#125 Salami, Cheese and Crackers-FB Pick of the Day!

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I painted this piece for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, The Plated Food Challenge.  I had a lot of fun painting the food on the plate and I like how that part turned out.  Struggled with the plate.  I do not get along well with ceramics and ellipses!  This meal consisted of an apple, wheat thins, cheese, and salami.  I eat this for lunch pretty often.  

I'm going to participate in the "30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge" again this January.  Since I will be traveling for work on January 1-2, I started painting for it today.  My theme is "Painting through the Alphabet."  Today, I painted the letter "A".  I like how it turned out...will show you on January 1st!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#124 10 Minute Avocado Challenge

SOLD (6x6 inch)

Painting this avocado kicked my tail.  To start, my daughter (who was supposed to be sleeping) came out of her room at least 20 times in 1.5 hours!  Bedtime routine has been brutal lately.  At one point, after putting her back in bed, I came back to my still life box and found the dog trying to eat my prop.  Painting is always an adventure around here!  I think it was also challenging to change up colors with these.  The apples and pears were all variations of red and green for the most part.  But I have really loved these challenges and had a lot of fun with them!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thanks for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#123 10 Minute Pear Challenge

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

This painting is my second attempt at the "10 Minute Challenge" on Daily Paintworks this week.  This challenge has been so much fun.  I've seen improvements both times I did it.  It helped me focus on value, be decisive, and not over work  the painting.  It was also my first time to paint a pear!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#122 10 Minute Apple Challenge

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I painted these apples for the "10 Minute Challenge" on Daily Paintworks.  It was the perfect thing for me to do after getting back in town from holiday travel.  I had a lot of fun with it.  I think I might try again today with a pear.  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#121 The Trike

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I snapped the photo reference for this painting last summer...my daughter's tricycle...which she has really outgrown at this point but she still rides around every once in awhile.  I liked the contrast between the shadow and light on a hot summer day.  Nice to paint something from the summer with the cold, gray weather outside!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you so much for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#120 The Leaning Tower of Presents

Click to buy!  (7x5 inch)

I painted this yesterday for the Daily Paintworks Challenge, The Gift Challenge.  I think it had been about a week since the last time I painted.  Last week/weekend was SO busy.  I worked extra hours, social events in the evenings, and the Indie Trunk Show.  It's crazy how some weeks are like that.  There were also some challenging things going on with my daughter.  I was completely wiped at the end of it.  In some ways I still am.  But it was good to pick up my paints again.  The drawing was the hardest part for me.  I really should work on my drawing skills but with my limited time for art, it's hard to pass up an opportunity to paint!  

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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Indie Trunk Show and Painting Giveaway!

Last Saturday was the Indie Trunk Show!  It was my first time showing my art in a physical space.  Getting everything ready was a lot of hard work, but I'm really glad we did it.  I met some very nice and encouraging people.  It was fun to show my work and talk about it with others.

I also had a painting giveaway, "Pink Rose" (pictured above).  I hope the winner enjoys having it in her home!  

I haven't painted since the show.  Last week was so busy so I'm just trying to get back into a normal routine and spend some extra time with my daughter.  Hopefully I'll get back to painting tomorrow!

Thank you so much for viewing my art!  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#119 Grazing Horse

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I painted this for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, "The Mountain Challenge".  I found the photo reference on Pixabay.  I didn't fine one I loved with just mountains, but I liked this one of the horse with the mountains in the background.  The painting actually differs quite a bit from the photo...edited A LOT out.  I may try a larger one of this painting at some point or include more of the original photo in a larger painting.  

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we head to OKC to set up our booth for the Indie Trunk Show.  My husband is working really hard in our garage getting all of it ready to go.  The show is on Saturday from 10am-5pm.  Please stop by and say hi!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#118 University Boulevard- Facebook Pick of the Day!

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I had so much fun painting this house!  I snapped a picture of it as I was driving my 4 year old home from Children's Day Out.  I had originally stopped to take a picture of a different house, but she told me she thought that this one would be good for a painting.  I honestly just stopped the car to appease her, but then realized...she was right!  Really enjoy the contrast between the shadow and light. 

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thanks for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#117 Sweet and Crisp

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I intended to paint some grapes the other day but they looked terrible.  Out of nowhere, I got the idea to paint our jar of honey.  It's a favorite of my 4 year old!  I was also eating an apple.  So I threw those in as well.  I had a lot of fun painting this one.  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.  

