Hey, Hay, Hay!

"Hay Bales at the Edge of the Woods"
5 3/4 X 9
Watercolor
Available

$75.00 plus postage

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This is from my trip up country to the mountains a few weeks ago. I took my watercolor pencils with me and managed to squeeze in a little time to do this as a study for a larger painting I am planning to do. These hay bales looked like they had been forgotten almost, but I am guessing they are there to save as needed for the livestock. It was near dusk and the sun was streaming across them while the woods had a dark and mysterious look under the trees. That is what captured my interest.

Things are still hectic with all of the running back and forth to my Dad's, but he is doing better and healing is taking place. This afternoon I am meeting also with the Battered Women's Shelter administrators on the fund raising project, a recipe collection / cookbook. I already have several pieces of art that relate to foods so I am looking forward to seeing this work into a very nice publication for them. We'll see how it goes!!

Thanks for visiting my blog.

'Wool in the Rough'

"Sheep #1"
5X7
Oil on Panel
Available


ADDED NOTE:
I am adding to this post on Labor Day Monday.....just to let anyone reading know that some events have occurred since last week to keep me from my paints. Besides the circumstance described below with my daughter's little cocker spaniel, my (ancient) Dad fell last Wednesday. This fall resulted in the skin scraped completely off of the back of his left hand. Seriously. All day in the ER on Wednesday. We were fortunate enough to have a spectacularly talented Doctor who spent hours stitching what skin was left back together, like a patchwork quilt or a jigsaw puzzle. There is still a place with no skin, so we are now going to the plastic surgeon tomorrow to see about a skin graft. Taking care of him and also nursing Lucy has kept me and my husband very busy these past days. Lucy has now gone back to my daughter's house for the rest of this week, but I am having to jump in and do more for my Dad, plus arranging for some in-home health care for him for the coming weeks. I am hoping to get some time to paint in between all of this...so I will post whatever I can come up with as I find the time. Thanks for staying tuned!
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About the painting above:
Where knitting begins....with this little beauty! I look at that coat and find myself amazed of the gift of all of that wool. Maybe some of you don't know that I like to knit. My mother taught me how when I was very young and I have loved making sweaters for myself and my family all of my life. Now that I live in the South, wool sweaters are saved for only the coldest weather. There are other types of yarn to use for other seasons such as cotton, acrylic and blends thereof. But I do love wool yarns and a great love of the sheep who bring us such a wonderful textile with which to work.

Update on Lucy, (see below) she will be coming home from the hospital tomorrow and, from the look of things, she is in for a lengthy recovery. She cannot yet use her back legs and that is going to take time and therapy. She is as sweet as ever and we are looking forward to getting her well. Thanks to all her sent me concern and hope for her. It is much appreciated!

'Lucy'

"Lucy on a Book"
8X10
Acrylic on Panel
NFS

There she is. I painted this a couple of years ago, but am re-posting this picture because #1. Lucy is the reason I don't have a new painting, and #2. Lucy is at this very moment under the knife! There is a whole long story about Lucy. The short version is that four and a half years ago we found her near death as a puppy on our street,covered in thousands of ticks and starving, we saved her and my daughter took her as her own to keep. Lucy has not been feeling great lately. (I have been keeping her at my house for several weeks..another long story that I can't elaborate upon right now.) A few weeks back she developed an inner ear problem. Luckily that resolved in about four weeks. She seemed to be O.K. though not her peppy old self. Then a couple days ago she started whimpering and moaning and wouldn't eat and, by today she could barely walk at all. I fed her from my hand and finally got her to drink a little....we all, my daughter, her best fellow, my husband and I, met at the vet with Lucy this afternoon. We have an awesome vet!...who sent us right away to a veterinary neurological specialist. (You can just see the dollars flying out the window as fast as dust in the wind...can't you?) Low and behold, our little Lucy had a ruptured disk in her back and needed surgery to fix it. And it will be fixed...to the tune of a small fortune. How much is a little stray Cocker Spaniel worth? Lots and lots! We love Lucy.

