Babushka Baby

8"x8" oil

One of the reasons I write a blog is to catalog my work and the thoughts involved in painting it.  This way I record something about my frame of mind as well as the process of discovery and growth that I am experiencing on the journey.  Of course I also do it to expose an audience to my work and hopefully create an interest for buyers and those who want to have a commission done. I read other artists blogs to get insight into how they work and because I am so amazed at how well so many people tell their story through color and brushwork.  This little one gave me fits!  I spent so much time on this painting which really looks straight forward an d simple.  I tried painting it loose and I tried painting it detailed.  So what did I learn? (that is what Jo MacKenzie always asks in her blog).  Once again I am reminded that the tools you use make a big difference.  The texture and quality of the panel, the consistency and color of the paint, and the brushes and other tools all have a big impact on how it will turn out.

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The View

8"x8" oil

I did this painting in acrylic but was not happy with the results so I changed some things and re-did it in oil.  I am really disappointed in how the photo looks because the colors are all wrong, but this was after multiple attempts so I am going with it, and after the snow storm which is burying us right now, I am going to change up my indoor set up and come up with a better way to take photos!  So, use your imagination with this one!
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Still Life 9

8"x8" oil

I think I am about done with this series.  I may do a couple more, but I am thinking about my next project.  I am currently working on these, a series of portraits of kids and families, and I have been thinking about a series of abstract landscapes I want to do.  Today I was listening to a classical radio station and they were featuring a violinist and quoting this musician about how he came to the understanding that thinking about his performances in terms of being the best or not good enough limited his ability to fully experience his art form.  He realized they were never as good as they could be or as bad as he thought they were so he quit designing his programs around these ideas and just started to enjoy his own work.  I think this applies to so many aspects of our lives.  We tend to live in a state of comparison and we need to free ourselves to do what we love and share it with others.  So this is for you in hopes that you get some enjoyment from looking at it!

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True Pleasure

8"x10" oil

I understand our arctic temperatures are going to reach seasonal norms tomorrow.  Yeah!  That means 20-30 degrees which sounds down right balmy to me right now!  And...we are going to have sunshine to-boot!  In celebration I decided to paint this picture which was inspired by a photo I saw a long time ago in a newspaper.  There were several kids in the photo, but I thought this expression told the whole story.  We should all find this much pleasure in the simple things!

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Chosen Child

8"x8" oil

When I paint someone's portrait from a photo and they are smiling, I smile too.  I am totally in love with this little guy and I haven't even met him...yet!  I approached this painting differently than others I have done.  I finish my own painting boards with many layers of gesso that I sand down.  I used a roller to apply the gesso on the last batch I made and there is quite a bit of texture to them.  They are more absorbent as well.  At first I thought of this as a flaw, but after using them, I realize I can get a different effect from them and it really worked on this portrait.  I blended my colors instead of layering them, and he came out very soft looking which I like.  I hope you do too!

  SOLD

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Boy Toys

8"x10" oil

Back to still life painting.  I set this one up with my husband's favorite growler, a toy wooden ladder, and some wooden blocks...so, I call it "Boy Toys."  I am learning a lot from doing these still life paintings.  I plan to do more, until I am really comfortable with setting them up and getting the lighting right.  I am looking forward to the growing season so I paint still life paintings with fresh flowers!

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Entertainment8"x8"

8"x8" oil

The inspiration for this was and old vinyl album cover I saw.  I have great memories of listening to records with my sister on an old player like this.  My mom didn't learn how to read until she was an adult because she was severely dyslectic.  When her mother died, she had to stay home and help raise her brothers and sisters.  She kept this a secret for most for her life which just goes to show how brilliant she really was, as none of us knew and she was a bookkeeper in the Navy.  Anyway, she gave us many story and music albums when we were little because she didn't read out loud to us. One of my favorites was Peter and the Wolf, which also was a method for teaching different instruments in the orchestra.  Mom eventually became an obsessive reader.  I have great admiration for her all the things she overcame to become an artist and fabulous person.
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Forgotten

