Figuratively Speaking - Deep Thought

5"x7" oil

I want to paint the kind of paintings that are so intriguing that you fall into them over and over and don't get complacent or tired of looking at them.  I realize that this isn't always going to happen, but it is nice when it happens once in a while.  Interesting shapes that illicit memories or feelings will do it.  The painting above that he is looking at is like that....a summer scene on a lazy day when you are just kicking back with your good buddy, sitting on the grass.  Maybe you'll both go fishing later on.  It has a nostalgia creating narrative.  Abstracts can do it too without the narrative.  The colors and shapes and lines swirl around in infinitely interesting ways, sometimes looking like one thing, sometimes like another.  I want to live my life like that!  I want to find what makes the day worth being alive and hold on to that for a moment, then come back later to find another reason or feeling that is interesting, fun, curious, sweet, whatever. I want my brain power to grow a little bit and my body to feel its own strength and flexibility.  I want what I eat to make me feel energetic and enthusiastic.  I also want to get a good night's sleep...so I think I will go do that now.  Go Figure!

A Walk in the Woods

5"x7" oil SOLD

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!  It is such a lovely idea to spend a day giving thanks.  If you have a chance, take some time alone with someone you care about and just be totally with them.  I like the idea of taking one of my grandkids by the hand and walking with them in the woods just to see what they see and talk about what they want to talk about.  Taking a walk after a big feast is also a good idea.  I just wish you a day of joy, and contentment.

Power Walking

6"x6" oil

I started this painting very loosely and with a limited palette made of some rather unusual choices of transparent colors: Phthalo Blue, Indian Yellow, and Permanent Rose. For the top layer I added white to give it opacity and to add lightness.  I wasn't crazy about the greens from this mixture added with white because they looked chalky and lost the vibrancy of the transparent quality, but I went back on top in the light areas with Indian Yellow mixed with white and that helped.  I should have tried mixing in Zinc White instead of Titanium, but I will reserve this for another experiment.  The surprise and excitement I had was in the discovery is of the most lovely brown from mixing the three primaries.  I was drawn to paint this because her clothes and black with bright magenta hair matched the colors in the foliage and that was just fun!  I would not have guessed that I could make such lovely skin tones with these 3 colors.  Great experiment!

Tumbling

8"x10" oil

Exercise 6 Not For Sale

8"x10"  oil Not For Sale

This was fun to paint.  Dreama's colors are so bright and joyful and she chooses images to paint that highlight those beautiful hues.  I really struggle making straight lines though.  I think I need to either avoid them or take a drafting class.  It is a good thing that I do a limited number of architectural subjects!

Exercise 5 Not For Sale

12"x12" oil Not For Sale

This was exercise 5 from the online course Dream Love Paint with Dreams Tolle Perry.  Whenever I go to a workshop I always intend to learn 5 new things.  I limit myself because I know that is all I can really focus on and put into practice consciously.  I don't feel like I need to write everything down because I will probably not look back at my notes even though I have every good intention to do just that.  I have taken several workshops with Dreama but I keep returning because it not only positively influences my work, but because it positively influences my life. I have taken some really wonderful workshops but if I didn't identify those 5 things I would put into practice, I didn't grow as much as I should.  I will tell you the 5 things in the next few posts.

Right Touch

6"x6" oil

I think there was a lot of golfing this  holiday weekend, however I was entertaining my granddaughters and did not have time for photographing anything but them. 

Gratitude

6.5"x6" acrylic

I am grateful for my knees.  I am sure that sounds odd, but I am facing double knee replacement surgery this month (my Christmas present to myself) and it makes me appreciate all the hard work my knees have done over the years and the hope I have getting new ones that will be pain free and strong.

Zumba 8"x8" acrylic #164

My goal with this painting was to get a reasonable likeness of Lisa, the Zumba instructor, and to create a feeling of movement...hence the blurred hand and foot. I could have increased this by shifting her weight a little more so she was a tad bit off balance. It is a mirror reflection so I hope that comes across.
SOLD

Not In the Kitchen 8x8" oil

I have been painting lots of pale yellows...I wonder what that means? This woman is in her mid-fifties. She really is this pretty and this young looking. If she wasn't so nice we could easily hate her! She loves working out with the kettle ball (the weight) therefore she has her kettle in in the gym, "Not In the Kitchen." #98
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

Overdue 5x7" oil

I took the photo to do this painting in a very dark room so I used a flash, thus the reason for the "glow" around her and the sharp face shadow. It is a little odd, but I like it. Amity teaches very rigorous exercise classes. She was overdue in this photo and delivered a 7lb. 8oz. baby girl a couple of days later. She also has two other kids. I was standing, she was peddling. #93