Animals & Birds

Bad Hair Day

Contemplating Life

Juried into the Delaware Watercolor Society 2022 exhibit at the Biggs Museum in Dover, Delaware

Size: 10" x 13.89"

Splendor in the Grass

Size: 14.27 " wide X 21.64 " tall

Sleeping Beauty

Size: 10.797 x 13.553

The Perfect Perch

Size: 11.963x15.817

Gone Fishing

We live near a small pond. One day as I sat outside with my camera this heron strolled by looking for breakfast. I was shocked to see what he pulled out of the water. I think so was the fish! As luck would have it the fish was so big that the heron couldn't handle him and he had to throw him back.
This picture was juried into the Delaware Watercolor Society 2021 Nassau Valley Vineyards show.
Size:17.143x11.483

No Need for Directions

Size: 11.703x14.52

There is a local bakery called "Old World Breads" which makes some of the best bread around. It sits next to our local bicycle path and behind it is an old building with a very unique weather vane on top of it. I happened upon it on a bike ride one day and decided to paint it.

Lover's Quarrel

I live in a development called the Ridings. This winter I passed our local eagles sitting in a tree having a lively discussion. I was able to take multiple photographs of them which I then painted.
My girlfriend RuthAnn is a birder and I asked her what the might have been doing. Apparently eagles have their young this time of year and to me, it looked like they were quite enthusiastically discussing something. Hopefully things went well for their young.
Size: 16.923x 11.237

Juried into the 2020 Delaware Watercolor Society Biggs Museum Exhibit

Imagine

Size: 11.88 x 15.787

This was an actual situation that I saw on
a local farm. I moved the animals a bit but
was fascinated by how well they all got along.

........if only!

Basking in Moonlight

Size: 8.06 x 11.043

Basking in Moonlight is a combination of photos
that I thought went well together. We recently had a pink moon which I thought the birds might enjoy.

Remembering Elaine

Size: 13.517x19.03

My Aunt Elaine wanted me to paint a picture in this format. Unfortunately she is no longer here to see it but I wanted to honor her memory with the name.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

One Good Tern Deserves Another

Size: 12.153x8.857

In the case of these two birds I think the title is everything.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Steve

My daughter's cat made himself at home in their Christmas tree. It was cute for me but not so much for her and her husband!

Size: 8.373x10.897

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Solitude

We have a heron that lives in the pond behind our house. They are beautiful birds and tend to be solitary creatures.

Size: 9.347 x 13.7

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Board Meeting

On a very bleak day in March my friend Marie and I decided to go out and see what we could photograph. We came across this group of Snowy Egrets protecting themselves from the wind and weather. As with the “Pool Party” they seemed to be having a meeting but this one more solemn. The serious nature of their demeanor and close gathering influenced the name of the painting.

Size: 14x18

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Hummingbird Happy Dance

My friends Bob & Marie are nice enough to allow my to hang out at their house during "hummingbird season". During one of my visits I was able to capture this picture of these birds cheerfully eating from the feeder. They are not only joyous in their feeding but the sound that they make whizzing by is genuinely a happy feeling.

Just Hanging Around

My daughter Kimberly has been dating a photographer who on a crisp winter
morning photographed this magnificent birdhouse that his father had built. It hung outside of their home and the setting seemed so solitary that I named it “Just Hanging Around.” With his permission I painted it. It made me think that if we could all take a few moments of peace what a wonderful world it
would be!

The Morning Alarm

“The Morning Alarm” was actually painted for the man who does my framing at Keepsake Art and Frame in Salisbury, Maryland. He has had some treasured wood from a 100 year old
barn that he made into frames. He had previously sold me a frame but is now down to his last 2. He told me that only the right picture would be acceptable for his cherished frame so I decided to meet the challenge and paint what I thought would be just right. He was pleased with the picture and can now keep his barn siding frame for himself.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Mail Call

An unusual set of circumstances found me my new friend Marie. Marie is always full of fun and willing to go on any picture taking excursion. With her as my tour guide I’ve been introduced to the full breadth of landscape and wildlife Delaware has to offer. On a recent outing Marie jumped behind the wheel of my car and said “I’ll drive, you shoot.” Along the side of the road was a group of hens & roosters clustered around the mailboxes. I’d never seen such brilliantly colored roosters! Marie told me they were called “Banty Roosters.” The setting made me think about how we all await mail delivery and the hope and anticipation of what it will bring. It is a common denominator that links us together. The setting seemed perfect for an upcoming show called the “American Landscape” at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware.

