"Three Trees Outside of Black Mountain, NC"

"Three Trees Outside of Black Mountain, NC"
8 x 10
Oil on Panel
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This scene is part of the Seven Sisters mountain range near Black Mountain, NC.

"Town Center"

"Town Center"
8 x 10
Oil
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I started this painting en plein air (outside) while sitting in the park in Black Mountain, NC.  It was a bright sunny day and the mountains had just started to turn green.  I don't always have successful paintings when painting en plein air but the experience is most always very enjoyable.  I finished the painting in the studio having fun with the application of the paint.

"Bad Hair Day"

"Bad Hair Day"
6 x 6
Oil on Panel
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Loved painting this sheep's "hair".  

In Memoriam

The world lost a good man today.  To me, Spike Noonan was so much more than a boss.  He was a friend, a mentor, a supporter and collector.  He was the kind of man that would give you the shirt off his back.  He demonstrated the importance of relationships and bent over backwards to be of service.  He loved the outdoors and was a farmer and a cowboy at heart.  You will be greatly missed Spike!  The world won't be the same without you.

Collaboration Post #6

"Bottoms Up"
5 x 7
 Oil on Panel

An unusual view of a Tennessee Warbler (I think).  30% of the proceeds will benefit the Audubon Society protecting birds and the places they need.  Check out their Instagram account for some amazing photos of  so many beautiful birds in the world. Their website is also a great source for education, not just about birds, but also about the environment and why it's so important to protect it.

Collaboration Post #5

"Grubbin'"
6 x 6
Oil on Panel
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Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project or ASAP supports local farmers of Western North Carolina by linking them to markets and supporters, working to transform our food system.  The farm to table movement is strong in Asheville and I love the energy of collaboration and support here.  As part of Collaboration Month, 30% of the sales proceeds will be donated to ASAP to support their mission.

Collaboration Post #4

"Evening's Mooring"
5 x 7
Oil on Panel
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This post will benefit the Apalachicola Bay & Riverkeeper organization, with 20% of the sales proceeds going to this charitable organization whose mission is to provide stewardship and advocacy for the protection of the Apalachicola River and Bay, its tributaries and watersheds, in order to improve and maintain its environmental integrity and to preserve the natural, scenic, recreational, and commercial fishing character of these waterways.  This is a scene from the mouth of the Apalachicola River in Apalachicola, Florida.  It's a beautiful area and a treasured natural resource worthy of protection.

Collaboration Post #3

"Ah Nuts"
5 x 7
Oil on Panel
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Benefiting American Forests a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting and restoring threatened forests ecosystems as well as promoting expansion of urban forests, 30% of the sales proceeds will be donated to American Forests.  Click the link to learn more about what they do.  So crucial to our planet's health and our quality of life, we can't live without our forests. Squirrels are important tree planters in the forest ecosystem.  This little guy was quite industrious with his mouth full of nuts.  This original oil painting is framed in solid wood gold frame.  The buyer will receive confirmation of the donation.

Collaboration Month - Post #2

"Mountain Grazing"
6 x 8
Oil on Panel
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Today's post is of a scene at the farm of Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC.  It's in a beautiful valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and is my new favorite place to paint.  The farm at Warren Wilson College is a working farm run by the students and practices sustainable agriculture.  Not only do they feed the students with their bounty, they also sell to the local community.  As part of "Collaboration Month", 20% of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Warren Wilson Farm.  I want this farm be here forever!

Crafting a Collaborative Life

"Winter Leaves II"
8 x 10
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I am so  impressed by the concept of “open sourcing”.  It comes from the software industry where the software is written to be used as a public collaboration, made freely available to anyone who can use or modify it so long as it is freely redistributed.  Share with one another.  Someone was paying attention in kindergarten!

Collaboration - what a concept.  Working together to create a better world for everyone.  This word keeps rolling around in my head.  This new year I am crafting a collaborative life in my own small way.  My husband and I have moved to North Carolina to be closer to my parents as they get older.  We are collaborating with them so that they can live out their elder years as peacefully and safely as possible, bearing witness to this part of their journey.  The move has given me an opportunity to seek out a studio in which to paint.  I found one in Black Mountain at The Red House Gallery which is operated by The Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League.  I am excited to be a part of this group of artists and looking forward to potential creative collaborations.

So in that spirit, January is “Collaboration Month”.  Every painting posted and sold in the month of January will have a part of the proceeds donated to a non-profit organization that is doing real work to making this world a better place. It's my way of giving back to the people, places and things that give me inspiration to paint.  The paintings will be available through my website under the category - what else -  “Collaborations”.  Confirmations of the donations will be provided to the buyers.

Today's post is a wintry scene in Franklin, TN near the Harpeth River. 20% of the sales proceeds will be donated to The Harpeth Conservancy, a science-based organization dedicated to clean water and healthy ecosystems for rivers in Tennessee. They are doing great work and are dedicated to their mission.