Lindsey's Kids

6"x6" oil Sold

This was a commission made from a couple of different photos and I made up the background.  It was a fun challenge to take some not-so-good photos and create something memorable.

River Tubing

6"x6" oil

I fussed and fumed over the painting I posted yesterday but I followed it up with this one which practically floated off my brush.  I really got my environment and my mind set up before I put a brush to the panel.  I had a plan and, well I guess it is clear, I love the result....clean, well drafted, and loose.

Riding Lessons

6"x6" oil  $75

I learned so much in doing this painting.  I was highly distracted while working and was rushing to get it done.  I was not happy with the results, but I decided not to wipe it off, but to see if I could revive it.  The main reason I didn't like it was because it was fussy, overworked and dull looking.  I was able to breath life into some of the colors by glazing over it with transparent paint.  I decided to go with the soft edge look, because, well, what else could I do?  Since it is of my granddaughter, I can't help but feel fondly towards it.  What do you think?

First Ride

8"x10" oil

I thought I would post the first stage of the painting with transparent paints and the finished product.  I wanted to capture that happy moment of wobbly success.

Lilly

6"x6" oil SOLD

This was a commission and I am happy with the results.  I feel like I got a good likeness, movement and appropriate values.  It is a bit difficult to do small figures on a 6"x6" panel and keep them looking fresh and not fussy, so I considered this a success.  There are things I can do to set the mood for painting, which can be very helpful in creating an atmosphere conducive to happy painting.  When I do those things (music, lighting, scents, and careful planning) I feel more confident about my beginnings, but it isn't always the entire recipe for a confident and clean painting.  Sometimes I just can't get it right!  I usually work at it until I feel like it is resolved enough to call done, but they are never my favorites because I lose some clarity of color in the process, and color is what excites me the most.

Blue Chair

8"x10" oil NFS

These are the things I like about this painting:  the vibrant colors, the suggestion of the subject without losing the abstract qualities of the brushwork.  the gray/lavender in the background, and finally, how much fun it was to paint it.  It is the fourth week painting for DreamLovePaint. Oh, I also like where my signature is!

A Few of My Favorite Things

5"x8" oil

I set up this still life with lovely flowers in my favorite twisted purple glass vase, a lavender candle, a book, my journal, and a CD and my favorite tea cup.  I went into Mr. Twitters, a local shop that is a fabulous plant nursery, antique shop, and gift shop.  I saw this iridescent tea cup as part of a brass candle holder and fell in love with it.  The shop owner graciously took it apart and sold me the tea cup at a really low price.  It is lavender/blue on the outside and orangy-gold on the inside.  I painted it for myself, which I rarely do.

Sunflower in Blue Jar

8"x8" oil  NFS

This painting is from week 3 of the online painting class I am taking from Dreama Tolle Perry.  She paints vibrant transparent colors in values deeper than the final product, and then layers opaques over them.  If you can manage to keep your brush really clean, the final result is quite lovely with intense colors that "sing."  It is really a fun process and lends itself well to little still life paintings like this, or lovely French doorways, arches and lots of flowers.  I am attempting to apply it to figurative work and have had mixed success which I will share later this week.

Odd Colors

6"x6"oil  NFS

I am taking an online painting class called Dream Love Paint, hosted by Dreama Tolle Perry.  We painted a cupcake.  Then I listened to an interview with Quang Ho on AHA blog radio, which was a wonderful program, and he suggested painting an image already painted using different colors.  This painting is the result of that exercise.

Standing Man and Woman

5"x7" oil

This gentleman is closely examining Picasso's "Standing Woman."  I am guessing he is an artist or art student, or dedicated collector because of how closely he is looking at he brushwork.  Really it is helpful to stand back and see the whole composition, which is what most people do.

Quiet Corner

5"x7" oil

I am getting so excited about all the things I can do now that I can walk and drive!  It is exciting to be alive and well.  I really want to make a trip to one or more of my favorite galleries/art museums.  On another note, I have had 3 requests just today for donations of art to auctions to benefit worthy causes.  I am glad to do this because I paint so frequently, but I know a lot of other artists that get asked as often as I do, and they don't have nearly the inventory.  It would be interesting to see some actual numbers on the amount of art donated by artists around the world every day, and see all the different causes it helps.  So, if you go to a fundraiser that auctions art, think of those artists who are donating and do your best to purchase something you love.

The Stroll

6"x8" oil

This is about the complimentary colors of their shirts and about the similarity in texture of their hair.  When I first saw this couple I thought they made an odd pair, but on painting them, they fit together seamlessly.  I especially like the composition of this piece.  I am working hard to learn new things, get my studio together, and create a new body of work for a solo show in 2017.  I think I will include this piece.

Sarah's House

11"x14" oil

This was a commission I did a while back.  It was challenging because I was working from numerous photos that each only showed a part of the house and none directly from the front.  Also I created the autumn atmosphere because there were lovely deciduous trees around the property.  This house has been in their family for generations and they graciously sent me a very early rendition in a folkart style where all the trees had been cut down to build the house and barns.

Long Dresses (revised)

8"x8" oil

I just wasn't completely happy with my first stab at this painting.  I thought the gallery viewer was stiff and that was the problem, but after looking at it for a couple of days I realized the background magenta was just too colorful and drew too much attention so I neutralized it and now the person doesn't look odd to me.  The little painting on the left is by Tarbell and is called "Girl Reading a Book." It is my favorite part of this painting, not for the least reason, because it is so tiny and I think I got a reasonable representation of it.  Again, I have to say, Karin Jurick is my favorite painter of these types of scenes.

Engine 316

8"x8" acrylic  SOLD

This was a commission for a train enthusiast.  I did it before Christmas.

Long Dresses

I haven't done any of these gallery viewer paintings in a while.  Karin Jurik is my favorite artist who does these types of paintings.  There is a flow to her work, especially in the stance of the viewer that I feel I have not captured as well in this.  However I do really like the brushwork here and the colors are pretty yummy.  Getting a likeness of the painting on the left was a real challenge because it is so small.   So, all-in-all I like this, but I recognize there are things I need to work on.

Indoor Swimming

7"x7" oil

If it is cold outside with slushy snow, too wet to sled or ski, another great way to entertain yourself if you are 5 years old is to go swimming inside.  I am always doing the dance between accuracy, abstractness and keeping it loose.  When painting very small figures, it is even more of a challenge.

Hello Kitty

6"x6" oil 

Thank you Jennifer Sanchez for the photo reference for this painting.  Although I am very allergic to cats, I really do like them a lot.  They can be haute and irresistibly adorable all at once.