So no new landscape to show you today, and tons of other interference, but it will be coming. I have my ancient Dad to feed Sunday, a dreaded jury summons for Monday, a Dr.'s appt. Tues., a meeting on cookbook illustrations for the Battered Women's Shelter on Wednesday, my own husband and dog and house, and will probably have Lucy recuperating at my house also by Tues. Are we having fun yet???
Ya have to say....it is never boring!!!

'Riverside Cramerton Park'

"Riverside Cramerton Park" / Cropped Version
Oil on Canvas Panel


O.K. Trying to save face...I first posted the entire painting and absolutely hate the thing so much that I decided to just take the part of the painting I really like and ditch the rest...so what you are seeing here is just a part of a painting. The big version is just awful. Maybe just a bad composition on the whole...but this part works, so I am going to make an effort to start over and just do a painting with this view.
This was from a "plein air" outing that was organized by an art guild friend a few weeks ago. More than twenty artists arrived at the park to paint. I don't paint "plein air," so I came to take photographs and observe. The day was horribly hot and, after sweating for more than two hours, I decided to head home. My favorite part of the whole painting is the reflecting of trees in the water, so that is what I am showing here.
I am determined to get past this landscape block I have!!
Thanks for visiting!

'Roll in the Grass'

"Hayroll & Barn"
8X10
Oil on Gessoed Panel
Available

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As promised....landscape! This was late afternoon, hot August, an overgrown field with a barn that caught my eye due to the blue cast on the roof against the gold colors in the hayroll and surrounding grasses. Remember I am a studio painter....and to that point, I want to quote an artist who does gorgeous landscapes in his studio. His name is Peter Fiore and there is a wonderful article on him in the most recent Artist's Magazine. In the article he says, "Some plein air artists profess their works are somehow more valid because they were painted on location." Continuing, he says, "If you're a musician inspired by nature, does that mean you have to create a symphony out in the field?" You can check out his work by clicking on the link. Very impressive.

And that is how I feel about landscape painting. I think the snobbery of "plein air" painting has gotten way out of hand. My paintings are inspired by the beautiful scenes I see as I go about my area and travels. And they are of the places I think are beautiful that I wish to share with anyone who takes a moment to view my work. I can easily get overwhelmed when working on landscapes by the awe I feel, the diverse plant and animal life, the wide vistas, the love I have of the countryside. That is what motivates me to do landscape, but also intimidates me. I struggle with trying to live up to all of that beauty. Anyway, I will be concentrating on landscapes for a while, so we'll see what I can accomplish.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog!!!

'Bluebird Equals Happiness"

"Bluebird"
7X5
Oil on Gessoed Panel
Available
$250.00 framed

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I have the perfect frame for this one. (either wall or tabletop) And it is an opportunity to give 'the Bluebird of Happiness' to someone as a gift. (maybe that someone who has everything else, but makes you happy!) They will think of you every time they look at it.

We have families of these gorgeous North Carolina Bluebirds around our neighborhood. They love to visit us in the fall when our Pyracantha bush yields its reddish orange berries. We love to watch them, but they are shy and fly off easily if people are too close by.

My husband and I love having the birds flying in and out of our feeding areas. He is the one who keeps the feeders full and I swear they know him and look for him to come out there with the seeds.

I did get several photos for landscapes while I was away in the mountains, so my intentions are to try try again and see if I can master the genre to some degree of satisfaction. That's what I'm up to next....stay tuned! :-)

'On the Road'

"Nursery on Rte. 321" Oil on Canvas Paper
NFS

This is a painting from a trip we made up to Blowing Rock, NC. a little while ago. We are heading up there again this weekend and I am so looking forward to the cooler air and the scenery, camera and sketchbook in hand! :-) The nursery is obscured now by looming industries encroaching into the countryside, so I am very happy I captured the scene when I did. The field on the right now is nothing more than a big tan colored box of a building.

