Daily Painting, "Morning Visitor"

"Morning Visitor"
12X9
Oil on Raymar Linen Panel

Click on picture to enlarge it

Sometimes I notice silly things, mostly because when I am studying a subject or a compostion I am looking at it for patterns and balance. When I finished this today I noticed how the dogwood blossoms and the two limbs up on the right of the main trunk of the tree are making themselves seem like quotation marks. Also, I think the little stems with the dogwood blossom buds remind me of musical notes. If a painting were a song, I think this one would sing. Except woodpeckers don't really sing. They are more like the percussion section in the orchestra. TaTaTatat.

Well, I like him. I hope you do!! Have a happy weekend!

Daily Painting, "Morning Visitor" In Progress

"Morning Visitor"
12X9
Oil on Raymar Linen Panel
In Progress

Click on picture to enlarge

More progress last evening, but I still have some fine tuning to do and the right side is not finished. One thing I am concerned about here is whether the entire picture is too busy. However, this is the woods and animals tend to be in the camouflage mode. Plus, if I am seeking some sense of realism here, the scene actually looks like this with all of the twigs and leafy background. I thought about making this painting more of a sketch by just painting the woodpecker and tree in detail and then scrubbing the rest out to a faint blur. The main thing is that I don't want this to be a scientific illustration, but rather capture the awesome surprise I feel when I am so privileged to have such a beautiful creature grace my yard, share our space, and give us such a visual joy. I am hoping to finish him up today.

Daily Painting, "Morning Visitor" In Progress

"Morning Visitor"
12X9
Oil on Raymar Linen Panel
In Progress

Not too far from our kitchen window is a dogwood tree where we have a bird feeder hanging. My husband loves to feed the birds and they must be very grateful and happy because we have lots of them coming to the feeders. We also have a woodpecker family. The other morning, as I was reading the paper and having my coffee, I looked out of that window and there was this silly woodpecker enjoying his breakfast, too. He is too big for the feeder really, so when he gets on there he sits on one perch but then stretches up to the feeder port, two ports up from the one by the perch. And then he flits up to the dogwood limbs and eats away at his prize, a black oiled sunflower seed. He was so beautiful on this gray winter morning that I raced to the studio to get my camera, ran back to the kitchen window to see if I could capture him against the woodsy backdrop that is our yard. Lucky for me he stayed around quite a while and this is the shot I got of him which I am now happy to be painting!!!

This is just the beginning of the painting from the amount of time I had to paint this morning....stay tuned to see the finished one!!

Daily Painting, "Apples & Pewter"

"Apples & Pewter"
12X9
Oil On Raymar Panel
Available

I've been trying out something new with this painting...the painting surface is Raymar linen covered panel. I've seen and read a lot about this company, Raymar. Other artists I have admired have been using their panels as supports. (Such as Jim Wodark, William Wray, and others.) Raymar sponsors a contest with some serious artist judges. They accept entries each month for the rest of the year and the requisite is that you have to paint on their panels to enter. What a great marketing idea! Get all of these artists to buy your panels and then have a contest to see who paints the best on them. Great idea!! This year I thought I'd give it a shot.

Two of the most difficult things for me to paint are metal and fabric. I mentioned the metal issue in a previous post. Today I went after the fabric in the foreground of this painting. It's a kitchen towel I am particularly fond of and the apples looked really great sitting there on it. I will try another photo of this painting tomorrow in the daylight. No signatures allowed for the entries, so that will wait until after I get the best photo of it.

Daily Painting, "Apples & Pewter" In Progress

"Apple's & Pewter"
12X9
Oil on Raymar Panel
In Progress

This is all I have time for this evening...
Quick update on a few things:

The publishing contract was not what I would call even a serious offer. I am telling you this because I hope some artist out there who is considering selling their soul and giving away their copyrights for a pittance will pay attention to this and say, "Not just no, but hell no." I am amazed that anyone who is in the print and publishing industry in this day and age would be so greedy and audacious as to ask any artist to relinquish copyrights for any reason. If, you, the artist, are reading this and considering such a ruination of your creation...email me and I will set your mind straight. I, having been burned by blood-suckers in the past in other ways, can tell you it's never worth it.

Next, the kidney stone still lurks, but is not killing me so life is good!

Lastly, the husband with the torn ligament is in line for an MRI and probably some surgery, one I can't spell. and the "ancient one" now has a handicapped sticker so don't park there or he'll have to bonk you with his cane!!!

Hoping for more painting time over the weekend... :-)

Daily Painting, "Apples and Pewter" In Progress

"Apples and Pewter"
12X9
Oil on Raymar Panel
In Progress


Sometimes you just do one to challenge yourself...and this one is one of those for me. I think metals are difficult to paint. The idea is to paint what you see...get the reflections right. I've seen paintings of metal that look very real, and that can be wonderful. In this case, I am hoping for real, yet expressionistic a bit. In other words, I'm hoping to throw some life into the still life by emphasizing colors and not smoothing out the brush strokes too much. This photo really lacks the brilliance of actual color due to some glare, so tomorrow I'll try to capture it better with the camera. Meanwhile, here is the start of it. Stay tuned....

Daily Painting and Valentines for my Friends

"Doves" Pen and Ink

Happy belated Valentine's Day to you all!



Here is a pen and ink for the collection! Sorry to be late with this. Valentine's week brought us some strange occurrences, some unexpected events, and a bit more than would allow me to spend much time painting. Monday brought a publishing contract for consideration. Tuesday brought my husband a torn ligament and a trade show, and for me, errands with the 'ancient one.' Wednesday brought me a trip to the emergency room with a kidney stone. (Whoa...that was fun....the outcome of that event is pending, if you catch my drift. Ha ha.) Thursday was a bit quiet while mulling over the publishing deal, but then Friday brought double pneumonia to my little grand-daughter Ella (3 yrs), who also entered the hospital through the emergency room. She is there as I write this, so we are all praying for her recovery. So, there went the week. Sometimes life gets in the way of the artistic endeavors. Sigh.....

