Reading

11"x11" oil  Price $300

This is some of what I learned from the Nancy Boren workshop I attended:  find the mystery in the subject, once you establish the center of interest you can destroy the rest, and it is important to find the hard edge and soften the rest.  This was my most successful painting of the workshop. We had a lovely model who was willing to pose anyway we wanted.  She set up outside under a blue umbrella.  It was fabulous to paint with such talented artists.

Beach Fairy

6"x6" oil  Price $100

I saw an add in a magazine when I was looking for something to draw and decided to use it as inspiration for this painting.  I made numerous changes and am happy with the result.  Sometimes when I am in a situation where I want to draw and can't get inspired by my surroundings I will practice drawing figures from magazines.

The Swimmer

Add caption6"x6" oil

Day 6 in the 30 in 30 challenge by Leslie Saeta.  I painted this from a life drawing I did.  Actually all the paintings I am doing this month, so far, have been from drawings and then I paint them without photo references.  There are things to be learned from this.  It makes me think carefully about the colors I want to use and it frees me from trying to interpret a photo.  I am having fun with the process.

In the Swing of Things

8"x8" oil

Truth be told, I still love to swing.  I would love to fly if I could, but swinging is an approximation I think.  It is pretty special when you get your first swing.  When I was little, a first swing was a board hung by ropes or a tire swing from a tree and then we would graduate to a rope swing over the creek.  As a young adult I swung from a tree swing that was suspended from a huge tree over a gorge.  That was clearly the most thrilling and the most dangerous and if it hadn't been for my own perceived peer pressure, I would never have done it.  Anyway, this little one is clearly enjoying her first swing in spring.

Going Shopping

6"x6" oil

Isn't she cute?

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?

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.

Day 11 Slate - Ballerina

11"x14" acrylic on slate 

Some of the things I have figured out about painting on slate:
     I like painting sweet things that contrast with the rough stone
     The grey background is fabulous and really makes me think about values
     I love the texture and if I keep the layers thin and rub them in, it gives a nice effect
     Using a variety of shades within a shape helps give it volume
      It is much easier than painting with oils on a canvas or panel.
Also, and this applies to my painting in general, I love painting kids!

Portrait Study

I want to do a bunch of portraits for practice so I decided to try this one in watercolor.  I was trying to get the correct look of the sitter, but I at some point, I just wanted to get a decent painting, so it isn't very 'exact' but it is close.  Sometimes I just can't figure out what it is I need to do to make it right.  Other times, just a tiny change makes all the difference.

Taking a Break

5"x7" oil 

This painting was completed a while ago but I varnished it too soon and it smeared a thin layer of green over her body so I had to do some restoration.  I removed the varnish and did some touch-ups and revisions and it turned out better than I had hoped and I learned a new skill, so all is good!

Striking the Pose

4"x6" oil 

This pose she is holding must say something about her personality.  She froze for a moment, enticed by those picnickers across the park who were playing a lawn game, knowing she had reached her permissible boundary and she caught my attention and I am sure that I caught someone's attention wondering why I was photographing her...and it goes on and on.

Can't Wait

6"x6" oil

I know you have been there.  That moment where anticipation turns to kinetic energy and you are flying towards your long awaited moment.  I can say that she wasn't disappointed!

Naia

6"x6" oil

I couldn't help but smile the whole time I was painting beautiful Naia.

Pink and Green

6"x6" oil

Can you hear the music of the waves?

Focused View

She is determined, trying to see through the marshland viewfinder but is just a bit too short.  Daddy is there ready to steady her or aid her in the process.  I hope to illustrate the tension in each of their bodies and their concentration but I also had fun with the railings and marshland background.

Picking Flowers

12x12 oil

The most fun in painting this was the folds of the tunic, but how can anyone resist the excitement she expresses in picking her first flower.  Someday someone will tell her that dandelions are weeds, but until then, what magic there is in crawling in a field of flowers!

Little Pumpkin

5"x7" acrylic SOLD

Coming out of the fog of 4 days without electricity, internet or telephones.  It is really beautiful here..kind of like a magical winter wonderland, but there is a harsh side to the reality.  One that requires preparation...a generator, woodstove, lanterns and down comforters.  Once those things are taken care of, our attitudes can switch from "what we don't have" to "what an amazing place this is!"

On Top of the World

8"x10"  oil

This is a commission.  I think she epitomizes "happiness."  This portrait makes me want to smile.

The Climber

9"x9" oil

This is the second go on a previous acrylic painting, interpreting it in oil.  It is for a show in which I am participating in August.  I am showing 41 paintings of children.  The show is for my mentoring group of 9 artists who are diverse but all very accomplished.  It should be a great show.

Spirit

6"x6" oil  SOLD

I was trying to capture her spirit and I think I accomplished it!