24″ x 30″ Acrylic and Block Print on Canvas

18″ x 24″  Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

22″ x 28″ x 1.5″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

18″ x 24″ x 3/4″ acrylic and metal leaf on gallery wrapped canvas

36″ x 24″ x 1.5″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

A surprise Christmas gift led me to this dreamy Sunday morning in Jardin des Tuileries in Paris.  Read about the details on my blog.

16″ x 20″ x 3/4″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Growing up, our family always had a fresh evergreen Christmas tree. Each year we chose a Douglas Fir, which filled our home with the beloved spicy, forest scent of the season. We covered it with traditional ornaments – the same ones each year, occasionally adding a new treasure to our collection. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the 1950’s style tinsel (which my sister and I placed meticulously, strand by strand for the first 10 minutes, then wound up tossing on the tree in clumps, much to my mother’s dismay).

On Christmas night, in the afterglow of discovering Santa’s generosity, we’d take our annual drive down Christmas Tree Lane. I would bring my favorite new toy (my Betsy McCall doll was especially dear) and we’d join the line of cars, making our way down the street with the windows down to catch any Christmas music projected from the decorated homes.

After Christmas Tree Lane, we would then venture to the houses on the block beyond ours: the section of “rich houses where doctors lived.” This is where I would see them: pink Christmas trees. Gigantic picture windows framed the alluring sugarplum spectacles which drew me in and allowed a glimpse into what I imagined must be perfect lives. Of course, we would never dare to have a pink, metallic tree. Metallic trees, we reasoned, were for rich people who didn’t understand the true feeling of Christmas. Those trees weren’t natural and were pronounced as gaudy by the entire family. But in my little girl heart, I secretly thought the pink trees were beautiful. So enticing, so beautiful, so magical that I still dream about them today

Though I’m far away from my childhood, and from my California neighborhood, I’m seeing for the first time that maybe pink evergreens actually are real. All it takes is a stunning Washington sunrise for them to appear. Magically. Just like when I was a child.

18″ x 24″ x 1.5″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Growing up in northern California, 30 minutes from the beach, I became familiar with seagulls at an early age. I knew them as loud, obnoxious scavengers.

Imaging my sureprisse, then, when I happened upon a sweet, quiet groupf of seagulls one evening at twilight. Instead of the brash screeching that I was used to, this little colony spoke to each other in sofe endearing sounds resembling the cooing and clucking of mother hens. I was spellbound as I watched their private little communal gathering.

Ever since this magical encounter, I feel fondness in my hear whenever seagulls are around – whether they’re screeching or not.

12″ x 16″ x 3/4″ Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas,

22 x 28 Acrylic on stretched canvas

When visiting Berlin, I stayed in the Neukolln district and everyday walked through this neighborhood to catch the S Bahn at Sonnenallee Station. I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect in Berlin but I had no idea that I would see graffiti EVERYWHERE!  I am entranced and must go back!

16″ x 20″ x 7/8″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Golden leaves swirl in the autumn breeze in this whimsical rendition of a Sonoma County, CA  vineyard.  Having spent most of my life in the wine country of northern California, I am very familiar with the gorgeous hues that cover the countryside in late fall.

11″ x 14″ acrylic on gallery wrapped linen canvas.

The simple beauty of the Pacific Northwest:  Snow, evergreens and a gorgeous sky.

Born and raised in northern California, Washington is now my home. However, I do love the Oregon coast! Fortunately, my sister often invites me to stay with her at her beach house near Depoe Bay. Seems that every sunset and cloud formation is stunning.

New Years Eve is always topped off by the traditional cork POP! at midnight.  This year – as most years – Korbel California Champagne is the honored bubbly – my tribute to the many significant years of my life lived in Guerneville, California (home of Korbel Champagne Cellars).

There’s no shortage of beautiful walking trails in western Washington, but they are particularly stunning during the fall season. The brilliance of greens, golds and oranges, cooler temperatures and scent of damp wood is invigorating!

I walk to this beach several times a week. Valentine’s Day this year inspired the fuchsia clouds in one of my favorite local views.

It was actually just a calm day down at Little Rocky Beach on Puget Sound – my usual destination for daily walks. When I began this painting, however, I started with a very dark background on my canvas. The result was this dark, moody beach scene.

There’s nothing like a brisk walk to clear your head and reset the day. Such was my experience as I took a 5 minute walk down to the water, the refreshment of evergreens and sea breezes reviving my tired mind.