Energy Lake #2

I was glad to be able to get back to Energy Lake and still be able to capture some of the last of the fall foliage. This place holds special meaning for me. it is quiet and peaceful there.

"Energy Lake in Autumn"

8 x 10 oil

(mostly plein air)

 The sun was out after the chill strong winds resulting from Hurricane Sandy. so I stayed an extra few days to be able to paint. it's a wonder the 30 mph winds didn't blow all the leaves from the trees!

(I did use my artist's license and added a bit more than actually were there)

Last of the Hay Harvest - A Plein Air painting

"Last of the Hay Harvest"

8 x 16

Oil on prepared luan

Finished on site

This is a field across from where my son lives. I was intrigued by the contrast of the even flow of the

still-green grass against the early fall colors in the brush and goldenrod in the farther fields. This was done as a study and I may do a larger version.

Clown Box

I have a story to tell....

To my credit or to my shame, it is a true story.

Daughter #2 (I have 4 daughters) and I needed to run in to town last Saturday early evening, for some nessessities for my son who had been released from the hospital only a week previous. While travelng from one store to the other we passed a small antique shop that I had been into a couple times since returning to Pennsylvania. Imagine my surprise to note that even though the shop was closed, some things were still outside...... and one of those things I recognized as a painting on a box that I had done many years ago for a man who did clown performances for children and for various organizations.

 I told her "I did that painting back there!!" as we went by.

A million thoughts flew through my head as my daughter asked, "Do you want me to drive around the block?" "Well, YES!!!" How did the box get into the hands of this antique dealer? what happened to the man I had painted it for? Was he still living? What about the clown suit and paraphernalia he had carried in it? I envisioned his passing, and an auction at the time, dispersing his belongings.

We pulled into the parking place near the old shop and went to look at it. I was estatic! Not that it was much of a painting, but that I reconnected with a part of my painting past. Cars came and went as we stood looking at it and wondering what to do.

The box was a bit dirty and the screws that held the rusty hinge attaching the lid were falling out. Yes, my name was on it as the artist and the date  '91!

Back side

We found a phone number on the sign that sat there as well. No answer. Had he closed down and just left these things outside??  Not like him to do that. Well, you certainly wouldn't leave your 'children' outside after dark would you? all weekend? to fend for themselves? what if it rained? Or someone bad came along and snatched them (it)?

I did the only thing I could think to do, and with honorable intentions, too!

I said, "Open the trunk".

Daughter, gasping, "Mom! Are you STEALING that????"

"No, dear, just borrowing, till Monday morning, keeping it from harm....."

Long story short my grown kids, upon hearing this, about coughed their cookies, and wondered if I'd lost it totally.

I went back Monday am 5 min. BEFORE the shop opened, and tenatively, and humbly told the shop owner my story, explaining that I had painted it in '91  ("you painted that??") and asked if he knew what had become of the man I had painted it for, which he did not. Anyways he let me buy the box with my painting on it for $25, chuckling about the situation.

Now it's not much, but it will have a place in MY home till my kids have to decide what to do with it. One thing I am sure of..... this story will be talked about at my passing, and much laughter to go with it.

Shall we dance?

Put Out to Pasture - Truck #2

They were beautiful once, too.

"Put Out to Pasture"

Truck  #2

5 x 7 Oil on Canvas board

I loved these old trucks I found in some fields near Sandy Lake. As I painted, I have been thinking about the work they did, the places they have gone, the condition of the roads that took them on their journeys, and the weather they endured. I wondered about blown tires, if the heater always worked, or if they had a heater at all, and did the wipers always work??

I have one more I am doing for this set and will post upon completion

Thanks for viewing!



Put Out to Pasture - Truck #1

"Put Out to Pasture"

Truck #1

5 x 7 Oil on Canvas board

I love old trucks and have been planning to do these for some time now.

This is a fun exercise for me as I love painting anything that rusts.

If you are interested in this or another of my paintings please email me.  I also do commissions.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lake Wilhelm

"Lake Wilhelm"

8 x 10 Oil on prepared luan

Goddard State Park near Sandy Lake, PA

Plein air, finished on location.

I am challenging myself to do more paintings outside from real life, and to try to work faster. This one was done early afternoon in about 2 and a half hours. I am posting it as I finished it there. I really enjoyed the peacefulness of this place, even with two young boys fishing, who set up a fuss when their Dad told them it was time to go home. Ah, the summer days are past and its time to return to school.