The Potted Perch

Our move to Delaware has been an education in so many ways. Of note is the abundance of new wildlife which is different than I have been accustomed to. Last spring a pair of birds decided to nest in the planter outside my dining room window. We were able to get very close to their coming and going. During their time in our window I was able to capture some photos of the bird sitting on the planter. This picture was the result of one of those photos.

Tetons Endangered Crooner

It was an education for me to learn that the grey wolf is endangered. I painted this picture to bring attention to their plight.

Sentinel at Prime Hook

Since I paint from pictures that I’ve taken, I recently took a photography class to better hone my photographic skills. The instructor gave us detailed ideas of how to capture the perfect setting. What I realized was that I’d taken a number of interesting pictures in the unlikeliest of “perfect” settings. This picture was taken on a very rainy day at Prime Hook State Park. I singled out this particular bird from a group of four that were standing on the bank of the river. It won second place at the Delaware Watercolor Society’s 2014 Miniature Show in Lewes Delaware.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Hidden Beauty

Since our move to Delaware I have gained a great appreciation for the birds and wildlife that surround us. On an excursion to Prime
Hook State Park we spotted this Heron hiding in the grasses. I knew if I got too close he’d fly away, but he lingered long enough to allow me to capture this picture of him.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Birds of a Feather

House Finch

Goldfinch

During a visit to the Holland Christian Home with my Aunt Elaine she gave me pictures of birds that had been painted on panels. The panels were then used to decorate homes. Her enthusiasm for the subject made me decide to do a bird picture. I chose to make a compilation of various images to try to recreate something similar to one of Aunt Elaine’s bird panels. Many of the bird pictures I’ve photographed have come from pictures I’ve taken in my friend’s garden. I used both his birds as well as his sunflowers to make this painting. After completion, my daughter said that to her, it actually looked like two distinct paintings put together, so… I cut it in half. I then framed them both in matching mats and frames and sold them as a set. This is why on the website you will see three pictures….all the result of this one painting…. cut in half!

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Zero the Super Hero

As the mother of children it seems I have also become the recipient of their animals. On a road in Vermont one summer day, my son’s friend found a litter of abandoned puppies. Two were (unfortunately) already dead but she was able to save the rest. In his enthusiasm, my son assured her that his mother would take one of the dogs. While it was fine with me, my husband, on the other hand, was less than enthused. This picture was the first ever taken of the dog that came along with the handle “Zero”. He has become one of the best we’ve ever had and follows my husband around wherever he goes!

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Warm Hugs

My daughter has temporarily moved back home while finishing her doctoral degree. Along with her, we’ve also (hopefully temporarily) inherited her dog. For my daughter’s birthday this year she wanted me to paint a picture of “Lucy.” I’ve really never been a fan of pit bulls, but Lucy has given me a new appreciation for them. I named the painting “Warm Hugs” not only because of the shirt she’s wearing but because she is probably the most huggable dog we’ve ever had. Every night before bed she requires what we’ve deemed “Grammy snuggle time.”

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

Blue Heron

There are many heron where we live and their beauty fascinates me. This picture was taken at Prime Hook State Park which is a "hot spot" for birds and wildlife in our area. I chose water this time as the background so that I could concentrate on the intricate details of the bird himself. The picture was on exhibit at the Ocean City Convention Center for 2016.

The Pool Party

After seeing a picture of birds congregating in a bath I decided to paint. I called it The Pool Party because to me it looked like they were having a great time and involved in conversation. It was part of the 2016 Members show at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland.

Size: 15.873x12.02

Quigley

This is my son and his wife's first child. They were
unaware that I had photographed him so I painted
this picture for my son's first "Father's Day". This Father's Day he spent it was with his real son James.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available

The Bear

My daughter loves her animals, and for Christmas this year requested a portrait of her latest addition to complete her set of three.

Original SOLD/ Prints Available