Joy of Art Forever

First new work for 2012!

2012-01-21T10:12:00.003-05:00

I am finally into my first work for 2012! It is 24" x 36" and I
am using an amazing photograph I took of waterlilies which
I have wanted to paint for a long time. The reflections are
awesome and you see them here in black. The colors are
just as amazing with lavenders and pinks and blues. It hardly
seemed real. I have been looking at the photo for a long time
and finally decided to try it.
After laying out the drawing with charcoal, I put in a wash
of the colors that are so important to me in this piece. This
is an oil painting by the way.

Winter Moon

2012-01-03T10:15:00.000-05:00

There are certain times of year when the moon is
in just the right position as to reflect off the lake.
The trees must be bare in order to see this.
Last night was one of those nights. A cold
clear night with the moon and even a star or a
planet just to the left of it....

I've painted this scene a few times and now others
own those images. But I never tire of this winter
moon dance. Might have to paint one for myself!

Love the tracery of branches where the reflection
is rippling....

Rose!

2011-12-28T17:26:00.000-05:00

I haven't been painting for a while, except for my pet commission
which I didn't dare show until it was presented! So I will show it
soon! This is a rose that was among a bouquet that lasted for
a week and was so lush and gorgeous I could hardly believe it!
I've been glazing it mostly, but going back in with more opaque
paint for areas that have been tricky.

I only painted roses one other time. SO HARD! Hope you like this
one. It is to be a gift to the rose giver!

Merry Christmas to you All!

2011-12-25T11:29:00.000-05:00

May the bright cheerful decor and the music that brings good
memories make your holidays full of good cheer and happiness
with those you love. Wishing you all a wonderful time today
and may it herald the start of an extra special New Year!

The Canal by the Potomac River

2011-12-08T12:40:00.002-05:00

Just a little bit of summertime nostalgia

now that it has turned cold! This is a little

painting, 5 x 7 inches. I had fun with all the

light effects from the water to the leaf

shadows on the path.

Bright colors at the holidays

2011-12-05T10:21:00.002-05:00

As the colors of nature drop back to subtle

greys and browns, red becomes an important

color note in our holiday decor. As I was decorating

my mantle and shelves with my doll collection, I

realized that I play with this color balance all

through the year. Punch it up for the winter

months, and tone it down when the colors and

bright sunshine take over.

It's something artists know in doing their work.

Back off the color and tone in parts of the painting

so that the key parts can pop!

Just some thoughts for you.

I'd like to post my latest work, but it is to be a

Christmas gift and I don't want to give it away!

Showing my art work!

2011-11-22T11:33:00.002-05:00

These are shots from the Art League of

Germantown show just held this past

weekend. It is a three day show and is

called "Winterglow".

I love taking shots of people at the show!

And of course I have to show you what

paintings of mine were in this one.

After all, you have watched them develop

on this blog, and now you see the results!

Total immersion!

2011-11-09T10:13:00.001-05:00

I consider that when we really step into an area with both feet and live in that realm, ideas just are not hard to come up with because we immerse ourselves in what we have chosen to do. It is, to me, one of the key ingredients of creativity. You can't just skim across, you have to get in and swim! (I'm hopelessly addicted to analogies as you see!).

This is why I never run out of ideas. They come faster than I can do anything about many of them! Now executing them is something else again!

Seeing color

2011-11-01T15:29:00.002-04:00

Why, you may ask, would I post a photo of nail

polish and my towel? Because sometimes I see

combinations that thrill me. The grey-green

towel and the purply polish just look good to me.

Now to find a dress that color. Oh, and a painting

subject where I can utilize such a sophisticated

combination!

Partners in art and petting

2011-09-29T14:24:00.001-04:00

Now this is the close up photo I was looking for!

Miss Lucy earns her keep, huh? And gets petted

at the same time.

Helping at the easel

2011-09-29T09:24:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine has been coming to paint her

large work in my studio. This is fun for me to have

company while I work! But it is more fun for Lucy

who is getting lap time. I'd call my friend an art

multi-tasker!

VERY smart cat!

2011-09-20T12:38:00.002-04:00

I had to post this. Isn't it funny? My cat Lucy is aligning herself

with my new arrangement of animals for my students to draw.

Previously, they were all mixed in with the other still life stuff.

Only now, with Lucy there, I can't really call it still life now can I?

Me and my Dad

2011-09-19T12:32:00.001-04:00

This is a portrait of my Dad at thirteen. Can you guess the

artist? It was done as a logo for the Hohner Harmonica company

in the U.S. in the early 1920s.

Garden Gate

2011-09-10T10:49:00.001-04:00

This is my neighbor's garden in full summer. Oil on canvas. 8 x 10.
So much fun to do it. Work out the tones/values and the pops of color!

Girl's Night Out

2011-09-04T12:31:00.001-04:00

This is my latest oil painting. It is 23" x 29". While the frame is a bit askew in the photo, you can see the painting just fine! I am happy with the color of the frame choice. It really did what the painting needed to make it pop! Let me know how you like it please!

