The Start

This is the beginning of a demo for my students.  The start of a painting is so critical.  At this stage design, value and color are established.  All my students hate their paintings at this point.  When I ask why, they say "It's not pretty".  So focused are beginning students to the end result that they set themselves up for failure.  It's like baking a cake...you can't decorate it until it's baked, cooled and frosted before the piping bag comes out for the final details.  My final touches are reserved for the last 5-10% of the painting.  Build strong structures and the details will literally be the icing on the cake.  

  Happy New Year!

Off with the Old, On with the New! $45 SALE!

2012 has been a very trying year, so as the saying goes "Off with the old, on with the new"!  Exploring new direction in my art and want to clear out my previous work.  Good news for you, great prices!

Each piece will be offered at $45 plus $5 shipping (if needed).  These paintings range from 4x4 to 8x10s.  If you see a piece you want, email me and I will send a PayPal invoice to you.  Here's to new adventures and a great 2013!

Under Construction

"Under Construction"

6x6 Oil on Panel

$95

Another idea, another study.  My students hear me say (probably more times than they care to hear), do a study before you dive into a painting.  Better to work out the issues on a small piece instead of a 36x36. Which is exactly what I didn't do on a rather recent 36x36.  I was so sure that I had it all worked out.  HA!  I now have a great underpainting for my next 36x36.  So to all my lovely students, DO I say, Not as I do.

A Study

"Heading Uptown"

6x6  Oil on Canvas Panel

$95

Doing studies is an invaluable tool in becoming familiar with your subject.  These studies help me simplify the painting and judge what works and doesn't before beginning the larger piece.  I look at this and think I want to lose more in the final piece.  We'll see where I end up.  

Kisses but No Hugs - SOLD

"Kisses"  SOLD

4x4 Oil

$50

Had to paint them fast because it's 70 something today and they were getting

 "mushy" fast.  Looking for a little cooler weather for season.  Headed back

to the easel for some more paintings for the holidays. 

  

Newsletter Time - SOLD

SOLD 

"Coneflower"

4x4  Oil on Canvas Board

$50

 

Well I've successfully managed to pull together one newsletter this year.  I realized my life is starting to return to some sort of normal when the urge to paint and produce newsletters are once again occupying my brain.  Now don't get too excited until you've read the newsletter because while it may be completed...there are no guarantees of correct spelling, sentences that make sense or links that work.  For now, I'm happy to have something to post.  Woohoo.  And a note to my friends and relatives, this is NOT an indication that Christmas cards will happen in 2012!

If you aren't subscribed to my newsletter, just click here to sign up.

 

 

Red Geraniums, Again? - SOLD

"Red"

8x8 Oil on Canvas Panel

It's been 6 months since my last post but that doesn't mean I haven't been painting.  As artists, we go through changes in our lives and direction of our work.   That's where I've been.  While I tend to share my struggles and successes at the easel, this time around, I've remained quiet.  The process is painful and exhilarating at the same time.  Not ready to share the new larger works yet but I decided to go back to painting smaller works and the comfort zone in which the paint just flows off the brush.   Enjoy!

Contact me, if you are interested in this piece.

A New Path

"Enlightened"

30x15  Oil on Canvas

Email me if you are interested in this piece.

Charting a new path in my painting approach and having a great time.  Someone posted a comment on Facebook about this piece.  "Kickin in the doors!!! Sha-zay-am!!!  My feeling exactly!

Having Fun

"Griffith Observatory"

12x24  Oil on Canvas

$1100

 

Paint is flying in my studio lately.  I've been quietly pursuing a new approach to my work & ready to share a new piece.  So happy with the direction and anxious to see what is in store as I explore. 

On the Easel

"Top of the Ridge"

20x30 Oil on Canvas

Email me if you are interested in this piece.

It's scary how easily I lost the desire to paint when life threw a big curve my way. I've been struggling to get back into painting. Usually painting is my solace but not recently. I couldn't seem to manage to put a paintbrush in hand or even play with color. However, sometime last week I took control and started painting again. I feel something new emerging. Thanks for support and patience while I wrestle the painting demons.

