Saturday, July 31, 2010

Angry Birds!!

"Along the Way"
8x6   Oil
$95

On one hand I have to thank my sister-in-law for some wonderful barn photos from their vacation this past week.  On the other hand, while visiting, she introduced me to the most frustrating/addicting iPhone game called "Angry Birds".  I played it because she, my brother, niece & nephew were playing it.  When my phone died last week, "relief", the game had disappeared.  Stopping on their way back home on Friday, she told me how to upload the game again.  Being very blond that day, I reloaded it.  Having wiped out my previous success, I've now started from the beginning  and stuck as the same @%$^&^*&@(! place as before.  Yes, Wen, that stupid cart/train (whatever that thing is) has gotten the best of me. Thanks for the photos and I owe you for the "Angry Birds".  Love YA, mean it!!!


Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Kelley Warp

"In the Red"
6x6    $95

A fellow DPO painter, Kelley MacDonald & I have had some of the same technical Facebook/Blogger issues and have "shared" our frustrations.  Thinking it might be targeted directly towards us, she aptly named it "Kelley Warp".  So in that vein, my iPhone (less than 2 mos. old) totally died on my today.  After trying to make an appt. online, no success, then calling the Apple store for an hour (line busy) I finally was able to get an appt. for tomorrow, late afternoon.  I'm starting to think this "Kelley Warp" thing is real.  All I have to say is watch out Kelley Mac., it might be your turn tomorrow.  Now the bright spot today was getting a call from a friend, who had a bunch of beautiful red sunflowers for me.  Thanks Rod

Monday, July 26, 2010

Cure for Insomnia

"Digging in the Sand"
6x6  $95

Lucky to have painted something at all today.  Here's why, I'm not a great sleeper but throw in 100 degree plus days and not much cooling at night & it's little sleep for moi.  However, last night I discovered a cure.  After playing backgammon & hangman for several hours (no sleep in sight), I turned to my fellow DPO painters to look at their work again.  I have to say that several have been painting yummy food.  So after about an hour of drooling, starving,  looking (now 4 o'clock am), I went to the freezer and grabbed a Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar.  By 4:30, I was fast asleep.  Thanks Weight Watchers and the food painting DPO girls. Now the only question is what to give up...trying to lose weight or sleep?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Flower Power

"Violet Mood"
7x5     $95

Looking forward to a week of uninterrupted time in the studio.  A whole week.  Yippee!  It's going to be flowers galore for a series that I'm beginning.    I'm also going to try to paint some figurative pieces.  Now what's that saying...Best laid plans.  We'll see.  Also, a note to Dana, I'm getting my own Cornflower Blue since you like to "hide" yours.


Monday, July 19, 2010

Aunts Rule!

"Hydrangeas"
5x7  Oil on Panel
$95

I meant to post this painting yesterday but add a niece & a nephew to your day and nothing gets done.  Not that it's a bad thing but priorities shift and play time become the most important objective of the day.  So, I'm off to beat one of them at some kind of game just so I can claim some victory.  Not likely, they're getting too smart but I gotta show them I'm not "old school".  Aunts Rule!


Saturday, July 17, 2010

Out of Brushes


"Orange Daisies"
10x10  oil on canvas

Not painting at my studio always presents challenges.  I had to paint at home today so that meant working under less than ideal conditions.  I never have all the paints I need, lucky if I have canvas and today out of brushes with the exception of 2 caked with paint brushes because my "assistant" didn't wash them.  But I was determined to paint something and in the end I had to step out of my comfort zone and use what was at hand.  So between paper towel, my palette knife and the less than desirable brushes, I painted with thicker paint and somewhat less control.  All in All, a good thing.   But before I hit the easel in the morning, I will have had a talk with myself assistant about the proper care of brushes. 

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Crazy Life -NFS

"San Biago, Montepulciano"
6x6   oil on panel
$95
July was suppose to be my down time, to paint, relax, maybe read a book.  Well, the joke is on me.  It's been crazy.  Evidently, I have to create my own serenity.  So for my 100th posting, I painted myself a view of the ocean and today, it's one of my favorite views from Italy.  The duomo, San Biago is in the Tuscan region of Italy outside a wonderful small town of Montepulciano.  The view is magnificent and you look out across the vast landscape of Tuscany.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit, go!  I'm off for a walk around the city and to find a good glass of wine.  Ciao.


