Barnyard 32

Is the weather vane and cupela part of the barn? This one is on Liberty Road, just west of 99 highway. I am tired. To tired. Good night.

Barnyard 31

This is inspired by the Costa's cherry farm

Masectomy

This piece is trying to describe how I felt after the masectomy. It speaks for itself.

Breast Cancer 3, Woman in the Yellow Shirt

This painting was inspired by a woman I met in Dr. Maboricks' office(he does the best reconstructive surgery in the country and he is a perfectionist) I was pretty scared and feeling sorry for myself. We got to talking and she had a double masectomy and was so sick yet she was setting up her reconstruction and had so much hope that I had to honor her valor. She was wearing a yellow shirt but there was not a drop of cowardess in her. She made me realize that I did not have it so bad and that there are reople everywhere that have struggles much more desperate than my own. I think the painting shows a clear picture of what she was going through. It was painted in acrylics on paper.
I am posting these to give my son support in his Mother's Day run to raise money to fight breast cancer. It support him click here.

Breast Cancer 2

I had a hard time deciding what to post today but decided that since my son is doing that 7 K run on Mother's Day to raise money for breast cancer research I would let my post support his efforts till I run out of my breast cancer pieces. This was done about 8 years ago when I was recovering from my masectomy. My husband was having atrial fib and in and out of the hospital several times, while all this was going on, so in this piece I have put together my heart break for fear I may lose my husband,my own life and my breast all into this abstract expressionist piece. I chose cool colors as I equate them with depression and sadness. The painting is of my chest showing the healthy breast and the breast ripped out with the surgeons skillful knife.

Sorry I was so slow to post this morning. I decided to be leisurely today and went to several garage sales and painted on "My Three Grandsons" some more. When I am sure it is done I will post it again. It is MUCH better than the last time you saw it. I also worked on my last painting for my masters class. It is far from done but slowly coming along. I have been on the back porch painting instead of the studio because the day is Sooooooo beautiful and the dogs have been keeping me company. Have a great day!!!! ; )

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser

My son, William Matthew Masoner is doing something so wonderful. He is taking part in the Mother's Day Classic, which is an annual run with all the procedes going to breast cancer research. I am a 9 year breast cancer survivor and his step mom is also a cancer survivor. Wouldn't it be great if our children and grandchildren did not have this horrible disease in their lives!!!! Oh, this is a pastel I did when I was recovering from my masectomy. If you would like to support him click here.

Barnyard 30

Star testing today, gotta run!!!

Barnyard 29

Barnyard 28, Autumn Tractor SOLD

I was getting tired of fresh green grass so I decided to shift seasons. Here in the Central Valley summer is hot, dry, and ochre to brown grasses. (unless you pay a fortune to irrigate the pasture!!!) :O With these 95 degree days we just got, the pastures could look like this real soon.

Barnyard 27, Strut your Stuff

This rooster is strutting his stuff as my students might say. I have included the tire of the tractor in the background as well as my own shadow on the barn door. Hope my posting is not to erradic.
I will be giving those STAR tests to my students for the next 3 days and have to be at work by 6:30 A.M. so I may not post in the early A.M. like I usually do. Good night all.

Barnyard 26, Rooster in the Rafters

This was composed using the inside of my friend Sally's barn. I love the idea of stong cast shadows directing the eye of the viewer in the painting. Today ia a beautiful day...supposed to be 90 degrees later but right now it is lovely. I am weeding the flower beds, hope to clean house a bit then paint a bit after that.
I have been thinking of my daughter Melissa and my sister Laney so much the past week but it is always the wrong time to call. Enjoy each moment as though it were your last! and be kind!!!
: )

Barnyard 25, Tractor's Reflection

I had fun with the water puddle here. I have been working on the oil sketch for my final painting this quarter. I am doing an 8 X 10 block in to work out color and composition issues before I start the larger final painting. I am also going back and touching up past assignments. The instructor is giving us the opportunity to improve our paintings and grades this week.

Barnyard 24

I am having trouble posting an image today. The orange blossoms are blooming. They smell so wonderful. I will try later. Well, it is later and my blog loves me again so here is the image. The location is either on Collier Road or Jahant Road between our home and the Mackville Ranch. I liked the quality of light on the buildings. That hour after sunrise and hour before sunset are the best light ever!!! See the beauty in all things!

Barnyard 23 SOLD

Here is another tractor. It is not working as well as some of the others. What do you think? What does it need? Any ideas out there?
I made corrections on my 1st Academy homework and turned it back in for a regrade. I know it is much better but if the grade does not change that is okay because I know I really did make it better and that is what it is about. The teacher criticed my 3 grandsons and he was so right on. I got the boys fairly well done but in the process I neglected the rest of the painting.

Barnyard 22, Locke House Inn's Barn

The little barn in the distance is in Lockford , Ca. on Elliot Road. It has been around forever. Something I am working on today is to stay in the moment. Enjoy everyone!!