TMI

Once again life has pulled me away from painting.  But today, I'm happy to share that a wonderful artist, Carrie Waller, posted an interview with me today on her blog.  She is a fabulous watercolorist, so check out her work and she what tidbits she enticed me to share.  It was fun.   Thanks, Carrie.  Happy Easter!

Well, that was different

"Stand Tall, Study"

9x12  Oil on Linen/Board

$250

As I started the demo in class this morning, my brush swept across the support & well, I thought that was different.   I'm so used to knowing how my brush & paint will react on my support that I was shocked when the brushstroke didn't look or feel the same.  Awhile back I ordered a couple of sample boards with not my regular canvas attached.  This one had the Belgian Linen (lovely) but single primed.  I love painting on linen but this one just didn't hold my brushwork like my other support.  I like this painting but it  has a very different feel about it.  Live & learn.   Stepping out of your comfort zone is good, I just now know that single primed Belgian Linen probably won't live in my toolbox.  It's so important to be as knowledgeable about your "tools" as your skills. 

A Challenge

"San Francisco Street"

8x6  Oil on board

$125

This was a "challenge" painting by a wonderful artist, Terry Miura.  I love painting cityscapes but do struggle with sometimes trying to simplify all that happens on a busy city street.  This challenge I also roped my friend, Julie Hill, into doing with me at 4 o'clock yesterday. Lucky her, she lives on the west coast & had a few more of hours of light.  Happy painting!

Carefree Days

"Carefree Days"

6x6  Oil on canvas/board

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

Last summer I did a series of my friend, Julie Hill's daughter as play.  See the paintings here, here & here.  Painting children can be fun and I've done more than my fair share of "sweet" kids paintings.  While exploring this subject, I wanted to focus much more of the joy of the kids "at play" and keep the "sappiness" to a minimum.  For me, the color palette will dictate whether I'm successful.   Any thoughts?

The First Look

"Familiar View, Catalina"

6x6  Oil on museum quality board

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

A few days ago, I talked about seeing the obvious subject to paint versus taking some time & finding a

different view.  Don't get me wrong, I love painting the Holly Hill House.  It's been a favorite class demo several times.  However, when I slowed down & really looked at what was in front of me, I found an equally, if not, more interesting vantage point, see here.   My students always comment that I'm able to pull so much out of one photo...so here's to really seeing not just looking.

Another Look

"A View from the Top"

4x8  Oil on Canvas

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

This week I've had my students focusing on doing thumbnail, value & color sketches. I used a photo from Catalina (the Hollyhill House) that I had painted more than a few demos from & in the process found 2 more potential paintings. This is one of them. Sometimes we are so focused on the obvious that we miss the true beauty in front of us. I'm thinking this would make a great diptych.

Crunch Time

"The Bunch"

6x12  Oil on Linen

At auction on DPW, click to bid.

This is the finished piece that I did as a demo at the Charlotte Art League last week.  I'm never nervous about painting in public until I get to the end of painting time. It's then that I think "oh, I hope it turns out well".  There's always a little tweaking that is needed but I like how this turned out.  Thanks again to everyone who turned out, it was delightful.

Kids being Kids

"Beach Bound"

8x10  Oil on Linen

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

Thanks to a Saturday morning cup of tea with a  friend & collector, I walked away with

some charming photos of kids being kids & some inspiration.  This was her favorite photo,

so this is where I begin.  Thanks, T.

Exploring

"Redhead"

15x22 

Watercolor, gouache on Paper

This is from Day 3 of the workshop.  The painting is a combination of eyedropper drawing, charcoal, watercolor wash & rolled on paint with watercolor & gouache. I've included progress photos below.  This has been a great exploration for me.   I did watercolor about 10 years ago & vowed never to go there again.  Yet here I am but in a very different approach to this medium. Can't say that I'll live in this world on a regular basis, it has certainly opened up a lot of avenues in my approach in oil.  Time will tell if I can translate all that I learned this weekend.  Thanks, Kate.  You rock!!!!!!!!!!

