January 28, 2011

The paint's thin.



8"x8"x1.5" original oil on gallery wrapped canvas
$125.00 plus shipping
Available at Lake Country Art Gallery

I painted yesterday's post and this one, alternately, at the same time.  I'm not sure why I used a different technique on them except that the flowers seemed to call for it.  I like the results but they don't really go together as a set, as much as I hoped when I started.  

Hope you have a great day.

January 27, 2011

The paint's thick.

The sun is shining and the snow is melting.  I can't help but smile.  Spring is just around the corner...(don't say what you're thinking).  I know this is Canada, but I can dream.  

I'm getting a lot of painting in lately and it feels really good.  Today I'm posting the white daisy I finally finished. It didn't take long to paint but I was busy with several others and it got neglected so today is it's day to be featured on my blog.  It's main appeal for me is that I painted it with thick paint that is hard to capture in a photo.

original oil on 8"x8"x1.5"gallery wrapped canvas
$125.00 plus shipping

January 24, 2011

Monday's are great.

It's Monday.  This is the day I focus on me.  Doesn't that sound selfish?  I consider it decadent. I usually have a leisurely bubble bath, do my nails and deep condition my hair.  I'll spend some time painting something that's in the easy fun stage and this afternoon I'll lean back in my recliner and watch a painting workshop from Artists network TV.  On and off all day I'll be reading artist blogs and admiring the wonderful work of my fellow bloggers. I live the good life.

I haven't finished anything in the last few days so I'll give you a peek at the stuff on the drying table. I have three that are in the final stages so they will be posted soon.  Enjoy your Monday, it's a good day

January 21, 2011

Yesterday's post talked about the drawing I was planning to do...note the word planning.  I didn't get anything drawn.  I read the section, prepared the material needed and then it was time to head out.

This was the day my celebrity portrait was presented. Most of our area's top political leaders were present, as well as a large group of folks I volunteer with.  It was nerve wracking to say the least.  The accolades were many and I came away happy.  Will I try something like that again...not likely.  I love doing portraits but the ones that will be displayed in a public forum, like this one of Beryl Itani our local super volunteer, will have to be commissioned.  No more second guessing about whether it's wanted or not.  Glad that's over with...  well almost.  I'm now hearing reports that I was on tv and in the papers.  Yikes!

Today my drawing lesson is from "Anatomy and Figure Drawing" by Viv Foster.  So far it's just reading so I can relax for another day.  Hope you can too.

January 20, 2011

Drawing lessons...

I mentioned at the first of the year that one of my goals for the year was to learn to draw.  My friend Myra has been practicing and has become an expert at drawing ballerinas. I, on the other hand, have not drawn a thing.  

I am doing something though.  For one hour a day/four days a week, I'm SLOWLY working my way through some art courses.  Three of them concentrate on drawing.  So far I'm simply learning what I don't know and how hard it is to do what I thought I did know.  (does that make sense?)    

Today is Thursday and I'm on page 36 in Carl Purcell's book:  Your Artist's Brain.   I have to draw a picture of a pear and a can with some dried weeds.  I could be at this for a while. sigh.

 

January 17, 2011

Reading blogs...

Okay, I confess... I've been spending my time reading blogs instead of writing one.  It's your fault.  If you didn't write such interesting blogs, I'd... well you get the idea.  I did take a couple days off painting to recoup from a diverticulitis attack.  Not a lot of pain this time but no energy.  It's over and I'm back at the easel.  Yeh!

The picture below is basically finished.  I played around with the palette knife on the trees.  A bit messy but fun to do.  I'll sign it when it's dryer and probably add a dab or two of paint as I watch it dry.  I'm hoping to paint it larger but I'm a little nervous it won't turn out.  Just because I painted it once doesn't mean I can do it again.


8"x10" oil on canvas art board


Have a great week everyone.

January 11, 2011

My Flower Boxes


Frilly Yellow Pansy
6"x6"x 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas
Sides painted 
$100.00 or $78.00 for multiples


I love my little pansies.  They're painted with Winsor-Newton and Van Gogh water soluble oils. Two painted so far; ten to go.   I think of them as my winter flower boxes.  I hope you enjoy this touch of spring from my easel.

January 9, 2011

Myra asked:


My blogging buddy Myra at The Art of Dancing is like Chocolate, asked me to add my pansy to her pot...so I did.  I think our art goes together rather well... don't you think?

January 6, 2011

I'm enjoying my water soluble oil paints.

The water soluble oils are working out well.  The worst of the smell comes when I open my wet pallet each morning, but I solved any problem that might have caused by pointing the humidifier (portable one on my counter) so it blows over the pallet and away from me.  I further compensated for the odor by storing the wet paintings in the guest bathroom on a little table over the furnace air vent.  I also ensure that I throw out any paper towels I use while painting each day instead of throwing them in the garbage can under my table, like I used to do.  Now I notice very little smell.     P.S.  I use walnut oil to make fat washes.

I'm really enjoying painting with these paints.  They're soft and smooth but thick enough that they leave a nice texture on the painting.  I really like the cleanup time.  It's so quick.  I have a bar of pure soap beside my sink and within a couple rinses they're clean. 

As far as taking so long to dry, that hasn't been a problem.  I'm enjoying having several paintings on the go and several choices as to what I should paint when I start.  I can paint something detailed or continue with some underpainting.    

Life is good...  Happy painting everyone.



Two of the unfinished paintings in the drying room.  
Both 8"x8"x1.5", oil on gallery wrapped canvas.


January 5, 2011

How do I feel about losing my job?

Myra asked how I felt about losing my job:  I love it.  I was trying to figure out how and when to quit without letting my boss down.  Now I'm keeping to a new home schedule that has me painting a minimum of an hour a day (that's lots for me) and an hour of painting lessons.  Then there's all the other time I spend deciding what to paint, reading blogs and just plain dreaming about painting.  Being retired is wonderful!

Here's an update on the frilly pansy I'm working on:


My goal is to paint twelve different pansies.  They are such a happy flower don't you think?  Great to paint this time of year.



January 2, 2011

So much fun.

A New Year Begins.

I love new beginnings.  This year is exceptionally exciting because the store I manage has closed it's doors and I have more time to paint and to study how to improve my art.  I always start a new daily schedule this time of year and this year I have an almost completely blank calendar to build on.  So much time to have fun.

Today was busy with taking down the last of the Christmas decorations and catching up on some of the chores I couldn't get to when I was working everyday.  I did squeeze in some painting on my yellow pansy though, so it was a very successful day.  I look forward to a great year of painting and blogging. 

Below are the two paintings I am working on.  


8"x8" daisy and 6"x6" frilly pansy
Oil on gallery wrapped canvas