Christmas Card 2007

"Berry Happy Bird"
aka "Mockingbird"
Christmas Card design

In spite of still ailing with this horrible plague my son and his family brought to me, I have been consumed with Christmas duties such as getting our Christmas cards out to friends and family. When I was in the publishing industry I used to send out cards from my company, Wild Hare. Even though it has been several years now since closing Wild Hare, part of me always thinks about what my art would look like on published products. The fun of it was sharing my art with so many people. This year, since I had just finished this painting which seemed so full of abundant joy for this happy bird, this image seemed to represent what I wish for us all. So here is my Christmas card to you this year!!

Meanwhile, I have been to the doctor, am taking several meds and hoping that soon I can get back on my feet. Who knew that this thing would turn into pleuresy (spelling?) and knock me down for so long? Hopefully I am down, but not out. I apologize for being away from painting and posting for these last couple of weeks, but I am having to take my time to recover. My husband thinks I needed this to slow down for a while anyway...may be true, but I'm not a patient patient. :-) I hope to be back with some more regular postings by the first of the year....which is coming up fast, isn't it?

Uninvited House Guests

First there was a week of prepping for guests, my son and family who I don't get to see very often. (once or twice a year) Son, wife, and two children arrived all with the flu. Thus came the uninvited guests: thousands of germs, runny noses, coughing, throwing up, etc. So the next week was spent nursing them back to health. The son and family are now off on a Caribbean cruise for a holiday and now I am left with the flu. I started taking Airborne twice a day before they came and continued until they left. I think it helped alleviate some of the symptoms, but nevertheless, I have come down with muscle aches and chills and a bit of a cough and what feels like a knife stabbing me in the ribs.

Bottom line: sorry for delaying posts and missing out on painting, but it couldn't be helped. I'll be back soon.....
By the way, our Berry Happy Bird turns out to be a Mockingbird. Thank you Clarissa and Diana for letting me know. :-)

Daily Painting, "Berry Happy Bird"

"Berry Happy Bird"
7X10
Oil on Board
Available
Click on picture to enlarge it.

This is not a Thanksgiving Turkey, however, I think he is a very thankful bird. He landed in a berry laden heaven as I was taking a walking tour of Stowe Botanical Gardens. I took several photos as he hopped around and then he just took this pose which I was lucky enough to catch with my camera. I do not know the type of bird he is, so please email me if you do know and can tell me. For now, he is just a Berry Happy Bird. :-)

Daily Painting, "Berry Happy Bird" In Progress

"Berry Happy Bird"
7X10
Oil on Board
In Progress

I am fighting off some back issues again, so this is as far as I got today. A lot of berries to go yet and more. I think I am going to have to ask Santa for some really huge art sales so I can hire some household help to save my back. Are you listening, Santa????

Daily Painting, "Berry Happy Bird" In Progress

"Berry Happy Bird" 7X10
Oil on Board
In Progress

The past week here has been the epitome of fall. Gorgeous trees, mild temperatures, cool nights....sort of an Indian Summer and that always makes me swoon with how beautiful fall can be. Still, we are in this horrible drought and are needing rain desperately.

The other day I went to one of the best places our area has to offer; Stowe Botanical Gardens. As I was walking, a bird swooped past me and landed just off the walkway in a bush loaded with berries. He didn't seem to mind my being there at all. He hopped around a bit while I took some pictures...and then he seemed to just pose for me as you can see in this picture. I zoomed in and snapped this one as fast as I could. And I was really pleased when I got home to find it was in focus and not a blur. (I'm not the world's greatest photog, you see. I usually get too excited to have the moment in front of me and forget to be still, therefore my photos often come out as indistinguishable blurs.)

So...this is the beginning of a "Berry Happy Bird." I have looked through all of my bird books and can't figure out what he is. I thought he might be a White Breasted Nuthatch, a Gray Jay, or a Vireo of sorts. But couldn't find one just like him. So he remains just the "Berry Happy Bird" you see here. If you happen to know what he is, I'd love to hear from you. My intention is to put more red in the berries than in the photo for pop and contrast.
Stay tuned! :-)

Commissioned Home Portrait, "Pearson's Beach House"

"Pearson's Beach House"
16X20
Acrylic on Board
Commissioned by the Owner

Click the picture to enlarge it.

