SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

SPIRA-GYRA DELISH 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame $150 - shipping + tax inclusive Around and around we go . . . who is the fairest of them all? The white glazed donut of course! Having a sugar rush yet Kelley ?  The Donut War is escalating!

NESTLED SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Cherries and summer go hand-in-hand for that's when they are in season.  Not only do I enjoy the fruit, but they  hold fond memories when I was young. My brothers, a sister and I scaled  the trees as we picked the treats.  Up we went . . .  just like  little mountain goats.   Then my Mom made the most  unbelievable pies and preserves. A little piece of heaven straight  out of the oven!

SQUIGGLES + A HOLE 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame  SOLD- PRIVATE COLLECTOR S .W.O. O. S. H . . . . ! (That's the sound of the donut flying through the air.) Can Kelley catch or will it splat? And what will that girl toss back at me?  Check it out here . See . . . I have a pattern going on here . . .  holes. And so much goes with them!

GREEN + 2 RED *   10"h x 8" w pastel SOLD * Courtesy of Tirage Art Gallery Bright  . . . Bold  . . .  And luscious!

SUNS + APPLES * 24" x 20" framed pastel $950 * Courtesy of Tirage Art Gallery What means summer to me? A vase of sunflowers to brighten up the table.  And a grove of them make the birds happy too!

TINY SQUARES + A HOLE 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame Donut War here we come! It's Monday and time to strike. And here I have a oozing, chocolate  wonder sitting so pretty . . .  of course, that  was before I took a huge bite out of it.  But the remaining part sure is going to be a great bullet! Click  here  to check what Kelley MacDonald has in her fist before retaliation.

BADLANDS SKETCH 12" x 9" pastel on board The heat enveloping the nation brings back memories of my stay at the  Petrified Forest National Park   of Arizona . As mentioned in earlier postings, I was awarded an Artist-in-Residence at the Forest in 2009. The two-week life experience was exhilarating and challenging. My previous post,   A PAINTED SUMMER ,  is a view of the  Petrified Forest National Park's Badlands   as I hiked down onto the desert floor. Above,   BADLANDS SKETCH   was  created at the highest point as seen from the Visitors  Center,   Painted Desert Inn . And below is a picture of me working  on my Badlands sketch.  

A PAINTED SUMMER 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR The rain had ceased . . . the sun rose . . .  the white clouds graced the sky. . .   and the colors shone as jewels.

CIRCLES + A HOLE 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame Okey Ms. Donut Queen . . . here's a white frosted donut I'm throwing your way! ssssssssssssss . . . . .  SPLAT!  Hitting me with  a double . . . lately Kelley   has flung a triple . . . decker stack? Guess I better start stacking these puppies  for her next attack or else get my  little soldiers lined up. And I really wanted to title this Bulls Eye! ,  but there's  more than 1 circle, so that didn't go. Man, selecting a title is a whole different game.

TOWN OF AVALON 2 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame $150 - tax + shipping inclusive Feeling a bit under the weather, so decided to paint something  sunny and cheery. So lets travel back to Catalina Island. I spent a few days there April 2010 to work on art for  a  show through Tirage , with a portion of sales   benefiting Catalina Island Conservancy. You can  view one of my posts with another scene of  Avalon Town here . Catalina Island is 22 miles off the Coast of Southern California,  so boats  are the mode of transportation to get there. All dock at Avalon, which the  Town of Avalon 2 depicts, where little houses  and cottages are nestled at the base of mountains. And so much  to  do  with  kayaking, hiking, fishing, beaches topped with  shopping and eating! Just discovered that it's the 30th birthday of  Catalina Express , one of the boats that trav...

YELLOW STRIPE + RASPBERRY 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR swirls, twirls, stripes + doodles . . . thank you Zoe!

dots + stripes Yipes . . . stripes . . . with a bit of grass thrown in. A lovely little piece to adorn a cupcake. Thanks Zoe!

