Friday, September 30, 2011

Big Girl


Big Girl
16x16"
$512
(Daily Paintworks Auction beginning bid $350)

     Horses are difficult to paint only because they are so beautiful. If you make them as fabulous as they really are, it looks as if you are romanticizing them. They are mythic by nature and so they are irresistible to painters, but the work can so easily appear trite. Who cares? I loved painting this wonderful creature. In fact, I have painted her more than once and will probably do it again.

   

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wine Leaf


Wine Leaf
6x8"
Oil
$128
(Daily Paintworks Auction beginning bid $85)

     This week's Challenge is to paint something to welcome the new season. We were to tone our ground with an unusual color. I chose Dioxazine Purple. Then let some of that color show through. You can see some of the purple around the edges. 
     It is still very summer-like here in Nevada County with only the slightest change in the color of the landscape. I was lucky to find this one red leaf in a neighbor's vineyard.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Three Peaches


Three Peaches
12x12"
Oil
$288


     Here is another piece from last month in my work on palettes. This is done in "high key," lots of colors in the upper range on the value scale. I tried to make most of these colors number five and above on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being white.
     This painting received very little notice on Daily Paintworks, yet it remains one of my favorites.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Red Peach


Red Peach
8x8"
$128


I did this little painting last month. It is an example of my work with various palettes and color schemes. This is the analogous color scheme, using colors next to each other on the color wheel, and then using the complementary colors in the focal point. The painting is small, so the intense warmth of the color is not too uncomfortable, but I would probably like it even if it were large.
***
I sold the Western Tanager this week before the paint was even dry. Isn't that great! Very happy.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Western Tanager


Western Tanager
8x8"
Oil
Sold

The Western Tanagers live near us, but they rarely come right into the trees in our yard. It is always a little thrill to have a sighting. This female perched in the madrone tree just above the birdbath, and I was able to photograph her underlit with the reflecting light from the water. Painting that effect challenged me a bit.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Monte's Things


Monte's Things
6x8"
Oil


Here is this week's DPW Challenge. I had to plan my painting and count the shapes. Then I was supposed to use one brush stroke for each shape. I planned 18 strokes. The pink bone took six with two pale pink highlights. It actually took 22 strokes to do the painting of the objects. I did not do the background but painted on a toned canvas leaving the background untouched. These Challenges are so good for me. I might try this again, but I will bend the rules a little next time, giving myself some more freedom.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Zorina


Zorina
24x20"
Oil 
$960


Zorina is a ballerina and actress from 30's-ish Hollywood. She is very delicate. I loved painting her slim graceful figure. Another thing I liked about doing this one is that I painted the background first and let it dry. Then I carefully put her into the picture. You can see some parts that I thought it would be interesting not to paint, like the lost edges along her arm. 
***
I am happy to report that the demonstration in Sacramento last Saturday went just fine. The people were very sweet and seemed to appreciate anything I wanted to show them. I remembered all my materials and the projector worked like it was supposed to. Nice day.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Dreamsicle


Dreamsicle
18x14"
Oil
$500

This kitten belongs to my sister. She took the picture with her cell phone and sent it to me because she thought it was so very cute. I agreed completely and loved painting it. It earned a First Place award for me in a Sacramento exhibit this year, so it is a little extra special to me. It is now being shown at the Smith Gallery in Sacramento.

Speaking of Sacramento, today I am giving a demonstration on animal painting at a very nice art club there. I hope I do a good job for them. It is an honor to be invited.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Debbie's Bouquet


Debbie's Bouquet
7x5"
Oil
$70

This is the result of a Challenge from two weeks ago. We were supposed to paint using only rectangles. That really appealed to me and I got right to it. I just love the way it turned out. It looks very impressionistic. I could never have painted that lavish bouquet if simplifying it had not be built into the Challenge.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Cougar Cub


Cougar Cub
18x24"
Oil
$865



Cougars are my favorite "Big Cat." I was lucky enough to actually see one in my yard one time, but this is not that one. I found this charming guy in a reference book for artists. Naturally, I was eager to paint him.



Sunday, September 11, 2011

Bales o' Hay


Bales o' Hay
5x7"
Oil
$70


This is my submission for this week's DPW Challenge. I really liked doing it. Thalo green is a very powerful color and can run away with you, but because this is supposed to be monochromatic, I was on fairly safe ground. 

I have had the photograph of those Oklahoma bales for a couple of years and have tried to paint them before, but with no success. Once again, the "Challenge" forced me to do just the thing I wanted to do.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My Pig


Sour Mash
6x8
Oil
$95

This is my painting for the "Paint Your Pig" Challenge. I titled it Sour Mash because she looks a little tipsy, like she got into the farmer's sideline. I have been wanting to do a pig for a long time, so I am glad this Challenge presented me with the impetus to go ahead.


Friday, September 9, 2011

Daily?!



Cat in Indigo
20x16”
Oil on Canvas
$640


When I first heard about Daily Paintworks, I thought it meant I had to paint every day. You know--“daily.” I do not actually want to have to do anything every single day, but then I learned that it did not mean the same thing for everyone. With freedom to decide for myself, I am able to enjoy and learn and, hopefully, develop as a painter.

My Gallery looks like a potpourri of painting styles. That is because I am trying everything! But I so admire the artists whose voices are strong and consistent.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Daily Paintworks



Last month I joined Daily Paintworks and have been very happy that I did. I sold a painting that first month, which is wonderful, but that is not the only benefit I have received. I am loving the "Challenges" and being pushed beyond my comfort zone. I want to grow as an artist, and aside from investing a fortune in going back to school, this might be one very friendly way to expand the limits of my studio. Anyway, it is fun!

I love looking at the work of all the artists. I have such respect for them. They are all so unique.

This is my first Blog. It was Daily Paintworks that made me realize I probably should have one.