Where have I been?

2011-09-02T09:54:00.001-04:00

I see I'd better get busy and post new work! I have been doing some and just have been having a wonderful busy time this summer. But now it's September, no more excuses! Stay tuned!

Umbrellas

2011-07-20T23:28:00.001-04:00

I'm always on the hunt for the bright umbrellas of

summertime. Found this recently in my travels

and I'm thinking about it as a painting. But I

would want to 'punch up' the girls sitting together

because pleasure moments is what I am after.

I seek to paint people enjoying themselves or

others because I want my paintings to remind

any viewer to do exactly that - have fun and

enjoy yourself!

"The Conversation" completed

2011-06-19T00:29:00.002-04:00

At last I have finished this painting. And

I have changed the title to "The Listener".

After working on it over these many weeks

I saw that it was really about the woman who

was receiving her friend's communication.

She is calm and attentive, just the sort of

person we need to hear our thoughts and

concerns.

Let me know what you think please. It really

matters to me to hear how it has affected you

and how well I got that communication across.

Thank you!

"The Conversation" part 5

2011-05-23T12:42:00.004-04:00

It's much closer to what I am after. Painting things into submission so I can get the main event of the window and the 'girls' to shine. Love the black shape of that sweater! But WHY is this format like this now? I have NO idea!

"The Conversation" part #4

2011-05-19T09:08:00.004-04:00

I don't have a deadline for this piece as I often do. And so I am letting it 'simmer' in between the times I work on it. I have a vision for it, but at this point I am simply getting the elements carefully worked out. There is the perspective to it all, the odd and mysterious shapes of legs and napkins under the table, the very subtle tone and color changes of the walls, window moldings, etc. It is rather like building a house. You first must have a vision for what you want. Then you have blueprints (or the sketch you make for the painting) and then you build the structure. Only then do you return to your vision and make the necessary changes that bring that vision to life. Or else it is just a copy of the physical universe. In that case, might as well just make a photograph!

"The Conversation" part 3

2011-05-04T10:51:00.004-04:00

I'm working to get everything major in place so I can make judgements about how light or dark I want those things to be. That part under the table is challenging because it is hard to tell from the photograph exactly what is going on. As a painter, you have to know what the H is going on and paint with understanding!

You can see that the photo I am working from is partly showing on the lower right.

"The Conversation" part 2!

2011-05-03T11:45:00.003-04:00

Just getting started and working out the window which is where I want emphasis of the lightness of the tones of the leaves that cast a sort of glow on the ladies who lunch and chat!

Something extra

2011-04-29T22:56:00.002-04:00

This lovely fellow was a gift I did for a friend for whom I did a large commission. I thought you would like to see it. It is just 5" x 7" and I used alkyd paint to get it done and dry in time.

New work - "The Conversation"

2011-04-29T17:30:00.001-04:00

This work is 24 x 36 inches. It is meant to

be a testimony to friendship and the pleasure

of conversation.

I want the glow of the leafy green trees

outside the window to somehow transmit

the magic of true connection, being to being.

Keep your eye on this as it develops!

My latest commission - Windy Hill

2011-04-17T16:24:00.002-04:00

This painting was commissioned as a birthday gift. Three

family members got together to have me do this painting of

the home of the 'birthday girl'.

It was quite a project because while they wanted a springtime

scene, it was in snowy February that I was getting started on

it! So just a week ago, the fabulous cherry tree on the right

burst into bloom and I got the last part done in time for the

presentation.

Helping our fellow man in Japan

2011-03-20T12:37:00.001-04:00

Dear ALOG Members and Friends,

We have all been stunned to see what the Japanese people have been enduring in these recent days. Three major disasters (earthquake, tsunami and Nuclear plant issues) and then on top of that it snows. What it has to be taking for these people to endure through this I can only guess at here in the warmth of my home.

I was very impressed to see that this site called Daily Painters (www.dailypainters.com) is doing a special fundraising effort for several agencies that can distribute needed help to the beleaguered Japanese.

Please look at it and see if there is anything you would like to bid on and then you can pick the agency you wish to receive the funds you have paid for the painting you will receive.

Click here: The DPW Painting Challenge! - The Help Japan Challenge

The innate resilience of mankind in the face of disaster will surmount all this, but in the meantime let us remember that Life is a Team Effort. So however you help, do help in some way.

Starting a commission

2011-03-13T19:52:00.001-04:00

This is a gift commissioned by the family of someone who will

be celebrating a 'big' birthday! It took quite some time to get

the drawing done so very carefully. I went out to the house

and took lots of photographs so that I could suggest the best

angle. Seemed to me that the full house, full on, was the best

to do. The clouds were spectacular the day I went and so they

will be part of the drama of this early spring view of the home.

AND you get to see my loaded work area!

