Sax in Savannah

"Sax in Savannah"
16"x20" oil on gessoed masonite
in 3" antique oak frame

Jazz isn't just a night thing... especially on River Street in Savannah! I couldn't resist this guy with his Captain's hat and mutton chops.

Tropical Foliage

"Tropical Foliage"
24"x30" acrylic on canvas

Time to get loose and large! Good for me after the few smaller ones that I've done recently. To make sure I would joyously sling some paint around, I pulled out a canvas with an older sketch on it that I had abandoned, so I would feel like I had nothin' to lose. I even squeezed out some remnant tubes of paint that needed to be used. I enjoyed myself and love the results... hope you do, too!

White Mini's

"White Mini's"
Macon Arts Gallery ...SOLD
4"x6" acrylic on canvas

When I think of pumpkins, I think orange. Well, Karin gave us the challenge this week on 'Different Strokes' of white mini-pumpkins to paint. So... if pumpkins can be white, then paper can be orange! This fun little piece is 4"x6" acrylic on canvas painted around the sides. Unfortunately, neither the camera or the scanner could quite capture the brilliance of the orange, but trust me... it really POPS!

See all the other artists' interpretations at http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com

Jekyll Stone Crab

"Jekyll Stone Crab"
5"x6"x1.5" acrylic on canvas

Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia is known for its' Marshes of Glynn. Anyone who has visited will recognize the muddy color of the water which is teeming with wildlife, including this stone crab that my daughter caught. We snapped a picture of him and released him back into the brine.
Prints available on Imagekind.

Daybreak at Bruceton Yard

"Daybreak at Bruceton Yard"... SOLD
9"x12" acrylic on gessoed masonite

Many thanks to Lee Billings, fellow ebsq artist, for permission to use photos he posted as 'what I see at work' on an ebsq forum. He's a railroad engineer and took photos one morning pulling into the yard. Such a pleasure to paint...after all, he'd already composed it for me! See Lee's great handmade jewelry at http://ebsqart.com and while you're there, check out this painting in my portfolio and see Lee's fantastic reference photos that I used.

"Stripes"... completed

"Stripes"

24"x30" acrylic on gessoed masonite
in gunmetal strip frame

Finished 'tweaking' this one last night and took the photos this morning. It was so bright and cheerful sitting there on my easel waiting for me!

"Stripes" (in progress)

"Stripes"... (in progress)

I wouldn't want y'all to think I'm not painting, so I'll show you what's on the easel. This 24"x30" acrylic on gessoed masonite has a brilliant color key! The sunshine coming through the translucent canopy of the carousel bathed all surfaces below in a warm glow. It's bright and festive and FUN! Still have a few minor details to do and the final glaze will really make the colors pop!

The Bird Bench

"The Bird Bench"
8"x24" acrylic on canvas

He's reading the movie reviews but little does he know that the leading characters are reading them, too! This is my tribute to Alfred Hitchcock, although these birds are hopefully just interested in a little company and a sunny spot to perch. This little painting is part of a learning 'challenge' posted by artist Karin Jurick. In this challenge, artists take the same reference photo and create their own original works of art within a one week time frame... in this case, 83 artists submitted work!

Be sure to see differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com for all the interpretations.

The Eyes Have It

"The Eyes Have It"... SOLD
18"x30" acrylic on gessoed masonite

Each calf has its' own little personality. Hope they make you smile!

Basket 'o Cat

"Basket 'o Cat"... SOLD
9"x12" acrylic on gessoed masonite

This is my entry in the Nibblefest Art Contest, a themed art contest beginning on the 20th of each month on Ebay. Please be sure to search for NFAC in the art category to see more great entries, each starting at just 99¢ with NO RESERVE. The theme this month is 'smiling black cats'. This little kitten has a lot to smile about this Fall with a basket to play in and apples to roll around.

Update: One of my fellow ebsq artists won the bid on this one...YEAH!

Canadian Club

"Canadian Club"

12"x12"x1.5" oil on canvas

This oil painting of three Canadian geese is 12"x12"x1.5" on canvas with the sides painted black. The photo was taken in bright sunlight, so the larger image has quite a lot of 'bounce' off the wet oil. Still need to get that photo area set up in the studio!

Drift Fence at Rehoboth Beach

"Drift Fence at Rehoboth Beach"
5"x6"x1.5" acrylic on canvas

This little painting makes me want to go to the beach! It's part of an artist challenge called "Different Strokes from Different Folks" hosted by artist Karin Jurick. Check out all the different interpretations at differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com.

September 13, 2008

How 'bout a kiss?

Today started out slow and quiet -- all still getting over yesterday. In the afternoon, my daughter April and her two girls asked me to go to Dauset Trails, a local nature center. It was so healing to get outside and be happy with them! I took the camera and got some good reference shots of wildlife indigenous to Georgia plus some goats and pigs. As we left there, we decided to drive through Indian Springs. Happy surprise! ... they were having an Indian Festival with Native Americans in authentic costumes doing dances and telling stories. The whole area had undergone a fabulous renovation since we'd been there last. We couldn't see it all, so we'll be going back. I urge you to check it out at www.TheVillageatIndianSprings.com. They even have a new art gallery with classes. It was just what I needed to get me back on track!

September 12, 2008

No painting today. We sadly had to have our 18-year-old family dog, Pete, put to rest. The only thing I've been able to do is mindless housework.

