This is Fun

"Backstretch"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

This is my third shot at pushing some abstraction into my work.  It's so much fun playing with color and the movement.  I think I might be getting the hang of it...oohs, probably just jinxed myself.  Oh well, off the find something else to abstract.

Diving off the High Board

 

"Betting on Orange"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

Reserved

As an artist, I hope that I never become stagnant in my work.  Staying in one place with my art would be the day that I walk away from painting.  For several months, I've been wanting to explore some abstraction in my work but haven't had the right subject matter to make me take the plunge...until now.  Off to the Races was the first painting I attempted to make a shift but while it was a "nice" painting, it didn't hit the mark.  So I'm back at it.  Not sure where I'll end up but diving off the high board is the only way to find out.

When a Horse is a Mule

"Off to the Races"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

 Veronica Clark,  is a dear friend and wonderful artist specializing in animals.  V & I used to be studio mates and I never attempted to paint animals because I wouldn't be able to capture the beauty that V could.  However, many years ago on a painting outing, I found that the only subject available was my worst nightmare, a horse.  So I dived in and "painted" the horse.  Upon bringing the painting back to the studio, I asked Veronica what she thought of my painting.  In her wonderful British accent, she said..."Nice mule".  So fast forward 8 years and here's my latest attempt at a horse.  V, I'll patiently await to hear whether I've improved and can now hear..."Nice horse".  A honest critique goes down better with a lovely accent.  Everyone needs a "V"!

I hope to post some more "horses" next week that are a bit different.  Having fun pushing out of my comfort zone. 

Boogie On!

"Boogie On!"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

NFS

A few months ago I finished a piece of  my nephew & brother kayaking and loved the movement in the painting.   My niece wanted to know when I was going to paint her.  I didn't want to hurt her feelings but I had to wait until I had the "right" image.  I found it this weekend and got busy.  She is full of energy and a barrel of fun.  K's, I hope you like your painting and BOOGIE ON!!!!!  Hugs from Aunt Kel.

Small Study, Big Idea

"Interlude"

6x8   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

In my classes this week, we're working on a landscape & this is demo from today's class. I'm  trying to work on some larger pieces for my favorite gallery at the coast.  These smaller pieces are letting me work out what I want to explore in larger formats.  I really like the high horizon in this one and playing up the color in the marsh grass.  Now the only question is...how big do I want to go? 

Unexpected Painting Time

"Abundance of Radishes"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Fitting in 3 whole hours of painting time doesn't exist in my world most days.  But today, my Wednesday students had their lives going in different directions (Hawaii, Kentucky, etc.) and that left me with no students and a quiet studio.  So I managed to complete a previously started 12x12, paint the radishes & almost complete a second 6x6.  I packed in as much as I could today and left the studio feeling great.  Now I'm off to do my favorite chore...grocery shopping.  I can just feel that euphoric feeling evaporating quickly. 

My Kind of Valentine

"Symphony"

6x6    museum quality panel

$95

My kind of Valentine's gift is not a  box of chocolates, bouquet of flowers or dinner out.   Give me a day at the studio, uninterrupted painting time and a finished painting, that's my idea of heaven.  Low maintenance kind of gal unless you mess with my painting time.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Get in, Get out SOLD!!!!!!

"Impressions"

6x6   Museum quality panel

$95

SOLD

One of my goals as an artist is to maintain the freshness in a painting.  For me it's a bit harder the larger I go but in my small studies, I think I can achieve this.  Mainly one pass of paint, lay the brushstroke down and move on.  As in "get in, get out".  While one area needed tweaking, I'm mostly satisfied.  I'm starting some larger paintings over the next few weeks, let's see if I can maintain the freshness.  Sorry the photo isn't very good, I'll try to repost.

Give me a knife

"Apple, Deconstructed"

2 6x6 museum quality panels

$95 each

When I started my painting for the Daily Paintworks Challenge, little did I know that the painting would be the least of my issues.  This week was a Ten Minute Challenge.  Choosing one subject & setting the timer for 10 minutes for each 3" piece.  While I stuck within the one subject challenge, I decided to tweak it a bit by "deconstructing" my apple as I went.  Some of the paintings look a slight "askew" because I had the most dull knife at the studio.  Deconstructing took on the look of destroying about half way through.  By the last painting, I had hacked the apple to the point that I had to tape the bottom of the core (see photo below for my lovely knife work) & then use the roll of tape to keep it upright.  I really enjoyed this challenge and it's now going to be an exercise for my students.  Hope you will check out the other challenge paintings at Daily Paintworks Challenge . 

                       

No Cars in Sight

"Sunlit"

8x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Don't remember ever painting cars before but I've painted two back to back this week.  Taxed my brain too much so now it's time to escape to the sanity of a landscape.

Challenge

"Cruising St. Augustine"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Thanks to Daily PaintWorks a new painting challenge has started.  The first challenge was this black car and all it's glorious reflections.  Not a subject I would tackle most days, however, throw in the buildings from Flagler College in St. Augustine and I'm in.  I lived two blocks from Flager College and loved it.  So I've accepted the challenge...now the question is did I suceed?