"Purple Mountain Majesties"

5x7 oil on panel

So I finally entered the Different Strokes From Different Folks blog.  I never would have guessed that I would have started with a landscape painting as they are not quite my thing, however, that is one of the things I love about this piece.  The challenge to do something I would not ordinarily do...  The painting is small (5x7) and on panel board.  I wish it were a little more painterly, but it was fun to get out of my comfort zone and give something totally new a try...  Karin Jurick, the hostess of the DSFDF blog, posted a picture in black and white of a Pennsylvania landscape and each artist was challenged to invent their own colors based on the different values.  Of course my rendering is infused with pink and purple because that just seems to be the way I am leaning at the moment.

buy this in my etsy shop!

"George"

This is a miniature (5x5) painting of Gus, our 9 month old Yorkshire Terrier.  He is the sweetest, cutest, full of personality puppy you will ever meet.  One of his many nicknames is "George" because his hair falls in a way that reminds me of the Abominable Snowman in the famous Bugs Bunny cartoon...  "I will name him George. I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him and love him."  I love Gus to pieces.  I am sure I will be painting more pictures of "my littlest one" because I have definitely become one of those "crazy in love with my dog" people.

"On the Way to Taos" (LK Mix Gallery)

9x12 oil on canvas

I am happy to announce  that I have had three pieces chosen to be part of LK Mix's latest Art Exhibit called "Words and Works".  "On the Way to Taos" was chosen as well as "Doc's" and "Petrus".  The exhibit runs through June and any one of these three pieces can be purchased directly through the gallery at www.lkmix.com or by calling 561.586.5651.  Also,  you can contact me and I will be happy to assist you.

"On the Way to Taos" is from a very old photograph I have had for years... When I was engaged, my soon to be husband (now ex husband) and I took a motorcycle trip through Colorado and New Mexico.  After a long day on the motorcycle winding in and around many mountains, we were hungry, tired and almost out of gas.  We had passed NOTHING for miles and miles and I was beginning to panic just a little. And then out of nowhere- in the middle of nowhere- this little cafe gas station appeared... 

“Pink Flamingo” - WIP

A WIP is a “work in progress.” I have a lot of these paintings sitting around my studio, waiting for me to pick them up again.  A painting is built by adding several layers of paint and detail. Oils need time to dry between layers, and I  usually have to sit a piece aside while I am working on it so that it can dry.   Drying can often take up to a week or more, so you can pretty much guess I am off to another piece in the meantime.  I just started this painting of a pink flamingo and I am very excited about it because I have been wanting to paint it for a long time.   West Palm Beach has this really cool place called Lion Country Safari where you can ride around in your car and see all different kinds of exotic animals.  The boys and I love to go, and I always get some great pictures.  I have already decided that when this painting is finished, I will make it available for purchase as a giclee.

“James Patterson”

9x12 oil on canvas

Isn’t it interesting to watch couples?  Their body language, the way they relate to each other...  What better place to people watch than the beach?  I could see this painting the minute I saw them.  What a great natural composition. What a perfect color combination... What I didn’t know at the time, however, was what she was reading. My original photograph was taken at a pretty far distance away.  It wasn’t until I got home, cropped the picture, and really studied it that I saw she was reading a James Patterson book. I am a HUGE James Patterson fan... “Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas” is one of my favorite books.  Knowing that just made me love this little painting even more.

“Doc’s All American”

10x14 oil on panel

sold

Doc’s All American is a great restaurant in Downtown Delray.  It’s a Delray Beach landmark.  You order at the window, can only sit outside, and you must pay in cash.  They have great soft serve ice cream and the best Philly cheese steak in town. It’s a perfect place for a bite to eat after a long day on the beach. It took me forever to finish this painting because for some reason I could not get the palm trees to work.  Palm Trees  are something I have painted a lot of, but have yet to master...

"Diana"

8x8 oil on panel

I often take my boys to the beach on a beautiful Sunday and while they are off playing in the ocean, I am often taking pictures of the scene around me.  I was particularly struck by the beauty of this little girl hunting for sea shells.  I was inspired to paint her after sketching a picture of “The Companion of Diana” for the Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. This blog was created by an artist I really admire named Karin Jurick. She posts a picture every couple of weeks for artists to paint (or draw). She then posts all the submitted versions. The end result is close to a hundred different interpretations of the same image.  I did not enter my sketch, but I did get inspired to paint this piece.  How fitting for this piece to be named “Diana”...the goddess of the hunt.

“Old Sheller” LK MIX Art Gallery Selection

9x12 oil on canvas

I am very excited to announce that I had two pieces selected to be part of an inaugural art exhibit at LK MIX Art Gallery in West Palm Beach Florida.   The Exhibit is called “Uncommon Objects” and runs through May. See their website at www.lkmix.com for more information and other featured artists.  Also, an online gallery of the exhibit can be viewed at http://www.pbase.com/durgagarcia/uo

“Old Sheller” is one of my favorite paintings. Not only is it one of my first beach paintings, I did it in one sitting which is rare for me.  Here in Delray it is very common to see people walking up and down the beach with nets and things to grab sea shells.  I have several different photographs of people doing this and I think it may just become  a series...

It can be purchased directly through the gallery, or you can contact me and I will be happy to assist you.  (This painting is professionally framed).

"Purple Umbrella" LK MIX Art Gallery Selection

12x12 oil on canvas

I love this painting.  I love the composition.  I love the man who can wear this bathing suit and sit under a purple flowered umbrella.  This painting is also jokingly known as “Man in Panties” as dubbed by my youngest son, Mason, and my beautiful friend, Feenie. Also, I have to give credit where credit is due. The photograph was taken by a friend of mine who -when he is not taking pictures of the hot moms on the beach with my camera- occasionally manages to capture a beautiful image worthy of painting.  (Not to mention I told him to point in the direction of this guy and shoot). This painting is on exhibit at LK Mix through May.  It can be purchased directly through the gallery, or you can contact me and I will be happy to assist you.  (This painting is professionally framed).