Thursday, February 24, 2011

All Things Blue

This is the last of the package of clayboard panels I bought and I think I am going to go back to canvas ones.   I believe these served their purpose in helping me focus on putting down the paint decisively and not over working it.

I painted "All Things Blue" as part of the  Daily Painters Project Challenge for March.   Check out the other Shades of Blues challenge paintings at www.dailypaintersproject.com.

All Things Blue  6" x 6" Oil on Clayboard Panel

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Billie Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues

If you are any where near my age (I won't say what that is) you will remember the movie "Lady Sings the Blues" with Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams.  It has been fun listening to the original songs sung by Billie Holiday and not Diana!   They are both great musicians and inspiring to me as I Paint the Blues!

I have been painting on 8 x 8 instead of 6 x 6 some and it is amazing how much more canvas you get in that 2 inches.   However, it does take a little longer.

Billie Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues
8" x 8" Oil on Panel

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Muddy Waters Blues

You just can't think of the Blues without paying tribute to Muddy Waters ... 'Got my mojo workin'!   Is it workin' on you?

Muddy Waters Blues  8" x 8"  oil on panel

Glass!

I started this painting last week and really struggled with the reflections in the glass.    I went back over things as I often do and am happier now than before.   However, glass will continue to be on the list of things to study.   Different shades, facets, water ..... the challenges are endless!

Glass!  8" x 8" oil on panel

Friday, February 11, 2011

Last Night's Shopping!


Last night shopping for produce I remembered someone telling me they love to paint beautiful translucent red tomatoes. Luckily, we had small salads for dinner so I still had a subject to paint this morning!  I executed quickly using oil on clay board. I find this combination makes me paint in an entirely different way-more intentionally. My challenge was the shifting light coming through the window. The shadows kept moving and I didn't move fast enough.  Oh well - another one on the list to try again.

Last Night's Shopping!  6" x 6" Oil on Clay board

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Queen of Hearts

Queen of Hearts
 Posted by PicasaI love wine bottles and I love the idea of painting wine bottles.   However, I have not mastered them yet!   I found this wonderful bottle with the Queen of Hearts label which seemed perfect for Valentines.   What I didn't expect was to find the hearts on the foil top and cork!  What fun!   I still struggle with including enough but not too much.   I went too far with the label - too much detail.   But let the record stand -- I tried!   I will simply have to try again.   Maybe luck will be in "the cards" next time.

Queen of Hearts  8" x 8"  oil on panel

Monday, February 7, 2011

Hooked on You!


This was really fun to paint!   These fishing lures were so colorful and bright that I used some tubes, like magenta and thalo blue, that usually stay in my bag.

Hooked on You!   6" x 6"  oil on panel

Friday, February 4, 2011

Second Chances

Second Chances  6" x 6"   Oil on Clayboard Panel

Sometimes in love and life we get second chances.   This painting is a second chance.   I tried painting a Camellia last week and after 2 1/2 hours wiped it out!   It was terrible!  However, today, I took a second chance.   First, I used the largest brush I had.   Second, I only had 35 minutes to work.   Lastly, I was painting on clayboard for the first time.   It isn't perfect but I didn't wipe it out.   As for the clayboard .. right out of the package .. the paint quickly soaked in and prevented me from smearing and blending after the fact.  It made me work quickly and decisively.  Just what I needed.  It may be dust tomorrow ... but I gave it a chance!!  

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Playing Catch Up!!!

Well, I must admit I am playing catch up.   I have been posting on the Daily Painters Project (http://www.dailypaintersproject.com/) website blog but have been too lazy to set up my own blog.

One of my fellow artist inspired me today and I did it!   However, I wanted to have a complete history of my endeavor to paint daily, er umm... weekly at least.   So here they are.   For the past 3 weeks I have been challenged by my Artisit Collective - Daily Painters Project - to paint things related to Love!   So this is what I have been doing.   Hope you enjoy!

Love Lilies

Love Lilies  6″ by 6″  oil on panel


Don’t we all love lilies?  It was a challenge to paint them in a small format.   The intricate pattern in the flower petals makes you want to get up close with a small brush – I succumbed to the temptation!   I had to “blend” my tiny strokes after getting this one home and studying it.   Maybe one day I’ll be able to get the patterns on the first go without the compulsion to do the detail.








Glass Hearts Can Break  6″ x 6″ oil on panel

A dear friend of mine and I saw these beautiful hand blown glass hearts in Mexico adorning a tree in a hotel lobby.  It was a stunning sight.  Fragile, vibrant, glass hearts couragously hanging from limbs.
If we could only be so brave and courageous!  Not scared of breaking!   Willing to “hang ourselves out in the wind”! 








Love in the Shadows … a close look   6″ x 6″  Oil on Panel


 This is a “cropped” look at the still life I did a week or so ago.   Originally, I planned to get a close look.  But somewhere between starting and finishing the drawing I got a bit off course.   I was too lazy to start over!   My punishment was the cherries by this time were a bit dark and shriveled.   So I had to cheat a little and look at my other painting to finish them in the bright reds I loved.   I do think I like this one better although my son likes the first one better.   What do you think?



Love in the Shadows  6″ x 6″   Oil on Panel


Sometimes we find love where we aren’t expecting it!   Like in the shadows.   This morning I noticed the cherries on my plate left from the night before created a heart shaped shadow!   What a surprise!   I had to paint it.   I think I will try it again cropped a little more closely.   So, keep looking for love in unexpected places.  Like in the shadows!








Valentines at Tiffany’s  6″x6″  Oil on panel





Painting glass is always fun.   Painting valentines candy in a martini glass against Tiffany blue is even more fun!  This has become one of my favorite colors to mix.   Using a little veridian green with cerelean blue and white does the trick.





Gift from the Garden 6”x6” oil on panel. Available at February’s Gallery-on-the-Go

This sweet rose from my garden looked so nice against the turquoise background and the candy made it even sweeter!