The Rose Challenge

Red Rose

5x7"

Oil

$70

DPW $50

     This week's Challenge is to paint a rose, any way at all. Flowers are not my strength so this Challenge is a good thing.  I could have chosen to paint just a petal or a leaf, but I decided to be very traditional and paint a rose, thorns and all.  How interesting that the thorns really were the color of the rose! I did not know that about thorns. Another bit of fun was painting on a turquoise canvas. Red has become my favorite imprimatura, but experimenting is a must. Generally this was a good time in the studio, but I am disappointed that the front leaf does not glow with sun against the red rose the way it did in real life.

Primary Challenge

Bright Apple

8x10"

Oil 

$160

DPW $112

     This week's Challenge: paint using the primaries--red, yellow, blue. I tried to keep the colors pure, but some yellow leaked into the blue giving me a green leaf. (Well, OK.) The way the sun fell on the yellow leaves really did make them look yellow, almost white. 

     Painting with three colors is a triad color scheme, which I usually enjoy. The thing to watch out for is not to make the three colors equal. I want the painting to be either one color or another. I worried about this one, but I think it turned out to be a blue painting. Blue with red and yellow. That is good.

     The Challenges time and again push me out of my comfort zone. Now I want to use this color scheme again soon.

Mamacita

Mamacita

9x12"

Oil

$216

DPW $150

     My sister's cat is so photogenic, but then all felines are "masterpieces." They strike poses and walk like ballerinas. I like cats and would have one of my own if I did not dread the "trophies" they might bring me after their trips into the woods. How fine it would be to have my own personal model to paint all the time. I don't think I would ever tire of it.

     I rarely paint with Cad Red, but this time I wanted pure red, red, red, and the Cad gave it to me. Cad Red Light is my favorite red, so I had to add just a stroke or two to break up the flatness of the background without losing that redness I wanted. It really is red.

The Phone Challenge

Delta

The Phone Challenge

8x8"

$128

DPW $85

     Here is another Challenge I was glad to see. My landscapes are my nemesis and I need to practice them more.

     This is from a photo taken on the run with a cell phone and given to us to paint anyway we want. This week's Challenger reminds us that a good photo does not always mean a good painting and vice versa. A good reminder, but how well I know that to be true. So many photos of landscapes with so few paintings to show for it.

     This is the first landscape I have done this year that I like and that I did not have to wash down several times before I arrived at a finished product. Thank you, Elaine.

Happy 4th of July!

Stars & Stripes Cowgirl Angel

Sierra Artisans Craft Pattern

20"

     This is my Independence Day greeting. Happy 4th of July!

     This is one of my craft patterns that I sell on Etsy under my Sierra Artisans label. She is one of ten western-themed figures that I have enjoyed designing over time. It all began with a Cowboy Santa. I thought he would be cute and never expected more from it, but when your imagination is triggered, you don't want to stop it. Now I have a variety of Cowgirl Angels and other seasonal and holiday characters. I like to think of them as a family. The Sheriff is already drawn and Sidekick in taking shape in my head.

     How to find time to finish these ideas and paint every day too! Time--that slippery element. It gets away from me so easily.

     Please visit my website or Etsy to see all the characters.