I'll be working on the still life below ASAP as I can get to it... along with working on that silly kidney stone, so be aware...you never know what life will bring you from day to day. :-)

Daily Painting, "Vested Hare"

"Vested Hare"
AKA "Hare Brained"
12X8
Oil on Board


Maybe I should say, Vested in Art, as I am....

This is the most fun thing I have painted lately. He really is sitting there just like this in my studio. The wooden box on his left was a treasure that I picked up at a trade show in Atlanta when I was exhibiting my stationery company. It opens at the top, has that brass edge around the entire box, and has a drawer. It's where I keep my calligraphy pens and is a favorite thing of mine. The rabbit came from a dear friend, also a gift / keepsake due to the stationery company, Wild Hare. And all the while I painted I had happy memories of those times.

Daily Painting, "Hare Brained" In Progress

"Hare Brained"
12X8
Oil on Board

I took this picture late last evening, hence the incandescent light glowing on it. Still quite a ways to go and I will work on him some more today.

I might have to re-title this one because I am not happy with the title. He deserves a better moniker, something more dignified I think. Any ideas out there for a title? Maybe something like "Very Smart Hare?" What do you think? Email me!!

Daily Painting, "Hare Brained" In Progress

"Hare Brained"
Prelim Drawing
12X8
Click on Picture for larger view

Doing one just for fun!!
Most of my preliminary work disappears because I usually sketch on the exact surface under my paintings. That being said, it's been great to at least have some camera shots of my preliminary work. Some ideas for paintings just sit in my head for a long time until the moment arrives when the stars align and I can finally do the thing I've been thinking of painting. This one is a good example of that. Several years ago a dear friend gave me this adorable stuffed rabbit because of my company, Wild Hare. (Rabbits became a collection of sorts because of that name.) I immediately thought when she gave it to me that it would make an adorable subject for painting. Then, some time ago, I bought this vintage frame thinking it would be great for something..not sure what. This week, trying to put my mind somewhere fun instead of in the daily grind, I decided to get going on the rabbit. He, the rabbit, sits on a shelf in my studio over the stereo with some books, just as you see him here. He wears a handsome wool felt vest. My husband cut a board to fit the frame yesterday, I gessoed the board and sketched out my painting. Here it begins....

Daily Painting, "Mrs. Pearson's House"

"Mrs. Pearson's House"
12X16
Acrylic on Board
Commission
Click on picture to view a larger version

At last....I finished painting this one this morning. Who wouldn't like to live here? Now I sound like a real estate agent. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson raised their children in this beautiful house. I think it was built in the 1950's, the days when construction was solid and men knew how to build hardwood oak floors and millwork that had real substance. It has two fireplaces, that lovely bay window, and gorgeous landscaping. I'm sure lots of happy memories are saved from the days they spent here in this house.
I hope she'll enjoy having this painting and her children will enjoy having it years from now.

I'm on to the next painting and thinking again of the up-coming show at the Schiele Museum. Thanks for reading and watching!!! :-)

Daily Painting, "Mrs. Pearson's House" In Progress

"Mrs. Pearson's House" In Progress
12X16
Acrylic on Board
Commission
Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Just starting to work in the sky and the trees above and behind the house. The tedious details of the house itself are finished finally. You'd think you could just slap on those window panes, indicate the curtains with a simple brush stroke and, voila, finito! Not. Each mullion must be noted, the downspouts drawn, shadows and light on each tiny inch in various ways painted deftly. Probably another entire day left to go on this. Acrylics are a double edged sword. The good thing about them is that they dry fast. The bad thing about them is that they dry fast. It's a real trick getting them to move the way you want them to... I could not have accomplished the tiniest details here with oils. I suppose someone else might be able to, but not me.
Stay tuned..

Daily Painting, "Mrs. Pearson's House" In Progress

Detail.....this piece is less than 2 and a 1/4 inch square, just so you know. And even this part is not finished.

"Mrs. Pearson's House"
12X16
Acrylic on Board
Commission








Inch by inch, measuring the Marigolds...as the song goes. Still at it and trying to not even count the hours. Is anybody else out there as crazy as I am? Don't answer that. If you are, you shouldn't admit it. You, too, might be asked to recreate Buckingham Palace on the head of a pin.
More later.....

Daily Painting, "Mrs. Pearson's House" In Progress

"Mrs. Pearson's House" In Progress
12X16
Acrylic on Board
Commission


At this point I am just thinking there is a long way to go. It's those pesky details that kill ya. Anyway, this is the progress since Friday. I'll get there....you'll see.

Daily Painting, "Mrs. Pearson's House" Work In Progress

"Mrs. Pearson's House"
Acrylic on Board
12X16
Commission

O.K. this is after several hours and layers of paint to describe the beginning of the trees on the left. Besides all of the other challenges here, Mrs. Pearson has asked me to recreate the big tree in the front yard on the left. Total fiction. No pictures to help. Just asking God to guide me.... or maybe Joyce Kilmer whose quote, "Only God can make a tree," always stays with me when I am trying to paint trees. Definitely not there yet, but still evolving.

Now about the house and landscape. I have to say that this house is, like the lady who owns it, meticulously cared for. My favorite part of the picture, the day I took the photos, was the line of crepe myrtles along the driveway. The light was spectacular coming through the webs of limbs and through the leaves. Only the top of them still had the reddish color left from the summer blooms. It was as if the crepe myrtles were beckoning one to come into the driveway in such a welcoming way.

More on this commission as I go along..