Merry Christmas to You & Yours!

Although we will not be with family this year, wishing all my friends, families, & followers a family, fun-filled Christmas & a Happy, healthy New Year! :)

Vintage Blue Dress & Summer (after Benson)

(available on etsy)

Tea Tins...Painting in OIL by Lara Harris

Available on etsy...commissions always welcome!

Contact me at any time!

It's Coming!!. . . . . & a Surprise From Me!

Summer is just around the corner! Have you ordered your issue of SUMMER with Matthew Mead?! Sold online here.And a certain artist is doing something TOP SECRET for the issue so stay tuned! :)

Mama Cow & Calf on Farm Painting in OIL by LARA

This is a 16"x 20" oil painting of a Mama Cow & her little Calf enjoying the summer sun. Moo-oo! Available on etsy.

Wishing Everyone a Truly Blessed, Family Filled 4th of July!

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July holiday!! We will be going to a BBQ given by a friend of mine whom I've known since kindergarten on Saturday, and then spending the 4th with family. Hope you have a truly, blessed family filled weekend! God bless!

The Woodlands Feather Collection II...Painting in OIL & Honey Bees!

Truly enjoying painting feathers from my ever growing feather collection, as well as summertime bees! I'll have to start trying to identify the feathers in my collection, but it seems I never have enough hours in the day! Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer whatever part of the world you are in right now...well, unless you are in a part that is now having winter of course! ;)

SuMmeR STraWbeRRieS on PiNk SpoDe PlaTe...Painting in OIL

I think there is nothing that quite says 'summer' as some fresh-picked, juicy red strawberries! This piece is available on etsy.

FuZzY HoNeY BEES Flying in the Clouds 16x20

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I am so enjoying painting bees lately...I decided to do a large painting of a summer sky and five bumble bees...love those lazy, summer days! This piece is available on etsy.

My Return to Houghton Lake...

On our way home from a week-long vacation up north in Michigan, my husband and I stopped by a familiar 'friend'...my childhood cottage at Houghton Lake. It has since been updated with new siding, windows, a new deck, but I recognized it just the same. It was where my family spent each summer before my parent's divorce. I loved those summers at the lake. As a young girl all I cared about was swimming for hours on end, fishing with my Dad, and walking up to the local party store with summertime friends. I felt such a mix of emotions as I looked around the cottage grounds, so much has changed, and it is so hard to believe it was some twenty years or so since I had been there. I looked at the grouping of three trees where I used to play kick-the-can, out at the lake where we used to have our favorite fishing spot, along the shoreline where there used to be a beautiful, sandy beach, now replaced with a concrete retaining wall...it all seemed so familiar and yet I was looking at these things not thru the eyes of young girl, but of a grown woman. I will admit, quite a few tears were shed that day. I loved our cottage at Houghton Lake, summers spent with family & friends, peace and serenity...what I'd give to get some of that time back.
As we prepared to leave I looked around one last time and realized that this place has indeed changed, it is no longer the 'friend' I once knew, it belongs to a new family...the place I remember is in my heart, and that is where it will always remain. And someday, if I am so blessed, I hope to have another cottage in which new memories can be made...laughter among friends, crackling bonfires, waves lapping against the shore...the simple beauty of life.

Amish Girl at River's Edge, Painting in Oil

"Amish Girl at River's Edge," 5"x 7", oil on stretched canvas,
(SOLD, thank you!)

I know I've said this before, but there is nothing more frustrating than spending hours on a piece and then not being able to get a good photo that shows the true beauty and vibrancy of what you just created...as is the case with this piece. I am hoping I can get a better photo at some stage today as the flowers are more colorful...a mix of lavender, magenta, a bit of light blue shadows on the Queen Anne's Lace...and the little girl's dress is a bit darker and more vibrant than what the photo shows. Irregardless, this piece was a joy to paint! I wanted the focus to stay on the little girl and her bright, blue dress, so I kept the river a bit murky, as it was in the photo and did a more impressionistic background. There is something so endearing about the Amish...simple, yet beautiful in many ways.
(*Update: I replaced the photo, but I still think this piece is more vibrant in person!:)

Summer Nights...

"Summer Nights," 10"x 12", oil on stretched canvas,

(SOLD,thank you!!)

Someday I will throw a fabulous summer party like the one I painted here...but for now I will just have to dream a little dream :o)....I will need to replace the photo tomorrow as I ran out of summer sunlight this evening! Have a great weekend!

(*Update: Replaced the photos and some AWESOME news to share!

I finally reconnected with my art teacher from high school after almost 20 years!, Mrs. June Fox...I was able to let her know that I am now a full-time artist and thanked her for all her support and encouragement back then! I know I would not be where I am today had it not been for her believing in me! Teachers are the best! :o)

Love the Beach?...You will LOVE these ARTISTS!

No paintings of my own today to share, but rather some work from two fellow artist friends, Debbie Rittenhouse and Nancy Poucher. I am blessed to actually own a few small pieces by each of these artists and can attest to the fact that both are incredibly talented ladies! Their work is just breathtaking in person...be sure to treat yourself this summer to some amazingly beautiful beach eye candy!

Trio of Vintage Swimsuits, 3 Paintings in Oil...and Exciting News!

Trio of Vintage Swimsuits, 3 Paintings in Oil,
4"x6" each, $89(plus s/h)(available)

When I painted these cute little vintage swimsuits I was really hoping someone would buy all 3 as I think they would make an adorable, summery grouping in a cottage or home so I decided to sell them together!

**I thought I'd also let you in on an exciting secret!...well not all of it or I would be giving it away, but I am currently working on a special piece for an amazing designer/stylist! I won't be able to reveal who it is, or exactly what I am working on until after July 25th, but I am pretty excited to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to share my art with this person :o) ...And I will also be getting started on the paintings for the winners of my Blog Art Giveaway! So, stay tuned!


(**this is the initial sketch of the painting for Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality
she was one of the two winners of my recent Blog Art Giveaway...as soon as I have more completed I will post another photo! :o)