I've been struggling with myself over landscapes. I love landscape paintings and have been admiring several other artist's work, some plein air and some studio painters. So when I sit down to try to do one lately, I am filled with inadequacy and trepidation and can hardly pick up the brush. I am determined to get myself past this bug-a-boo I am having, so the intention of this trip is to get some photos and sketches from which to work. Not to mention getting away from the oppressive heat we have been suffering through this summer. Believe me, one small weekend is not enough! But I'll take it!!

Have a great weekend!!

'Jack Russell on a Red Rug'

"Jack Russell on a Red Rug"
5X7
Oil on Gessoed Masonite
Sold

I wanted to share with you this sample of what I can do regarding commissions of dog (or animal) portraits. The owner took this picture of his Jack Russell resting on their oriental rug and it just happened to be a terrific pose and photograph from which to do this painting. If you have really good photos, I can use them for painting. Believe me, the photo matters. I also work from my own photos by appointment and I like to do that locally, but the owner is in a unique position of capturing the dog (animal) in all kinds of circumstances that I would not necessarily see. If you are considering having a portrait made from your photos, get out that camera, keep it handy, and take lots and lots of photos to increase your odds of getting that perfect shot.

An oil painting of your pet is a keepsake to last for generations. It's really fun to have. Great for Christmas or Birthday presents, too! If you are thinking Christmas present, now is the time to schedule it. (please don't wait until a few weeks before Christmas) It's also fun to do a collection of favorite pets on the wall, as one of my clients has done with all of her white boxers that she has rescued. The collection is a treasure for her and for her family to enjoy from now on.

For pricing and more information, you can contact me at cpass@carolina.rr.com

'Follow Your Nose'

"Follow Your Nose"
12X9
Oil on Masonite Panel
Available

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No secret I love dogs...so here is the latest! I slapped a lot of paint on this with the palette knife to get the background textures I wanted....ergo, this one will take quite a while to dry.

Crazy stuff happening this week, mostly involving the hot water heater, the heating and air conditioning, water flowing where it shouldn't have, workmen coming and going, all interspersed within the other nutty things going on...so it was paint, stop, paint, stop, paint, stop.....until you just have to subscribe to the chaos reigns theory and go with it. Glad I could get one finished, to tell you the truth.

Onward and upward.....stayed tuned!!

'Gilded Cage'

"Gilded Cage"
9X12
Oil on Raymar Linen Panel
Available

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As you walk the paths at Stowe Botanical Gardens you will come across a Victorian birdcage the likes of which you have never seen......or, at least like I have never seen. I could never cage a bird. In fact, if I could fly I would be gliding over the tree tops right now. But the irony is that I think bird cages are pretty...no doubt because I've never been cooped up in one. This one is amazing. It is the biggest one I've ever seen and it is a new version of a Victorian style. If you look closely at my painting you will see a red and yellow parrot that was sitting on a perch in the middle section. As I painted this I was wondering how the birds in it are managing the unbearable heat we've been having this entire month. I'm hoping they took the birds to an air conditioned location and left the birdcage empty for the summer months.

One of the challenges of painting this was indicating the screens. I hope I accomplished that. I worked on this painting off and on all week due to the other obligations of taking "the ancient one" to Dr.'s appts. and making meals for him as well as our household. I feel like I should apologize for the drop off in my posts the past few months, but it just can't be helped since I have taken on some family duties I didn't have prior to this. What is that movie quote? "I'm dancing as fast as I can."

'Red, White, and Blue'

"Red, White,and Blue"
12X9
Oil on Raymar Linen Panel
©Cheryl A. Pass
Available

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Most of my Hydrangea blossoms have devolved to some green colors, due to the acidic quality of the soil, I guess. This one was one of the last really blue ones. I bought some sulfer additive that is supposed to bring the blue colors back, but the package says it will take a few weeks. Meanwhile, I grabbed this one to compliment the beautiful reds of the cherry. The colors are more intense in the actual painting. This reminds me to tell everyone that the color representation on everyone's monitors are different, so take that into account. I do try to get the best possible image for computer display, and it is usually pretty accurate, but intensity sometimes blows away in the digital process.

