I have been drawing but forgetting to take photos and then post what I have done. This is a little vase that sits on my coffee table and I change the flowers every so often. It was fun to abstract what I saw in front of me and play with the colors which is what I like doing the most. It is always amazing me to how expressive color is and how is can totally change the nature of the drawing or painting.

Fig surrounded by green. This was inspired by a photo I had taken while in Mexico of some food. I really liked the color relationship and it was fun to take from one thing and make it into the other.

Figs and things. Why do I always think it is going to be so hard to put something on paper. I am always pleased with myself when I try which is what I did with a few of my favorite fruits. Figs, a lime and a turnip.

I love to draw. I have been on a bit of a sabbatical due to family and other things like golf! It sure felt good to get back to the sketch book and do some drawing. I gathered my favorite fruit-figs-now that they are in the stores and put them together with several other items-limes, a shell and some seed pods I have hanging around the studio. It was a fun day.

What do you do with one apple. Draw it three times and just play with the shapes and colors. These apples seem to dance across the paper.

Welcome to Tahoe. Spring/summer is trying to makes itself know here after a very long winter. I could not resist the daffodils as I was out and about walking the dog. It has been a while since I have really drawn anything and even though the daffodils were not really my first choice I pushed myself to get with the program and why not. There are more to do and it was fun. It is kind of hard to get back to work after being off for about a month and other projects to do but this is the most important so the challenge is to stay focused.

I was prompted by several events this week to go back to basics. That is my basics. I went out and pulled out some old paintings for inspiration and here was one that was not completed and I thought why have I not stayed with this painting. The reason is I got scared and this big hulking figure. I said to heck with it-trust that you needed to say something and do it. So I painted the figure green-it had been a mustard yellow and voila I love it. I look at it every chance I get as it reminds me that I need to be me and not be afraid of what comes out of the paint brush and my soul. This painting is very large so that is another thing I am going to do. Go back to large canvases. There is more freedom and room to play which is what brings me joy. Maybe now I will use some of the paints I have purchased. This was fun for me to reclaim this painting. Enjoy!!!

This would have been such fun to sit and draw or paint but that was not an option on a recent visit to San Miguel de Allende. Time to get back to the drawing board and paints. More to come!!

Some scribbles for the sketch book inspired by a burgundy and white eggplant!

In about 10 days I am headed to San Miguel de Allende. I am so looking forward to being in this wonderful place full of romantic places as well as lots of color splashed around the city. Looking for inspiration for my next painting I was looking at my photos from last year. I so hope to do some drawing this time as well as taking photos. Drawing should certainly inspire a painting or two. These stone steps seem to lead to some hidden mysterious place that I would like to go to.

Painting of a drawing I had done. It was really fun to try and make this painting work as a painting. Not always easy. I am enjoying exploring new ways of expressing my vision.

Adding to the fruits I have been drawing is a new object. A tea cup. It caught my eye as I was drawing the pear and the candle holder so I thought why not. Fun to try and do something different.

A splash of color to liven up a little bit of fruit.

Just for fun. A splash of color surrounded by a field of black.

A painting that I started last year and it finally came together for me this week. I had seen something that a friend did and tried to recreate from memory. It has taken a while for it to become what I was hoping for but I am really pleased.

The first drawing of the new year 2011. A juicy pear that is sitting on my coffee table. As the new year begins it is a time for reflection and new adventures. I am going to let the art spirits guide me down the path of 2011.