The Hickories Beyond

"The Hickories Beyond"... SOLD
36"x48" oil on gessoed masonite

Well, a friend helped me decide what to do with the tree painting ... sign it!

This was painted from a reference photo that I took while standing in deep shade within our woods, looking out into a very bright mid-day in fall. The sun on the hickories was a brilliant yellow while the shadowed understory of dogwood was muted and soft. It made for a very interesting juxtaposition of textures and colors. The perspective looking upward gives the viewer an intimate feeling of being within the scene. The painting technique is a softer approach than most of my work and I think that's what made me wonder if it was finished initially, but it's definitely what the scene called for. See... sometimes waiting can be a good thing!
Prints are available on Imagekind but only up to 11"x15".

Study of Craig Nelson's "Interior Illumination"

Study of Craig Nelson's "Interior Illumination"
8"x10" oil on gessoed masonite

I am a big fan of Craig Nelson! He's a terrific artist and teacher in California and does workshops, video and has at least one instructional book out. I saw his work at a gallery in Charleston, SC not long after I bought his book and video.
By physically doing a study of another artist's work, I gain a better understanding of their brushwork, color palette, lighting, composition, etc. This was such a joy to do and a marvelous learning experience! It's signed on the back and attributed to Craig Nelson.

Update on the trees: Took the painting to my daughter's frame shop (where I have a display) and hung it to get some feed-back.

Miss Mouse in Sunshine

"Miss Mouse in Sunshine"... nfs
18"x24" acrylic on canvas

Sorry folks, I'll just have to keep this one! Miss Mouse has been gone for several years and this is so "her". As she got on up in years, she sought the sunshine to warm her and it was so bright on her this day that she was purely fuzzy with the reflection of it. Somehow I was able to capture it and no one would probably appreciate that glow as much as me. I do miss her... though I'm grateful that she lived to be 15.

Also, this morning I turned the tree painting to the wall. I've been thinking about it, but need fresh eyes to see it... maybe tomorrow!

Tree painting in progress

Have been working on a 36"x48" fall scene that still needs a little tweaking. Taking photos that are true to the brightness and color are a challenge that has to be met! I've got the information... just need to set aside the time to set up a photo spot. I've been relying on that perfect(?) time of day and taking them outside. That's becoming increasingly difficult, especially with the larger paintings. So I'll show you a dull photo of what I'm working on and promise you a better one of the finished product.
Went to see a one-man show of Eric O'Dell today. Impressive!
Oh, and the kitten painting "Upon Reflection" sold yesterday! Will take a better picture before it leaves the gallery so prints can be available on Imagekind.

Update: The koi painting "Fish Soup" sold today! Prints of it are already available from Imagekind. It would make a nice giclee on canvas as well.

Jack

"Jack"
5"x6"x1.5" oil on canvas

They say "eyes are the windows to the soul" and Jack's were so-o-o soulful! Jack was the photo reference for an artists' weekly challenge called "Different Strokes". Several artists take the same reference and create their own originals to see how many ways a subject can be handled... fascinating exercise!

Fish Soup

"Fish Soup"... SOLD
12"x12"x1.5" acrylic on canvas

Koi are fun to paint, as there are so many color variations and no two are ever alike. I photographed these at the Birmingham, AL zoo several summers ago. They were very effectively begging for food from their audience. Actually, the water was so clear that the challenge here was to keep the main trio from appearing to float in air on top of the water, so a series of glazes helped to 'sink' them into their environment. The bodies of two deeper fish add design and depth while a few reflective ripples give the water surface a definite plane as well.

Prints are available on Imagekind.

Upon Reflection

"Upon Reflection"... SOLD

18"x24" acrylic on canvas

These two precious kittens are trying to figure out how that other cat got inside my kitchen table! The white manx kitten is Bob and the orange tabby is Cheddar, although sunshine and shadow have got to be the main subjects in this painting. The table itself is always a conversation piece for new people coming to visit. It's been in the family for 50 years and I've painted it numerous times, as did my mother before me. It currently matches the blue/purple/red phase I'm in.

Day One

"Day One"
11"x14" oil on gessoed masonite

Bright morning sunlight on a fresh bed of straw highlights the night's big event... the birth of Cherry Moon! We named her that because she was born a deep rose color and had a half-moon crescent on her forehead. You'd never know it today, as she has matured into a lovely gray Arabian mare. But on this morning, her proud mother had licked her until she purely glowed rosy red... and, yes, she did grow into those long legs!

Sittin' on a Crack

"Sittin' on a Crack"... SOLD
5"x6"x1.5" acrylic on canvas

I took time out while showing at Arts on Riverdale in Macon, GA to snap some photos of two adorable Boston terrier pups. This little painting captures one of them sitting on a crack in the sidewalk. I couldn't resist using University of Georgia bulldog colors! Prints are available on Imagekind.

Puddle Guard

"Puddle Guard"
5"x6"x1.5" acrylic on canvas

This little foal seems to be saying "Chill out! I'm not interested in your puddle!"
Prints are available on Imagekind.

Best Value

"Best Value"

5"x6"x1.5" oil on canvas

This little study reflects what I've been doing when not painting... canning tomatoes out of my garden! I plan to expand this study into a larger canvas and call it "Waiting to be Canned". Prints are available on Imagekind.