Trailside Murals

These four paintings below were done for The Trailside Museum of Natural History here in River Forest. They were photographed and enlarged for the upper walls of the museum lobby. The originals are acrylic on birch and each 48” wide. The originals are not for sale.

Giclee prints are available for $300 for 48X13 Order Prints Here

For custom sizes email: liita@thelittlebitsworkshop.com

Detail of “Fall”

Winter

Fall

Summer Sky

We live on the top floor over The Little Bits Workshop. The year we moved up here, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of seeing the whole sky every day. 2018 was a year of cloud paintings for me!

This was the view from my son’s window one day in the summer of 2018. Original Acrylic on canvas, 30”X24” $500   Purchase Original or Order Prints Here

Hygge

This word, “hygge” is loaded with many layers of meaning. The root of it is derived from the word, “hug” and in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, isn’t that what we need? In Scandinavian cultures it IS the culture. On one level, it’s the art of being cozy and happy in dark nordic winters. It’s a cup of tea, a fire, a candle, but really it’s deeper than that. This feeling of safety and community is rooted in a culture of strong communities, families, structure and most importantly faith. We cannot thrive in isolation, we need each other.

 This painting is loosely based on the landscape of Oak Park and River Forest against the backdrop of Chicago off in the distance. Then up in the upper left corner is that woodland cabin that many have or dream of where one can see the stars and not hear the urban hummmmm. Solitude is different from isolation in that is restorative. As we emerge from the dark days of this pandemic, we'll gather again, fill our emotional cups and seek places of solace and restoration in the company of friends and family.


Acrylic on canvas 58X46   Order Prints Here

Thatcher Woods

Backyard Friends

A hummingbird moth, robin and rabbit are regular visitors to our 411 Park backyard “happytat” along with hummingbirds, monarchs, tiger swallowtails, goldfinches and occasional deer, raccoons and possums.

One day we even saw an American Kestral fly by. Pretty amazing for such an urban location.

Original Acrylic on canvas, 48X30 $1200   Purchase Original or Order Prints Here

The Whimsy of Gnarl

In 1992 or so, I started noticing wildflowers and birds. I studied field guides to learn all their names. Paul and I would often hike in Winfield Mounds near our home. The plants I discovered during that time inspired these pen and ink drawings because it was as though the forest and meadow had come alive for me.

Pen & Ink drawings, sizes vary   Order Prints Here

“Practice Pieces Make Masterpieces!”

Kids probably get tired of hearing me saying this, but sometimes they get very stuck trying to make perfect art. And that’s just not how it works. Not everything an artist does is wonderful, some pieces are fast, messy experiments. Each of these was just that.


Original Acrylic on canvas, wood and paper $100 each Purchase Original Here

Sunset

Bloodroot in Thatcher Woods

Acrylic on Wood 18X11

Detail of “Spring”

SOLD

Sand Ridge Nature Center Mural

SOLD

SOLD