Personal Art Blog

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

Friday, February 15, 2013

Engrossed



Engrossed

8x6 in  oil on canvas  $125.

As you have been able to tell, I have been
doing doing some figurative work lately.
I live in a University town so we see the
students everywhere. This young lady
was totally engrossed with her school book
to the point I had to ask three times if
I could take her photo. Her pile of books
looked heavy - I guess one day
the school books will all be online.

 Artist Note.

I have a gallery show coming up in May so
I will be spending more time preparing for it.
I have completed more than half of it
so the main pressure is off, but my
weekend painting focus will gear
towards that and not my small daily paintings.
Those I will still be doing during the week.





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39 comments:

  1. Roger ÅkessonFebruary 15, 2013 at 6:52 AM

    I love the colors and the composition in this one. The three areas of flowers is framing the girl very well and place her in focus.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:20 AM

      Thanks Roger - I love the colors too. This cafe enclosed its patio area for the winter, and as we have so many sunny days the geraniums keep on blooming all year round.

      Delete
  2. c.dingmanFebruary 15, 2013 at 7:23 AM

    Such a beautiful job on a small format. Amazing.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:24 AM

      Nice you realize how much harder it is to do this smaller and still have looseness.
      Love your pears!

      Delete
  3. Lisa Graham February 15, 2013 at 7:35 AM

    Julie, you are just so good at painting anything and everyone. Great work...love her stack of books on the table. The Valentine to New Mexico painting is absolutely charming and your love for where you live is very evident.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:25 AM

      Thanks so much Lisa - love your NYcity painting. Lovely feeling to it.

      Delete
  4. Celeste BerginFebruary 15, 2013 at 7:58 AM

    lovely little painting...look at her book and hands...! and in such a small painting!

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  5. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:49 AM

    Ah - you also know how hard it is to paint loose in such a small format. I could do it much easier if I could draw and paint with a small brush...but then it wouldn't hold anything like the same pleasure for me

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  6. Polly BirchallFebruary 15, 2013 at 11:07 AM

    This is a bit different from a fire extinguisher. It is so lovely. Is there anything you can't paint?

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 1:20 PM

      I had a good laugh at that!
      Lots of things I cannot paint as well as I would like too. That's the adventure - seeking to improve.
      Thanks for the visit, Polly.

      Delete
  7. UnknownFebruary 15, 2013 at 11:46 AM

    Love the figure. So much information only suggested.She is a sea of calm sitting amid all the flowers and greenery. And I cannot even imagine doing that on a small support. You rock.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 3:38 PM

      Thank so much Helen. I first do a small thumbnail of just the light and dark pattern and I get fooled into thinking it will be easy.
      Hey - I like the barn you did today.

      Delete
  8. Rita VaselliFebruary 15, 2013 at 11:54 AM

    Dear Julie, the girl engrossed in her studies is colorful and full of light!

    I well understand what you mean for the preparation of exhibitions.
    I am not a professional painter but for the next months three collective are planned, I have to prepare a number of work. Will be displayed next to works by painters also established, and I have my mind on the boil! Membership of the circle of local painting was so beautiful, but now I have... to work a little 'less improvised!

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 3:41 PM

      Nothing like deadline pressure to get an artist moving and also start the stress. You think of me and I will think of you and together we will accomplish our goals with love and support.

      Delete
  9. Libby FifeFebruary 15, 2013 at 1:46 PM

    Very lovely painting. Can't remember the last time I was THAT engrossed in something! LOL:)

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 15, 2013 at 3:55 PM

      Interesting how we imagine someone because I had thought you were like me. When I am reading I know my hubby sometimes has to ask me something several times before I hear him. Well, at least he tells me that!
      Congratulations, Libby, on your piece being accepted into a show.

      Delete
  10. Anne Winthrop CordinFebruary 15, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    She is SO part of her surroundings, like a Bonnard.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 16, 2013 at 9:42 AM

      Thanks so much for the lovely compliment. A Bonnard no less...Wow!
      Enjoyed your wrap-up of the 30 in 30 days challenge. Would love to know which one or ones were your favs.

      Delete
  11. RochelleFebruary 15, 2013 at 5:50 PM

    Good luck with your upcoming showing...you leave us with a gallery of wonderful works "this piece being very much included."

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  12. Allison BacovillardFebruary 15, 2013 at 9:21 PM

    Unbelievable that you can paint this on a 6x8! Its just beautiful.
    Good luck with your show. I'm sure it will be fantastic... Too bad KY is too far away to make it :)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, btw and your kind and helpful comments.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 16, 2013 at 10:10 AM

      Hi Allison - thanks for the lovely comment.
      Your mint in wrapper was better than my first three attempts - all wipers - before I got into the flow.

      Delete
  13. AriannaFebruary 16, 2013 at 3:44 AM

    Very lovely painting! Arianna

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 16, 2013 at 10:14 AM

      Lovely name - Arinanna.
      Thanks for the comment and I visited you blog and enjoyed the immaginative way you paint

      Delete
  14. Autumn LeavesFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:27 AM

    Oh what a gorgeous piece! And I recognize myself in her too. I often get engrossed in books just like that.

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 16, 2013 at 10:15 AM

      Hi Sherry - thanks so much. Saw you got a beautiful new harp. May you enjoy many happy hours using it.

      Delete
  15. hmuxoFebruary 16, 2013 at 6:43 AM

    BEAUTIFUL piece, Julie! I love the colorful flowers around her...!

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 16, 2013 at 10:15 AM

      Thanks Hilda - mostly geraniums of all sizes brought inside for the winter,

      Delete
  16. Bruce BinghamFebruary 16, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    Lovely figure Julie! Good luck preparing for the show!

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  17. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 16, 2013 at 10:34 AM

    Hi Bruce - thanks so much.
    I am enjoying the thought of totally painting for the show three days a week. Sat sun and Mon. Wow.

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  18. Carol FlattFebruary 16, 2013 at 3:19 PM

    Delightful, Julie! Great light coming through that window, and the broken color of the flowers makes it look like a fabulous place to read and relax!!

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 18, 2013 at 5:51 PM

      Thanks Carol. It is an outside patio in the summer and they enclose it for the winter. Very popular place.
      Your flower painting is amazing.

      Delete
  19. Gina BrownFebruary 17, 2013 at 4:42 PM

    Love the painting and best wishes for the show!

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  20. mary maxamFebruary 17, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    There is so much going on and yet it holds together in a perfect visual package- beautiful!

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    1. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 18, 2013 at 5:52 PM

      Nice of you to say - thanks Mary.
      Your sky paintings just blow me away.

      Delete
  21. JaneFebruary 18, 2013 at 4:23 PM

    A lovely and romantic mood in this painting, I wonder if she was indeed surrounded with all these flowers or if you used your artistic license ? :-)

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  22. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comFebruary 18, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    Hi Jane. She sure was. Loads and loads of geraniums of all sizes. I moved the big pot at the front slightly more towards the middle for design purposes, but everything else was there. It is a patio in the summer and they just enclose the sides for the few months of winter.

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  23. LavonFebruary 19, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    Julie, You blow me away. Maintaining this blog the way you do with all th lovely comments where you have obviously taken time to view so many others' work and make such kind comments. Then still having time to do your own small daileys, Plus preparing for this show. Just amazing! Love the lady reading her homework in the flowers. Good karma! the colors are so happy! Thank you for the neat ideas on doing figurative work, too!

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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

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