Thanks for stopping by.

Three of these veggies grew in my garden.... the tomato is a figment of my imagination  :)
The tomatoes in my garden are a Roma variey, but I have been hungry for a sandwich made from

these big ol' tomatoes!!

"Heirloom Veggies"

8" x 16" Oil on prepared Luan board

If you see any  of my paintings you are interested in purchasing please email me.

Thanks for stopping by!

"1/4 Mile"

This was a scene in my early years in the small town we grew up in, of the guys drag-racing their hopped-up old cars.  It was a quarter mile from a certain driveway to the bridge just before the hill. They would then try to skedattle before the town cop came along. I had fun painting this one as my brother took part in many of these races.

"1/4 Mile"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas

Before the Storm

I finished this painting today. Until recently we have had the regular amount of rain showers. I was glad this farmer was able to get his hay rolled before the storm hit. Near Sandy Lake, PA.

"Before the Storm"
14 x 18
Oil on prepared 1/4 " masonite

My Painting Space and a WIP

Just thought I'd post some pictures of my painting space and what I am working on now.

I have a north and north-east windows that light comes in, and rarely need to turn on lights.

This room is one of the main reasons I decided on this house.

Right now I am working on this farm scene. A storm was coming in from the west as I was out land-scoping recently. I am amazed at how little time I have been actually painting, when my expectations have certainly been to do more.

But, its coming along. I guess I need to have patience with myself. Everyone has their own speed ... and life.... I will choose be content to do what I can and when I can.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Western PA - Finished

I visited this area early in May and took photos. It was such a peaceful place, I could just feel my whole self relax as I enjoyed the view. I knew I would have to come back here to paint.

As life so often happens, my plans were delayed. I finally got back yesterday morning and was able to spend a couple hrs here. This is a quick study painting I did (and the cardboard carrier I use to transport :) ) Needs alot more work but at least I got the brushes wet, lol.
I appologize for the glare of wet paint.

There was more pond scum on the water than when I first visited. I hope to do several paintings of this area.

This is the finished painting. I think the glare of wet paint gave a bluish cast to the study painting.

"Peaceful Habitat"

9x12 oil on canvas board

Plein Air (75%), finished in studio

Beautiful Spring ... and back to Painting!

I was able to get out on the first day of trout season here in Pennsylvania and snap some photos of the crowded creeks while the fishermen were taking their first catch of the season. One guy even called out to me to hurry and take a picture before his buddy fell in! Gave me a smile!

"First Day - Trout Season"

12 x 16 Oil on canvas

This was the scene at Sugar Creek on Sleepy Hollow road near Franklin. There were about 7-8 fishing in this one spot but I thought 3 were enough to tell my story. I tried to use what I have been learning over the last 1 1/2 yrs; to create distance or depth, to move the viewer into and through the painting, and to have a surprise near the end. It doesn't nessessarily follow in every painting, however I tried to do that with this particular one. The fisherman sitting on the log looks discouraged as he looks on downstream at the farther man with a large catch. The first fisherman is just concentrating on the business at hand.

I am dedicating this painting to my brother who passed on 12 years ago today. He was an avid fisherman, and fly-tyer. He used to get feathers from my chickens to use in his craft. I miss him and will never forget what he meant to all our family.

Sunny's Studio is Moving!

I have decided to move back to the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. I loved my home here in Kentucky, but all my family is in PA. I plan to be settled in by the end of March, and back to painting by April 1. My new home has a beautiful room with natural light for my painting studio!

Meanwhile, here are a few of my older paintings from the 80's and 90's when, besides canvas, I also painted on saws, as it was an "in" thing.

"On to Higher Ground" (Memories of "Payday", our Saanen goat herdsire)

Oil on 12" x 2.5" Sawblade
(painted using a magnifying glass)

"Bees... Just to Polinate the Garden"

Oil on 19" x 5" Sawblade

The first 4 of my husband's beehives. We ended up with over 1000 hives which he transported from PA to FL to Me and ND for pollination and honey production. Our honey and goat-milk fudge was sold in 7 different locations.


"Serenity at Sundown"

Oil on 10" Sawblade

These are all in my private collection. I am looking forward to start painting again beginning the 1st of April. Thanks to all who have been so supportive of me since the loss of my husband.