"3 Grandsons"

Well, I just turned this one in to the Academy of Art as a 3 week project. There are still some things that need revised but I am out of time. I found out that people totally in shadow are very difficult. Oh well, I am learning and that is what is most important! I still would like to tweak the faces since these are my own little guys. They grow up way to fast!!!! Next I want to do Clarene again! (our grand daughter) : )

"Clarene and Her Grandpa"

This one is also far from perfect but it is one of my grand daughters and Jerry loves to carry her everywhere when she was little. My son called yesterday and it was interesting. He said the last painting I posted looked like my daughter when she was Clarene's age. HUMMMM. Interesting.

Check out the link to Elizabeth Sanchez and see her delightful paintings featuring the most wonderful shoes!

Clarene Sleeping

Well, I am sure you are all bored to tears seeing those barnyard pieces, so I am posting this painting that I finished a few weeks back. It is of our grand daughter, Clarene. It still is not perfect(and never will be) but it is someone I love and care about. I am working on several paintings of my grand children and as I work on them, I think of Elizabeth Sanchez and her special love for her nieces, one of which she calls "Babushka". She would work for hours to get everything just perfect. I admire the love and caring she put in those pieces. Happy Easter everyone.

50/50 reception tonight

Here is barnyard 21. I used Sallys' barn interior and took photos of Ryder Tractors and put them together to create this piece. If you are in Sacramento today come by the reception. It is at 911 20th Street and will go on till 9P.M. or later. I worked on my homework for my masters class at the Academy of Art in S.F. I am painting my 3 grandsons. If I can get everything right I am going to be very pleased. It is due midnight on Tuesday so I am trying to pace myself.

Out of space

Well, I am out of space for my images and am not sure if I want to buy more storage space. I tryed to post today and could not due to no space left.

Please check out Etsy and Ebay till I get this figured out. We are having beautiful liquid sunshine today. I am sure those little olive trees are smiling. My Jerry got a metal shaving in his eye yesterday so he is at the Dr. having it removed right now.

Cherries on the Branch

This is one of my Cherry pieces it is a 10" X 8" oil painting. I did it to show my high school students how to use a palette knife. I have used both a brush and a knife to create this painting. To bid click here.

Barnyard 20

I was having some fun playing with the reflections in the water puddle here. Whe had thunder storms last night. It reminded me of when I was a kid. I used to love watching from the upstairs window at the display in the sky.

Barnyard 19, Retired 2

I liked this location so much that I did a second version of it . This one has less barn and more retired relics. Haven't had my coffee so I will let you go. One day at a time!

Barnyard 18, Golden Chickens,Golden Eggs?

Sorry this is a bit out of focus. The painting is at the 20th Gallery right now so I can not reshot it now. I think she has a cute personality. Chickens do have personalities...don't they? I have been working on a 3 week long painting of my husband Jerry carrying our granddaughter Clarene. It is due tomorrow night at midnight. I made many changes on it today and I will recheck it tomorrow to see if there are any more. My cookies were out of whack so I could not post this morning. Sorry. The Orange blossoms are heavy on the trees but not blooming yet. They are going to be fabulous!

Barnyard 17, Put out to Rest SOLD

Some day I would like to try this in a larger painting. This is again a 6" X 6" oil. $120.00 and is available at the 20th Street Gallery. I worked on my Academy homework yesterday and helped Jerry do some spraying in the olive orchard. It was nice to spend some time outside. What a glorious day it was. Live in the moment.

Barnyard 16, Compliments

I really like this one a lot. I am not sure why. It is not very detailed but feel like it is.

Barnyard 15, Chicken in Sally's Barn

I wish these little paintings had less glare. I shot pictures of them while they were still wet and since they are now at the gallery I can not shot better ones. Hope these are good enough. I still have 35 more of these little barnyard paintings. I must go get my coffee. Have a great day and remember to see the small beautiy all around you!

Barnyard 14, Rooster in Sally's Barn

Well, I feel sleepy today. My coffee sure sounds good. The biggest challenge in this one was to get the speckles to feel like part of the feathers and not polka dots. 6" X6" oil on masonite board $120.00

Barnyard 13, Wet and Light(tractor)

I really love this little painting. It is one of those moments when everything felt right. I especially like the light on the tractor seat and the slight reflection in the water puddle. You already know it is a 6" X 6" oil on masonite for $120.00 and is at the 20th Street Gallery in Sacramento.
I just called into jury duty today and do not have to go. I am relieved. I had my lesson plans all written but I am so glad I do not need to use them. I am still working on my painting of Clarene and Jerry( my husband holding our youngest grand daughter) If I can pull it off it will be precious. My Jerry is so wonderful with babies and very small children and this painting will capture that special quality he has forever. I know that is a bit sappy but I think it is important to honor the best qualities in people when we can.