Some members of the Painted Plums missed seeing this one from last year, so I am sending it along once more to up-date everyone on another category of painting that I do occasionally, i.e. home portraits. I had the pleasure of visiting this painting in the home where it is beautifully framed on the wall above a desk. It's funny how, when a painting leaves my studio, I wonder how it is viewed in someone's home.... hoping it finds its way to a good location where it will be enjoyed. In this case, I can now say it is very much in the right place!

FEEDBACK WANTED....http://www.fineartstudioonline.com/cherylpass
Meanwhile, I have set up a trial website page at FineArtStudioOnline, where you can view a few of my recent works, some for sale, some not. This trial stage will be until January ( with only 10 paintings for the moment) and I am really wanting some feedback to see if you find this to be a good way to view and keep up with my paintings. At the end of the trial stage I will be able to put as many as 100 paintings up in a searchable form by category, which I hope will make it easy for you to access my work. Please let me know if you like this site and if it works better for you.

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait, "Noah"

"Noah" 14X14
Oil on Canvas
Commissioned by the Owner

Click on picture to enlarge it

Ta Da! Here is Noah. The owner is checking this out for the final critique. I think this is it....He is quite the guy, in my opinion. Now the search is on for the right frame. (and the next subject for painting.) :-)





Detail from
"Noah"
Click on picture to enlarge it.

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait, "Noah" In Progress

"Noah" 14X14
In Progress

Our Halloween trick for today? Calling the furnace serviceman to come and fix our freezing house! Sure enough, first cold snap we get and our furnace decided to dress up for Halloween, pretending to be "Fritz" ..... as in "on the Fritz!" Well, "Fritz" is only 12 years old, so we didn't expect him to start giving us fits. They don't make 'em like they used to....the old one lasted nearly 30 years. Thank you EPA regulators for dumbing down the furnace industry... and thank you, also, to all of the manufacturers who left the country and now make cheap junk for us to use. Anyway, a big fat grand later, our house is once again toasty warm. We have been forewarned that "Fritz" may last us another two or three years and then... and then... and then....it'll be "Freddie on Elm Street" for Halloween. Oh, boy. I can't wait for that one!

This being the story of the day, painting more of Noah did not happen til late this evening, by which time I was good and tired from trying to stay warm all day. Here's the progress today. Better "spirits" tomorrow now that All Hallows Eve is over. :-)

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait, "Noah" In Progress

"Noah"
Detail In Progress

This picture was with the studio lights on. Again the sepia warmth of the incandescent lights.


"Noah" 14X14 In Progress

The full picture here was real light, studio lights off. Cameras do funny things with light and smartly pick up everything.

By the way, I previously referred to a certain slobbery look about Noah and, I have heard through the grapevine that, Noah was a bit insulted by this adjective. He has passed along the information to me that he is a gentleman and never slobbers, so I must apologize for the reference. In defense, I have to clear up what I was thinking when I made the reference. I was looking at "floppy jowls" when I said "slobbery," which, in all honesty, is something I am sure I am getting myself the older I get. Since I don't slobber either, I must extend my apologies to Noah and won't ever mention that again. :-)

I hope you enjoy watching "Noah" emerge. I'll keep you posted. :-)

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait

"Noah" 14X14

First stage painting.... as far as I got today with Noah. Amazing what difference from just the sketch. More tomorrow...

Daily Painting Commissioned Dog Portrait

"Noah" 14X14

Just the beginning.....I always start with a sketch, drawing being the foundation of any good painting. The canvas is actually white but the incandescent lighting here on a gray cloudy day has made the camera turn it all to a sepia tone. (I think the shadow must be me taking the picture) The square format just seemed perfect for a Boxer, reflecting the solid strong demeanor a Boxer conveys.
Noah is a big slobbery and adorable, lovable White Boxer. This particular pose expressed so much dignity to me. He has quite a personality and is adored by his owners. I love the mark just below his left eye. He's going to be a lot of fun to paint....tricky, but fun!!! :-) Stay tuned.

Daily Painting Botanical, "Crimson Pansy"

"Crimson Pansy"
10X8
Oil on Board
Available
Click on picture to enlarge it.

