Trompe L'Oeil

11 x 14 Oil on Board
This is a true Trompe L'Oeil painting.  Roughly translated that means to 'trick the eye.'  By keeping the depth of the still life very shallow and painting the objects life size, the viewer is drawn to the images to see if they can touch it.  This painting has fingernail marks in the varnish.  People tried to scrape the paper book cover at the corner.  I consider that a big compliment.

12 x 16 Oil on Board
This arrangement was done by a student for one of my students' annual shows.  All the flowers were in her garden.  The painting has a double significance. First, it is all spring flowers, and at this time of year we are looking forward to these plants.  Also, it reminds me of the show, the good time we always have at our opening reception, and it is time to remind the students to get their favorite painting that they did this year ready to exhibit. 

11 x 14 Oil on Board
The postcard in this painting was sent to my husband in the mid 1970's from his brother in Paris.  The old man looked so melancholy, it made a nice addition to this still life.  The purple rabbit was carved in Oaxaca, Mexico.  We purchased it on a trip in the 90's.  If you add the oriental bamboo and vase and the New England flowers, we have a very cosmopolitan set-up, but you have to look for it.

Grandmother Lucy

11 x 14 oil on board
This is a portrait of my Father's mother, Lucy Ellen Billings Bitgood.  The photo that I copied from was taken when she was 16 years old.  This hangs in my living room, next to the portrait of my Mother's mother, Rose.

Melon with Spoon

8 x 10 Oil on board
Sometimes the simplest images are the best.

Spring Daffodils

9 x 12 Oil on Board
This is an old friend, purchased out of the Lenox Gallery.  The daffodils and tulip were out of my yard and they remind me that spring is almost here.  Time to look for the shoots from the spring bulbs.

9 x 12 Oil on Board
Any ideas for a name for this new painting?  It will be in a show in April for the first time.