Iridescent- Linkin Park

Iridescent- Linkin Park..6x6 Oil on gessobord. The challenge this week is a tea cup. My mom has been saving this cup with the lily of the valley on it for years. I took it with me to Williston to paint it. I was going to put tea in it  but I discovered it has a hairline crack!!! Oops...Maybe I did that in the move or transporting???  I love the iridescence of it; was difficult to get that. 

Here is the music

Check out my Etsy Store

I put some of the Artwalk Paintings on MontanaTess Etsy site... Check them out.

Rockin Around The Christmas Tree- Brenda Lee

Rockin Around The Christmas Tree- Brenda Lee

8x8 Canvas Board. 

Painted for the DailyPaintworks Challenge this week. Supposed to be abstract, but this was all the abstract I could manage. Been awhile since I have been at the easel and it felt so good!!!! All moved in to the new place and ready to roll for the upcoming 30 in 30 with Leslie Saeta in January.

Here is the music

For You Blue- The Beatles

For You Blue- The Beatles. 12x12 on Gallery wrapped Canvas. Here is another of my metallic primed canvases. I left the background the silver this time. I love how this bunny turned blue! Because your sweet and lovely!!!

Here is the music

This is one for the ARTwalk this Friday. 5-9 p.m at Limber Tree Yoga Studio at 

2710 First Ave N, Billings, Mt.

WOOLY BULLY by SAM THE SHAM & THE PHARAOHS

Wooly Bully- Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs...........Love it. My exploration of painting on a metallic background. 

Here is the music

The costumes of the band slay me! Haha

Todays work

I have been working, just haven't posted. My bad!

Itchycoo Park- Small Faces

Itchycoo Park- Small Faces. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. I painted this plein air this spring with my cohort Susan out at Spring Lake Park, one of the times we did get out to paint! Love this song. Naming my paintings with song titles has really given me some aha moments. Today while watching this video on youtube, I thought the lead singer looked familiar....well yes, its Steve Marriott...the same lead singer for Humble Pie... Another one of my favorite bands. Cool! I am getting an education about rock and roll!

and.... here is the music!

Happy Together- The Turtles

Happy Together- The Turtles. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. And finally my favorite. Floating on a branch over the water....precariously... 

Here is the music

Family Affair- Sly & The Family Stone

Family Affair- Sly & The Family Stone. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. Here is the second one in the nest series for the WaterWorks in Miles City. These were super fun to do. I painted the all together on the same day. I figured they would all be similar then....and they are!

Here is the music..

From The Beginning- Emerson Lake and Palmer

From The Beginning- Emerson Lake and Palmer. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. This is one of a series of nests for the Art Squared Exhibit at the WaterWorks Museum in Miles City. Super fun to do!

Here is the music

Happy Trails- Van Halen

4x6" Oil on Canvas Board. Sneak peek of my submission for the Miniature Show at WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City!

Here is the Music

Cupcakes!

Its all about sweet! as in Sweet Emotion- Aerosmith. 

Here is the music

6x6 on Gessobord. 

The Sweetest Thing- U2 6x6 Oil on Gessobord

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and last but not least....my favorite

The Sweet Escape- Gwen Stefani

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

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Who's That Girl?- Eurythmics

Update! Decided this morning the background was BORING! Added some design! What do you think?

Who's That Girl?- Eurythmics. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. Another one for the challenge! 

Here is the music

Just A Girl- No Doubt

Just A Girl- No Doubt. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. Here is another one for the challenge. 

Here is the music!

Uptown Girl- Billy Joel

Uptown Girl- Billy Joel. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week is "Party Dress." Not exactly a party dress but still a cute little ensemble! I found this photo on the morgue file and thought it so sweet. There were a group of three very similar dressed. 

Here is the music!

When We Stand Together- Nickelback

When We Stand Together- Nickelback. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge on Daily Paintworks this week is weird or irregular shadows. I thought of this immediately! My friend Susan had seen these beautiful poppies at a home in Williston, North Dakota. We stopped and asked permission to take a few photos of her beautiful flowers. She was very eager to stop and chat; and even show us her beautiful garden beyond the fence. 

