This is the latest little McNally. He is such a happy baby that it is uncommon to NOT see a smile on his face. What a doll he is. He has been working on learning to crawl and when he is pleased with his progress he squeals and does a series of dolphin kicks! What core muscles he will have!!
Just returned from a 6 day trip to Charleston, SC. I got to visit with my college friend, Kathy Gilfillan and her hubby, David. This is one of the many lovely pictures I took while there. We even took the Artist's Walk on Friday night and had a wonderful time. Saw and walked around the Old Village in Mt. Pleasant, Folly Beach and all the other islands. I have a lot of fodder for my paintings for years. Would love to return. 
This small painting was part of an early Virtual Paint-out. I still like the soft colors and sky reflected in the water. I imagine it is very cold in Paris right now but the charm and allure still remain!
Our studio, Studio Art and Soul, joined in on the ninth annual (this is our fourth show) Cedars Open Studio Tour. I had quite a few paintings up this year, all the work on the back wall, below the wooden shelf and on the adjoining left wall are mine. I sold the small painting in the top right corner! There was plenty of art and fun to be had! Thanks to all who came to support me.
I was commissioned this summer to paint a portrait of this little girl. I wasn't very excited about it because they wanted it in the blue tonal style that I did a couple of years ago. I figured that one was just a fluke that it turned out so well and I wasn't sure I could successfully duplicate it. Two days ago I just dove right in and started it and I was able to finish it yesterday. This type of portrait is difficult because you have to concentrate so hard on your values. This work really pushed my abilities and I'm glad I did it because it gave me more confidence.
This is a tiny triptych of some English cows on a canal. It is only 4 inches tall and 12 inches wide. I doubt I'll ever do another one so small again because there are so few details and it was tedious work.
I had three tiny canvases so I decided a while ago that I would put them together to make a tryptich! This is challenging to paint so small and get in any details! Oh well, it may not be ready for the Open Studio Tour but that is what I'm aiming for as a deadline.
I am finally finished and pleased with this painting. I had some things to fix after our critique in the studio. A couple friends went to a Rusty Jones workshop and had some tips to help me as well as some very good advice. Thanks girls and Mark for all the love and patience. As we say in the studio,"It takes a village."
I know this is taking forever but it is taking me forever to get it JUST the way I want it!! I think it will be a winner when I do complete it.
Put some deep shadows in today while I was at the studio. It is beginning to take shape. I have got to work on the foreground tomorrow and the dock because they are driving me crazy! This canvas is a lot larger than I usually paint on and it is taking a lot of time to make this look like I want it to look. There is still so much to do on it that I probably shouldn't post it daily but I like seeing how it evolves.
Worked on this picture for a couple hours today. I am happier with the background marshes now but the back of the boat and dock is a perspective nightmare!! It is still so wet that I don't dare try to work on it too much or I'll have a blue blob. Guess I'll have to let it rest until Monday.
Just started drawing (in paint) my next Carolina shores scene. Got a few colors blocked in but ran out of steam and time all at once.
Finished working on this picture today. Hope Mike likes it.
Just began blocking in Nancy McNally's face yesterday and I am pleased with the results. Hopefully I can give this painting to Mike, her husband and my nephew, for his birthday. Right now I was told it is very "Mary Cassatt." (I like that) Will work more today on her hand, lips and eyes.
This is "The Colonel," and she, yes SHE, belongs to a little girl at the school where I sub. She has begged me for 8 weeks to paint one of her chickens and I had a really good day at the studio and finished the whole thing. Gracie told me that she told the Colonel that I was going to paint her and the Colonel was very excited! They have several with unusual names : Chicken Nugget, Dark Meat and Honey!! 
Went to the studio yesterday and I believe this little guy is finished. He came together very quickly! It is so much fun when that happens!
This little green mouse-boy is Knox Hale.(he looks a little like Desperaux!) It wouldn't be fair of me to paint his older sister, Keaton, and not take a stab at him. This is just the very first pass at it and I have a long way to go but it is looser than I've done before and that pleases me. Tiny babies are so difficult to paint because their features haven't formed yet! Kelli put this cap on him because he had little ear caps on to train his ears to go flat to his head. He looks so peaceful but I guess looks can be deceiving because Kelli said he pooped and peed EVERYWHERE!
I like everything on this painting except the "generic" lady's hand by the wine glass! I see I will have to try to fix that on Tuesday night. This is just a closer version of the ones below.
Since there was Staff Development (I guess I'm developed enough!) today, I got the day off!! Wahoo!
This is the first time in almost a week that I've been to the studio. I'm working on a painting of the outer banks. This is a detailed painting and is going to take me a LONG time to complete. It is not like I have the chance to paint every day so I really try to get a lot done while I'm there. I want this to emote the feeling of relaxation and joy that this couple feels after a day on the outer banks and how much they'll enjoy their dinner of wine and clams and oysters.
This was a landscape that I enjoyed painting of the Florence countryside. It was one of the first paintings that I ever used a palette knife on. I really enjoyed it and have since then painted many others this way. 
This is where I will be found for the next eight week! I will be the Language Arts/ Reading teacher for 4E and 4F. The challenge is the first week and getting my angels organized and set up! Wow it is overwhelming!! The teacher I'm subbing for is SO organized that I couldn't ask for better. Now I just need to make it for the long haul. I will only be able to paint on weekends but one of my goals is to get at least one, maybe two days of painting in each week and not take my work home with me. Lofty goals!!