Stage Four of 'Bicycle' Painting

2011-02-22T15:11:00.002-05:00

Here you can see that I have repaired the back wheel of the

bike so it is more properly in perspective as I mentioned in

my last post about this painting. Also the railings have been

improved upon and I have done more work on the 'girls'

who are enjoying themselves.

See what you think and let me know!

Invitation to my other blogs

2011-02-21T12:15:00.004-05:00

Dear Friends of Joy of Art Forever!

I have two other blogs which you may not have seen. The links are on the right side of this, my main blog.

But you can go to Art and Life Interwoven right from here: http://artandlifeinterwoven.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think!

Thank you!

Stage Three of 'Bicycle' painting

2011-02-21T12:09:00.003-05:00

This painting is quite an interesting challenge which I am

sharing with you as I develop it. The bike needs work in

that the back wheel is the same width as the front wheel and

that is NOT proper perspective! I have made the changes

now, and have refined the railing behind the bike as well as

taking more care to refine the faces of the gals enjoying

themselves. Soon I will post that image so you can see

how I improved it!

Would anyone like to suggest a title?

Stage Two of 'Bicycle' painting

2011-01-15T17:29:00.003-05:00

This is the first overall painting layer done in one sitting.

Probably around 2 hours of work. I am mainly working on

the tones of the ladies at the tables, and getting all of them

right in relation to each other before attention to details or

specific colors.

This painting is 23" x 29". It is a 'custom' size for a

particular frame I have for it.

Beginning a new piece

2011-01-10T12:09:00.003-05:00

I don't generally use a ruler. But if there are really long

lines in the painting, or a lot of perspective that needs to

be really right, it saves me a lot of trouble if I find something

needs changing after I get into applying paint!

The thing is, doing this before I start painting gives me the

control I need to get it down right. Then I follow those drawn

lines with careful application of paint (but no ruler), and it

doesn't look mechanical because of the aliveness of my hand

and body movement, however slight. Doing it this way gives

life to those lines.

This is the beginning of a cafe scene at night. I love the bike

which has its own perspective challenges!

In order for this painting to have the composition I wanted

I added pieces of paper to the edges of the photo.

If you go to my teaching blog, you can find out more.

The link is on the right side of this page....Teacher Tips.

Flowering into the New Year

2011-01-09T18:05:00.001-05:00

So what are you nuturing so that it flowers for

you this year? This is a collage I made from

bits and pieces of my watercolor paintings

along with some photographs I took. Soon

I will be showing you my latest work in

progress, but I am still in the 'get it together

for the new year' mode!

What will the new year hold?

2011-01-02T18:20:00.002-05:00

What lies ahead? Lucy is looking

down the road to see. She tells me

there is expansion of happiness

for all my friends and family.

And for her too, of course!

Happy New Year!

Moonlight and holiday lights

2010-12-28T14:02:00.003-05:00

This month we had such a gorgeous full moon that came

in tandem with everyone's holiday lights. I was able to

catch this shot just as the moon was coming up and I do

think it should probably be posted on my Art and Life

Interwoven....my other blog to which you can find the link

on the right side of this page.

Wishing you a new year filled with all you desire on every

level of life and living!

Waaaaaaaaaaay too much dessert!

2010-12-28T13:52:00.002-05:00

The first part of this holiday meal was

fantastic, but the visual art is in the

desserts! Greek delights that are

homemade and delicious!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T10:58:00.001-05:00

To all of you who have made this year so wonderful.

May your holidays with friends and loved ones be just

as you imagined it to be!

Up close and beautiful

2010-12-20T10:18:00.002-05:00

This candle sat on my porch this summer. It was really hot

for several months and it began to sag with all that heat.

I brought it in when the season changed and it just sat on

my counter for a long time until I began my holiday decorating.

I love flickering friendliness of candles and so I looked at this

one again. Inside the bent over column was what you see here,

something quite beautiful. Rather like a cave with wonderful

formations.

This candle means even more to me than its recently discovered

beauty. It was one of two tall columns that were at my parents

memorial service some years ago. My sister and I each took one

after the service was over. I decided to keep using it and it is

yet another way that I remember all they were to me which was

as good as it gets.

Merry Christmas. Light a candle.

Waters House in Germantown, Maryland

2010-12-10T17:39:00.002-05:00

I started this painting earlier this year. It was going to be in

a show at this house which is owned by the Historical Society

in this county. But due to budget cuts, it is not open to the

public now. So the painting languished until recently when

I got it out and decided to complete it. It is pretty much done,

though I need to study it a bit more to see if I want to do

anything else to it. The big tree took as long to do as the house!

SO many branches.

This painting is 12" x 24" in oil. I hope you like it. It is rather

a different subject for me from what I have been doing!

Cat commission full size!

2010-12-01T11:24:00.002-05:00

OK folks, I just put up the previous post, and

then realized I hadn't put put a photograph that

shows you the whole painting!

Here it is! Those shadows are what attracted me

to doing this painting in the first place!

Cat commission completion!

2010-11-28T12:16:00.003-05:00

You may recall having seen earlier posts on this painting.

