The inspiration for this painting is the flower: hollyhocks. I am quite fond of these old-fashioned flowers. I love the saucer shapes of the blossoms, the buds, leaves -- every details describes this wonderful flower! more »
Usually I begin with the flowers and work my way around the design. This one was different -- the vase was the focus. I changed the peonies to dahlias; the shape reminded me of the full, spidery petal shapes. Red-painted daisies were added to the bunch. more »
This painting began first as a watercolor. Then I decided to switch media and create a collage using bolder colors. I used the watercolor painting as a springboard for the new design. more »
I am always inspired to paint fresh flowers from my garden and these peonies and bleeding hearts were no exception. I enjoy painting the pale pink variety and the deep, crimson colors. more »
Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers and I grow them every year in my gardens. They have wonderful shapes and colors and I have found many different varieties to grow. more »
I am continually interested in old barn structures, and I photographed this one in Van Buren County, Iowa. I was on my way to the Bentonsport Artisans Co-op and this barn appealed to me, with the tilting brick silo and torn roof. more »
My inspiration for this acrylic collage are the shapes of various buildings in downtown Des Moines. I love the different shapes, with all their details that make up an interesting design. The challenge is a complex design of familiar buildings in the downtown environment using bright colors. more »
I am inspired to paint the old weathered barns in the Midwest. They are full of character. They are perched on hills or tucked into the landscape just waiting to be sketched and painted. more »
I picked these long-stemmed flowers and shortened them to fit in one of my Fiesta coffee cups. My idea was to combine two very colorful elements together. more »
For this watercolor, I had been photographing my fresh bouquet of cosmos and Sally got up on the table to sniff the flowers and actually sat still for a while. I snapped numerous of pictures of her behind the bouquet. more »