These are paintings from our Christmas exchange

                                                        Jane Schafer
                                                                       
                                                       

                                                      Linda Kay Jones
                                             

                                                      Marge Holtman

                                          Marie Campbell

                                          Mary Lou Koons

                                         Midge Ovenshire

                                          Nancy Rae Brown

                                         Nancy Stellhorn

                                          Olivia Smith

                                                       Rose Mary Atkins

                                                      Shelley Koopmann

                                          Sue Beckett

Sledding

This is a small painting I did of my favorite model, my granddaughter. We had so much fun in the snow on this beautiful winter day. Winter snow brings back the kid in me; and what fun having my granddaughter snowed in at our house.

Bunches of Onions

I was with an art group last summer taking pictures of just about everything on the Roanoke City market.  We were looking for interesting subjects to paint and put in these really neat frames that we were going to create when we got back to our class.  Long story short,  I came across this picture and decided to paint it.  I did paint some little paintings for the frames but the frames aren't finished yet!

"Spring Delight" by Margie Holtman

"Autumn Sleep" by Margie Holtman

Natures sleep brings the brilliance of Spring!

Sun Burst

The sunflower has always been one of my favorite flowers. They are always so bright and cheerful. The deer and birds have never allowed me to grow them to the flower stage; so a painting was my only option.

Dreamscape

Poppies

This was painted from a photo that was given to me by a friend. I loved seeing the different poppies together. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being different.

The Cliffs

I live near the cliffs at Smith Mountain Lake  and I always wanted to paint something that reminded me of them. These were actually in the Canadian Rockies but I made them Virginian!

The Garden Party

Some of us took a workshop on mono prints. I created the background using a monoprint approach and these three lovely ladies with hats began to emerge and the rest I created from my imagination.  It was a lot of fun!

Chickadee

This is one of my favorite birds to paint. I can usually find several posing for me at my bird feeder or waiting in line to be next at the feeder.

Historic Beauty

I love old buildings, and this structure dated back to the late 1800's.  It was part of a Shaker community building that I believe was used as a central meeting place.  I chose to paint this view because the flowering bush in front of the window really set it off, but I might paint it again from the inside looking out through the leaded glass.  It always amazes me to see how the glass distorts the view and gives objects a surreal quality.

The Rosendahl Home, Mt. Arlington, NJ

This colored pencil painting is an example of my home portrait commissions. I especially enjoyed painting the rocks in this composition.

Bessie

Miss Hannah

This is another one of my paintings of Bar Harbor, Maine. The beauty of the area just presents a lifetime of paintings.

The Bride and Groom

Fall Leaves

After a three day trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you'd think I'd have lots to paint. Well, I did, but the first painting I did was from a photo taken from my own backyard. Just goes to show you, "There's no place like home." Sue Beckett

Antiques

This is a painting I did from one of my favorite places to visit, Bar Harbor, Maine. It is such a beautiful area. These two older homes had been turned into antique shops with lots of flowers and antiques.

Monhegan and His Chicks

I don't think there are too many chickens on Monhegan Island, but the ones I saw were very unique and colorful.

Photographer's Squat

This was fun to do because it is a member of Artists on the Loose!  Baby sheep were born at Booker T. Washington Park and our wonderful artist friend, Sue, was using her new, super-duper camera to take a photo.  She's a professional...You can tell by her pose...

Callaway Twists

Our county has its share of winding mountain roads. They're like life -- You always wonder what's around the bend.

Speaker of the House

My favorite subjects are country animals. I have painted many roosters. This is a favorite.

Flip Flops

Flip Flops were on sale at the end of the summer. I bought an arm load and added a favorite towel. This painting was a pleasure from start to finish.

Stone Church

This wonderful painting is a colored pencil done by Nancy Rae Brown. Nancy is offering a colored pencil class on Friday, June 17, 2011, from 6-8 PM, as part of the Fun Strokes classes scheduled at the Gallery by the James in Buchanan, VA. Nancy will share her knowledge of perspective and colored pencils to help students create an architectural scene to take home that evening. The inspiration is her award-winning Stone Church. Fees are $20 plus $5 supply fee. Call 540-254-9708 for more information and to pre-register.

Avignon

This painting is by Sue Beckett who is being taught how to enter a painting on the blog. She says, "Southern France holds many beautiful memories for me. Among them was visiting the Pope's Palace and seeing this enchanting bridge. This is one of two paintings I have done in pastel of the bridge."

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

This is a painting I did after returning home from a cruise and a side trip to Mount Dora, FL. Mount Dora is a quaint little town in central Florida. I love the clocks that so many little towns have added to the center of town. The clock no longer worked, but stopped at 5 o'clock.

"Passion"

This is one of my encaustics that is currently on display at the Westlake Library art gallery at Smith Mountain Lake , Virginia. One of the oldest art forms is now making a powerful come back on the art scene. There are

around 50 or so encausics at the library gallery done by 5 different artists in 5 different approaches. I have posted several others on my personal blog if you would like to see more. This is an awsome way of artful expression that I so enjoy. http://paintingsbymidge.blogspot.com/

View From Bridgewater Plaza

This is one of the best views at Smith Mountain Lake, as far as I'm concerned.  What can be better than the blue water and beautiful mountains?!

North Carolina Lighthouses

This was a painting I did for my sister-in-law and my first try at painting lighthouses. I decided to do three small paintings instead of just one and was pleased with the outcome.

Stewman's Lobster Pound

This is a painting of one of my favorite places in Bar Harbor, Maine; not only for the fresh lobster but for the wonderful weathered wood and buoys all over the building. I have wanted to paint it for the last three years. This past summer when we were in Bar Harbor we were surprised to find it had been totally remodeled. It no longer had the beautiful weathered look. The fresh paint and new wood motivated me to paint this wonderful memory.

"Daisy Splash" by Marge Holtman