Marybeth Heikes

Paintings in Watercolor & Mixed Media

Mission Bay

Mission Bay

July 22, 2012

The reflections of the boats and their masts on the water is what inspired me to paint this scene. My brother-in-law Bill took us for an outing here, which is a very scenic tourist area. There were also a lot of sea birds and a walkway around the inlet. The reflection shadows were very striking. […] more »

Ethyl Gasoline

Ethyl Gasoline

July 8, 2012

This is an antique gas pump from years gone past. There are two pumps on display, just east of the Centerville square. I worked from my photos to present a different viewpoint. I especially liked the numbered tags inside the globe. more »

Red Barn & Rooster

Red Barn & Rooster

June 23, 2012

This piece is part of my open-ended Iowa Series, complete with all the Midwest elements and farm animals. This collage features a typical red barn, silo, and the strutting rooser in the farmyard, and a few strategic fence posts. Lots of colors too, so it will fit just about any decor. more »

Hay Baler

Hay Baler

June 16, 2012

I began painting this watercolor at the beginning of March and it took me almost a month, longer than usual. I had the abstract shapes in my mind a long time, since taking the photo of this dilapidated hay baler. It was sitting all rusted in a field. A friend of mine, who took me […] more »

Bubba & Mickey

Bubba & Mickey

May 19, 2012

These are two very devoted canines of my sister’s, and otherwise called “the two knuckleheads” by her husband. They are well-behaved most of the time, and well-trained too. Bubba, the Boston Terrier, is the most energetic dog I’ve ever seen. He runs around the backyard like a maniac–it is fun to watch him gallop wildly. […] more »

Bulldog 2

Bulldog 2

April 29, 2012

This was a commission of the English Bulldog who won many competitions for this breed, and was a therapy dog in hospitals and clinics. This dog was well-loved by his owner and many people. Unfortunately, he had to be put to sleep because of illness. My sister has two of his puppies, Snoozer and Petey, which […] more »

Cattle Chute

Cattle Chute

March 24, 2012

I chose to paint this old, red barn in Plano, Iowa because of its weathered silo, cattle chute, and out-buildings. These are no longer standing. The photographs I took in the 1990s of barns in southern Iowa describe many old barns of this era. It is sad that many of them were not saved. It […] more »

The Girls

The Girls

March 7, 2012

This painting includes five of our cat family: Saoirse, Fiona, Sadie, Ruby and Aurora. They include a variety of colors — a calico, siamese, white calico, black and a spotted black & white.  I did this as a portrait sample to let people know that photos of different pets can be combined into a single […] more »

Fruit, Bottle & Goblets

Fruit, Bottle & Goblets

February 26, 2012

This is my second still life featuring my hand-sewed Crazy Quilt, and I wonder what I was thinking since it has so many details — the ruby-red vase, apples, an antique mirror, wood-grained table, and transparent glass! A lot a textures crammed into a still life, but I am very happy with the results. It […] more »

Crazy Quilt #1

Crazy Quilt #1

February 17, 2012

This still life is crammed with interesting objects that I have collected. The main feature is the flared emerald-green vase and the crazy quilt, which I sewed with many of my fabric scraps. It is a one-of-a-kind quilt!  Also in this setup are square mirror tiles, apples, and a round ruby vase. It was most difficult […] more »