They show you how I got started. You can go to those posts

for May, June and July 2010 to see them.

At one time there was a sky behind the cats, but in

discussing this with the client, she liked the idea of the

deck and plants being out there behind them.

I liked the sky idea, but now that I have done this the

way my client requested it, I am satisfied. One thing

it does which the sky didn't do....the warm yellow green

of the plants contrasts very well with the more shadowed

area where the cats are inside.

Click on the image if you want to see it larger!

It is oil on a panel and is 16" x 20".

Any ideas for a title? My client has one....

"Can we go out?"

Sharing my Thanksgiving with you

2010-11-28T00:26:00.001-05:00

Well you already saw the turkey in the last post!

Now you see the table and the dessert I made to

bring to share with my friends! It was such an

enjoyable evening! I am truly thankful for the

wonderful generous friends I have in my life.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T16:09:00.001-05:00

Perhaps this isn't the most aesthetic image for

Thanksgiving, but it got my mouth watering for

the feast and family day coming tomorrow.

So I wish you all a wonderful day of good conversations

and happy times within the blessings of your friends

and families.

"I Concentrate on You"

2010-11-22T15:59:00.002-05:00

"I concentrate on you" is an old song. It is one of

the cuts on one of my friend Carey's albums, and

since this is a painting of him, it seemed the perfect

title. His beloved and gorgeous custom-made

guitar makes beautiful music with his accomplished

fingers and phrasing! He concentrates on that jewel

of an instrument.

I worked on this painting over many months and

almost hated to finish it because it was a constant

reminder of the beautiful music Carey creates and

painting it reminded me of his favored tunes from

the 30s and 40s. My favorite era too....though it

was really my parent's music!

I altered the background somewhat so that it

complimented him more that what was actually

there in that room. I added the fire to show more

of the warm heart of his music and his love for it.

It is an oil painting on a panel. 18" x 24". Please

do comment here and let me know what you think.

Not a painting......yet!

2010-11-16T09:56:00.001-05:00

I love these scenes where families or friends go

out to eat and enjoy each other's company in

a warm and attractive setting. I'm alway taking

photos in restaurants. So far no one has protested,

but of course I am very discreet. Also, I never try

to do likenesses of people I haven't met.

There's all kinds of art and artists....

2010-11-07T13:05:00.001-05:00

My neighbor's child who is 9, and his best friend made what

I can only call an art installation for Trick or Treat Day!

I am loving it. Sadly, they took all the decor down now, but

then I am thinking there will be a Christmas installation?

Just had to share the art of someone else for a change!

Small painting Butterfly #3

2010-11-03T21:44:00.002-04:00

Here is the third of the butterflies I recently

painted. The tree hydrangea's flowers are sort

of like butterflies themselves.

This is alkyd paint on a panel, 5 x 7 inches.

Let me know which one you like best!

Small painting, but POW!

2010-11-01T19:10:00.001-04:00

I don't think this looks as good as it does in real

life with its beautiful silver frame. But you might

enjoy it anyway. My Mother loved anemones

and this is, of course, such a one!

5" x 7" alkyd on panel

No photograph, but wanted to share

2010-10-31T11:22:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I started a class with 5 students
called 'Critique and Discussion'. Five students
was the maximum number I thought would
work well. And it did! Very well.

Each person spoke about their background
in art, starting with their childhood endeavors.
It was fascinating to hear how each one had
been affected by their family and environments.
BUT what was even more interesting was that
each one had this nugget of interest in creating
art in place from an early age and it was not
because of anyone else, but was their own
possession, if you will. Their family and
environment affected them, but still, it was
theirs to begin with.

Then we all participated in critiquing the art
they brought for that purpose. The spirit of
help and interest was fabulous. I am looking
forward to next week and more of this high-
level experience!

Maybe I'll even have a photograph for you!

The show!

2010-10-29T10:41:00.001-04:00

Here are two shots of the recent show

done together with my sister who

designs and makes jewelry. It was

a good show for us both and we were

happy to see the return of some folks

as well as new people to our show.

Here you have a shot of some of my

sister's display area and then a work

in progress on my easel.

Small painting of beach bunny!

2010-10-21T15:20:00.002-04:00

This is my definition of sun-kissed

sweetness! What a darling girl,

daughter of a friend of mine. I was

with them all at the beach and this

is one of my favorite shots of that

lovely week.

Oil painting on panel 5" x 7"

It's in the show coming up!

Small painting of wicker chair

2010-10-19T23:57:00.001-04:00

This pretty old wicker chair is in a house on the

grounds of Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.

Have a seat in the lovely surroundings...its from

a time gone by, but I think it evokes something

quite special and relaxing which perhaps the

viewer will experience when looking at this piece.

5" x 7" oil on panel. "The Wicker Chair"

Small painting of Butterfly #2

2010-10-19T13:50:00.003-04:00

I took a lot of photos of my tree hydrangea and so

have a lot of great material to paint. Here is yet

another one. The way I would shoot these photos

is that I would drive into my driveway and be very

close to the flowering branches. They were loaded

with bees and all manner of flying insects and

butterflies. It was a great vantage point to get

the pictures.