8"x8" oil

I sometimes feel like I am always in school...never becoming the expert...the professional...but always the student stumbling through the exercises, trying to learn new things.  This applies in most aspects of my life.  Maybe it isn't so bad and maybe my brain will benefit from it in the long run.  Anyway, this painting reflects experiments in many things including using a palette knife and in creating the effect of snow.  The values show up better in person, and so do the colors of the snow.  It is still winter where I live and we are hoping to stretch out the ski season until we are all just too exhausted to put on so many layers.  I have been wanting to paint this little cart since Christmas.  It is located outside Greenbrier Gift Shop in Killington, VT.....a really fun place to spend some time.
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Blessings

8"x10" oil

Frequently people (especially beginning artists) ask the question, "When do you know when the painting is finished."  I don't really have a good answer for this, but I am sure someone does.  For me, the answer is frequently, "stop before you mess it up!"  This painting was like that.  It just came very easy and quickly and I felt really happy painting it.  How could I not?  She was smiling her contagious smile at me the whole time!  There are things I could refine about this, but I just wanted to keep the spontaneity of  it and the fresh strokes.
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A Mother's Joy

8"x8" oil

I needed a change from painting still life paintings so I decided to do a series of portraits of children.  They are adorable, don't you agree?  That makes them especially fun to paint.  I haven't been able to paint as much lately because life and other responsibilities keep getting the better of me.  I am busy working on the annual fundraiser for the Carving Studio, which is very time consuming, but rewarding as well. And, the best distraction in my life, my grandkids, are another excuse!

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A Face to Love

8'x10" oil

Happy Valentine's Day!  We are so fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends that we can share our celebration of love.  My husband and I met on Valentine's Day 28 years ago, so this holiday is always special for us.  However, I can't help but think about all the children in the world that need to be taken care of and loved who aren't because they are in sad circumstances.  So I am dedicating this painting to all of you little ones who deserve better.

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Sweet and Healthy - Pineapple Heart

6"x6" oil

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Abstract Flower

8"x10" oil

I had a need to do something really loose and leaning towards the abstract,  I decided to do flowers using the dark background I have been using in the still life paintings I have been doing.  Then using both a brush and a palette knife, with thick and thin paint, I just let myself go with it.  I really like the suggestion of the flowers without defining them.  It was a good exercise.

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Still Life 8

8"x8" oil

We are snowed in today so this is a cheerful image to stare at for a few hours.  I don't think this photo does it justice.  The contrast is not enough.  I keep complaining about my photos so I guess I am going to have to get someone to tutor me on how to get the best ones I can.  I used smaller brushes on this painting and it is evident to me in the finished product...not so much fussy, as more precise.  I think it is a nice effect, but I really like loads of paint and juicy brushwork.  These still life paintings are from a video course by Daniel Edmondson.  He is very generous in responding with video critiques which are quite helpful.  This is the first time I have done something like this and I recommend it, especially if you need to jump-start a new series of paintings.  It reminds me of the important basics.  I am getting close to the end, so I need to figure out what to paint next.  My husband has been looking at these and his comment is always the same, "I think you are a portrait painter."  My son says, "It looks like fruit and flowers and stuff," but he doesn't use the word 'stuff.'  I am not getting a lot of encouragement from the home front, so I hope some of my friends in cyberspace like it better!

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Still Life 7

8"x10" oil

What I like about this one is that it is based real stuff (flowers, vase, apples and stuff like that) but the brushwork is leaning towards the abstract and I find that exciting!

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Still Life 6

oil 8"x10"

Sometimes they come easy....sometimes not so much!  This photo doesn't really show the subtleties in the colors of the yellows or the blueish touches.  I think I am learning a lot though.

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Still Life 5

8"x10" oil

I have seen a lot of martini glass paintings and have wanted to do one for a while, but did not imagine it would be a pear and grape martini!