Here is the music

Sultans of Swing- Dire Straits

Sultans of Swing- Dire Straits. 20x20 Canvas. The challenge this week is something related to school starting. I saw this image on the morge file and loved the shadows. Not as easy as I thought it would be! Yikes, it never is:) Anywhoo, I am very happy with the results.

Here is the music

Canon Rock- Jerry C

Canon Rock- Jerry C..24x12 Wrapped Gallery Canvas. I have been painting a lot, just have not been posting! The inspiration for this painting was a trip to Cannon Beach , Oregon last year in October. I wanted to go to the beach so bad to get my ocean fix we convinced our relatives to go with us. It was cold and foggy and I totally loved it! 

Here is the music...which ROCKS!

Gimme Some Lovin'- The Spencer Davis Group

Gimme Some Lovin'- The Spencer Davis Group. 8x8 Gessobord. The 30 Paintings in 30 Days started today, so here is number 1. Another one for the Billings ArtWalk. Photo by Casey Page of the Billings Gazette. For every painting sold during the ArtWalk, I will donate a portion to the Billings Animal Rescue Kare. It is a good cause:)

Here is the music... The Blues Brothers also recorded this.

Everyday People- Sly and The Family Stone

Everyday People- Sly and The Family Stone. 6x6 Gessobord. I have had to take my pics with my iPad as we have been on the road for three weeks, so not as good as usual. The challenge this week on daily paintworks is the crowd challenge. Ugh. This was very difficult. I worked the faces to death. My people skills( haha) are a bit to be desired. I finally arrived at something that I thought I could live with. I love the lady in the front...the lavender bag and the orange shoes! What! Here is the music. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3JvkaUvB-ec

Hate To Say I Told You So- The Hives

Hate To Say I Told You So- The Hives.. 6x6 oil on Gessobord. This weeks challenge is a cows! I have been wanting to paint them for awhile! For this one I covered my board with a burnt sienna wash, drew on my cows and then wiped out the white areas. Then I let it dry overnight. The next day I mixed my shadow colors and tried not to muddy up the colors putting them on. I am really happy with the way it turned out! Here is the music...which is a really good song! 

The Ocean- Led Zeppelin

The Ocean- Led Zeppelin-6x6 on Gessobord. The challenge this week on Daily Paintworks is seaside. Carol Marine provided this fabulous pic of these cliffs. I loved the shadow the cliffs cast on the sand. 

Here is the music. 

Wildflower- JaneDear Girls

Wildflower- JaneDear Girls 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week is wildflowers. I could use the photo provided or use one of my own. I liked the purple so decided to use this one. We moved this week and it was a challenge getting my studio...uh..extra bedroom ready to go again, but finally am ready to go. Tried to do this fast and loose!

Here is the music

When the Music's Over- The Doors

When The Music's Over- The Doors  6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week is "Summer Challenge." I took this pic recently of the fabulous planter at the James Memorial Art Center in Williston, North Dakota. What a wonderful and creative way to upcycle an old piano. Summer is in full swing!

Here is the music. 

Different paths for featured JMAC artists - Community - Williston Daily Herald

Different paths for featured JMAC artists - Community - Williston Daily Herald

Oh Well- Fleetwood Mac

Oh Well- Fleetwood Mac 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. 

The challenge this week is paint "The Free to be Me Challenge." Well I love to paint and I love the ocean....seems like the ocean refreshes me....renews me....It is easy to forget about everything. Oh well. It is mesmerizing! I will always take my shoes off and have to get my feet wet! 

Here is the music

skip the ad!

Small Town- John Mellencamp

Small Town- John Mellencamp 8x10 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week on DPW's is "The 123 - ABC Challenge". We took this photo in Miles City, Montana, didn't go into the bar, but now wishin we had! Such history. The challenge is to make it painterly...not exact. I hope I'm there!