By the way, my son tells me that this is an

Eastern tiger swallowtail!

It is also another 5" x 7" on a panel.

All of these small paintings will be in my upcoming

show, but if you are interested in any of them,

contact me. They are $175 plus s & h.

They take 4 - 6 hours to do, plus varnishing and

framing! Frames are included by the way.

Small painting of southwest scene

2010-10-19T10:14:00.001-04:00

When I visited Arizona some time ago, I was

delighted with the crispness of shadows that

were so strong they were almost objects in

themselves.

This is another small work I did recently -

5" x 7" on a panel. Oil and alkyd paint.

My sister's jewelry

2010-10-18T23:47:00.001-04:00

Just a small sampling of my sister's beautiful

work that she designs and makes.

Small painting of small child!

2010-10-18T11:17:00.001-04:00

Thank you all for sending me your

wonderful email comments about

these small paintings. I really appreciate

it very much. Now to get you to comment

ON the blog itself! Please! Help!

This darling child was listening to

music not far from her parents.

It was a lovely setting at Longwood

Gardens on a perfect summer day.

I love her little chubby hand on the

stone wall and her fuzzy fine hair

which her mom had in a sort of up-do!

5" x 7" Oil painting on panel.

Small painting-Butterfly #1

2010-10-18T00:09:00.002-04:00

This summer my tree hydrangea was visited by

so many lovely winged creatures. Here is one of

them. I had so much fun painting this I had to

do two more.

5' x 7' alkyd painting on panel.

I hope some of you who have seen these small

works will post your comments as well as sending

me your lovely emails!

Thank you so much for your interest and support

of my artistic endeavors.

Small painting of gate

2010-10-17T13:32:00.003-04:00

I'm hoping to dazzle you all with my many small

paintings for my upcoming show at my studio!

I did this subject years ago in watercolor. I recently

looked at the photo and fell in love with it all

over again. It was fun to do it with oil/alkyd paint

and to use a painting knife for some of the effects

on the gate posts. The color subtleties are quite

challenging, but interesting.

(The spelling of 'subtleties' is the same!)

Remember you can click on the image to see the

details!

Again, this is a 5" x 7" panel and I think I have to

call it "Williamsburg gate". Any other ideas?

Small work - Bench and sprinklers

2010-10-15T09:48:00.002-04:00

Here's another of my latest paintings. Again, it's

5" x 7" and on a panel. This one is mostly oil paint,

not alkyd. I had started it a while ago, but just

completed it recently doing the water reflection

effects. Fussy work, but I love it. I think this

painting took as long as any of them. Getting that

bench right was a challenge!

This is a bench in front of the DeYoung Museum

in San Francisco. Quite a fantastic building.

Small painting of fuschia

2010-10-15T00:03:00.002-04:00

This is yet another of my recent small works.

I keep photographs of many things I see in life and

on such occasions as painting a whole series of small

works, I get them out and go for it!

I enjoy the use of complementary colors such as

the orange-blue combination you see here.

This is 5" x 7" on a panel and is an alkyd painting.

Now thatI am down to the wire on time, I

incorporate the use of alkyd paint. It dries much

faster than oil because of the medium used to

make the paint. But in all other respects it is the

same as oil paint.

Small painting of crystal glass

2010-10-14T10:44:00.002-04:00

I have been trying for days to find the

photos I took of my small paintings!

Today I did and here is one of them.

This is a 5 x 7 inch oil painting.

The middle background section is

actually silver oil paint which I use

now and then very sparingly.

For those of you who

may think silver or gold paint is what

you use to show reflections, it isn't!

The top part of the background is

actually really black, though it is

hard to photograph it to look that

way because of light that bounces

off the surface.

I think I'll call it 'Crystal Beauty'.

What do you think?

Never showed you this one

2010-10-12T09:52:00.002-04:00

While I am working away at my small pieces and trying to

get them to post to this blog (issues with my program to

upload them), I am showing this commissioned piece.

This is a work in acrylic. It is 3 feet by 5 feet. I had so much

fun with it. I did it on unstretched canvas so I could roll it up

and ship it to Texas where it now resides. It was stapled on

a strip of wood that hung on a few nails. This was important

because some of what I did to it needed to be done on the

floor. And some of what I did to it was done on the wall.

With that system that I devised, I could easily take it off and

put it back on the wall as I worked on it back and forth.

I look forward to your comments!

Where have I been?

2010-10-11T12:04:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone,

I have been painting so much since my last post that I haven't shown up here to show you what I am doing. Soon however, you will see. I finally got my latest small works and my camera together. Twenty one in all with eight of the last of them in various stages of completion.

It is a joyous thing, painting is.

I paint subjects and images that make me happy to see. And then to paint them gives me the pleasure all over again! See?

