I have a large collection of paintings: my own sentimental and unsold stuff, artwork from my talented family; my mother, my aunt, my two sisters and even one of Carl's and one of Ricky's (age 4). I've also collected original works of unknown artists bought for set dressing for a couple of dollars a piece at thrift stores. As well, I have a several masterpieces from artist friends that I traded for my own. I think I got the better deal.
The partial oil painting to the above left is a portrait of Melinda, the daughter that Carl and I could have had, but never did. I painted her looking about twelve on a 40 X 30 canvas, using an obvious combination of both Carl's an my features. It's one of my favorite paintings, and although still unframed and unsigned, hangs in our living room. To hear "Melinda's theme", click on the link below. It takes awhile to load, so you may want to skip it...?
The above oil painting is one of my mother's very early works. It desperately needs to be restored, and one of these days I hope to be able to afford to have it done by a professional art restorer. My mother gave me the painting when I left for California because I'm my papa's daughter, and I love the ocean. I've included it on this page with my own paintings because I inherited my art talent from my mother.
The painting to the right is the last painting I actually finished, "the red guitar", an acrylic portrait of Ricky. He's never seen it but I guess he will when he visits this site for the first time! Hi, Rick! The painting is one of a series of four in the same style: one of me, one of Merlin, and one of Carl (which is still unfinished).
To
the side is a "cel vinyl" painting on art board that
I haven't framed yet. I did a whole series in that medium and
style, some of which were sold. This one represents a connection
between the past and the future. The little girl is me as a child
looking into a window of a house I would one day own (and did)
and a cat that I would one day adopt (Merlin). Merlin not only
has appeared in many of my video films, but in many of my paintings.
To the left is a pastel portrait of Merlin. It's one of ten pastels I did in one week for a hurried "art exhibit". I took one workshop in pastels, and decided I was not going to show the paintings I had originally planned, but more "saleable" pastels. Unfortunately, I didn't sell any at that time, but I now only have four of the ten in my own collection. Two of my pastels, the one on the left and another one I still have, went on to be exhibited at a juried show at Toronto's "Casa Loma" in the International Pastel Society art show. It was quite an honor for me. I even got a certificate of participation!
To the left is a small oil on paper that I painted while in College. It's a portrait of Ricky, age five. It has never appeared in any exhibits (just videos), and I just recently framed it with an old, antique frame I found in a thrift store.
The detail of the painting to the right is one of Carl I did from memory while he was at work. It's a watercolor on rough paper. It also has never appeared in any of my exhibits. I painted it just before we moved to California in 1989, and also just recently framed it. It's hanging somewhere in the apartment.
The painting to the right is also a section of a larger painting, one of two watercolor self portraits I attempted after our backpacking excursion to Europe and before our move to California. It is a sketch meant for a larger oil painting that I've never started, and probably never will. Meanwhile, I've framed it, and it's hanging where I can see it while I'm typing this.
Last
for now, is one of the few landscapes I've ever painted. It's
also one of the ten pastels that I sold eventually here in California.
It reminded the elderly Polish couple that bought it of their
Homeland, even though the painting is of rural Ontario, Canada.
All the paintings you've seen are "stills" from my video film, "fun with ADD".
