07/29/09

Started these buoys last night at the studio and I just love the bright colors. I might try doing a small series of 8x10 buoys.

Still working on the hay but I think it is almost finished. This is another gallery wrap canvas that just seemed to "fit" the horizon. (8x24)

07/27/09

Worked today mainly on my hay bales. Having difficulty getting the right color for dead hay! My fellow artists have helped a lot.

07/25/09

Today I got to the studio LATE! Lots of people were there and the phone seemed to ring constantly. Some days are like that! Worked on a painting of hay bales in a field with a very cloudy sky. Skies are not my best and I will ask for help in improving them from my fellow artists. I am striving to make the hay bales appear round instead of flat like some people have. Quite a challenge!

07/23/09

Worked on Justin after working at The Stewpot (homeless art studio) this morning.Warmed up his complexion and I think I might have lost his smile. Will fix it tomorrow.

07/22/09

Haven't posted for a while because I didn't stagger my paintings. Worked for several hours at the studio and there isn't a lot to show. Tried out a new Gesso board and have come to the conclusion that they are too slick.I am not through with Justin Rubenstein's portrait but at least you can tell who it is. His complexion is a lot warmer - more olive than I have now so I have quite a bit of work to do to finish him up.

07/19/09

I went to the studio today (Sunday) and accomplished SO much on my latest painting,"Fence Shadow." This is another of Terry Porter's marvelous photos! I am so lucky to have her find all the beautiful paintings I just LOVE to paint.

I painted this on an 8x24 gallery wrap canvas because it just seemed to fit my idea of what I wanted to capture. I noticed when I put this picture up that I still need to go back and dull down some of the highlights on the fence. Other than minor adjustments, I really like it. Especially since I've always said I didn't want to paint one of those typical "bluebonnet paintings " that EVERY artist paints. Mine has a small twist that makes it much more appealing to me!

This painting is also for sale. If you are interested, please contact me at my e-mail provided on my profile. Thank you for viewing my painting. Please feel free to make any comments (nice ones will be appreciated).

07/17/09

Worked on the boards today and I think I might be finished!

07/17/09

Worked a long time at studio yesterday perfecting the dock under the kayak shadows and putting in some of the boards. They are pretty wiggly because I shake so much but it won't matter because by the time I complete the dock you won't notice (I hope). Took my time on the yellow and green (yikes!) kayaks to get them correct. Green is another one of "those" colors but it cooperated yesterday!

Started some other paintings but won't post those just yet. Thanks for looking at my blog.

07/16/09

Decided to change the look of my blog to something a bit more mature, subdued and professional. Hope you like it.

07/14/09

Worked on the two red kayaks today then HAD to stop ............ red gets away from me very quickly and pretty soon there is red EVERYWHERE!

I love Terry's picture and it is so different from my usual. Lots of fun.

07/13/09

This is a "fast and loose" painting of my dog Chibi. He gives me this adoring look and I melt. He is there waiting when I get home and excited to go out for a walk - even at 6:00 A.M.. He is the ultimate in unconditional love.

07/12/09

I've started two new paintings that are different for me. Both reference pictures are from one of my high school classmates - Terry Porter - an award winning photographer. ( Yes, I have her permission to use them!) Looking forward to seeing how they turn out!

Worked at the studio yesterday and finally finished "Nancy's Magnolia". Just compared my last picture of the magnolia and there is a big difference in the cast and reflected shadows!

07/03/09

I didn't get a lot of painting done at the studio because I had three guests. Michele Upton and her two daughters, Kennedy and Grayson came down to work on their self-portraits. Both are very cute and enjoy their art.

Worked a bit on this magnolia yesterday. I can't work too much at once because it all looks alike after a while. Every one said white flowers were the hardest. They were right. I must say I have been learning a lot from Donna Page about warm and cool colors and direct and reflected light. Hope it pays off!

We have lost one of our painting partners. Belinda Aber-Haddock has decided to leave us because she and her husband have built a HUGE house near Austin and even though they still have business up here they live too far away for Belinda to commute that far.

The good news is that we have invited Michael Terstreip (I know I spelled it wrong) to come into the studio. He is a really nice young man that lives in the Lakewood area with his wife and two kids. He has been painting with us for the last month and besides being very talented, he is a pleasure to have around.