I choose to focus on what I love about Life and to depict it for others to enjoy as well. Hopefully they are inspired to do their own looking for Life's beauties and pleasures.

Small paintings continued

2010-09-29T10:40:00.003-04:00

I am on a tear to get as many done as I

can for my upcoming show. This is my

fabulous hanging system developed by a

former studio assistant. These strips of

wood can be hung from the molding. They

have velcro on them and then I have put

a bit of velcro on the back of each painting

and voila!

If you click on the image, you can see the

paintings bigger!

My target is to get 30 new ones done. I

have 24 done or in progress, so I'm good!

These are 5" x 7" on panels and are done

in alkyd paint which dries overnight. I leave

them to dry longer and then apply varnish.

The two photos are of the same thing, the

first one with a flash and the next one without!

Small paintings underway again

2010-09-19T16:57:00.002-04:00

Apparently my last post was not working to show the photo, so

now you get two to look at!

I'm doing these 5" x 7" panel paintings in a group, working on one

for a while and then the next and the next. I have about a dozen

of them going now and it is really fun.

I tape the gessoed boards to a matboard a little larger than the

panel and that pretty much keeps my fingers out of the paint!

I draw the images on with a Papermate Sharpwriter. It keeps

the lines very nice and thin. Then I spray with fixative so I can

still see the image under the early thin coats of oil paint.

There'll be more, so stay tuned!

Guitarist with background re-done

2010-08-15T11:07:00.002-04:00

I decided to put a setting around him, but you

can see from the first 'real' background, that this

one is invented, using elements from the actual

background in which he was performing. It's

called artistic license! And I am much happier

with this. It still isn't done, but is much closer

to a final product than it was. How do you like

the flames showing? I put them there to express

the sense of warmth and affinity he has in his

playing. The guitar still needs work as you see!

No strings!

Background change for guitarist painting

2010-08-10T11:50:00.001-04:00

I decided to get rid of the previous background

which is where he was actually playing. I didn't

think it contributed anything to what I was trying

to convey. Here he is fully IN his music and out

of the physical world he was playing in.

Let me know what you think.

Soon he will come to see it and bring his gorgeous

guitar so I can see the elements of it fully. One

cannot paint without understanding.

Next stage of the guitarist

2010-08-03T11:04:00.002-04:00

So now I've got some background in place, though

I'm not sure it really helps the painting all that

much. I may paint it out and just let the man

and his music 'stand' alone! This painting is on

an 18" x 24" panel. I've used Mars Violet in the

background. It is an interesting rosy brown that

seems to harmonize with the colors he is wearing.

I really like the blue of his shirt in contrast to

the other colors.

Let me know what you think of it. I always

appreciate people posting their comments here.

Getting started

2010-08-01T11:55:00.002-04:00

This is how I generally work from a photograph

I've taken. I take the print to Kinko's and blow it

up and crop it if necessary. Then I have two prints

made. I make a grid on one, and have the other for

reference without any lines from gridding on it. It

is the top photo that I folded and made grid lines on.

You can see the folds in it if you click on this image

and see it larger.

When I am doing a portrait, I never worry about

likeness in the sketch stage. Just general proportions

of the face. I then work it out on the painting surface.

This sketch is on newsprint. I will transfer it by putting

charcoal on the back of the drawing and then going over

the drawing while it is taped to the panel I'm going to

paint on (or canvas).

This painting is going to be 18 x 24 and in oil on a panel.

Al fresco

2010-07-26T01:02:00.001-04:00

This is a 5 x 7 painting I did last summer. I am

always amazed at how much depth one can get

in a small painting. I didn't have this one very long.

One of my students bought it who lives here and

knows this pretty place.

Maybe you'll laugh

2010-07-11T13:23:00.002-04:00

This is what I did with two cat statues from

the studio. I wanted to shoot the angle that

the cats were sitting on the oriental carpet

in order to get the angle and therefore the

perspective of the carpet, the photo of the

carpet that is!

The lengths that artists will go to for our

work!

I couldn't resist-100 degrees here today

2010-07-06T23:50:00.001-04:00

Right now, this would feel really good! Is there no

happy medium between 100 degree heat and

over 2 feet of snow?

Now and earlier in the process!

2010-07-06T10:17:00.001-04:00

I thought you might like to see the

drawing that preceded the painting.

The painting is nearing completion,

but isn't there yet. Also, the photo

of the painting doesn't quite get the

entire shadow in, and it is definitely

there in reality!

You can see that I have changed the

background behind their heads. What

is actually there are the planks in a

deck and that just doesn't do it for me!

Cats painting in progress

2010-07-04T23:57:00.001-04:00

This shot is slightly fuzzy, but I wanted to

show this stage of the painting before I

put in the shadow. I will glaze it after the

carpet details are in place. In the previous

post you can see the outline of the shadow.

In this shot you can barely see it, but I left

just enough so I could put it in without having

to do it over again and so I could see where what

flowers and design parts fall in the shadow area.

