Eeny, Meeny, Miney Mo

8x6" oil on canvas SOLD

Remember when you were a kid and this is how you made decisions? If only it were that easy now...maybe rock, paper, scissors?

This is an attempt at making the background a bit more important in the painting. It's where all the secrets are hidden, all the weird stuff that's going on in my head while I'm painting. Pretty scary, huh? And here's one of those tiny bits of data my brain tries so desperately to hold onto: Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo was a song by Billie Holiday. (Hope my link works so you can listen to Billie).OK, there. I can let that little fun fact float away and make room for something equally as important...

Little Thing Called Love

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

I've been trying to write something, anything about this painting for way too long. There's construction on the house next door this summer and I'm afraid anything I would write would be pretty ugly given my state of mind and the pounding in my head from the relentless hammering. So, since Neil Young wrote a song with the same title as this painting I thought this might be a bit more inspired:
Only love puts a tear in your eye
Only love makes you hypnotized
Only love makes you choose
Only love brings you the blues.
--Neil Young
OK, I didn't say uplifting....

Lovers And Other Strangers

10x8" oil on canvas, SOLD

OK, so the "lovers" are obvious but the "strangers"? They are there too...bottom left corner. Can you guess what the little strangers represent? Aw, c'mon...any parents out there?

Hanky-Panky

12x16" oil on canvas

Another Valentine's painting. I'm definitely on a roll...

Juggler Of Hearts

10x8" oil on canvas, SOLD

I really love all the hoopla surrounding Valentine's Day. Even in the grocery store there's red and pink displays in case you're of the mind that you should fatten up your Valentine this year. My favorite Valentine factoid, passed on to me by my teenage daughter, is that upwards of 70% of single women admit to sending themselves flowers on the day of love. Seems like Hallmark could have some fun with this!

Heart On Her Sleeve

8x6 oil on canvas, SOLD

So I've been sitting here at my computer for a good 20 minutes. No words. Just pictures. That's just how it is sometimes. Guess my brain is taking a little break. Good thing my hand isn't!

Heart And Soul

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

Maybe your Valentine would like a funny little painting this year, instead of the usual bouquet of roses? You would definitely get the brownie points for giving something out of the ordinary! In the name of tradition, I'll even throw in some rose petals in the box...

"The Color of Candy"

8"x 6" original oil painting, $100

The colors of these candies are so tempting--just makes you want to grab a handful! Except for the hearts they are all licorice flavor. Seems like someone's repugnant little trick. I'm not a licorice fan but I enjoyed painting these pastel confections. I think next week it will be back to painting people again.

"Sweet Hearts"

5"x 7" oil on canvas panel, SOLD

The Sweethearts Conversation Hearts have been a Valentine's Day tradition since the Civil War. Every year the candy makers at NECCO come up with new sayings to reflect the times. Or, if you prefer, you can have custom-made hearts with your own message. That is, if you're willing to pay for a full production of 1.7 million hearts. You'll have Valentine's Day covered for a long time--NECCO says the Sweethearts stay fresh for at least five years. Hmmm.....LUV 2 PAINT M.