I haven't painted flowers for a couple of months now, being busy with portraits. However, October here is the time to plant Pansies. Bless their hearts, they last all winter and keep a smile on no matter what the weather. Actually, this year we are experiencing a serious drought, so the pansies are a bit of a splurge and I bought fewer this year than usual. This is what they look like in my rock garden. I especially love the crimson ones for their cheerful bright color against the ground.

Daily Painting, "Old Brown"

"Old Brown"
5X7
Oil on Gessoed Board

The miniature show is coming up. I'm not sure this scale is quite small enough, but he was on my agenda to paint, so this is the attempt. As some of you know, those who read my blog, this gorgeous creature visited out backyard this past summer. He landed just outside my studio and stayed there for almost twenty minutes while he tried to find his midnight snack. We think Mr. Toad was the mark, but he didn't show up, so Old Brown finally gave up and took to the trees again. We certainly enjoyed his presence. For years we have heard the owls in the trees at night, but have rarely gotten even a glimpse of them. This was quite a reward for us. :-)

Now I'll be looking for the right frame for him and get him ready for the show.

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper"

"Chipper"
14X11
Oil on Canvas Panel
Commissioned by Owner

Finished! And now he will be drying before the final coat of varnish..and then the frame and then, and then, Christmas present for a happy wife!!! I'll post him over on the Painted Dog, too.

There has been a long heavy discourse about the act of Daily Painting and Painting A Day over at the Google Groups....enough to make someone crazy actually. I consider myself among the Daily Painters. To me the term means discipline and refers to those, including myself, who are striving to achieve the highest quality paintings of mostly contemporary realism mixed with some expressionism and impressionism, and mostly of still life with some landscape thrown in for good measure. This discourse has had me wondering if I can count myself into this 'discipline' or 'movement.' The other day I thought I was just going to go away and slit my throat. (artists sometimes do feel that dramatic about their work.) Fortunately, I have decided I am very much a part of this discipline and will continue forward, striving to complete each painting in the spirit of Daily Painting, whether I finish one painting a day or not. I, frankly, don't wish to be drawn into a tug of war over what is and what isn't worthy for a particular movement. My discipline is internal and I love sharing my work with those who watch my blog and collect my paintings.

So enough about that....and onto the next painting. I am really happy about Chipper and hope his owners will enjoy owning this painting!!

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper"

Detail of Chipper's Face

Chipper is still In Progress....I am still working on him from the shoulders down and will eventually go back over all of the background. As I often do, especially for commissioned pieces, I have quickly put him into a frame just to get an idea of the total look and see if I am happy so far....hoping the client will like to see him framed when finished. I like this frame around him and it may be the one to fit him in the end. He looks like a very important fellow in this gold frame. :) Back to work now......

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper" In Progress

"Chipper" In Progress
14X11
Oil on Canvas Panel










I'm starting to think I may have to re-think the Daily Painting nomenclature. I'd rather not, because I love the ideology. (at least what I thought it was) And it has given me impetus to push myself harder and farther. There are those calling themselves Daily Painters who are cranking out quickies....daily.... little ones, some with details or without, some with one object or two or three, some with great skill or not. The paintings I am referring to are little...most are 5X7 or even less. And the ones who are cranking these out and selling them on eBay or from their blogs are getting this done with incredible speed. Most of these paintings are finished in three hours or less. This could be really discouraging to people like me who are painting with everything they've got, yet with life interfering in the most insidious ways.

Speed, as some of you know, is not my strongest suit. Meticulous care is more my domain. I also have other obligations that pull me away from my painting lately in a way that is aggravating the hell out of me, but nonetheless must be done. I would like to paint 8 or 10 hours a day. But that is not going to happen this week. Maybe next week....but we'll see. I do paint almost every day, and when I am not painting I am thinking about painting even though I am doing other things.

Here is Chipper after two sittings, yesterday and today. And I'm not sure I'll get back to him before Sunday. GRRRRR. Can you tell I'm just a little testy about that?