MY RED-HOT DONUT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame $150 - tax + shipping inclusive The fight is on and I'm jumping the gun! The Donut War is back . . .  okey, just 2 days a week  and who ever heard of designated days in a war? Us silly girls, that's who. So get your jelly, ooey, gooey fix by watching fellow artist,  Kelley MacDonald and myself sling the little pillows of love back and forth on Mondays and Thursdays. Getting my little defense soldiers in a row, as I write. ps sorry kelley I threw this out early . . . just couldn't help myself!

SEARCHING . . . FOR COLOR 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame Took stock of the scene before my eyes while peering out the window. Grey and dull . . .  what a pitiful palette!  So I focused on motion  while inspired by the music. Take me away!

AN INERT DAY 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame $ 150 - tax + shipping inclusive Inauspicious was the day . . .  continued to the eve.  Massive in weight, t he orange clouds  layered high above.  Dark, brooding and ominous, which created a sullen mood.  I crave some blues! And Olivia here is the link for you:

AN ORANGE GOOD-NIGHT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matt, glass + gold frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTION OF ALEX RICHARDSON What a view from my window! A heavy layer of dark colors cloaked the mountain and at first glance, quite ominous.  And with a second glance, behold bright orange  splashes that snaked throughout the sky. So an orange good-night to one and all!

I'm stockpiling for the attack . . .  for the  word is now out that the Donut War is returning! Foe  Kelley MacDonald has thrown the gauntlet  down . . .  or should I say the Dunkin' Donut ?  (psst . . .  Kelley Dunkin' is raising money to be listed  on the IPO. I think you increased their popularity!) Check Kelley out here to see her delectable but gooey  wonder on the post announcing the Coast-to-Coast War. I know it's unheard of, but the War will be 2 days a week.  Getting my tanks, donuts and men together.  Stay tuned for the fighting days and come play!

SUNBURST 2 5 1/2" X 3 1/2" pastel 10" x 8" double white matt, glass + gold frame $165 - shipping + tax inclusive Dark clouds rolled along the horizon as dusk approached. Such a bottomless abyss to the eyes! Yet out of the depth exploded bright colors against the blue sky. Glorious fireworks of nature.

THE TURQUOISE DOOR 7"h x 9"w pastel 11"h x 14"w linen matte, museum glass + gold scrolled frame $425 - shipping + tax inclusive With a closer view at Taos Pueblo, one can get  a greater impression of the organic structure of adobes. Accents of turquoise are painted on many of the door  and window frame, which is an incredible contrast  against the earthen color adobes. The Pueblo  is a multi-storied structure which dates back  over 1,000 years. 150 Native American Indians  reside permanently within the structure. To view  Taos Pueblo's official website click here . Previously I posted three sketches  of the Pueblo.  Click here to view and read of one.

2 DOORS + WHITE CLOUDS 7"h x 9"w pastel 11"h x 14"w linen matte, museum glass + gold scrolled frame $425 - shipping + tax inclusive Bet you thought I would speak about the heat  and  begin to reminisce of the years that I lived in New Mexico.  Well it truly was a wonderful sight to behold, all the  blue, blue skies that seem to never end, with huge white  clouds  dotting the sky. And the earthen adobe structures  contrasting  sharply against those blue skies. But no . . . I posted this little painting of Taos Pueblo to  let you all know that I am exhibiting eight of my  Southwest  pastels at Ray Street Custom Framing and Gallery.  If you live in San Diego, trot over to view tomorrow evening  during  Ray At Night, a monthly ArtWalk in North Park from 6 to 9 pm. Or bop over there during the hours of 11am - 6pm, Tuesday through Saturdays.  Just a slice of Southwestern life!

FRIVOLITY + FROSTING 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold scroll frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping - tax inclusive SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Flinging some frosting for summer fun! Where's the Contessa?

BOGIE 8" x 8" pastel 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" glass + black frame $265 + $15 insured priority shipping - tax inclusive Now who wouldn't? And I really feel like this lovable dog, for have been extended an invitation to join Daily Painters.com . This group is the oldest and largest juried gallery of daily painters and founded by Micah Condon in 2006. And how could I say no? Quite a honor!