to watercolors.

5" x 7" matted. watercolor on 140lb cold press.

For sale. matted.

Monday, November 06, 2006


Daily Painting. Pear number two.

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas.

For sale.

Sunday, November 05, 2006



Daily Painting: sliced open pear.

What fun to paint. This painting just happened - and quite fast. I laid the ground, and painted the pear. Came back to it the next afternoon and finished it. I love pears. There is something about their share that is comfortable.

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas. For Sale.

Saturday, November 04, 2006



Daily Painting: Leaf.

Here, I did all of my underpainting first then choose the color and the image in reation to the ground. I am still working at looking for that light source.

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas.

For Sale.

Friday, November 03, 2006



Daily painting. Handspun Angora.

There may be too much white paint in this, but that's okay really. I spin and weave. This angora came from the first batch of yarn spun from my own angora bunny. Its what remains from a hat my husband knit for his mom. When she was a young girl growing up in Philadelphia, she remembered having a white angora hat - a berret. Now the yarn ball sits on a shelf in my studio reminding me of her softness and gentle qualities - just like the yarn itself.

6"x 6" oil on stretched canvas. For Sale

Thursday, November 02, 2006



Daily Painting Watercolor

Ghost Pumpkin. I have been painting in oils so much lately, I got my watercolors out just for a little change. Refreshing really because it is dry within such a short time. I think I will do a whole series of small pumpkin watercolors.

4" x 6" watercolor on 140 lb. Strathmore.

For sale.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006



Daily Painting: Strawberry.

This took forever to dry - and it is still not fully there.

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas. Will be for sale.

Monday, October 30, 2006



Daily Painting: Shell.

Someone in the Daily Painter's Gallery said shells are hard to paint. This is my first one, I agree. Not easy. I struggled with too much white looking too flat. I love collecting shells on the beach when we go. I could spend hours combing the beach for treasures. I will spend more hours painting them as time goes on. Thanks for looking!

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas. for sale.

Friday, October 27, 2006



Daily painting. Garlic.

Wow, lots of white paint. Lots of time to dry. I think it is a good idea to work with lights. I had fun working with this, although much harder than I thought it would be. Funny, I was out of white paint and got some more, and my husband's comment about this was, "wow, you are using your new white paint."

6"x 6"oil on stretched canvas. For sale.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006



Daily Painting. View of Mt. Washington from West Farm Road.

We lived in New Hampshire for eleven years. It is an amazingly beautiful place, cold in the winter, but breathtaking. Across from where we spent much of our time, there is a clearing. A wonderful open space that provides a gorgeous view of Mt. Washington. A couple I know was married on this very spot. I suspect I will paint more of this.

6"x 6" oil on stretched canvas. For sale.



Daily Painting. Oak Leaf.

Our oak trees are going wild this year. What a messy tree. The leaves and acorns cover the steps leading from the deck to the studio - they are covering everything for that matter!

6"x6" oil on canvas. For sale.

Monday, October 23, 2006


Daily Painting. Pear.

Do you ever put off doing something and then just give up your arguement with yourself and just do it anyway? I have not had my oil paints out for about thirteen years. I have been wrestling with this for sometime. Finally, last Thursday, I just went out and bought seven little 6x6 inch canvases. Promising myself to paint everyday. I do paint everyday, but not in oil. I can't stop now. Driven to paint I am. It is so not important what it is that I paint, so long as I can move the brush and use my eyes.

Here is the result of the first painting. Painting everyday, but not always completing a painting. Three more are on the way, two are done but need to dry. How do people photograph the little wet paintings? Mine are taking several days to dry. The flash on the camera created too much glare, so I scanned this one. For sale. Thanks for looking at my work!

Saturday, October 21, 2006



Daily painting: Mosaic Man.

I have painted this three times. This in the second one, the third is on the way - and bigger. I keep feeling lost with it. I get it going and then feel I loose it wih light. It feels too muddy or something. In the third one I am using masking fluid to maintain the lights. We'll see how it goes. I love the image though. He is in Philadelphia, so it part of the Phili series I am working on. Let me know what you think. Thanks for looking.

Friday, October 20, 2006


Daily painting October 20, 2006.

I spent two hours with this painting today. Simply wash over wash. Two women whom I am in contact with and admire posed for this. Thank you both. I am trying to capture the exchange of one person with another. A quiet time. This painting is a watercolor, 9"h x 8"w on Arhces
300 lb. cold press. This painting is for sale. please email. Thanks.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Watercolor painting - west farm road

This is one of three paintings on the easel this week. I am working from several photos that were taken while we lived in New Hampshire. This is a field and a barn not far from where we lived that I walked past everyday. I am using a wash technique - layer upon layer of color building up to create my light source and shadow areas. I am painting on 300lb Arches which is a half sheet - 14"x21".

If you go to my other site:
http://simplypainting.blogspot.com you will be able to see this painting completed. I am very excited about this one because I feel I have done a lot of learning and growing through this painting. Beginning to feel as tough a light direction is the key to helping my paintings feel less flat, as well as less pasty.
Thanks for looking!

Friday, October 13, 2006

watercolor painting: October 13: pear

Rick, I did eat this organic pear for lunch, but painted it first. Pears have always been a comfortable shape to paint. 4x6 inches 140 lb. Strathmore. Yes, this painting is for sale...
watercolor painting: Poppies

My colleague put poppies on the table at the head of our classroom. I started this painting while my students focused on their work. I completed it at home in my studio. 4x6 inches, 140 Strathmore paper. Yes, it is for sale...SOLD