10/31/09

This little painting was done almost two years ago from a photo I snapped one summer evening when we first moved into the studio. Karen and Mark had gone up to see the moon from the roof. We have amassed a lot of wonderful memories at our studio in a year and a half.

10/27/09

Wow, pictures really show all the mistakes! On the whole, I still like this painting that is not nearly finished. I like the colors and the simple subject. I can tell I'll be working on this for a while. It was a lot of fun to paint with large brushes and be free and loose -I guess I got a little too loose! Still a nice start.

10/26/09 Goodbye to my sweet Tyler

Today I am packing up my favorite portrait to send to his mom! This is little Tyler Clark - and he has just turned one year old! I did his portrait about five or six months ago and have entered him in several contests. One of my painting partners, Kay Wyne, gave me his picture to paint. Her daughter was his nanny in Arkansas and is going up soon for a visit. Tyler (painting) is going with her.

10/25/09

This image was taken from a picture I took in 2004 while in Paris. This little bird just ate right off my place mat and wasn't afraid of people. He was so charming that I was just compelled to paint him. One of my favorite images of a wonderful time in Paris.

10/24/09

This portrait was done for JT Osgood for her birthday several years ago. Her daughter Georgie wanted me to paint it. It is of JT, Georgie and Georgie's grandmother, Suzy Moritz-Rawdin. I am lucky enough to paint with Suzy at Studio Art and Soul. Suzy is a very talented artist and also a good friend.

This painting is a 16x20, acrylic on canvas and it has been gifted, so it is not for sale.

10/22/09

This is my picture that I'm almost finished with for the Virtual Paint Out. This month's location happens to be Northern Ireland. I really like this one - very peaceful. Still have a few little touches to add before I sign it. This one will be for sale at the Lakewood Home Tour Market and if it doesn't sell there it will be shown at our Cedars Open Studio Tour.
I'm going to have to change Grant's background -- it is too green! Put this in on Tuesday night and with all the rain - it never dried so I'm still waiting to work on it. Grant Schirpik is one of the artists in Studio Art and Soul. Besides being extremely good looking, he is supremely talented. This photograph doesn't do the painting justice and nothing beats the real thing! This original picture was taken on an Alaskan fishing trip with Grant's dad and cousin. We were lucky enough to be the recipients of some of Grant' yummy homemade salmon spread.

10/20/09- on the easel

Should be able to finish this small addition to my "chair" series today. This is one of the four that I started this week. Really had some creative juices flowing - hope they continue. I have also been working on my Northern Ireland painting, David Schultz's cupcakes and a portrait of my fellow painter Grant Schirpik(sp?) Grant's face and shirt came together very quickly yesterday and was a LOT of fun to paint. I guess I do things backwards - I painted the portrait first and now I'm going to fill in the background - whatever works! Hope to post one or more tomorrow. Off to the studio to create. Thanks for checking out my blog.

Playing "Catch Up" - 10/16/09

Even though I haven't posted a picture, I have been working hard. Got to the studio today around 11:30 and left the side door open, blinds down. Some drunken white man came up and rattled the bars on the front door then began banging on the glass with his fist and shouting, "Let me in!" He scared me to death! I grabbed my cell and was determined to call 911 , but he left. I had just opened the front blinds and Suzy drove up. I nearly ran outside to grab her but I figured I might scare her to death too so I played it cool. Let her in and related my experience and it just so happens the same man came up last week and rattled the gate when she was at the studio alone. This makes me angry! I don't like to be frightened!

The rest of the day was great and I got a lot done: working on David's cupcakes, another set of small chairs is well under way and I began Grant's portrait! Even began another set of chairs to go with the other two.

Probably won't get a lot of painting done tomorrow because of a luncheon and a gallery opening with two of my friends in it. Sunday will be open for painting most of the day.

Thanks for listening to my rantings. I just HATE to be frightened!

10/06/09

Well, after being out of town and subbing for 7 weeks I have finished my first in a series of lawn chair paintings. This one is quite large (12x36) and now I'll be embarking upon a journey to paint 3 more much smaller versions of different lawn chairs (4x12). I want to finish these pretty quickly and get on with Grant's portrait which he finally sent (a picture that I'd nagged him about for almost a month) after much ado. I just want to be able to paint every day so I can make some money at the Lakewood market show. I'm also aiming at showing some of my portraits at the Cedars Open Studio Tour next month - that means I have to get with it and start painting every day!