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper" In Progress

"Chipper" In Progress
14X11
Oil on Canvas Panel

Just getting this guy off the ground today. I sketched him in loosely with a charcoal pencil and then, because his fur is various shades of white and grey, I toned the background with a neutral acrylic. As I worked around his face I decided to get after the background more quickly with the dark oils in order to get a better perception of mid-tones with Chipper's fur. This is so far done with fairly thinned out oils in order to lay in some of the darker tones before I go further. I am wanting to bring in some of the reds and golds in the carpet to liven things up and give him some more contrast. At this point I am always asking myself if I can do justice to the subject...because there is a lot yet to do. Chipper is fun to paint..such a cheerful little guy.

Daily Painting Dog Portrait, "Chipper"

"Chipper" Prelim Drawing
9.5X7
Charcoal Pencil on Watercolor Paper

I have to be one of the luckiest people on earth. Well, nevermind that, but I do feel very lucky to have the privilege of doing what I love to do. Chipper is the next dog portrait. He's a Westie of special character and as you can see he is a happy little fellow. He sports a black sweater with a star on the front, not to mention that darling smile!

I am just getting started on his portrait. The painting will be 14X11 This is a smaller freehand drawing I did this afternoon, which I like to do to get the feel of the values, study the nuances, and generally give myself the deep breath treatment before I dive into the paints. Too much fun!!!

I am also posting the progress on him on "the Painted Dog" blog, which you can access on the right of this one.
Stay tuned!!!

Daily Painting, Framing Matters

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready....

As I mentioned previously, there is a local guild show coming up. I've spent some time the last few days agonizing over which pieces to enter. My husband had his say in the matter, as did several other family members. And here are the three we collectively decided upon. The Peony is the largest. It is 16X12. The Hydrangeas is 9X12. And the Apple...entitled "Sustenance" is 8X10.

These are standard sizes, and standard is what I generally try to adhere to in order to make framing an easier matter. Framing can be expensive and I spend a great deal of time and effort to find the best frames I can find at affordable prices. (affordable prices being subjective.) I love frames. I could eat them up if they are nice ones. It is actually fun to search them out. More fun when I find the ones I like. I have the curse my mother used to call, "Champagne taste on a beer budget." So that makes it even more challenging. I have to say though, that a frame can make or break the painting. The wrong frame can just wreck the look, deaden the colors, or flatten it to death. But the right one can enhance, brighten, and give the painting more depth. It's so great when you find the right one!!! Don't give up until you do it right. It's like the icing on the cake..... :-)

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three"

"Ella at Three"
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click to enlarge the picture.

At last. The morning was taken by going over the background entirely in order to dull it down some and give the whole painting more depth. I think, if I look back, this painting has taken me the better part of six weeks. More than I anticipated, but not having done a portrait in oil prior to this, I guess I really didn't know what to expect.

Just to add to the story a bit...the chair is a family heirloom. It is part of a set of six curly maple chairs that were in my mother's family, three generations back from her life. They were among some of her favorite possessions and I am privileged to be the keeper of them now, before passing them along to the next generation. It's kind of fun to commemorate them in this painting along with the adorable grandchild that my mother didn't get to see. Hopefully, I have connected the chain of our family while painting this.

Local guild shows are coming up fast, so I'll be working toward those for the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

Click to enlarge the picture.

As you can see, this is still on the easel. Today I finished the bottom of her dress, the bottom right side of the chair,and tweaked the shadows under Paddinton. Except for going back to work the background more, I believe I am actually about at the end. I am very pleased with the way the dress turned out. After painting a few hours on it today and not getting it where I quite wanted, I remembered about Ariane Beigneux again...that she had used a palette knife. So I grabbed one and started in with it on the fabric of the dress. I have to thank her for this...never having used one before, I found it to be very helpful and achieved the look I was wanting.

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

I worked on Paddington Bear, some of the chair and the lower part of her dress today. Her dress is still being worked on..shadows under Paddington are not finished. But... Thought you might like to see Paddington close-up to cheer your day!!
It's getting there. Trust me!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

This is definitely becoming the 'Ella Marathon." I don't know how many layers or how many brush strokes cover this girl's face, but I just keep tweaking here and there until I think I might have it right. Then I look at her the next day and .. low and behold I find myself with my brush in my hand to darken this or lighten that or curve her cheek more or define her nose and mouth again. Anyway, here is today's adaptation. And of course I think I am done with her face again...until I look at her tomorrow. These pictures are not doing justice to this painting either. Actually, the close up one just to the left here looks about right. Will try to fix that tomorrow, too. Yikes!

