"Fairly" Hot Days

"At the Fair"

10x8  Oil on Panel

$175

I went to the LA County Fair and this is all I got. Just kidding. It was a fun, HOT day and it's always enjoyable to watch kids having a blast.  I got several photos that might turn into paintings, this one just jumped out at me.  Can you feel the heat?

Avoiding a Fight

"Picking Strawberries"

6x12  Oil on Linen

$175

Nothing like going out to explore painting opportunities.  Leslie Saeta recently invited me to join her for the day.  So off we went and discovered a lovely field of workers picking strawberries.  I think I barely waiting for the car to stop before jumping out to capture this lovely scene.  That moment didn't last long.  A guy in a pickup quickly came to us and told us we couldn't take photos.  We explained that we were artists and wanted pictures to paint.  He told us again that we couldn't take them.  Not wanting to start a fight, we "agreed".  Go back in the car, drove 3 feet, jumped out again and starting taking more pictures.  What can I say...no stopping artists on a mission.  Thanks, Leslie for a fun day. 

The Challenge

"Communal Table"

8x10 Oil on Panel

$175

Taking a 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge to get me back in the swing of painting on a daily basis.  Painting what inspires me.  I hope that you will follow my progress & we'll see where I land at the end of September. 

In the Kitchen - SOLD

"In the Kitchen"

8x8  Oil on Linen Panel

This was a blast to paint. What's for dinner?

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!

New Workshops

It's been too long since I last posted but I've been busy with my art career just not painting.  I'll be sharing some of the exciting news over the next few weeks.   Been painting a little over the last 2 days but not quiet ready to post.  Wow, not painting for more than a month makes diving back in a little scary!

In the meantime, I have 3 new workshops to announce.  If you are interested in taking a 1 or 2 day workshop, hit link below for more information or to sign up.
http://kelleysanford.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html

"A" at Play, # 4

"Mudhead, Amanda"

12x12   Oil on museum quality canvas

Reserved

While I knew that I would enjoy doing this series, I didn't quite realize the challenges that I would come up against.  As I started to paint this piece, I quickly encountered the "mudhead".   Mudhead is term coined by the painter, Charles Hawthorne.  He had his students paint models in bright sunlight with their faces in shadow.  Hence the term, mudheads.  One of my favorite artists, Frank Gardner, set himself a challenge of 100 Mudheads and created a blog about it.   Check it out, it's fascinating and wonderful work.  I, myself, am exhausted on the very first one.  Thanks again to my wonderful model, Amanda.  

P.S.  I also recommend Charles Hawthorne's book  "Hawthorne On Painting".  It's a collection of notes taken by his students offering sage advise.   If I could only remember everything he said, I'd be a fabulous artist. 

En Plein Air

"Frolicking"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

My partner in crime, Julie Hill, has been trying her hand at plein air painting the last few days.  While painting from some lovely sites, she's been "kind" enough to share her photos with me.  Living in California with beautiful scenery and wonderful weather has made me a little envious given that I'm currently landlocked and hot!  So while she paints the scenery, I've to decided to join in by painting her daughter playing in the stream.  Thanks for sharing Julie and tell Amanda that she is the perfect model. 

Moving On

"Hindsight"

6x6   Oil on museum quality panel

Reserved

This is the last of my jockey series (just for a little bit).  It's been challenging and exceeding fun to explore through these paintings.  I'm not done yet just looking for the next subject matter.  These paintings have been reserved because I'm entering them for Randy Higbee's 6x6 Show & Sale.  Happy Day!

Brother, Oh, Brother!

"Jockularity"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

Reserved

The title is courtesy of my brother.  This is what happens when I'm unable to come up with a title and the only person that is nearby is my fairly witty but sometimes corny brother, steps in.  Actually he is visiting me and I, in my moment of desperation, asked for a title.  After a few decades of hanging around him, you'd think I'd remember not to do this.  Anyway, still having fun with this series...one more to come. 

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.

Getting out of the Weeds

"Table 4, More Wine"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Two glorious hours in the studio this morning.  That might not sound like much but in comparsion to no studio time, I'll take it.  Maybe the lack of easel time has me dying to spread my wings.  Waiting to see what flies off the brush in the next few weeks.  Happy weekend.

Kelley Light/Kelley Dark? SOLD!

"In the Mood"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

SOLD!

Before you question whether you've come to the right blog, yep, it's mine.  This was a demo for a student who wanted to paint a dark/moody/mysterious (in her words) painting.  It's always a fine line to know what to include in a painting and what to leave out.  I did this demo to illustrate how eliminating much of the detail can enhance the feeling of the painting.  When we compared her painting to mine..her comment was that I had done a Kelley "Light" version versus her darker version.   Great exercise to paint out of one's comfort zone.  Would love to hear what you think.

Figuratively Speaking SOLD!!!

"On the Beach"

12x9   Oil on Linen

$750 (unframed)

SOLD!

Having fun getting back into the figures.  Loving the blues in this piece, evidently I'm wishing for summertime instead of the gray, drizzly day that we have.  Enjoy your weekend. 

Easel Time for Me

"Reading in Bed"

12x16  NFS

Paintings delivered, shipped or picked up.  All commitments fulfilled.  What a relief!  Deadlines are necessary but I love to find a few hours at the studio to paint anything I want.  Haven't done any figurative pieces in awhile, so I dove in. Got to this point, decided to stop and live with this for a little bit.  Know I want to loose the pillow "squares" to the left,of the figure & define the book but not sure if I want to do much more.  A truly fulfilling day at the easel. I'll be back at the easel for some more "Little Gems" this week. 

When Did He Grow Up?

"Father & Son"

6x6   $95

Yesterday my nephew turned 11.  Where did the time go?  When he was born I was just barely getting back into my art after leaving the corporate world.  Time marches on, things change, growth happens but thankfully some things stay the same.  He still crawls into bed with me early in the morning, gently tapping me on the shoulder to let me know he's arrived, he still beats me at "Trouble" and he still talks (not grunts) to me.  We've had these constants in our life since he was old enough to crawl out of his crib.  I realized that it's time to start painting my niece & nephew again to capture the memories.  He's just lucky I don't have a picture of him dancing in his diapers.  Happy Belated Birthday, H! 

P.S.  His sister is next!

Eat, Drink, Zone Out!

"Searching for Shells"

6x6      $95

An exhausting but productive week.  Hired an assistant, taught a workshop (which included the eating & drinking portion of today's program), painted a commission, started another, and then did all the necessary things in my "other" life.  Not complaining just explaining while I zoned out last night.  I was going to post some paintings from yesterday's workshop but just couldn't manage to push a button to upload a photo.  So sad.  Both pieces were demos during the workshop and then "tweaked" a little bit.  Thanks to my wonderful workshop students who worked hard and ended on a high note.  Now I'm off to "Eat, Drink & Zone Out".  Happy weekend!

"Carol, study"

8x10   $150

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?