Thank you for viewing my art!  

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#116 Modern Tea

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I had the hardest time with this painting. Sometimes things flow and sometimes they don't.  I had to adjust the mug several times and I'm still not sure how I feel about it!  Painted for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge- The Cuppa Challenge.

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art! 

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#115 Frosty

SOLD (6x6 inch)

I painted this snowman a few nights ago, and my 4 year old daughter named it "Frosty".  It's actually an ornament from our tree but I didn't paint the string attached to the top!  I was looking to paint something quick because it was late at night and I was tired.  Just keep trying to paint as often as I can!  On a side note, my husband thought I should name it, "Stick 'Em Up" because he looks like he's being robbed!  Ha!  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

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Etsy

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#114 Adoration

SOLD 12x12 inch

Painted this nativity scene a little larger than usual.  I also added a couple of animals.  I've really enjoyed painting these.  The picture doesn't show the detail of the brush strokes well but it gives the overall idea.  

12x12 inch oil on gessobord. Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art! 

Daily Painworks

Etsy

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#113 November Book Club

SOLD (6x6 inch)

Painted this for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, The Cuppa Challenge, and for this month's Book Club.  We read "Rules of Civility".  I was not a huge fan.  Couldn't connect with the characters...but the beginning was intriguing and the end was interesting.  Enjoyed painting the colors of tea!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thanks for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#112 Red, White and Gold

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I'm still not sure how I feel about this one.  I painted it yesterday while my daughter was napping.  Took about 3 hours from start (setting up still life) to finish.  The drawing of the gift was hard.  I wish the painting had a little more "sparkle".  It was good though just to get back to painting after taking several days off for a work conference and travel for Thanksgiving.  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#111 All Wrapped Up

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I haven't posted in several days because I was out of town for our annual regional staff retreat in Texas.  Every year we head to Pine Cove Camp with other staff from all over Texas, Arkansa, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.  This year, Zach and EK had to stay home because EK woke up sick the morning we were leaving.  I think I'm fighting off something as well but I stayed up late last night so that I could paint.  The photo of this painting isn't quite right.  The background is a little more saturated than it shows.  Overall it was fun to paint.  It didn't come together though until the very end.  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#110 The Orange Bridge

SOLD (7x5 inch)

Another attempt at the DPW Challenge.  I'm really drawn to the works of so many artists from California so it was fun to paint something from that area.  The reference photo is from Pixabay.  The drawing was the hardest part.  

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#109 The Yellow Bridge

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I painted this for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, The Bridge Challenge.  Most of it went pretty smoothly until I got to the background.  I didn't have a plan for it going into the painting, which was a big mistake.  In the photo reference from pixabay, there was  just a mass of green trees behind it.  I tried it, but it didn't look right.  I think I wiped the background 3 times before finally settling here.  I like that it looks like it is in the distance and somewhat indistinct.  Could be mountains or trees.  I painted in the very lightest value first, then all the parts in shadow and then everything in the sun.  I know I still have so much to learn!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#108 Autumn Haystacks

SOLD 8x10 inch oil on gessobord

I really enjoyed painting this landscape.  I'm still experimenting with them.  I painted it from a photo I took a few weeks ago.  I had to change up the composition some...I haven't really done that before so it was a good lesson!  I was hoping to highlight the haystack in the front.  It was fun painting a little larger and didn't take any longer than many of the 5x7 or 6x6 inch paintings I've done.  

This painting will be for sale in my DPW gallery if it doesn't sell at the Indie Trunk Show on December 10th!

Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art!

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Etsy Shop

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#107 Autumn Road

Click to buy! (7x5 inch)

This painting is another attempt at a landscape.  I took the reference photo on the west side of Norman.  I tried painting in all of the shadow areas first and then painted in the light.  It turned out much more abstract than I intended but I kind of like it like that.  I think it would be a good exercise to paint a landscape on a larger panel.  

I continue to tell myself to just keep painting.  One of the challenges is not getting good feedback.  Often I don't know why one painting gets more views or sells and another doesn't.  I hope to get more feedback over time!

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

Etsy

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#106 Red, White and Blue

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I didn't paint this to make any kind of political statement, but given this week I couldn't resist the title.  This painting went pretty smoothly...except the shape of the mug is a little off on the top.  But I'm really pleased with the colors on the mug.  The reflection went much better than it did in "Hot Coffee".