Working it out

2010-06-13T22:55:00.001-04:00

So what are you looking at here? The laying out

of what will become an oriental carpet in my painting

commission. What you see at the top are the tails of

two cats who were close buddies. And if you look

closely you will see the outline of their shadows.

This is an intriguing assignment and I will soon post

the latest version. I have done a lot since this photo

was taken, but there is still quite a ways to go. It

is challenging to do the layers of work to get the

carpet perspective, then the carpet painted, then

the shadow done over all.....to say nothing of the cats

themselves!

The other cat commission all done!

2010-06-13T13:39:00.002-04:00

If you scroll down to a May 3rd posting, you will see the sketch

for these two buddies. Originally it was to have been 11" x 14"

but it worked out to be better at 9" x 12". I loved doing the fur

on the tiger stripped cat, and the paw and pink pads of the

other snuggle bunny (kitty!).

Let me know what you think. And maybe you'll have me

paint one of your beloved companions!

Next commission

2010-05-29T20:29:00.002-04:00

This painting is going to be on a 16 x 20 panel.

This is the beginning sketch to work out the

position. I want those shadow shapes just right!

The flower pot may or may not be in the final

version. Have to work out what looks right.

The other big part of this is that they will be on

an oriental carpet instead of the rag rug in the

photo. A challenge!

Lilacs in their final version

2010-05-12T09:43:00.003-04:00

Here is the final painting. See if you can see the things done

to it that differ from the last post of it about halfway done!

I am loving this painting. Did it all in one afternoon because

the flowers were drooping fast! Tried to take breaks so I

would be sure to see it 'freshly' during the painting process.

It is so easy to lose one's objectivity if you paint on one painting

too long. One of my teachers told me that 2 hours is about

the maximum time you should work on a piece without stopping.

I have adhered to that and it does make a difference.

Set up for lilac painting

2010-05-10T00:20:00.004-04:00

This gives you an idea of how I set up small still life work

in order to paint it. Light differences on the set up make it

look much darker than it is in fact. My painting table is on

my right and you can see some of my brushes there, as well

as the handle of one sticking out of the thinner bottle which

sits in a drawer beneath the table top with my palette on it.

Lilac painting in next stage

2010-05-10T00:19:00.003-04:00

I am considering this about halfway done. It is

more developed overall. It is my approach to

work steadily around the painting so that no area

gets over-developed. It is easy for this to happen

when you get very interested in something such

as the flower mass in front and all its intricacies!

Painting of Lilacs on Linen

2010-05-08T09:38:00.001-04:00

A while back I bought two linen wrapped canvases

that have clear gesso coatings. I had never seen

this before so made the purchase. I am just now

painting on the first one and LOVE IT!

First, I really love the color and texture of linen.

Second, this subject matter and its colors seem the

perfect combination to use on a linen canvas.

It is a wrapped canvas, 16 x 20.

Stay tuned for the results!

Starting a cat commission!

2010-05-03T23:51:00.002-04:00

This is my initial rough sketch for a portrait commission

I am doing. These two feline companions snuggled

up together often and their owner took lots of photos

of them in this type of position. But when you are

doing a painting, BOTH cats have to be visible and

in many of the photos, you could see one of them,

but not the other! So this has now become the chosen

pose.

What you see here is what I've done to work out

the pose to fit properly on the panel I will be painting.

It is 11 x 14 and it will be in oil.

Beachy Keen - completed

2010-04-19T10:51:00.002-04:00

Here you have the final painting. Even got a few

sailboats out there... It was a tedious matter to

paint the stripes on that umbrella, but also kind of

enjoyable because that is the focal point area.

Let me know what you think. This is Rehobeth

in Delaware, by the way.

It is 20" x 20".

$600.

Oil and alkyd.

Beach scene - getting started

2010-04-19T10:50:00.003-04:00

I rearranged things in the original photograph I

took some years ago in order to come up with

this composition. It is square...20 x 20. A wrapped

canvas as well. You will find I change this composition

even more before finishing it. It has been fun to

tilt the umbrella stakes this way and that in order

to get the central focus on the group of chairs.

A lady and her jewelry!

2010-04-18T12:39:00.002-04:00

Here she is, not quite completed,

but the essentials are in place.

I never saw her face that day but

from the back, she is certainly one

beautiful woman. She stood for just

a moment like this, and I caught the

shot. This is a 12 x 24 painting and

I named it "Dreaming and Desire".

I will post the final painting soon.

$800.

Double Vision!

2010-04-04T13:44:00.001-04:00

Here I am in front of the place of which

I did this painting!

Those eyes!

2010-02-27T00:22:00.002-05:00

Here you see the two photos my friend sent to help

me get Miss Jetta's eyes as close as possible to what

they are! Quite the trio, huh?

Cat commissions in progress

2010-02-21T18:17:00.001-05:00

This little ol' miss is Jetta. She is owned

by a dear friend of mine who has asked me

to paint Jetta's portrait as well as her other

beloved kitty who has now moved on to

catnip heaven. This painting is mostly done

except for needing more precise information

about the color of her eyes. I will be receiving

some photos in the mail and then I will do

better by Jetta whose eyes are a bit stuck on

a stare and without proper shading.

