Two Horses

Oil on board, 16 x 12 in.

I  saw these horses at a rodeo ground. The horses were calm and patient, waiting while their riders were chatting. Ellensburg, the town where I live, is famous for Rodeo. We have a major Rodeo event, in conjunction with our county fair, during Labor Day weekend. It might be fun to paint a series of horses and rodeo-related themes this summer. This painting comes with this barn wood frame.

Sparrow in the Branches

Oil on board, 5" x 5" -- SOLD

Our property is dog-free, and attracts all kinds of small wild birds. So we provide them with birdseed and shelters. We have so many House Sparrows in our backyard. I think I should do more painting of these critters.

Backyard Robin No.2

Oil on board, 5" x 5" -- SOLD

This is the second series of the robin.

Backyard Robin

Oil on board, 5" x 5" -- SOLD

I'm off to Pullman tomorrow to visit my husband Peter, and too busy to post a new painting till I get there. I did this painting of robin before, and I've just found the image along with a few other works. Unfortunately the photo is not great, and I didn't get to shoot it again before it was sold. I see so many wild birds in our backyard especially this time of the year, and I love watching them. It was freezing afternoon of March, and this robin was fluffed up like a ball to stay warm. Birds are always fun to paint.

Field Search

Chicken painting, oil on board, 6" x 6" -- SOLD

This is our Shantie, a Buff Orpington hen. She is very good at hunting bugs, especially grasshoppers, in the backyard.

"A New Day" at OPA Western Regional

A New Day, 2009, oil, 6"x6", sold.

This painting was juried into the Oil Painters of America Western Regional Show at Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA. The show was up throughout August.

I attended the opening reception, followed by demonstration by the juror of awards, Jeffrey Watts, and a series of seminars for professional oil painters, throughout the day. It was definitely worth seeing the show in person and meet the other members of Oil Painters from different parts of the U.S. and Canada.

Another great news is that "A New Day" found "a new home."

Lone Cat

It was so windy and chilly today in Ellensburg, that I stayed inside my studio most of the afternoon. I was still tempted to paint en plain air because it was so nice and sunny despite the winds. So, I painted the view from my studio window. As I was halfway done, a lonely cat showed up from nowhere, and completed the picture.

Puffy the Hen

SOLD

A New Day

SOLD
This is based on a photo of Ta-ke, the rooster, when he first arrived at our home from the hatchery with several other chicks. He was only two days old.

Rooster No.2

Rooster No.2, oil on hardboard, 8"x6"x3/4", SOLD.
The edges painted in black. Ready to hang without frame.

Our No.2, Matsu, is the model of this painting. After the loss of Ta-ke, the No.1, Matsubecame the alpha rooster of our flock, with 11 hens.

The Bench

SOLD

As my first attempt of plein air painting of this year, I picked this bench in our backyard. It took me less than an hour, but it was so chilly and breezy for the Mid-March. I was sitting on a bucket I put upside-down while painting this. Then one of our pet chickens sat on my lap. We were appreciating body heat from each other.