Monday, July 12, 2010

Celebration!!!! SOLD!

"On the Dunes"
    5x7   oil on canvas
$95

I can't think of a better way to celebrate my 100th blog posting by going to the beach.  Alright, I'm currently landlocked but I can paint me a view.  I have really enjoying painting these small gems and look forward to my next 100.  As a small thank you for all that have followed me, I'm giving away a set of note cards.  Drum roll, please.  The winner is Kay Teague.  Congratulations, Kay.  Now I'm off of dip my toes in the ocean (bathtub).

Saturday, July 10, 2010

100-1=99

"Green Bowl"
6x6   oil on paper
$95
I've got nothing to say...well, that's not exactly true.  This is my 99th posting on my blog.  It went by so quickly.  I'm planning something fun for my 100th post.  A giveway?  Keep watching and in the meantime enjoy this painting.

Friday, July 9, 2010

It's Not a Black Purse!

"Pansies"
6x6  oil on paper
$95 

Note to self, don't ever try to paint a shiny, embossed, black patent leather purse.  Another wipe off but quickly moved to these pretty pansies.    I'm having lots of fun playing with oil on paper.  Seeing how the brush reacts, trying to stay loose, seeing what subject matter works and what doesn't.  Guess I'm glad that the purse painting didn't work out.  Maybe I should do a series of paintings called "It's not....".  What do you think?

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Hot! Hot! Hot! SOLD!

"Shop Around the Corner"
6x6  oil
$95

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a flower shop that I frequent and evidently keeping the shop a secret has driven a few people a little crazy.  I've received a "few" emails asking, begging, guessing which shop it is.  I'm still not going to reveal the shop but here's a clue.  If you can figure out the "shop" in the painting, then as the child's game goes, you're hot! hot! hot!  Who knew that keeping a tiny secret from a few people would create such a stir?  Good luck.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

It's not Triple Chocolate Mousse!

"Cherries & White Pitcher"
6x6  oil on canvas
$95

So I left the bakery this morning with a triple chocolate mousse cake & a  lemon curd cupcake to paint.  That's why I painted cherries & a white pitcher.  It was a major wipe out day.  Couldn't get enough light on the desserts to give me any shadows without melting the subject matter.  Did I mention that it was around 100 degrees today?  Anyway I think my painting looks more refreshing than a triple chocolate mousse cake.  And before anyone asks, the mousse cake collapsed onto itself and the cupcake was my mom's afternoon snack.  Stay cool!

Monday, July 5, 2010

What's for Dinner?

"The Catch"
6x6 oil on panel
$95

Painting fishermen is always fun for me but is it rewarding for the fishermen?  I have yet to get a photo of these guys catching anything.  I think it's just a ruse to get out of the house. The age old stories of fishermen stopping by the fish market to buy their "catch" can't all be false.  Or is this their version of I'm heading to the studio to paint and then coming home unable to produce a piece only to say "I wiped off my painting"?   In the end, it's all good if you're having fun.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Lost & Found

"Lost & Found"
7x10  oil on paper
$125

This dress was my mom's graduation dress nearly 60 years ago.  It  had been out of her possession until Tuesday. One aunt had found it and sent it to my mom via another aunt.  What a surprise for my mom.  It was beautifully constructed by my great grandmother.  It could have been made a one of today's finest designers.  The sheerness of the fabric must have made it difficult to sew, the tiniest pearl buttons up the back &  the ruffling at the yoke made by a woman who lived on a rural farm in east Tennessee.  I was lucky enough to have one of her beautiful quilts but was thrilled to see her delicate handwork on a garment.  While my great grandmother has been gone a very long time, a little piece of her arrived on Tuesday.   

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Roll 'em out!

"Fifth Wheel"
5x10   oil on paper
$95

First day in the studio since my students have gone.  With grandiose plans, I went to the easel and started a painting.  Two hours later it no longer existed, not that it's bad thing.  Getting back into a routine of painting usually doesn't happen with the first painting back.  So I took a break and came back deciding to start simply.  Cherries.  There is something about painting cherries that can brighten my day.  Maybe it's in setting them up, all I usually have to do is roll them out of the bag onto the table & instant Still Life!  I have also set myself a goal of limiting the number of brushstrokes to describe my subject.  So between now & July 12th, limited brushstrokes is the "word of the day".  Let's see what happens.