Here is the music

Fisherman's Blues- The Waterboys

Fisherman's Blues- The Waterboys. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week is reflections. The photo supplied was so fabulous I couldn't resist!!! It is so good to be back at the easel after my vacation. To open my paintbox and get a big ole whiff of my paints was heaven!!! Even though they were all dried up:) Found this song (which kinda reminds me of Bob Dylan) but it is perfect!

Here is the music

Sunny Afternoon- The Kinks

Sunny Afternoon- The Kinks. 8x8 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week on DailyPaintworks is windows. This is a pic of a window in Antigua, Guatemala. I took hundreds of pictures of these fabulous window boxes all over town. I never will get tired of the window boxes. 

Here is the music

Somebody's Watching Me- Rockwell

Somebody's Watching Me- Rockwell. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week is to paint something green. We recently went to the Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, South Dakota, this guy...(I think it is some kind of iguana, sat so patiently and just stared at us when we passed him. I really liked his colors! I changed the background 6 times on this one. Finally settled on this.

Get the music here

I always thought Michael Jackson wrote and performed this. But after investigating found he only sang the chorus and back up. Interesting:)

Sweet Dreams- Eurythmics

Sweet Dreams- Eurythmics 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. I just love little hummingbirds, how they flit around always looking for nectar. Do you suppose they think of it even in their dreams???

I love this song by the Eurythmics toooo!

Listen here

Born To Run- Bruce Springsteen

Born To Run- Bruce Springsteen. 8x8 Oil on Linen Sourcetek Panel. The challenge this week is paint a splash. Thanks to the Morgue file I found this wonderful photo. His chocolate fur and the color of that tennis ball is fabulous! Plus the great splash in the water...he was surely born to run!

Enjoy the music here

Bailando- Enrique Iglesias

Bailando- Enrique Iglesias...8x8 Oil on Gessobord. This was painted for the challenge by Carol Marine this week. Mix two darks...one really dark and the other a bit lighter. Only use the really dark in the foreground, leaving the other dark for to let the background recede. I did exactly that. I mixed alot of the background colors with a little of the charcoal color to wash them out in the background. I think it works.

This is a little village in Guatemala. Solola. It is very hilly there; the street ends at Lago Atitlan. And yes, the power lines are a spider web overhead. No rules or regulations on advertising makes it almost overwhelming with color! The reason I took this photo was the Peavey sign. Who would have thought??? An amp and guitar store??? Really...And yes it was.  

Although there are no people dancing in the street, today, it is a very common sight!

Enjoy the music here 

bid here

Spill The Wine- War

Spill The Wine- War..6x6 Oil on Gessobord. I found the title for this one immediately. I originally thought the song was by the Animals, but after a little research found that the writer of this song Eric Burdon was a former member of The Animals. The Animals disbanded in 1969 and Burdon went on to join "War" in 1970. Now to have some wine! I don't think I will spill it:)

Here is the music

Bid Here

Peace of Mind- Boston 8x8 on Canvas Board. I painted this in the two hour time limit today for the challenge on Daily Paintworks. I could have quit at 1 hour and 45 minutes, but it is my tendency to fiddle fart around with it. Ughhhh. I guess I need an hour and half challenge. So I used the total 2 hours. I decided to go with the black background this time as I decided it would really make that glass pop! Glad I did. 

Here is the music

Bid Here

Dance To The Music- Sly & The Family Stone

Dance To The Music- Sly & The Family Stone..6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week on Daily Paintworks is inspired by Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, a crazy primal ballet. Paint movement and sensation. Lately I have been inspired by paisley. Popular in the 70's is making a comeback on everything from clothing to linens! Yay, I love it. The painting was inspired by just that...paisley and also a technique I remembered from Guatemala depicting dancers from above. So here it is:) Really different for me. 

Get the music here.

You gotta turn it up!!!!

I am sure somebody in the band is wearing paisley!!!

Bid Here

Seagulls

Finished......now to let it dry thoroughly, paint the edges and varnish. Then off to my niece in Washington:)  

You're My Best Friend- Queen

8x8 on Gessobord. My high school friend in Alaska sent me some of her photos of her dog. Her old friend is gone now, but not forgotten. The light in his eyes was so precious I just couldn't help but paint them!

Here is the music.

