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......