Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Other Lights of My Life



Other Lights of My Life

6x6in oil on canvas panel  $100.



Day 27 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
My personal goal for this challenge - to paint only
what I have never painted or thought of painting before.

Three more days left in the Challenge!

Many years ago I had a virus which left me with what they 
call pinpoint pupils - preventing both my pupils from dilating. 
The only downside is that I am as blind as a bat from dusk to 
dawn without a light source. Caring friends and family have 
always casually linked my arm and guided me safely wherever, 
without a word being said, but on my own it was a 
different story and I became the flashlight queen...
never without one or two!. 
Have you noticed that along with the LED lighting, brighter 
colors and different styles and shapes have also presented 
themselves? It has been a joyful experience for me. 
I now have a wardrobe color range of flashlights.
My purple/cerise one is at the gallery or it would have 
been painted today.


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58 comments:

  1. I LOVE your torches, beautifully painted as usual!!! Sorry to hear about your night vision problem, I'm not so hot myself! When the clocks changed, I was down in my studio, I forgot the time and it got dark without me noticing and got a shock when I opened the studio door. I had to ring my hubbie in the house to come get me - from the garden!!!

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    1. I enjoyed a good and comforting laugh at your story. been there - done that!
      Your tulips today were the best yet.

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  2. These just keep getting better and better. I've never heard of that condition with the eyes before. I suppose the up side is this fabulous flash light collection. I'd love to see more of these!

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    1. Thanks Bruce. I loved seeing a newer, looser style on today's lady. It is beautiful. You rock!

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  3. Glad you have a good collection of flashlights to help - beautiful painting. You are turning the ordinary objects into fine art works Julie.

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    1. Hi Ann - thanks for the lovely complement. You asked previously about a step by step and there are a few on past posts if you place demo in search on side box.

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  4. Julie, you continue to impress. What an inspirational comment - even with eyesight problems, you consistently produce some of the best artwork on the net. The whole piece is stunning, particularly the highlights in the red Maglite. Wow!

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    1. I really do appreciate your comment. Really glad you recognized the Maglite!
      Saw your beautiful beach painting and your colors are perfect.

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  5. So these are little "lifelines" of light, so glad to know the virus did not take your vision completely. And I am now convinced there is not anything you cannot paint. Gifted!

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    1. Hi Lisa - you are such a wonderful friend and comment-er - love "lifelines of light" thanks luv!

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  6. wow! amazing! painting is beautiful!

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    1. You are making a lot of these videos Myra so you must find it satisfies your creative urges. I kind of miss the other wonderful posts too so hope you mix them up.

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  7. Well, I am sure I am repeating myself, but you make boring things interesting, and that says a lot...

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    1. Dear Roger - you can repeat all you want as I am always thrilled with what you say - particularly yesterday's comment.
      Your apple is outstanding.

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  8. Lovely group of flashlights. We have several, I am still getting used to the LED ones...they focus the light so differently. We have some of those headlamp ones..my darkness vision is challenged, too, but don't know why. You have captured perfect SHINE on those you painted. A light on a light - ha!

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    1. Great comment - thanks Pattie. Adore your fabulous Challenge painting today.

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  9. It's easy to tell which are plastic and which are metal. That's quite a feat in fracturing!

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    1. You know it really is. I enjoy the fracturing so much though and it goes back and forth quite a few times.
      Hows Sambuca? - I love your painting of her.

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  10. Admirable ability to deal with difficult situations with lexibility! Dear Julie, you're an artist  wonderful and a very special person! These "light of your life" are particularly impressive along with your words!

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    1. Lovely of you to say that - thanks Rita. I keep thinking of the beautiful photo of Beatrice and know it would make a great painting.

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  11. Julie -

    Not only did you paint a light filled (no pun intended) painting of these flashlights, but I am now aware, with this posting, that your 'sunny' attitude is what sets your art apart from so many other painters.

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    1. Great pun even if not intended. I have to tell you that hubby loved you noticing my "sunny attitude" and he told me to tell you he wholeheartedly agrees.
      That is one great turnip on your blog and with instructions on how to grow them too.

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  12. Because I hang upside down in the wardrobe all day, I have no problems with being kept in the dark by my family.

    The torches (flash lights) are a work of art, light entertainment.

    Only 3 days to go on the challenge, Julie. I must admit you have taken the mundane and turned it into the extraordinary ... so much talent!

