07/28/10 Too hot too handle

This is a VERY wet painting of my niece that I painted in two days! Her birthday is August fourth, so I am in a hurry for this to dry!!!! Keithly is a marathon runner, and she and her guy came to Dallas to run a short (9.5 mile run) about 2 weekends ago. I even got up before God to take pictures of this child running in the Dallas unbearable heat!

I would like to paint an entire series of runners . The muscles and sweat really make for a great painting!! I only have two and they are very fit females - so they aren't too shiny with sweat, but they make for a fabulous painting.

Hope she likes her birthday present. Thanks for checking out my blog today!

07/24/10 Grace and Megan are Finished

I didn't change the picture to differentiate their suits because I couldn't think of a way to do it that would have been effective. Today I worked on the details in the background and blending shadows. I also worked on Grace's eyes and the metal handrails. They turned out OK. I plan on using this portrait in the Wine Therapist show this fall. I hope their parents like it well enough to buy it.

Thanks for looking at my blog today.

07/23/10 On the easel

Just started this little beauty yesterday and have almost completed it. I want to use this either in the Wine Therapist show or at the Lakewood Home tour/ Market show in the fall. I'm trying to get some done ahead of time for these shows that are relevant to the areas where they'll be shown! White Rock Lake is a big deal in East Dallas. Since the renovation, the spillway is lovely. Got to get over there for more pictures.

Thanks for checking out the blog today.

07/22/10 The Darlingtons!

Obviously I'm not finished with Gracie and Megan but this is a beginning. At least you can tell who it is! I have taught both girls at one time or another and they are as sweet as they are smart as well as beautiful. I have to add that their parents are "the Best" too. They have won the trifecta of life! Planning on working on them for a while tomorrow.

Thank you for looking at my blog today

07/20/10 Commission finished

Congratulations to Lynsey Coleman on he first anniversary! She commissioned this picture of a jetty where her wedding pictures were taken! She came to the studio this afternoon to pick it up and was thrilled! So am I!!!

Thank you for viewing my blog.

07/19/10 RETAKE

The previous photo of this painting was so poor that it didn't do justice to the painting! The colors and textures are just wonderful and the light and reflections just zig-zag you eye right where I want them to go! I tried using "the golden mean," theory and it worked!!

07/18/10 Commission - Just needs finishing touches

I am very pleased with this commission so far. All it needs are some weeds and rusty splinters on the wood. I should be able to finish it tomorrow. Then I'll frame it and" Voila`" Lindsey will come to the studio to pick it up on Tuesday or Thursday. It is her first anniversary gift! How romantic - this is where she had her wedding pictures taken!

07/15/10 A LOT GOING ON!!!

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!. I finally finished my friend's granddaughter, Riley. She turned out SO cute I couldn't believe it.! I'll be letting her know that it is finished - she is the amazingly talented photographer that lets me use her images to paint!

2. This is a commission I am still working on for the neatest gym teacher at school. This is a rock jetty in Plymouth, Mass. where she and her significant other had their wedding pictures taken. I am not finished but I want to thank Belinda Aber-Haddock for the help she gave me yesterday. I have some plants to put in, shadows to deepen and have a critique done at the studio. THEN I'll be through.

3. Just began this picture this afternoon. It is of Ruidoso, New Mexico - where we had a cabin growing up . The mountain is Sierra Blanca, that we skied on. My sister and her husband love to rent a house for a week or two and unwind after school gets out and tax season is over each year. This is Frank's Christmas present. Hope he will like it.

Thank you so much for viewing my blog today.

07/12/10 Finally finished!!!

I put the finishing touches on this picture and signed it! I am proud of it! I worked very hard on it and took my time. I might even keep it if it doesn't sell at the Texas Discovery Gardens show going up on August 1st. I really like the texture of the foliage and the reflections on the water.

Thank you so much for looking at my blog.

07/10/10 Almost finished!

The bottom picture is a real close-up of the name on the bridge. Even using a cane to steady my hand ( a la R. Schmid) I was wobbly!

Today I worked on filling in the foliage with my pallet knife. I love the texture it gives to the trees and it is a fun technique. I applied it thick like cake frosting so it needs to dry a bit before I put on the final touches.

Thank you for looking at my blog.

07/09/10 STILL on my easel - Neoma

I am REALLY enjoying this painting. All the hard details are done and I'm going to fill in the foliage with my palette knife . Just started today after doing details. Can't wait to paint tomorrow and see where I am. It has a lot of paint on it and it needs to set up a bit before I put on more. What fun!!

Thanks so much for looking at my blog today.

07/05/10 Neoma Drive on the easel

Just started this one this afternoon. A couple of weeks ago I got down in the bushes and bugs to take this picture. I didn't know that Armstrong Drive was once called Neoma Dr. The name will show on the bridge when I finish. The Turtle Creek fork of the Trinity River has the yuckiest water in it. A lot of yellow ocher! I always struggle with the water. I might even like this painting when I'm finished.

Thank you so much for looking at my blog.

07/04/10 Take a Gander

This is the third picture in my goose series. This is the big guy that leads the little family around. I can see that I have some detail work to do on him but he is turning out nicely.

Thank you for looking at my blog today.