5″ square pastel on sanded paper

Spring: a lovely reminder of how truly beautiful change can be.

5″x7″ pastel on sanded paper

If you would like to know the history of any Texas woman, ask her about her bulbs. You will learn about her family, her neighbors, her church friends, and possibly about some of her adventures and travels.

“These Irises are from my Great Aunt Thelma, these Bare Naked Ladies are from my mom’s next door neighbor when she lived in Oak Cliff, the Amaryllises are from the organist from the church where I was married, my husband and I dug up these Lilies as newly weds from an abandoned house we found driving the back roads in East Texas…”

Season after season the flowers bless our springs, and from time to time we dig, divide and our own stories get planted into the next generation of Texas gardens.

14″ x 11″ pastel on sanded paper

“Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.” – John Harriman

For all of you who are still in winter, I paint for you today…my Texas spring. For everyone who is working, in all the million contributions you make to help this world go round, thank you. And if you labor under the buzz of florescent light, or in a factory, or facing a parking lot, I share with you too, my Texas Spring.

10″x 8″ Pastel on sanded paper – Plein air

I must say as to what I have seen of Texas, it is the garden spot of the world, the best land and the best prospects for health I ever saw, and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here. (Davey Crockett)

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

These are small paintings, all pastel on sanded paper, inspired by a joyful bouquet in my kitchen.

36″x24″ acrylic on canvas

“There are people who can achieve huge success in life, while adding a bit of fun and a splash of colour to this increasingly grey world.” -Peter James

I want to be that kind of person.

Walking to School series No•13

24″ square mixed media on canvas

I am a puddle person. I love to splash- dance into life.

Walking to School Series No•12

16″x20″ mixed media (acrylic, latex, collage, chalk)

Walking to School Series No• 11

10’x8′ oil on panel – Plein air Big Bend national park

More than a painting of a beautiful national park, this is a painting of friendship.  The guy who just had knee surgery needs his friend to cross the finish line tape as much as the guy running needs the support of his friends.   Those little dashes of color are friends waiting in the shade of the cottonwoods with their cooler and guitar to cheer on the first place runner of “Border to Badlands” 50 mile trail Run.   I am sitting just beyond them waiting for my runner, enjoying the fact that they brought a guitar and I have an afternoon to paint in the shade.

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​Here is a short video of me adding the finish line flags and friends.  Just a few well placed strokes and a toothpick.  I know with a little suggestion (like the title of this painting) your imaginations will make sense of these dabs and dashes of color.

7″x5″ oil painting on panel (primed with oil and sand underpainting)

It is HOT today, and the sun is bright, and my painting umbrella at home. To capture this beautiful cactus and limit my time getting baked, I used a panel with a busy underpainting, carving the cactus out with sky, and just adding a few shadows and strokes to complete the painting.