Eyedropper Drawing

Building Up   

Inspired

 

"Michelle"

22x30  Watercolor, Gouache

First day in workshop with Kate Worm.   It's all about the figure in watercolor & gouache.  Maybe I should state now that I'm an oil painter! I have taken from Kate before (about 8 yrs ago) and she is a fantastic teacher.   I walked away so inspired & seeing new possibilities opening up in my oils.   This piece started with a wash of Payne's Grey.  Then I drew with an EYEDROPPER! Yes, an eyedropper filled with watercolor...talk about freeing...WOW!  The next step was placing the lights (in gouache) with a brayer, fine tuning the figure a bit in charcoal & then dropping  warmth into a few areas.  Below I have included the eyedropper drawing so you can see the marks it makes along with one of  Kate's beautiful pieces.  Hopefully, we play with color tomorrow.  Exhausted, exhilarated & enthralled...Good Night!

Eyedropper Drawing

                  

Kate Worm

Out of Practice - SOLD!

  

"Barb's View"

6x6  Oil on Panel

$125

The last time I painted "en plein aire", Lincoln might have been president.  I did this for my Wedneday morning art class and my students did great.  Needless to say, my skills were rusty.  I won't mention the backhoe constant sounds, the small rain delay & chilled air because it was soooooo fabulous to be outside painting in February!  Looking forward to next Wednesday, weather permitting.  I'll share my students pieces as soon as I receive their images.

Here are a few images from my students' plein air experience.   I think they did a fanastic job for newbies to painting outside in less than ideal conditions.  I'm proud of ya!

In Motion

"Pebble Beach"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

Commission - SOLD

As they say in life, timing is everything.   With my last painting, I talked about wanting to bring some movement into my paintings.  I wasn't happy with the last piece...it felt forced.  Then as luck would have it, I received a commission to paint this golfer.   Lucky for me his wife, is a fabulous photographer, Jennings King.  While I've never met her, I was commissioned a couple of years ago to do a painting as a wedding gift for her.  Small world. What a fun commission (can't always say that) and the painting practically flew off the brush.   Good day at the easel!

Finding a Lost Friend

"Oranges & Balsamic Vinegar"

8x10  Oil on Linen

  I recently moved my studio back home & while unpacking I found a favorite prop, the vinegar bottle.  I hosted a couple of workshops many years ago for a fabulous artist, Kate Worm.  This was her prop and I guess my enthusiasm for this little black bottle prompted her to give it to me.   I fondly think of Kate everytime I see it & I'm thrilled to be taking a workshop with Kate in February.  I haven't been able to attend any workshops in the past several years, so I'm so pumped to be inspired & pick up a few juicy tidbits from Kate. 

Night Owl Issues

"Up Early"

8x8  Oil on museum quality panel

$325

I'm definitely a night owl who needs her 7-8 hours of sleep to function like a semi-coherent person.  This makes it difficult to be up to see the beautiful morning light.  If I could only convince the universe to add 2 hours between my bedtime & the morning light, I could have my cake and eat it too!

Is It Too Early for Baseball? SOLD

"Cracker Jacks, Anyone?

6x6  Oil on Canvas

SOLD

Growing up in a house where your brother & mother are avid sports fans, this "girlie" girl had no choice but to choose a sport to be interested in.   So baseball was it & the Atlanta Braves were the team.  Thankfully, I have a nephew who also plays & loves baseball.  Over the holidays, I painted him a baseball and thus the inspiration for a new series was born.  I'm not sure why I thought painting a box of Cracker Jacks would be the place to start but here it is.  I keep hoping each season that the Braves will channel their success from the early nineties.  Until then, I hope you will enjoy the series.

Back in the Saddle

"Streaming Light"

12x24 Oil on Canvas

After almost 2 months of not painting, I'm back at the easel.  While I don't quiet feel in the groove, at least I've got brush in hand.  I have to thank my good friend, Julie Hill, for encouraging, badgering, prompting & down right threatening  me back to the easel.  Everyone needs a Julie in their life! 

 More to come, stay tuned.  Here's to a great and inspirational 2012!