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Still Life 4

8"x10" oil

I got my mom's favorite painting smock.  She made it to suit her and sewed pockets at angles on it.  It is made from fabric that has pansies all over it, so I was thinking of her as I painted this.  I am sure the fabric came from something else that she repurposed.  My mom could have been an inventor because she was always figuring out how to do things better, using what she already had.  Instead, she was a really great mom, grandma, greatgrandma, and a very good artist.  This still life was actually in cool light and all the colors were cool, but it was a snowy day and I decided to make it warm.  I think I might have overdone it with the bowl, but sometimes it is so much fun doing the little squigglies that it is hard to quit!

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Still Life 3

 8"x10" oil

This still life was a bit of a challenge.  The one I did 2 days ago was nice and loose with exciting brushwork but I am finding that I am getting tighter as I go.  I had to go back and work on loosing it up.

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 I also changed the background of yesterday's painting and like it more.

Still Life 2

The colors aren't quite right on this photo.  I took several different shots, but  I keep coming up with the blues too blue and reds too similar.  It is a fun carnival of colors.  Today is a very cold and snowy day so everything is in shades of whitish gray.  I wonder how my choice of colors in painting is influenced by that?

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Still Life 1

8"x10" oil

I'm back!  I usually don't have a problem getting back to painting if I have been away for a while, but this time was different.  I was afraid or something.  I couldn't just go put paint to the board.  So, I pulled out an on-line painting course I had purchased a long time ago.  I watched the video and used the photo of this still life for reference, and I liked how it turned out.  It is different from what I have been doing, but it got me going and I like the results.  What do you think?
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Springtime Hug by JHOsgood

14"x18" acrylic by JHOsgood

I went to visit my mom before Christmas.  She passed away shortly after Christmas and I remained in NC for about 3 weeks.  Today is the first day I have painted since I left.  This is pretty unusual for me, but then it has been a life altering time.  This is a painting my mom did a long time ago for my daughter.  My mom painted almost everyday for many, many years.  She was going to add the little boys (her great grandsons) to this painting, but didn't get to it before she passed, so I did it today.  I tried to infuse my contribution with her spirit and method for painting, and it was a good moment.

A Treat for You

 
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Skiing With Daddy - written by Randy Zimmerman

Daddy taught me how to ski,

So nice together, just him and me,

And Daddy says my skiing’s supreme.

He said I’m the best he has ever seen!

But Daddy cannot ski so well;

I think a zillion times he fell!

He’s funny when he takes a spill,

Like a white tornado tumbling down the hill!

It’s fun to ski with Daddy, even when it’s cold,

For after skiing there’s a treat, where skier’s food is sold.

Now some foods are really great and some are really awful,

But there’s nothing better after skiing than a chocolate covered waffle!

From Me to You

I hope that 2014 is the happiest, healthiest and best yet for you!

Happy New Year!

Seasonal Imagery

Do you know which artist I modeled this after?  His name is in the painting.

Sticks and Stones

It's Been a Good Run!

Good Day for Skiing

Winter Wonderland

Snuggled Inn

Stay warm and happy!

Have a Jolly Good Day!

Merry Christmas

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Santa could be an authentic bloak

If myths were real and not a joke.

But….

Reindeer, sleighs, and a special toy

For each and every girl and boy

Who waits expectantly for that incredible sight

Of a chimney arrival in the dead of night?????

A scientific explanation for this to be true,

makes me question this story and so should you.

Maybe he’s real but he’s a regular guy

Not a miniature fellow, or some other lie.

Maybe he’s old and jolly, but trim,

Cause he eats vegetarian and works out at the gym.

Instead of the North Pole and a fat sleigh-flying elf,

He could ride a two wheeler all by himself

On his custom made bike that is tricked out to the max

Cause he built it himself from recycled trash.

His extreme generosity which seems an obsession

Could be a 12-step program to fend off depression.

Maybe he has the real Christmas spirit

That we all should have, though we seldom get near it.

I can see it all now!  It’s not that he’s trippy.

It’s just that Saint Nick is really a hippy!

So if you see him in town peddling mile after mile,

Share a wave of hello and a holiday smile!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from this old hippy.

