Rhia 1 /Rhia with Yellow Chair

Top:  Rhia 1, 24x30, oil on panel

Bottom:  Rhia with Yellow Chair, 28 x 22, oil on panel

OK, so I am taking a life drawing class....I hated figure drawing in college...maybe because it was at 8 in the morning?  Whatever, but I have never liked figure drawing, all the while totally believing that it is a necessary foundation for any artist.  Ok, so I thought I would force myself to pay for the class and endure it.  Lo and behold, I really love this class.  Go figure (pun not intended).  The next step is unavoidable for me, and that is putting those drawings to canvas and adding paint.  What is a painting anyway but drawing with a brush, and then 'pushing' it with color?  So, here we go...it is a learning curve, to be sure, and there is much to learn.  I know, for example, that I have taken liberties with the hands and feet in these two paintings of Rhia...and, frankly, also in the thighs...she is very thin...I never aspired to be a realist, but I would like to get the gesture and the feeling commuted from my eyes/hand to the paper or canvas...so we will see how that goes.  Feel free to comment positive or negative, I am open to all opinions.  Thanks for looking!

If you have interest in purchasing these or other works, please contact me.

Grandma's Kitchen, 20x16x2

I painted this from an old family photo. The lady in lilac was my maternal grandmother, and the other women were 2 of her 5 daughters. Grandma's table was always full of good, country cooking and conversation. My mom will enjoy this for Christmas. NFS

Unknown Father and Son, 60x36x2

This father and son shared a tender moment at the Dallas Arboretum last spring. This is, for me, a large work, and I am happy with the rendering of this moment. Thanks for viewing my work.If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Driving Miss Daisy 11x14

Old truck, old dog, what could be better? Enough said.
If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Sharon Hodges: Not Exactly Fishing, 24x30

Not exactly, but I believe these boys would have grabbed one if they could! It was a beautiful day with strong light dancing off the water and the boys...a good day.
If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Well, are you gonna share?, 11x14x2-(sold)

I damaged my shoulder a few weeks ago....Holding a brush was actually painful, so I am painting with my left hand. This is challenging, but likely a very good exercise. It forces me to slow down, and frankly, I am pleased with this left handed painting. These folks were enjoying a spring day in Asheville, NC. I hope he shared the snack with his dog.

Look, but don't touch, 8x10

This is the only painting completed in the last few days. Sadly, a couple of landscape attempts were wipers...they looked lazy, and I could tell I was tired and just pushing paint around. Ok, snap out of it. I liked this better. I do love watching people in museums, architectural attractions, etc. This mother/daughter was enjoying an icon exhibition at an Italian museum. I liked the way the sun was coming in some small, high windows and hitting the mother's hat and tiny spots of the heavily carved frame of the icon. (sold)