This is a small piece, 5" x 7. It is on an Ampersand

gesso panel. Very smooth to paint on, and so you

can get more detail without the weave of canvas.

The Morning After the BIG Snow!

2010-02-08T11:46:00.001-05:00

This is the sight that greeted me out my window on the morning

after the major snow storm in the Washington DC area. This

has nothing to do with my artist's life in a direct way, and yet it

does! Students had to cancel lessons, and I had about as much

interest in painting as in paying taxes! Watching this mega-storm

was the "art" of the last few days.

More 2010 Affirmation Cards

2010-01-18T00:13:00.002-05:00

Here are the next four cards. If you click on them

you can see them bigger! Be sure you look at the

previous post for the first four cards I did.

I had fun decorating them to match what I wrote.

Let's see how they can work for me!

I actually use the word 'postulate' instead of

affirmation. But it's the same thing. You put it

out there, you "post" what you want and then it

comes to you IF YOU DON'T COUNTER IT!

That is the hardest part to learn. Don't put out

counter postulates on what you want. See?!!!

Some of my 2010 Affirmation Cards

2010-01-18T00:01:00.002-05:00

These are four out of the eleven cards I made

for my Blast Off Course I am doing with about

80 other artists through Alyson Stanfield at

www.artbizcoach.com. I have them on my desk

here and I go through them each day. It makes

me happy to read them because they are all

things of importance and pleasure to my life.

Preparing for 2010

2010-01-10T23:00:00.001-05:00

What is this all about you may ask? Well I am

taking a wonderful course called "Blast Off"

from Alyson Stanfield of www.artbizcoach.com

What you see at the top is my Vision Board with

about a dozen key areas of my life as an artist

represented with photos I clipped from magazines.

I put two close up so you could see them better.

I am having a soul-searching wonderful time.

Stay tuned, this is only Day 3 of the course!

Happy New Year for 2010!

2009-12-31T10:33:00.003-05:00

This is the view from the back of my home.

We had more snow after the big snow of last

week that gave us 22". Then most of it was

washed away by rain and warmer temperatures.

But for our New Year's Eve day, we got another

dusting, just enough to touch up the landscape

to look beautiful and wintry again!

You can see the winter sun setting and in some

ways it symbolizes the ending of another year.

I hope you can look back on your year and see

the challenges you met and the joys you experienced.

May you do and have the same for next year, but

even better!

Returning

2009-12-27T14:06:00.002-05:00

Hello!
I have been away. Got me a new body part so I could walk better! Still recovering, but can't wait to dance again after some years of restricted motion!

I trust you all have been having a Grand Holiday. I certainly got the greatest gift of love and care from many people as well as my bionic part!

Snow Beauty

2009-12-06T12:40:00.001-05:00

We are blessed with the beauty of snow coming

early this year. I wish you all a season of loveliness

and Love.

Me and Monet

2009-11-30T10:12:00.001-05:00

I was listening to Garrison Keillor on Prairie Home

Companion (prairiehome@publicradio.org) the other

day and heard him do a wonderful humourous bit

on visiting a museum and finding that all the guards

were artists. Famous ones. He gets into a conversation

with Monet and without telling you the entire skit,

it ends with one of those things you just moan over...

Monet tells Garrison that 'we have no Monet to buy

deGas to make the Van Gogh. Oooooooooooooooo.

These little water lily paintings I do are my homage

to Monet. This one is 5" x 5", framed. It is $100.

Can you tell?

2009-11-26T14:22:00.002-05:00

Can you tell where I wipe my brush?

Not too hard to see that my heavy-duty

apron gets lots of use, and that I am

right-handed!

My assistant took this shot as I was

working on a small panel which I have

taped to a piece of matboard so I won't

be sticking my fingers in wet paint!

Before dinner

2009-11-23T11:35:00.002-05:00

Here's another of my 5" x 7" recent works.

I find that when I see the work on the computer

monitor, it always looks much bigger than when

one is viewing a small vignette of a painting in the

context of everything else in a room. I hope this

makes sense! It is framed and is $100.

The Vintage Hat

2009-10-27T09:18:00.002-04:00

Here you can see one of my 5 x 5 paintings with

its frame. These are little gems that have often

been bought from me as gifts. This one is still

available at $100.

Sister Act II - How it looked!

2009-10-26T10:39:00.004-04:00

Here are photos of my sister's jewelry

displays. She has a lot of new work

I hadn't seen. Gorgeous colored stones

such as jasper and sujalite (spelling?)

which is a beautiful purple stone. The

last photo is where she was showing

those in attendance a few of the ways to

use her scarf slides. You can see some

of them in the photo just before that one.

Click on the images to enlarge.

By the way, her Etsy site is Sandys Creations:

Just us the link in this blog in the right column!