These are some more block-head buoys that I have just blocked in basic color. This one will be slow to be finished because on Monday I'm starting a long term sub job - 4th grade L.A./Reading /Writing class --for 8 weeks. Be patient with me everyone - when I'm teaching, I only have one or two days for painting! Thanks for looking at my blog.
This is the reason I haven't posted anything new in a while. I have been to Austin for this wonderful event: the wedding of my precious niece Keithley McNally to Joe Presley! It was a much anticipated event and all the McNallys ,Morgans, Barkers, Beckers, Schribers, and everyone and all their kiddos came. The weekend was full of fun and much too much food and drink!! The newlyweds are in Italy now on their honeymoon. Keithly has promised me some wonderful images to paint from their trip!
Laura Presley and Payton McNally at rehearsal dinner - having a good time dancing!!
I am so excited!! I painted the base coat for the first part of this painting a couple days ago but came in today and finished it and TOTALLY finished the second panel!! This is a totally different palette for me but it is definitely HOT and DRY!!! It just all came out of my head!!
Really enjoyed painting this image. I modified it quite a bit and it has turned out lovely!! Wish I was there right now! This heat wave has to break soon!!
This landscape is one that I see on my trips antiquing and always wonder why I haven't painted it. I love the winding road and the wonderful rock wall that leads you back into the picture. I'm sure the trees aren't this green any more with the massive Texas drought but they have been immortalized in this painting now.
Decided to sharpen up some of the lines and add impasto to the grass/hay. If I get to paint today I need to work on the handle some and then I think I'll be pleased.
This is a tiny painting:4x6!! Smaller than my usual! Thought I'd paint it a la prima but I never can seem to "Step away from the canvas." I took this photo several weeks ago when I went on the North Dallas Chicken Coup Tour. This charming little basket beckoned me and I really enjoyed painting it almost all at once!
This image just called to me. Not only do I like it and need to have some "beach time," it was fun to paint! I love the umbrellas!
Worked a little more this morning on this painting. Mainly have used a palette knife. As soon as it gets too hot ----- I'm outta there!! It really hurts when my wrist begins to swell!
Not much to show so far on this new picture. I am working on a picture of a friend's child in a fountain in the Bronx this summer. It won't be an identifiable picture but I really liked the design it made. This is two days worth of work. I will only be able to work in the A.M. because it gets too hot at the studio. Dr. Fredrick - the best hand surgeon ever- has told me not to get hot and sweaty! Hard orders to follow in a sweltering Texas summer but if there is a way to get around it, I will! Early morning dog walks and early painting will have to suffice for now until I have surgical bandages removed on 13th. Can't wait!!
I am almost finished with my first aspens. They have to dry and be framed which will be a while from now.
I added more leaves but it still isn't right. I need to put a haze on the mountains and do something to the trunks of the trees. 
The Aspens are coming along nicely! I am pleased with the colors but I'm a long way from finished.
I actually did this on Sunday or Monday but my days have been cram - packed with seven year old birthdays and eight year old skaters and lunch and dinner and books and .................. everything but my painting! 
Slowly but surely I am working on this painting. I need to work on the tree trunks today and put in more leaves.
So many people are painting aspens or are these birch trees? I don't know. Anyway I am painting these trees from an image that Pam Forgerson took and let me borrow. She and her family have taken so many neat trips and have such wonderful pictures that she was kind enough to let me borrow. I took a close-up of the lower foreground because I like the looseness and the way it draws your eye back into the trees and mountains. I had to stop before putting in the trees because everything was so wet. I'll try to set in some tree trunks and part of the foliage today.
Finally finished my first cows! Now I will put a cow into Kay's moleskine! Her theme is "Holy Cow." Hope it doesn't take as long to complete that as it did these! 
Finally got a chance to paint yesterday and put in some reflections and reeds. I am trying to be patient and go slow so I don't get sloppy. I will get to paint some today but I'm still pretty busy with wedding shower cooking and school awards ceremonies.
Just had time to add a few details on the underbelly and enjoy some company before the severe weather alert came up on my iphone app. Decided it would be better to go home. I still have a long way to go but probably won't get to paint again until Monday. 
I haven't been able to paint for a few weeks now because I've been subbing and will be subbing all next week. It is a necessary evil!
Last Monday five of us attended our first life drawing class at The Creative Arts Center in East Dallas. We had quick gesture poses that were 1-2 minutes to draw the gesture and then we took a break and began a 20 minute session. This is the result of the second 20 min. session and my friends were shocked that I was a much looser drawer than painter! I have been pushed to paint in this fashion and I'm going to give it a try. I love to draw with charcoal and hadn't realized how much I missed it.
Finished my small palette knife painting yesterday and now it has to dry for a while. It is very wet with thick layers of paint. I like the way the road leads your eye into the painting and the fence-line follows the road. 
I painted this little lamb (sheep actually) for my new nephew, Owen McNally. (or O'ee, as his sister calls him) When I started it he was very monochromatic but I decided at the last minute to put some bright colors into his wool. He really has almost as much paint on him as the real sheep has wool! This will definitely take a while to dry!