Blue Christmas

It would be a blue Christmas without you!  (this is a Dec. 2013 painting)

'Tis the season!

A Light to Guide the Way

Not Ever Ready to Say Goodbye

Hope for the Future9"x9"

9"x9" acrylic

The last few paintings I have done have been from other people's photos.  I like painting from photos because you can do things that make it a better image, more fun, more imaginative.  I have great respect for really artistic photographers.  They can capture things in a professional and artistic way which most of us can't.  The truth is that many of the photos we take that have meaning or tell a story are pretty crumby images, but they still are important and special.  Each painting I do from a photo teaches me something more about how to do it better.  Painting from life is always good, but painting from photos is also inspiring to me, and I am able to do more and practice my craft because of the availability of photos.  I agree that it is good to take your own photos to paint from, but I have found that many of the commissions I have done needed a reference photo I could not take. This has pushed me to actually embrace photos for the tools they can be.

SOLD

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The Sunset

8"x8" acrylic

Sometimes something comes into your life at exactly the perfect moment and you just know it was meant to be.  I saw the photo this painting is based on quite a while ago.  It was taken by my high school chum and neighbor, Bonnie Calvert Narvid who now lives on a boat!  Today it was the perfect painting for me to do.  It has much more meaning to me.  Painting can truly be therapeutic!  Whenever I am painting from a photo I have to pick and choose what I will include, what I want to suggest, what I need to add that isn't there in the photo. The other challenge with a photo like this is that, the reality behind the photo is so spectacular it is hard to come close to the beauty with a panel, and some wet chemicals we call paint.  There is the feeling of the air, the smells, the sounds and the emotions they invoke.  That is what I tried to convey.  I hope I came close.  Thank you Bonnie.

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A View Out the Window

8"x8" acrylic

I did this for a DPW challenge to paint a view outside of a window and include the window.  I had taken this photo at the Met, so it fit the bill. I definitely think I will do this in oil.

Summer Fun

8"x8" acrylic

Great story, fun composition, wrong season, but who cares?

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Colored Glass

This is from a DPW challenge from a few weeks ago and I am just now getting it done.  I was motivated because I wanted to practice doing the "glass thing," but also because I loved the colors on this and the composition.  I am pretty happy with it and would like to set up some still lifes that have similar properties.  I need to go bottle shopping I guess!

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Mother and Child

6"x6" oil

I just keep working on this one...it is getting better, but who knows...I may continue to mess with it....sometimes there is one I should have wiped....but instead I never let it go. Does this happen to you?

Wesley

6"x6" oil SOLD

This is the last of a series of commissions I did.  I learned a lot by doing several in a row, but I am ready to move on to other things.  I have a number of projects pending, it is just a matter of choosing which one to do first.  It is good to be busy and focused...right? I think I need to set up a big board to list my projects....white board?  bulletin board?  or chalk board?  m-m-m-m

There is a glare on this.  I usually photograph my work with my studio doors open but it is too cold right now for that, so I need to create a different set-up for getting good photos. 

Sally

6"x6" oil SOLD

Tristen

6"x6" oil  SOLD

He's a cutie!

Christmas Sparkle

6x6 acrylic

I am working on a series of commissions which are pushing me to the edge!  So, this was a fun relief from the work that requires much focus and attention.  This was inspired by a photo taken by Susan Walleck.  I took some artistic liberties with it and because I let myself go and just play with it, it was a lot of fun to do.  Now....back to the commissions.

The Delivery Guy

9"x9" acrylic

I have been away from painting for a few weeks and am feeling it!  I decided to warm up with a fun little piece.  This is based on a DPW challenge to paint a guy on a bicycle.  I  decided to have some fun with it!  There is a poem to go with it, but I think it is a little early to post it, so I will wait till later to do that.  What do you do to get back into the swing of things after being away?  I went to an early exercise class today as well because traveling and visiting family is a lot of fun, and it requires a lot of energy, but not my usual exercise.  I need that too!