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click on either picture to enlarge them.
Excuse the glare from the wet paint.

Well, I think I am finally getting there. Her face has been erased three times over all and today I think I figured out what has been wrong. The photo I am working from has a dark shadow across her right side. (our left) It looks grey and added so much incoherent shadow that I have been having to guess about the colors. Once I figured that out I was able to start over with much lighter and warmer shadowing. Now I am on to the rest of the painting....
And hopefully this painting will get done before Ella turns thirty or I collapse from the effort!! :)
Stay tuned.... Also...I am noticing lately that when I upload these photos on Blogger the colors are washing out some. Have no idea why. It could possibly be due to the wet paint glare...but anyway, the colors in this are brighter than you see here.

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click on the picture to enlarge it...but this one is a bit blurry. Sorry.

Still at it...
I have spent the better part of the last few days trying to recapture the face I lost when I tanned her skin too much last week. I don't think it's quite there yet..but it's starting to look somewhat better. This has been a very aggravating process...and I am regretting I acted on advice from others to "warm up" the shadows on her face. Let that be a lesson to me. (though I am sure it was well intentioned. :) )
The color on each person's monitor is different. I need to remember that when people respond. And the variations in lighting when taking the picture of the painting affects things also. In point, this rendition looks duller than the actual painting. I am hoping that when the painting is finished I will be able to get a really good picture of it for the blog.
Back to it...like a possessed mad woman... I am painting on her for hours each day and hope to bring her to life.
To those other artists who have experience in portrait painting watching this progress, please keep in mind that this is the first oil portrait I have ever attempted.

Update..on Redemption

Guess what....turpentine washed her face after all. Didn't know I could do that, but I just dove in and scrubbed her adorable little face. Sure enough..it looks like I can start this over in the next day or so (after I have recovered from the agony of defeat) and hopefully reclaim what I lost today. That was refreshing! The funny thing is she looks more like Ella with the scrubbed effect than she looked earlier today. I feel better already!! :)

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella's at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Another entire day spent on her face...to the detriment I believe. Warmed up the shadows as advised. Which changed the look of things to the point of needing the rest of the face to be re-worked. I don't think this is an improvement. Now she looks like she has spent the month in Barbados on the beach. Now I don't know how to get that sweet pink back and this is way to yellow in my opinion. This warming also makes her face look fatter which I am not happy about. Changed her eyes as advised. this actually did help her expression...but now I am really sick of the colors on her face. Fattened her left cheek as advised...now she looks way to fat in the face. And I don't think there is any washing this whole thing off with turpentine, so...
Not a good day.

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

Detail of "Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

I know....are you sick of this yet? I am not happy with the photos I'm getting of the entire portrait, so I am only showing the detail one today. You can see I have painted the top of her dress and am ready to work on Paddington Bear and then her hands....and then her skirt and the rest of the chair...and then go back and tweak the background. Ella in real life is very fair and blond and blue eyed and soft as a sweet little three year old should be. Of course, I think she is the cutest child who ever lived, next to my own children. And right behind her comes Bennett, so look out. Down the road I will try to give him the portrait treatment as well...when he is older.

Anyway, I'm beginning to understand why really good portrait artists command thousands of dollars for their work. There is no slap dash hurry up slam bam thank you maam way to do this, unless you want some very abstract impression of someone. Those who are skilled and practiced at this can go much faster no doubt, but nonetheless, I can really appreciate the time and skill and that it should require a boat-load of money to buy one of good quality.
More progress tomorrow....:)

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click on pictures to enlarge them.

Alot of glare on this...refer to the detail picture below to get a better idea of color and quality. Still tweaked a bit of her face today. Worked on her hair and the chair and her right arm (on the left of the painting). I am surprising myself at how long this is taking me. I tend to be slow and deliberate anyway, but the nuances in her skin tones are causing me to rework and blend and rework again and again. This reminds me of that poem..."only God can make a tree." Well, only God can make a person so unique and difficult to capture. I'll be at it again tomorrow. :) I'm getting anxious to get it finished.
Stay tuned!