Shadow of The Day- Linkin Park

The Shadow of The Day- Linkin Park..8x8 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week is to paint shadows. I chose to do the photo provided as I really had to look hard at the photo to see if it was a photo or a painting. It had so many wonderful colors. I enjoyed throwing the color on...cause that is really what I like to do!!!! 

Here is the cool song

Tuesday Afternoon- Moody Blues

Tuesday Afternoon- Moody Blues. 8x8 on Gessobord. My friend and I set up this wonderful still life in her studio last week. I finally got around to finishing it today. The challenge for me was the upside down spoon, I must have redone it 6 times. The netting compared to the spoon was a piece of cake. We bought the old hat at an antique store. They had about 25 or so different ones to choose from. What fun! We might go back and choose another to paint.

Here is the music

The Waiting-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

The Waiting- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers...Yes...The waiting for spring and summer is the hardest part! Painting summer flowers now in late winter is therapy. I painted this for the Sunflower Challenge on Daily Paintworks. It is getting close...spring. Will it ever come???

Get the music here 

Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There is a Season)- The Byrds

Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There is a Season)- The Byrds...My friend Susan came for coffee on Wednesday and brought me these wonderful daffodils. So happy they are.....so springy. On Thursday we went to the junk store and I found this fabulous green vase. They were begging me to paint them! I am so ready for spring. I even bought a garden magazine at the grocery store just to look at the pictures!!! It has been a long winter in North Dakota:)

Here is the music.

James Memorial Local Artists

My fellow artist here in Williston, Susan Richardson and I visited our works on display down at the James Memorial Art Center today. We both took pictures........recorded for posterity...Haha. Proof we have art hanging in an art center!

Fluff- Black Sabbath

Fluff- Black Sabbath....8x8 Oil on Gessobord. Now when you think of Black Sabbath you think of heavy metal, but this song is an instrumental calming wonder. Love it. In honor of Easter coming up I decided to try this piece of fluff from the morguefile. The addition of a tiny piece of Klimt on the side adds a balance to the dark black eye. What do you think?

Listen here

I'll Follow The Sun- The Beatles

I'll Follow The Sun- The Beatles 14x11 Oil on Gessobord. Getting ready for a local art showcase at the James in Williston. Decided I needed something larger and new to submit. Tim and I stopped and took photos of the sunflower farms last summer. They are so happy and colorful....and they follow the sun!

Listen Here.

Black Coffee- Humble Pie

Black Coffee- Humble Pie. 6x6 Oil on Gessobord. Here is another colorless one. I think it will be the end. I opened my palette today, looked at the black and white paint ...and thought...okay one more. I have hauled this french press around with me for awhile. I bought it in Guatemala and had some of the freshest coffee there using it. My husband bought coffee freshly ground from a grower just a few miles away. Sooooo Good. I have been known to burst out in the morning....these lyrics..."Black Coffee. That's what I want, That's what I need." Great song....

Listen here

Make It With You- Bread

Make It With You- Bread.....6x6 Oil on Gessobord. The challenge this week on Daily Paintworks is a break from color. Anyone who has seen my paintings knows I really bump up the color...so this one was certainly a challenge! I was blocked for two days until I was in the kitchen and found this! I love, love, love, my Kitchenaid mixer. I could never do with out it. I almost titled this "I Need You." This song of course was written about something totally different. HaHa. I used Lamp Black and made 5 different grays and white. 

Listen to the music

Forever Man- Eric Clapton

Forever Man- Eric Clapton. 10"x7" Oil on SourceTek Linen Panel. Clapton sings, "Won't you be my forever woman, Ill try to be your forever man." The challenge on Daily Paintworks this week is animals that mate for life, and who doesn't like fluffy white swans? So serene and majestic. 

Here is the music

One and Only- Adele

One and Only- Adele..6x6 Oil on Gessobord. Kinda going out of my norm here with this one. I usually choose rock and roll songs....but, I think Adele is fantastic. This one took me longer than I expected, I just couldn't get the pink right. It is supposed to be a cone flower, but I am thinking I might have missed that? 

Here is the music.