About the title....I think my heart is with the founders of the country these days, so the colors of our flag come to the forefront of my mind often. So much was given to us, and yet today, so many people are trashing our country that sometimes I just want to shake people's shoulders and say, "Wake up dimwits...you are throwing away the greatest gift you could have ever been given, i.e. the United States Constitution." So red, white and blue are the colors of my mind today and most days lately.

'Cherries on Blue'

"Cherries on Blue"
5X7
Oil on Gessoed Board
Available

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These were called Rainier Cherries at the grocery...very pretty little things with yellow and red and most of them still had their stems. I was trying to do something with a different background color here (got out an old blue shirt and laid the cherries on it)...and really slapped on the paint for a more impressionist texture. I made myself back up and loosen the brush strokes. I honestly don't think this picture does it justice..much prettier in person.
There went Monday.....

'Idyll Moment'

"Idyll Moment"
9X12
Oil on Raymar Linen Panel
Available

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Well, I could have titled this a number of different things; "Election Year Bull," "Pasture Idol," "Here's Looking at You," "Invest in Cattle Futures,"and more.....But I landed on "Idyll Moment" because this guy was caught on camera just surveying his domain. (The election year comment seemed too demeaning to the guy since I think he is quite grand and has more integrity than the politicians! You can vote for the title you like the best, if you wish.) I think the guy has that Alpha Male presence... Really fun to paint!! The photo was given to me by a friend who was doing a lot of plein air painting and took this shot while on one of her outings. She handed it to me saying that she doesn't do animals, but she knew I like to do animals so she thought I might like to try this one. I am emailing this to her as soon as I post it, so she can see what she wrought from her gift.

'Fourth of July Zinnias'

"Fourth of July Zinnias"
12X9
Oil on Gessoboard
Available
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Zinnias always seem old fashioned to me. I don't know why. They are common and not terribly formal like Irises or Peonies or Lilies, but they are the brightest light in the garden in the summer. In fact, if Mother Nature created fireworks I'd say these are the flowers that suit the purpose! They create a wonderful riot of colors in the garden! I couldn't get the seeds in the ground this year to the disastrous shape of my front flower garden, so, alas, these are borrowed from my daughter's garden.

It took me more than one day to do this one. So much going on here that I am lucky if I can paint for more than an hour without crazy interruptions. Also, I am having a disagreement with this gessoboard. It doesn't like to hold the paint without quite a bit of trouble. The finish effect is good in that it shows the brush strokes, but it starts out with a lot of slipping and sliding that gives me fits. Patience wins in the end, but it takes longer to do than linen or a rougher surface.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July celebrating freedom.....even the freedom to make fools of ourselves. A great price has been paid for that freedom and I hope it remains in the forefront of everyone's mind this year as the election nears. I, for one, plan only to vote for those who will promote freedom and not vote for those who would steal it from us through more and enhanced big government programs. That is what was on my mind this 4th of July....as I was painting away on the zinnias.

'Beach Baby Ella'

"Beach Baby Ella"
10X8
Wash and Pencil on Ampersand Gessoboard
NFS

Scroll down to see Beach Baby Bennett, too.

Well...changing my mind. I originally was doing these two pieces as underpaintings. But as I worked I decided I liked the effect of the washes and pencil on the surface and, honestly, I don't think I could do a full blown painting of these that I would like as well as this....so I'm leaving well enough alone and moving on to the next thing.

Ella and Bennett went to the beach in Hawaii with their parents on the way to Korea. I think if you are going to the beach for the first time, it might as well be some gorgeous place like Hawaii....don't you? They were actually sitting side by side on a water board in the sand, but I split the picture into two parts, thinking that they might like to each have one of their own someday. What strikes me in both of them is the look of concentration as they try to get familiar with this strange stuff that they have never seen before.