Detail

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella's Portrait" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Somebody stop me before I kill this painting! :) I know....I said I was through with her face, but then I decided it needed more shadow on the left side. Well...then it needed more depth to the left of her nose inside her eye area. And one thing lead to another and an hour later I've redone almost her entire face. I am promising myself that is it. Tomorrow the chair, the hair, the dress, the bear. Anything but the face.
Enough for today. It is Labor Day and one is supposed to relax...right?

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on linen Panel

Click on either picture to enlarge it.

Detail of "Ella at Three"

More progress on Ella's portrait today. I now have a wrapped wrist after trimming hollies and pulling up weeds and saplings in the yard this morning, so I have to say this is a bit painful now on my end, but it is showing promise now. I hope to loosen up on her dress and the rest of the painting, but you know me....that will be pushing myself. Anyway...here is the latest on it.

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three" In Progress

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on linen panel
Click on the picture to enlarge it

The goal today was to make the girl smile...seriously. That may sound silly, but yesterday's work made her look so pained that all I thought about last night was correcting that. Will be working more on her hair tomorrow and start on her arms and the dress. The bear in her lap is Paddington Bear and I am looking forward to painting him. He will, no doubt, be the easiest part of the whole painting. If anyone wants to know, so far I have about 8 to 9 hours in Ella's painting. Which I have to say, is more time than I have spent with her since last Christmas. She lives far away so I only get to see her about once or twice a year. While I am painting her I am consoling myself by looking at that sweet darling face.
More tomorrow..

Daily Painting Portrait, "Ella at Three"

"Ella at Three" In Progress
16X12
Oil on Linen Panel
Click on the picture to enlarge it!

Off and painting...this is as far as I got today. She looks a bit pained here and as if someone just sent her packing to that chair. In the photo I'm working from, she is smiling sweetly though a little tentatively. So much to do to get this right. Long ways to go, but at least I finally got going on it. More on this tomorrow...

Found Instruction on Portraiture

After agonizing for over a week, and searching the net for helpful hints on this portrait, I found a webpage featuring the most awesome of child portrait artists. Her name is Ariane Beigneux and I am putting a link here so you can see her interview and gorgeous paintings. Click Here to see her interview and paintings!> I found this site to be very inspiring.
Reading about Ariane actually got me back to the paints and brushes, so if you are wondering where I am...it's back to Ella's portrait with renewed desire and hope.
Stay tuned..

Artist Block / Working on Portrait

Ella's Sketch Refined



















Blocked...lack of confidence...scared to pick up a brush....why do I do this to myself? Well guys, it's all about the portrait of Ella. I did the sketch, which has now been refined. (version in this post.) I bought the linen panel. I bought more turpenoid and new brushes. I walk around the empty panel and the sketch and the photo.... and look at them over and over again. I go over it in my mind. I study masters portraiture. I have constant conversations with myself. Still I can't put the paint on the surface.
So, I painted Betsy's Sunflowers hoping this panic would go away. Then I painted the miniature of Bohicket Drive and thought to myself, as soon as I get this one done I'll get to Ella's portrait. Now for almost a week I am stuck. I can't make myself do it. What is the matter with me? Better question, what do I do about this? I am not sure of the colors, the depth of colors, I don't know if I have the right surface, I don't know if I'm shooting for smooth blending of skin tones, or if I am supposed to just throw the paint on there a la impressionist devil may care... I am going totally nuts trying to get this working.
So if any of my good artist friends out there care to chime in here and coach me out of this horrible block, I would most gratefully appreciate it. Any ideas on how to get me out of this and get me going?

Daily Painting Landscape, "Bohicket Drive Revisited"

"Bohicket Drive Revisited"
7X5
Oil on Gessoed Board
Available
Framed in a Gold Leaf Plein Air Frame
Click on either picture to enlarge it!










Someone reminded me recently about a painting I did of Bohicket Drive last year, which I did as a Christmas present for my mother-in-law. Ever since I did that painting I have thought I wanted to do it again....bigger or smaller...either way or both. This vision of Bohicket Drive is such a happy image in my mind. I put myself in a little red sports car and toodle off to Seabrook with nothing but leisurely moments ahead of me; walks on the beach, dinner at the club, looking for seashells, sitting on a screened porch and breathing the sea air, watching the sea birds, etc. etc. No worries, just hanging out and feeling no pressure from the grind back in real life.

