This painting, Paisels, wears a hand-painted frame with a gold lining that carries the paisley motif of the painting. Like the painting, it shows gold highlights.
Paisels and its frame made their public debut at Wendy Nylen's Gallery in Westport, CT on July 11, 2011. 

The design on this tablecloth originated with a design from another painting, "Sergio's Dahlias." (See below) I liked the way the curved checks gave movement to the painting. The chrysanthemums in the "Sergio's Dahlias" also inspired the imaginary flowers in Floodles III in the way that their leaves and petals seem to dance.
All the designs in the purple checks are square-based, and all the designs in the dark blue square are circle-based, none of them alike.
I hand painted the frame for this painting, with alternate square- and circle-based metallic gold paint. You'll find metallic gold highlights all over this painting. They don't show so much in a  photograph, but add dazzle to the real-life version.

This painting originated when I spotted some heirloom tomatoes on a plate. The tomatoes fit in so well with the design of the plate, it seemed they were one whole.

I painted Floodles (oil on canvas, 24" x 30"), along with Paisels expressly for the Thai Basil show in Greenwich. Danny, the owner, was so welcoming and enthusiastic about showing my paintings in his restaurant. But the prime places for display were the two large plate-glass windows facing the street. Alas, most of my paintings were small.

This was the first time in my life I experienced a painting emergency, since these windows called for larger works and there was less than one month for me to fill the quota. I designed two paintings and then painted in stolen moments. I painted in a restaurant while waiting for the installation of new tires. I painted in a lobby while waiting for someone behind schedule. The day before the show, my friend Lynn helped me choose frames and frame the paintings.

I don't know how the rest of the world feels about these paintings, but when I told the waiters at Thai Basil that I'd designed the paintings especially for the restaurant, they were very pleased.

I painted this painting in response to a show on Greenwich Avenue. Thai Basil will exhibit my paintings, and because the restaurant features two large picture windows, I'm painting two larger works (24" by 30" on the vertical.)

Some of my fellow artists noted this style as different from most of my other paintings. It seems my style has shifted. I'm no longer painting irises or asters or sunflowers, but spirals and cones, tubes and circles. And while these flowers could exist, they come partly from my imagination.

Paisley is one of my favorite designs, and the fun of painting these designs is making every paisel different.

This photograph of "Self-Portrait at Wendy's Gallery" (oil on canvas 14 x 18) is a little darker than the original work.

I drew and painted this portrait at (you guessed right) at Wendy's Gallery. What you see surrounding me is the frame of a mirror and surrounding that you can see paintings and other objects. 

Joe Provey, one of the original BRAWG members, teased me about this self-portrait, as he likes to do. However, I don't remember what he thought was so funny.

This painting will be on exhibit this fall at the "Goddesses" exhibit in Westport, CT. This is not to say that I consider myself a goddess. On the other hand, I wouldn't say the opposite either.

I sketched these  brilliant flowers at the Westport Farmer's Market, in Westport, Connecticut and then painted them later in my studio. (Market Flowers, oil on canvas, 11 x 14) I like to forget about color rules when I paint, and let the colors play amongst themselves. You can see how "ugly" colors contributes to some of the most interesting combinations.

Markets have always interested me because of their lively and friendly atmosphere. I especially enjoy this market because of the beautiful, fresh, organic produce which comes from nearby farms. The Friends of Hall Brooke will display this painting at their annual art show.

This painting, Cloudy Day at Greenwich Point (oil on canvas, 11 x 14) comes from a sketch of Greenwich Point. I like it because the movement of the clouds and the branches and the waves reflect the windiness of the day. 

The Friends of Hall Brooke will exhibit this painting at their annual juried art show in Westport, CT, May 7th and 8th.

Here's the sister painting (oil on canvas 11 x 14) for Un Beau Jour a la Plage. I started this one on Compo Beach, Westport, CT last summer and finished it in my studio in Trumbull. More than my other paintings, it could almost pass for a stained glass window.

The Friends of Hall Brooke will exhibit this painting at their Annual Art Show In Westport, CT the weekend of May 7th and 8th.

I painted this colorful little painting (oil on canvas, 11 x 14) on Compo Beach, Westport. Often, I sketch on location and return to my studio to finish the piece. On this occasion, my artist friend, Lynn Pritchard, and I packed a lunch and headed to the beach to paint for the day. I completed most of this painting outdoors on the beach. Half the fun was chatting with the curious children and answering their endless questions.

You'll see similar themes in many of my paintings; people getting together and enjoying themselves. I like to see paintings where I can imagine myself in the scene; it brings an element of joy to my life. After our record cold and snowy Connecticut winter, this particular painting, and its sister painting (up tomorrow) looks very appealing to my cabin-bound self!