Violet Marsh Four

5x7 mixed media on paper. Another "Violet Marsh". I have been working on some larger - 17x23 - paintings of these this week. I will post the first of them next week. The abstract landscapes are the most restful pieces that I do. I usually work in groups with the same style or theme when I want to relax and just let things flow. I don't always have the mental energy to do my more intricate abstract pieces. My husband is always after me to do more "cityscapes", which are his favorites. I tell him that I am too tired after working with the horses and walking the 4 dogs to do them! And then I have to do the laundry, prepare dinner etc. The work never ends does it?

Teal in the City Two

8x10 watercolor with pastel and charcoal on paper. I LOVE these colors! I have always loved teal, but I didn't always find the right color to go with it. The gold or ochre is what I think really compliments it best.

Temecula Valley Hills One

10x14 acrylic with pastel and charcoal on paper. This piece has a lot of color in it! Hope you like it. I really have so much fun doing abstract landscapes. They are easier than my geometrics abstracts. I suppose I shouldn't tell you that - but it is true. These pieces come flowing out of me, I don't have to think that much, because they are not a puzzle like the geometrics.

Pink in the City Four

8x10 watercolor with pastel on paper. I really enjoy the colors in this piece. I have done several of these and I always am happy with how the colors work together.

Violet Marsh Three

5x7 acrylic with pastel on paper. Another "violet marsh". I really love this color combination. I am planning on doing several of these in a larger size, probably 16x22 or so. Maybe I'll do all of them! We'll see! I never seem have enough time to do all that I want to do - sound familiar!

Canyon Sunrise

10x14 watercolor with pastel and charcoal on paper. I have so much fun doing these with all the charcoal line. I guess it reminds me of art as a kid. I love to scribble. I would rather draw than paint - so I guess it's probably good that I am a mixed media artist instead of an oil painter!

Windy Desert Three

10x14 watercolor with pastel and charcoal on paper. I really enjoy doing these "Windy Desert" paintings. I like to work really fast sometimes. These are done especially so! I would argue that artwork doesn't have to be a result of hours of work. Watercolor and drawing media lend themselves to fast work. Watercolor, in particular, is also very unforgiving. You can't work it over easily to correct or redo areas of the painting. Even though this type of work is fast, it is still planned and thought does go into it! Whew! I didn't intend for this to be an art lecture! But, I do believe that there are misconceptions about art media. Oil painting and watercolor are both wonderful, but they take different approaches.

Southwest Cityscape Two

10x14 mixed media on paper. OK! This really is bright. I got carried away with so many colors! I then added dots and lines - who knows where they all came from, but it ended up being a fun piece I think! I added the blue circle as the focal point, because it got a bit crazy!

Teal in the City

8x10 watercolor with pastel on paper. Isn't teal a cool color? I can't believe I haven't used this color more often. That's all going to change now! I really like it in combination with tan or gold.

Drive to the Finish

10x14 mixed media on paper. I tried, again, to capture the power and excitement of Thoroughbreds. I have been around Thoroughbreds for most of my life, and they really are tremendous athletes. Whether you like racing or not, the horses are beautiful and compelling.