Summer Interlude

One Saturday morning at a Farmer's Market in Santa Fe I stopped to listen to the happy music these musicians were playing. They were sitting in the parking lot in their own little world enjoying the beautiful morning. I knew when I saw them that they would be the subject of my next painting. I was awarded First Place Ribbon in the Fountain Hills Cultural Council's Third Anual Foothills Art Exhibit held in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Unfortunately, the photographer cut the bottom of the painting off, showing only half the shoes.

A Gardenia for You

This is a small watercolor I did to use for my personal greeting cards.

Let the Game Begin

This was a commission I did several years ago. I love the oversized cap bending his little ears.

A Good Hand for Melba

Melba was my card partner for Hand and Foot whenever we visited Uncle Carl. My reference was a photograph I took of her as she sat across the card table.

Willie "The Lion"

Willie "The Lion" Smith was recognised in New York as a leading ragtime pianist, He earned his nickname in France for bravery. He changed ragtime into the jazzier genre called stride.

This painting was awarded first place ribbon for "Artist of the Month" in April 2007 at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts.

First Words in the Morning

First thing every morning my Uncle Carl would get his daily newspaper and, with the help of his dictionary, would work on the daily crossword puzzle. At the same time his friend Melba would be diligently filling in the words on her copy of the puzzle. At an appointed time, the phone would ring and Uncle Carl and Melba would compare notes and most likely complete the puzzle of the day. At least once a year we would fly to Pittsburgh and stay with Uncle Carl. I took a picture of him working his puzzle; I thought it interesting that the shirt he wore that day had the initials TN on it. Those were the initials of his older brother, Tom Noll. Each time I look at this painting I think of Uncle Carl and Dad!

Here's To Friends

I did this charcoal drawing for my friend, Carrol Green. She loves giraffes. At first I did a watercolor painting of these giraffes making the spots different colors and allowing the colors to drip down the paper. I called it "Giraffes of a Different Color". It was a fun painting but on second thought I decided this drawing would be more subdued. They look handsome in a charcoal colored mat and black frame.