Can I Play? 6"x6" acrylic

This is a little out-of-season (it is summer somewhere)...but I found an old photograph that just struck me by the story it tells, but also because it looks a bit like a Christmas ornament.

$100 and $10 shipping

I'm Going to Have Blue Christmas (without you) 6"x6" acrylic

This was for a DPW challenge to use Magnesium Blue (which I don't have) to do a value study of a celebrity.  I had many more frustrating moments with this than I had anticipated.  I wanted to get the fuzziness of his beard, the soft furriness of the hat and coat trim, the fleshiness of his face, the twinkle in his eye and the grandfatherliness of his personality and not have it look creepy because it is all blue!  What do you think?  The whole time I was painting, the song "I'll Have a Blue Christmas" by Elvis, was playing in my head.  See an early version of this song at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ODrPL9-kEs

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Lufty 17.5"x17.5" acrylic

This is larger than many of the paintings I have done recently.  It was fun to paint big and loose.  I like the background which I did a little differently.  This is a commission.  SOLD

It Was A Good Trip 6"x6" acrylic

"Cheese" 6"x7" acrylic

It s a challenge for me to do portraits this small because it is a matter of choosing what to include and what to leave out.  I can only suggest someone's features when working this small and I have to keep in mind that it is more about the memory of the situation than the actual facial features that matter.  I like how the clothing looks so abstract and I like the colors I chose to show it.  SOLD

Fresh Baked 6"x6" acrylic

Can you smell its warmth and freshness?  This is a little more yellow looking than the actual painting, although I did paint it all in warm colors.  SOLD

Dready Hopper 6"x6" acrylic

I have done several paintings lately in acrylic and I remember how quick and easy it can be.  I love the way oil smears around and its brilliant colors, but acrylic dries...like immediately!  This painting I did as a value study in green first with a purple background, then I painting colors right over that.  I love the process, and the way the green kind of peaks out here and there.  I should have done the same with the purple.  Dready Hopper is a beer label that is a play on a beer named Heady Topper.  This is explanation for the bunny with the dreadlocks on the t-shirt.  SOLD

Autumn Values 6"x6" oil

This is one I had forgotten about.  I did it in 3 values and then came back and added color.

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Fluffed Out 6"x6" acrylic

This is a large-ish, fluffed out house finch on a chilly, almost winter day.  The last few days I have noticed that the house finches that are showing up are a bit thinner and more ragged looking.  It is like those of us who choose to stay in a cold climate....we are survivors but a little rough on the edges!

Hollywood 4"x4" acrylic

One thing you can say about bluejays is that despite their loud squawking and bullyish behavior, they are stunning to look at.  Kind of reminds me of Hollywood!

Together 8"x8" acrylic

I like how sunny this is.  A couple of friends posed for me.  Folks in Vermont are so hearty.  I had on a down coat, hat, mittens and my friends had on light weight shirts and sandals.  It is early winter here, but I painted this in a spring-like setting to give it a feeling of warmth.
SOLD

Light House 6"x6" oil

I can't remember where I took this photo...probably Cape Cod.  It was fun painting the boats.

Afternoon Delight oil 6"x6"

I thought my original posting of this painting was skimpy on the paint, so I added more and changed the colors a bit.

View from the Lake House oil 6"x6"

My parents retired to a home they built on a beautiful large lake.  This is a view of the end of the cove where they lived.  It was the place that we all came together to celebrate our family, to play to eat, to laugh and spend an inordinate amount of time waterlogged.  As my parents aged, they had to move, but we are filled with wonderful memories of being together there.

Nuthatch 4"x4" oil

I love the way nuthatches hang upside down and flit around.  Still having fun with my new painting toys.

 
   

Downy Woodpecker 4"x4" oil

A Downy Woodpecker on a Sumac bush.  Sumac bushes are so cool looking....very graphic when the sun shines through them and casts strong shadows.  The berries are fuzzy, more seed-like but they make a good lemonadish drink when you brew them.  I love the red against the background of heavy snow clouds.  This is more playing around with my new spatula brushes.

Chickadee 4"x4" oil

Cardinal 4"x4" oil

I am trying out some new things.  I got some spatula type paint brushes as a gift.  They are similar to a palette knife, but shaped like a paint brush.  Anyway, they are really fun to use...it was like being a child again and just playing.  I have been wanting to do some birds as I have a pretty nice bird sanctuary outside my studio window and was inspired by Angela Moulton's beautiful little paintings of birds.

Late Afternoon oil 6"x6"

I think I might do this painting in a larger size and make it more textural with thicker and more varied colors.  I caught this scene when the light was glowing.

The Reader 6"x6" oil

Sometimes I have the hardest time getting a good photo of a particular painting, and this is one of them...there is glare on it, so all I can say is that it is better than it looks!  I did a value study of this first.

Rufus 6"x6" oil

I didn't make many changes to this one...a little more color and a few value changes...it looks more like Rufus. NFS

Once Upon A Midday Deary 6"x6" oil

This was not so much a value study as it is a painting the emphasizes the mid  values.  I was swimming and looked out the window and this is what I saw.  Everything was bathed in shades of gray with the background completely washed out in fog. I punched up the foreground trees to a darker value to show a contrast.  I painted this from memory, so it is pretty much made up and I didn't want it to be about details, but rather shapes and design.  I can see pushing this to a more abstract level.

VT Values 6"x6" oil

This is another values study using transparent oxide brown, Caribbean blue, and white.  It is of a local covered bridge that was washed out in Hurricane Irene, but has since been rebuilt.

Rufus oil 6"x6"

This was a fun value study because I was able to stay really loose with my brushwork.  I used Transparent red medium, white and indigo on this one.  I am going to go back in and change the colors and values a little, but I wanted to try and stick with 3 values for this, but not have it look like puzzle pieces.
NFS

Reader oil 6"x6"

I have been really interested in value lately and I decided to do some value studies.   This also gave me a reason to use my Torrid Gray.  I am trying to keep it to 3 or 4 values (light, medium and dark).  This really helps to reveal the composition or design of the piece and helps me to see where something needs to be darker or lighter (usually darker).
NFS

Grandson 6"x6" oil

This is a commission for a very happy grandma.  SOLD

Drama 6"x6" oil

Last year our area was slammed by hurricane Irene.  We were concerned that Sandy would get us also, but there was little damage here, however we got some spectacular weather in the form of fast moving clouds, changing skies, and ominously beautiful rainbows in the north that were long lasting and HUGE.  This painting is a DPW challenge that really emphasizes the drama of the sky.  I have been doing value studies lately and tried doing that with this painting, using limited colors, but I just had to cut loose and go with the brilliance of the yellows and oranges against the blue background.
SOLD

Yum! 4"x4" oil

This is the last of my bakery pieces....pumpkin pie...it is that time of year!

Shirley Fachilla was the winner of my drawing for the boat painting.  She is a very good impressionistic artist from Tennessee.  Her blog is:  http://sometimesapainting.blogspot.com/
Thank you to everyone who commented, via email, facebook or my blog.