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

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#105 Hot Coffee

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

This painting is the second in a series with red peppers.  The hardest part was painting the reflection.  I kept painting it too dark and saturated.  Hopefully it works now. 

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

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#104 Bold Peppers- Facebook Pick of the Day!

SOLD (6x6 inch oil on gessobord)

I bought these peppers over a week ago and forgot about them in the fridge!  Was too busy painting Christmas.  I had a little bit of a hard time with the edges.  The color from the peppers and their shadows started mixing with the white background more than I liked.  But it was fun and overall I like it.

Honored for this painting to be chosen as a DPW Facebook Pick of the Day!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at sutiabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thanks for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

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#103 Charlie Brown Christmas

SOLD 6x6 inch

I'm really happy with how this turned out.  I had to wipe quite a bit off about half-way through, but I'm glad I stuck with it.  

I will be selling this painting on DPW if it does not sell at the Indie Trunk Show.

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

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#102 LIght of the World

SOLD 7x5 inch

This painting is my last in this series for now.  I might paint more before Christmas but not sure yet.  In this one, I tried to direct the light source almost straight down on Jesus.  It was hard to get him to stand out, but overall I still like the effect of the way they are focused on Him.  

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Daily Paintworks

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#101 Wonder and Love

SOLD 7x5 inch oil

This painting took me by surprise.  I didn't realize until I was painting it how much Joseph would stand out to me.  I love the posture of his hand over his heart and the way the light hits him as he looks at Jesus.  These paintings are helping to draw my heart into deeper worship.  I named this painting "Wonder and Love" because that is what Joseph communicates to me.  

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my work!

Daily Paintworks

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#100 O Holy Night

SOLD 6x6 inch oil on gessobord

This painting is the first in a series of nativity paintings.  I know it is still a little early for Christmas but I'm getting ready for the Indie Trunk Show!  I was unsure what it would be like to paint objects that are only neutral colors.  It was a good challenge and overall I like how it turned out.  I've finished two others and hope to post them over the next few days.  I drew some value sketches before painting them.  I think it helped.  I only used three values: black sharpie for the darkest, pencil for the mid values, and the white of the paper for the lightest values.  I didn't always stick to the plan but I was thoughtful about it when I deviated. 

Although I enjoyed painting them, I'm feeling the itch to have a little more fun.  I'm not sure what that means yet, but I feel like loosening up.  One message I've heard a by a couple of artists lately is EXPERIMENT.  That's not too hard to do when you are painting something almost every day.  I think I'm need to do some experimenting...with color and looseness.  One thing I want to try is switching up colors while sticking to the same values.  I also want to paint in some fun and fresh colors.  

Here is the thumbnail sketch I did for this painting:

Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

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#99 Myriad Garden Pond

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

Painted this one today while my daughter rested in her room/watched a show and my husband watched college football.  I painted it from a photo I took at Myriad Garden in OKC a couple of weekends ago.  I've been wanting to paint a goose or duck in the water for awhile, so I was so happy to find so many swimming along!  Hope to paint more of them soon.  

6x6 inch oil painting on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art! 

Daily Paintworks

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#98 Melt in your mouth

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I painted this for the Daily Paintworks Challenge this week!  I was not feeling very optimistic about it when I started but once I got a couple of m&ms painted with their cast shadows I could see it coming together.  I'm still learning a lot about painting and painting from life, but having a lot of fun!  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art! 

Daily Paintworks

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#97 Friday Evening

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

In my quest to experiment with more landscapes, I headed out last Friday night and took some reference photos on the west side of norman.  It was a beautiful evening...about 6pm.  I like several of the photos I took and look forward to painting them!  

6x6 inch oil painting on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!  You can see more below:

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#96 Places to Go

Not for Sale (7x5 inch)

Not sure why, but I had the desire to paint a seagull.  Not living near the coast, I found a lot of reference photos on pixabay.  The photo I used as a reference for this painting was the one my husband picked.  It wasn't exactly what I had in mind...he seemed a bit more challenging with all the speckles on his head than some of the other birds whose heads were solid white.  It was hard to figure out how I wanted to handle the details.  On this painting journey, I just keep telling myself to take things one day at a time.  To me, this bird seems like he has some place to be...he's on a mission.

