Figuratively Speaking - Illusion

The colors are much more lovely in person.  The reds and purples have pretty much disappeared from this photo.  It is an oil painting 3"x8"...about the size of a large bookmark.  I titled it "Illusion."  I don't know why, but it seemed appropriate.  Everything outside my doors is a bit of an illusion today.  It is white with a bit of grays.  The white is swirling and dropping, sliding and blowing.  We are immersed in a classic spring nor'easter and they have labeled it a blizzard.  It is definitely dicey on the roads and the birds don't seem too pleased by it.  There is a lot of powdery stuff on the ground and my ski friends are drinking toasts to it already.  This weekend will be divine for them although plenty will be complaining about another storm coming in then.  I have no opinion as I will be in the south with comparatively balmy temperatures.  I hope the kids have a blast, that the winter recreationalists are thrilled, that everyone is safe and the disgruntled are too preoccupied to complain.  I will be enjoying a comfortable stroll on quiet streets.  That is, if I can make it to the airport in the morning, which is questionable at this point.  Go figure!

Go Figure - Ruthie's Bouquet

12"x12" oil SOLD

It is tax time.  There are numerous things which make me cringe when I have to do them and taxes hold an honorable place on that list, along with dental appointments and making travel arrangements.  But, somehow, those things are not nearly as imposing after the fact as they are in the anticipation.  Yesterday it was plane tickets and today taxes.  However, it is hard for me to jump into painting when I have days like this.  I fiddle around a bit painting, and then occupy myself with tasks like framing, or preparing painting panels, cleaning the studio or I do the laundry.  It is all part of my resistance behaviors and I am reading a great book about this, "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield.  I highly recommend it.  This was a painting that I did over a number of days.  I thought about it a lot.  Considered the composition, the colors, the values, the textures and patterns.  It is not my usual way of working, but I have been needing a shake-up and this represented part of that process.  It was satifsfying.  I framed it today and will mail it out this weekend.  Tomorrow, I am going to be all about painting.  I may create a flop or surprise myself and have a success.  That is part of the fun of all of this, not knowing if the inspiration and technique will cooperate for me.  It gets me out to the studio and that's what really matters....go figure.

Lefferts Pond

12"x16" acrylic Price $400

I do very few acrylic paintings; this is one of them.  It was such a beautiful day, and although the colors weren't at peak, it was still unbelievably glorious.

One of Those

5x7 oil Click to Bid

Yes, indeed, it is one of those gorgeous sunsets we all love to paint, where the colors are so saturated you don't think it is real.

In the Spot Light

6"x6"

My granddaughters were sitting on the floor with the sun glowing on them and I just couldn't resist taking a photo for the purpose of painting it.  I like how clean and spontaneous it looks and want my work to progress in this direction.  So much to learn....

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.

3 Pear

8"x8" oil

This has been an incredibly difficult year for me, but being able, when I can, to paint and more importantly, being able to see beauty moment to moment has been the vehicle which has carried me through these trying times.  I am so excited about 2016 and the wonderful things it will bring into our lives. It is my hope that 2016 is the best year yet for you.  In the past I always made New Year's resolutions and printed them out to remind me through the year.  It has been a good goal setting exercise for me but this year I just hope I can continue to see and experience joy and beauty and live so that my life reflects the gratitude I feel.

Bottles and Balls

6"x6" oil

Panorama

4"x10" oil

After not painting for days, I did a complete wipe-out painting. It may also have had to do with the fact that I have been doing only watercolors for the last 5 weeks. So I had to get back on the horse and I did this little "Panorama" with limited brushwork, to warm up, and I really liked the muted foreground. Not something I would normally do.

Stealing the Show

11"x11" oil

This is looking straight down on a bouquet of lovely flowers.  Clearly the flower that resembles a sunflower (maybe a Gazania?) is stealing the show. 

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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Tonal Jazz

5"x7" oil

This painting is the third in a group I have done.  I have decided to give away all three this month!  I will be posting a contest the next couple of days, so if you like abstracts, then keep an eye on this.  All three paintings were the result of color studies.  This one is actually a study in mixing grays and each gray on this piece is made from a different mixture of colors, not including any color of black or gray.  I really enjoyed doing these and may continue with this abstract trend.

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The Circus

8"x10" oil

Something I have learned about myself, when I am overly stimulated visually, it is hard for me to paint.  I found this to be true after visiting Las Vegas for 2 weeks for the purpose of painting, and also after attending the circus last week.  This painting is a result of that visit, and although I am happy with the final result, the process was a bit painful.  I have also come to the conclusion that I can't paint when my grand children are visiting.  I am way too distracted!

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Friends 6"x6" acrylic #180

This is one of those paintings that just tells a story by itself and needs no explanation. I love it because it feels really personal to me.
SOLD

Orange Target 6"x6" oil #162

This is a really simple subject....it was fun to paint the value and color changes and is a good exercise...it looks a little lonely....but it makes me think of Christmas stocking...we are nuts and fruit kind of stocking stuffer people.

Nature's Confetti 5x7" oil #124

I am back to brilliant colors today so there isn't anything subtle about this one. This is the view of the yard in front of my studio. It is vibrant and over the top, but on a clear day like today, this is what it looks like, in the fall. I will have to do a winter scene in a few weeks. It is a complimentary color painting, with mostly mid-tones, secondary darks, and a smidge of light.

Happy Halloween Toes 4x4" oil

Happy Halloween weekend. I am getting to go visit my grandson this weekend so I suspect a few pastels will be done while I am there. I have found that pastels fit into uncertain time schedules, are easy to transport, easily available and just a fun way to paint when I am away from home. I don't quite get why it is called painting though, it is really drawing. I really did have my toes painted for Halloween, something I would not have done except for the generosity of my good friend who treated me to a pedicure. I liked putting all this detail into a small space. The cover is actually an oil cloth I made to cover my coffee table. It is heavy weight canvas with a 10 layers of gesso underneath and 4 layers of polyurethane on top. #111
sold

Relax 8x8 oil

The colors aren't right on this...it is actually much warmer. (I uploaded another shot on the top...which is now a little too yellow!) I adjusted the colors to be right, but now that it is on blogspot, it doesn't look right. The learning curve never ends! This is another one of my Pico Sports Club series. After all that exercise, a hot tub is a real treat. I wanted to capture the image and personality of the people and I am happy with the results. #94

Happy Feet 4"x4" oil

sweet little feet and graphic abstract lines of the stroller....nice combo I think #90

Early Morning Fog 5x7" acrylic

I photographed this before I finished it and then I took it to the gallery without re-shooting it. So here it is in its unfinished state. I should go down and take a photo of it. Hopefully it will sell. I am going to challenge myself to do a series of simple still lifes and practice Carol Marine's encouragement to do a dominant value, a smaller secondary value and a smidge value. This was not considered when I did this foliage scene. #89