My commission of Annie was held up this week as her owners are working on getting just the right pose for her portrait. So while waiting a bit for that, I remembered that the Gaston County Art Guild Miniature Show will be coming up in October. I love the Miniature Show. (maybe because I have worked in small formats for most of my careeer) It's always fascinating to see what subjects the artists choose to do in miniature. Bohicket Drive Revisited is going to be one of my entries, unless someone wants to buy it first. I have the frame and am showing it here also.

Daily Painting Floral, "Betsy's Sunflowers"

"Betsy's Sunflowers"
10X8
Oil on Canvas Board
Available
Click on Picture to enlarge it.

Happy faces of Sunflowers! At this moment they, and everything else in our little section of the planet, are gasping for water and some cooler temperatures. But they do look cheerful here since I took the picture of them a couple of weeks ago. You know, just about every artist of historical note has done Sunflowers. (does that mean I am now in that category? In my dreams! :) Of course, Van Gogh's come to mind first. It wasn't until my daughter planted them that I had ever seen red ones. I like the yellow ones, too, so maybe I'll try those next summer. If you love Sunflowers, this is a way to see them all year long!

You might not see a post for a little while from me....because I have a commission to work on. It's a big dog and a bigger painting so this could take some time. Her name is Annie and very loved by her owners. I might post some progress pictures if I think it's going O.K. If it looks awful, believe me, you won't see it until I have it right.

Daily Painting Floral, "Betsy's Sunflowers" In Progress

"Betsy's Sunflowers" In Progress
10X8
Oil on Canvas Panel

My daughter, Betsy, loves sunflowers. If she had a signature flower, this would be her choice. Earlier in the summer, before the drought and the 100 degree temperatures hit, I visited her garden with my camera in hand. I was lucky enough to catch a bee having its afternoon snack on this red variety of sunflower. This one is for her...but obviously I am still working on it. This weather is like the opposite of deep cold January. But it makes you want to hunker down and not go outside just as much as winter. Alone in my studio with the paints and brushes...and just Bosley to keep me company. He, too, has had it with this weather and we are longing for some days when we can get out there and go walking again. As it is, he barely sticks his nose outside, takes care of necessities, and turns around to come back inside.

I've taken in some commissions on dog portraits again, too...so as soon as I finish this I am beginning work on one of those.

Detail of Bee on "Betsy's Sunflowers"

Daily Painting, "Lifeguard at Ft. Belvoir"

"Lifeguard at Ft. Belvoir"
8X10
Oil on Gessoed Board
Availble from the artist

Man, I do not know what is with this weather, but the paint kept getting sticky and it would come off half the time when I put my brush back down. Very frustrating. Pretty sketchy around the blue and white buoys at the top, but given the problems I was having I guess it will have to do. Must be the air conditioning, but believe me I am not complaining about air conditioning at this moment.

Anyway, dive in! Splash away!!! It's the only outdoor thing you can do that won't kill you this week. Think cool! Very very cool....and refreshing....and live through until Sept.

Daily Painting, "Life Guard" In Progress

"Life Guard" In Progress
8X10
Oil on Gessoed Board

Since it was 102 degrees today, I was trying to think of some kind of summer fun. Just looking at this pool was making me feel better. This is a bit of a departure for me, but it's fun to try it...it is from a photo I took at Fort Belvoir, VA last month. We were there to attend a wedding reception and as I looked around the building I saw this gorgeous pool with lots of people enjoying the facility. At the time I took the photo, the life guard had just blown the whistle for the 'all adult swim.' She was idly twirling a piece of her hair while watching this woman bob about in the water. Both of my children have been life guards when they were younger, so watching this scene took me back to the times when they were in charge of the pool at the Racquet Club here. I'll work on this some more tomorrow and hopefully get it finished.




The other picture is a surprise visit from Mister Owl last evening at our house! Whoo Hoo!!! Can you believe this fellow? He was looking for a midnight snack in the form of Mister Toad we think. Fortunately, Mister Toad was quite elusive and could not be found. Being night owls and midnight snackers ourselves, we could empathize with our friend Mister Owl.