Quick Study - Nude 8x10 oil

Had the opportunity to attend a life drawing session, which I don't often get to do. I did several very quick studies in oil. #80

Circus Feet 4x4" oil

These aren't really circus feet, they were a woman's feet I saw at the State Fair. Her pose seemed to suggest she was about to walk the tight rope or mount a white horse with a big plume on its head. I liked the matching nail polish. What came first...the polish or the shoes? #79

Red on Red oil 6x6

I painted these lovely little apples on a red background and put in the greenish/yellow cup for some added interest. It is a plastic cup and is a frosty translucent. So, I think it came out pretty good. #78

Oranges Oranges Everywhere

These were from value studies at Carol Marine's workshop. It was not really a "fun" exercise, but it was good for forcing us to really look at the values in a simple subject and try out different background to see how they affect the colors in the oranges. #76 and #77

GO! (IDIC Benefit Race) 8"x8" oil

This was a commission for the IDIC 15d benefit 5K/15K race. I have wanted to do a crowd scene for a while, but have been intimidated about it, so this gave me an opportunity to do it. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. #75
SOLD

Boomer 8x8 oil

This is Boomer, a really fuzzy guy who is pretty aggressive, but a nice guy if you let him know you won't put up with it. It is a sketch for a commission. He is the slobberingest dog I have ever seen. The owners said, "don't paint the snot on his face!" I love all the squiggly edges. #74

Tess oil 8x8

This is a sketch I did for a commission. #73

Pepper, Scapes and Onion 6x6 oil

Looks like spaghetti is on the menu. This was painted outside in diffused cloudy light on a chilly day. Having strong light really makes still life paintings zing. But, you can't always control the conditions you paint in. Maybe I should have done a landscape instead. I did this at the Chaffee Art Center too. #72

Small Lantern with Chair and Plant oil 8x10

This is a little different. I went to the Chaffee Art Center and quickly painted this still life on mat board with limited odd oil colors using terrible bristle brushes that were a million years old and used by a thousand school kids! Never-the-less, I like it! This is the 73rd painting I have posted since June 25, 2010....and counting. That is more than 1 per day. #71

Judy's Daughter 5x7 oil

This was a commission based on my previous painting "Harvest Days." I put in lots more sunflowers, made the lovely lady taller, got rid of the sunglasses and cowboy hat, and changed the mountains into trees. #70
SOLD

His and Hers Tuxedo Feet 4x4 oil

This is another one of my small feet paintings. I called it Tuxedo Feet because the woman and man were not "together" but they both had on deep blue/black dress slacks and almost the same shiny shoes. They were talking on the "red carpet." #69

Brandy Sniffer 4x4 oil

I was inspired to do this brandy sniffer after the Carol Marine workshop. Several artists did glass vases and they were so beautiful I wanted to give it a "shot." Here is my attempt and I am happy with it. My friend and fellow painter Heather Shaw suggested that I close the gap on the right side, but I like the lost edge and that is really how I saw it. Carol suggested painting glass like it is not there....really good advise. #68

Three Auberginettes 6x6 oil

This was fun to paint because of all the purple. It is hard for me to stick with the grays but I am working on it. I got a Carol Marine painting of eggplant and it is full of beautiful gray. It is a reminder to me. #67
SOLD

Lime Reflections 4x4 oil

I re-shot this photo but it looks blurry too. I don't know what the problem is. #66

Lime, Apple, Orange

This is another painting I did at Carol Marine's workshop. She really worked with us on getting the values and reflected light right and I am happy with how this turned out. At first I didn't like the orange because we had done exercises all morning and I painted an orange 10 times trying to get it right, so by the time I did this one I honestly hated oranges! I like them now and I love the shadows on this orange. Compositionally it looks like a giant moon revolving around two little planets! #65

Lemon Trio 4x4

Carol Marine's workshop was fabulous. It is so impressive that such a young woman has not only the skill and vision for her work, but is such a good instructor and is so organized. This was my first attempt on the first day. I was happy with it, but I think my final attempt of the class shows improvement. I will post it in a couple of days. #64

Going to a Carol Marine workshop for the next few days so I won't be posting until Wednesday. Today I went to the Sculpture Center and Carving Studio (the "Carrara" of America) Sculptfest, which was fabulous.

On the Edge

This is a conundrum I sometimes face when painting from photos: how do I add something to the painting that is not expressed in the photo?My photos are generally pretty amateurish, so I don't worry about this much, but when I paint from a great photo, I sometimes wonder what I added to an already fabulous photo. The photo this painting is based on was taken by my extremely talented niece Samantha Kehl. I enjoyed this painting and it adds something of interest to my series of "feet" but I think the photo was a true piece of art. On another front, I hung 25 pieces in galleries today, which makes it a very busy day for the business of making art. I put in another order to Carl (my husband and frame maker) for 70 frames. I think I am getting serious about this.#63

Brothers

These guys are adorable. This was a commission and I am really hoping I got it right. #62
SOLD

Rudbeckia Hirta

I am afraid this is going to be one of those that I re-work once I figure out all the changes I need to make. I wonder if I should post a painting like this, feeling it is not right, but it is a promise to myself to post every day I can, and I ran out of "extras" over the Labor Day Weekend. I think my painting break is showing. I love the intensity of color that Rudbeckia brings to the late summer garden. I also like this glass blue and green vase and the way the shadow reflects some of this color. I also like the jiggly shadow of the flower. I will call this a work in progress and change the photo when it is correct. #61