Walk Along the Beach

An 8x10. Oil. This is a painting based on a photo that our daughter-in-law, Jessa, snapped with her phone during an evening walk with her beloved dog, Liea. I love this time of the evening..."The Gloaming"...the part of the day after the sun has gone down and before the sky is completely dark. That soft almost night but not quite feel to it. This is in San Sebastian, Spain. On the northern coast of Spain. Is rated as one of the best in-city beaches in Europe. A beautiful place! I loved the reflection of the city lights in the water, the look of the soft sand and the big gnarly palm tree in the foreground. Thank you Jessa for the great photograph! Thank you looking.

Psalm 34:8
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

Kent's American Flag

A 16x20. Oil. This piece I have completed for my wonderful husband, Kent. I will frame it and he wants to hang it in his office at work. He is always my biggest fan! I love it! The ripples and waves in the silk fabric of the flag are fun to do. Lights and darks, lights and darks.... Thank you for looking.

Deuteronomy 31:6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Kent

An 11x14. Oil. My third attempt at doing a portrait of Kent. Fun to do. Or is it my fourth? Loosing track. Learning alot as I go. Watched some videos online about oil painting. Amazing how the thirst for learning about art can be quenched by just turning on the computer. Love it!

Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Charles 3

An 11x14. Oil. My third try at doing a portrait of our son, Charles. This one with a full beard and smiling! And again...man-o-man, mouths are hard...especially when the teeth are showing! Anyway, always fun to do. Had fun with his hair and beard. I like the shades of color captured in the skin tones. And got that sleepy relaxed expression in the eyes. He's got a nice nose too! Thanks for looking.

Psalm 34:19
"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."

The Athlete

An 8x10. Oil. This painting is based on a photo of our son, Charles, in a relaxed pose after a hard Basketball practice in Spain. Athletes have such a natural grace to them don't they? I have enjoyed doing these portraits and figurative paintings.

Psalm 29:11
"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."

Dream Pony

An 8x10, Oil. A dreamy looking little pony. Loved the flowing mane covering her right eye. All soft color and texture.

2 Corinthians 5:7
"We live by faith, not by sight."

Kent 3

A 12x16 Oil. My latest attempt at doing a portrait of my wonderful husband Kent. Always fun to do. Skin tones are so interesting! So many shades and shapes to the skin. Learning to add more of the yellow ocher and burnt umber as well as the rosy pinks and reds. Man oh man ....mouths are hard to do! I'm gonna keep on trying!

1 Thessalonians 5:18
" Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Lisa

A 12x16. Oil. My sister! I am loving doing these portraits of my family! Makes me smile. I was able to capture her vibrant energetic personality. Fun to do.

Philippians 4:13
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Papa Bear

An 8x8, Oil. This is a little painting I did with my students this past Thurs. Each student had their own 8x8 canvas and did the same bear composition. It is so interesting how each one has their own look and personality. We all decided that mine had a definite "Papa Bear" look! We all chose a dark, medium and light color. Not limiting to browns. Kind of squinting at the reference photo and seeing detail color. Filled in the dark areas first, then the medium and lastly the light. Good demonstration on limited palette and how working wet on wet can provide nice surprises of color mixes. Of course the artist has to be careful not to allow muddying up of  colors on the canvas. Carefully putting down a stroke or two of paint then cleaning the brush. Everyone finished their painting. Fun for all! Thanks for looking.

James 1:2
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

Jessa

A 12x16, Oil. This is a portrait of our daughter-in-law, Jessa. A beautiful woman. Inside and out. I like the slight "mona lisa" smile she has in this composition. Had fun with her hair. Pushed the blonds and reds a bit! I found myself smiling as I painted this one as I do when I paint anyone I love! Thanks for looking.

Psalm 119:105
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

Oak Tree, Spring. Re-worked

5x7. Oil. I decided to re-work this little one ...Using some blue-green to soften the edges. Muted the yellow a bit. Thanks for looking.

1 Peter 3:4
"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Epic Beard

A 12x16. Oil. This is our son Charles Ramsdell with this year's epic beard before he shaved it all off! This was actually just one stage of the shaving process. He had that beard up the sides of his face too before he started whittling away at it. I have other photos with the facial hair at different stages with him posing differently. I may do another one or two. He was mugging for the camera and came off with a really old fashioned stern look! I liked it. Lots of shadows and angles to his face and of course his beautiful blue eyes. Thanks for looking.

Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Abstract Kent - 2

12x16, Oil. Tried another abstract of Kent with a larger canvas. I found it easier to play with the color and proportions in the larger format. I love Kent's smile lines! The reflections in his sunglasses are cool. Fun to do. Thanks for looking.

John 15:4
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

Oak Tree, Fall

5x7, Oil. The last of the Oak Tree Series. My favorite season of the year! Thank you for looking.

John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Oak Tree, Winter

5x7. Oil. The third Oak Tree I have done. This one in the winter. Wanted to achieve that cold crisp feeling in this one! Thanks for looking.

John 14:1
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."

Oak Tree in Summer Re-worked

5x7. Oil. Decided to re-work this little painting using Julie Ford Oliver's "Fracturing Technique". I felt that the original painting was too static. This gave it some motion and interest! The technique is all about using multiple layers of paint and "fracturing" with a palette knife allowing underlying color to show through. A more abstract look. Julie uses a little rubber tool that I have not been able to locate yet. Thank you for looking.

Psalm 37:3-4
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire's."

Oklahoma Fall Day

An 11x14. Oil. This painting is based on a photo I took this past Fall out in the country south of Kingfisher. The color was fabulous this past year. It was a bright day and I was drawn to the dark gnarly trunks of these trees. And of course the bright slash of color of the leaves! Thanks for looking.

Psalm 32:8
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

Kingfisher Grain Elevators

An 11x14. Oil. This is a springtime scene I have been wanting to paint for a long time. Based on a photo I took northwest of Kingfisher.  I added the strip of lavender color from an adjacent field. I love the angles in all the hardware of the grain elevators. Not sure what all that hardware is for! Just tried to paint what was there. The field in the foreground was a pretty green in the spring but I changed it to the golden wheat color of later in the summer. An artist prerogative! Thanks for looking.

Psalm 112:4-7
"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man...He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."

Selfie

An 8x10, Oil of ME! Yikes! I remember years ago my mother doing a self portrait. She did hers by positioning her easel in from of a large mirror and peaking out around her easel. Kind of like the famous Norman Rockwell painting. The easel was a part of her portrait. It is great! She did hers in charcoal. I still have it. I am learning that a painting seems to be more interesting with imperfections and irregularity. At least that is what I want to believe! Thanks for looking.

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

Albert Einstein

An 8x10, Oil portrait of Albert Einstein. Yes...it's all about the hair! His hair is what motivated me to do this painting at first. Then I discovered how much character his face has. Those sleepy eyes, soft elderly skin and slight smile. Loved doing it. Thank you for looking.

2 Corinthians 10:5
"We demolish arguments and every pretensions that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."