So far this week, I've painted Christmas, Fall and now summer.  Can't seem to make up my mind!  

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you so much for viewing my art!  That means a lot to me.  To see more:

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#95 Spooky- DPW Facebook Pick of the Day

Click to buy!  (6x6 inch)

I painted these pumpkins last night.  I also painted it from life!  So happy to have passed this hurdle in my painting.  I painted it because I am loving pumpkins this year.  I also thought it fit for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  Honored to have it chosen as a DPW Facebook Pick of the Day!

6x6 inch oil painting on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you so much for viewing my art!

Daily Paintworks

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#94 Just a Pumpkin

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

Painted this pumpkin yesterday while my daughter was "napping".  After I finished and she was up I asked her "What should I name it?'  "Just a Pumkin"  So there you go!  There are things I wish would have gone differently with this painting but it was my first time to paint from life and not a photo...so I feel very encouraged by that!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!

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#93 Nutcracker Jingle

 Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

I painted this on Monday night.  I had the itch to paint another still life after trying a couple of landscapes...plus working on another commission of a house the last few days.  I actually felt kind of frustrated painting it and didn't think I would like it at all once I was finished.  In the end there are parts I do like.  Even though it is a little early for Christmas, I want to have some Christmas paintings ready for the Indie Trunk Show coming up in December.  I have a few other ideas for paintings that I hope to try in the next few weeks.  My favorite part of the whole painting is actually the jingle bell...even though my husband looked at it and said "What is THAT?"  Ha!

6x6 inch oil painting on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art!

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#92 Gray Barn in Shadow

Click to buy! (5x7 inch)

Another attempt at a landscape.  I'm happy with how the texture showed up in the photo.  I again tried to keep the light and shadow areas distinct.  Painted from another photo taken on Labor Day in Norman, Oklahoma. 

5x7 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thanks for viewing my art!

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#91 Green Barn in Shadow

SOLD (7x5 inch)

I've really been wanting to try some landscapes, but I've felt intimidated to try too much.  I actually emailed one of my favorite painters (chamberlainpaintings.com) on Friday to ask his advice and he responded so quickly!  Very kind.  Since, I don't have the potential to paint landscapes from life right now, I asked him what he thought about me learning to paint from photos.  He was really positive about it and generous with advice.  So this was one of my experiments with painting a landscape.  I focused on keeping the light and shadow distinct.  Painted it from a photo reference I took on labor day.  

7x5 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!  

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Handmade Floater Frames

I'm so excited about these handmade floater frames that my husband is making!  I'm going to use them in the Indie Trunk Show that is coming up on December 10th.  I think they look great!

Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

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#90 Louie

10x10 inch oil on gessobord

I painted this pug as a commission for my sister-in-law.  She is going to give it to her dad and stepmom for Christmas!  It actually looks better in person than it does in the photo of it.  I was unsure of how it would go, but it flowed pretty well once I got started.  I had a lot of fun painting it.  I also painted it a little larger than usual.  

Zach is building some great floater frames that I'm going to use at the Indie Trunk Show (coming up Dec. 10)!  I'll get some photos of those and post them soon.  I really like them a lot.  

Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com.

Thank you for viewing my art!  You can see more at:

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#89 Ms. Tabby

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

Had the hardest time getting the photo of this painting to look right.  The lights are somewhat blown out and the middle values aren't as warm or deep as they are in the painting.  I painted this cat for another Daily Paintworks Challenge.  I've never painted a cat (except one when I was 12!).  I had no idea how it would go when I started, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!  You can see more at:

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#88 Gourd Trio

Click to buy! (6x6 inch)

There are some parts of this painting I really like...the white gourd, for example.  Though my husband said that was his least favorite part.  Go figure!  I think my standards for myself are getting higher though.  I'm trying to remember that every painting is so helpful for growing, regardless of how it turns out.  I wouldn't say that I love this one, but I enjoyed painting it.  

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!  You can see more at:

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#87 The Sequel- DPW Facebook Pick of the Day!

SOLD (6x6 inch)

Same elements in my composition as "October Book Club", but painted it from a different angle.  The mug was hard, again!

Honored to be chosen as a DPW Facebook Pick of the Day!

6x6 inch oil on gessobord.  Email me at suitabledesigns425@gmail.com

Thank you for viewing my art!  To see more:

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