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    1. You are so clever with words as well as ink, John. This is a classic of your humorous comments.
      I am enjoying the slow but sure progress on the Constant.

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  13. Love the flashlights! (My sister in law was paralyzed from a virus some years back. Its pretty scary what's lurking about out in the world.)

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    1. Glad you like them. Sorry about your sister-in-law. makes me grateful mine was not worse.
      Love your hay bales. The light hitting them is lovely.

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  14. Love your subjects. Colorful and interesting. Life is full of twists and turns, isn't it? And you have certainly demonstrated how the ordinary is perfectly wonderful. And this little painting is perfectly wonderful.

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    1. Nice of you to say, Helen, thank you.
      Love your flowers today. A wonderful, loose application of paint.

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  15. I love how you are entertaining us with these paintings. You show us how everyday items have such a lovely, colorful, beauty.

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    1. Oh MY! What a compliment. Surely you jest!! I admit it felt nice to read though. Thank you, Polly.
      I saw your gorgeous painting of Dove Cottage, Grasmere, in the lake District. It brought back wonderful memories.

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  17. Julie, you are right up there on the pedestal with my world-class organist friend who lost his center of vision a couple of years ago after some serious health issues. He plays Bach like you would't believe, and even better than before. Your colorful paintings and prolific repertoire are a testament to your character and human spirit! Call me inspired!

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    1. Thanks so much but I have adapted to my environment and it causes me no pain - only inconvenience.
      I loved the ingenuity you showed setting up a light for your window in your latest painting. Beautiful by the way. Using foil. Great you passed the idea along and I thank you.

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  18. I just saw the flashlights...WONDERFUL!!

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  19. A great title Julie, and a great painting. Anything you do just becomes special !

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    1. Glad you like both - thanks Jane. Are you working on any new faces?

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  20. Love the flash lights and love the title! You work marvels in paint, Julie, and I am always delighted when I see what you have done!

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    1. Thanks and I return the complement, Susan. What you do with your horse paintings gives me goose-bumps.

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  21. Julie, I am glad I read the blog post. Your eyesight has not hindered your beautiful work. It is a running joke here about Mom's flashlights. I got so mad one year about not having any working ones (they had been thoroughly beaten up and depleted by the entire family) that I hung them all over my body and that was my Halloween get up. My husband got the hint and gave me a bunch at Christmas. Now I love the headlamps. You can't take the trash out in New England at night without a flashlight--that would be suicide!!! Keep up the wonderful work.
    Ellie

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    1. Nice to hear from you Ellie with this wonderful story. I laughed out loud at the Halloween part. You are a kick!
      Headlamps have given me a freedom at night. Love em...even if I do feel like a miner.

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  22. This has beautiful light in more ways than one!Inspiring for it's color and composition.

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    1. Nice of you, Mary - thanks.
      Love your landscape and will look forward to your flowers

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  23. fantastic painting...wow! the silver metal really wows me!!

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    1. I said a wow when I saw your new(old) painting. Very romantic for this month.

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  24. Julie, you even make flashlights beautiful! You are such a skilled artist and I can honestly say I've never seen a painting I didn't love love love!

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  25. Only a genius like you can portray flash lights as fabulous pieces of art, amazing you are Julie!

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    1. I genuinely appreciate such a lovely comment. thanks padmaja.

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  26. I love the creative things you've come up with to paint in this challenge!

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    1. Nice of you Kathy - thank you. Love your l
      Laguna Beach paintings

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  27. This is fantastic, Julie! I love the rich reds..its amazing how nice a bunch of flashlights look in a painting!! Only you can pull it off!!!

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  28. I carry one of these in my purse at all times. I have a hot pink one that is my favorite, but not as pretty as your painting.

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    1. Ooooh... a hot pink! I do not have one of those.Lucky you.
      Love your flowers and both versions are very good.

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  29. Julie, this 30/30 has been such a wonderful project for me to follow both from a painting perspective and a personal one. Not only do I learn from your expertise and am presented with a beautiful painting each day, I feel I know you more on a personal level. From your pink hair dryer to the marionettes, from your lovely red robe to your friend "Dyson" I feel like I had a little peek into Julie Ford Oliver, the person. What a treat!

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    1. Well, Carol, I think I will print this one out.
      Bless you!

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie