Roses and Cherries...

Roses and Cherries

8x8" oil on canvas SOLD

Artist Note.

I made a video of painting

this piece. It was a good one 

because it showed the 

struggle in the middle. 

I know you are all

only too familiar with that!

I emerged victorious, 

quite thrilled, and guess what...

the guy with the camera

had it all out of focus!

To say I was bummed

is an understatement.

The bad luck Video story continues,

I have had three videos made

this year by three different

video experts and not one has 

been usable. 

Maybe I will have success in 2016

I made my Fracturing video 

for Daily Paintworks

myself. I just set up a camera 

and went for it. 

BUT... I had a 

lot of requests

to show my palette at the 

same time and that 

created the problem. 

I do not 

know how to do that myself.

Enough of all that...

Here's to a wonderful 2016 for all of us.

May our supportive bond of blogging 

friendships continue with the 

 stimulation and encouragement

that is so special. 

I appreciate every one of you, 

and wish only the best for you all

Vincent van Gogh

I am busy with a project  and 

not painting so thought 

I would pass my personal

observations on 

 a couple of winter paintings.

We have been hit with an unusually 

large amount of snow here in southern 

New Mexico and it brought to mind 

poor van Gogh moving from 

Paris to Arles 

for the warmer climate 

only to arrive during an 

unusually cold and snowy time.

A true artist... he did get out and paint!

Vincent van Gogh.1888. Landscape In The Snow.

What's not to enjoy when 

looking at these paintings. 

Warm and cool colors bouncing off 

each other add a vibration

of energy to his strokes.
In the top one

The red house has the 

importance of being 

near the vanishing point

with everything converging 

comfortably to it or from it. 

Even the edges of the trees 

and dog fit perfectly. 

I really like the way 

the black hat lines up 

on the horizon, and the 

duller red of the jacket is perfectly 

at home with the 

colors in the front ground. 

Vincent painted the one below

a few days later...and good for him...

he obviously was trying to 

experience a whole different 

composition. 

Vincent van Gogh  1888

Snowy Landscape with Arles in Background.

His horizon line is still high with 

a secondary focal area 

of house and tree

off to the right, making the cooler

blues he used to paint 

the town of Arles 

appear even more distant.

 The repeat of verticals in this painting

add interest and strength. 

I really like the

 foreground, but have no idea

what his vantage point was.

These two snow landscapes

are rather sparse probably

 because, like all of us,

it takes getting familiar 

with a subject to 

really do it justice.

That... or it was too darned cold!

For example- look how he painted the area

10 months later.

And of course it was warmer then!

Vincent van Gogh 1888

The Red Vineyard

This one is supposed to be the 

only painting Vincent ever sold

during his lifetime.

I have just read Leesa Padget's
new post, and surprise...
she wrote lovely things about me
HERE

Thank You so much, Leesa.

'Tis The Season...

Season's Bauble

8x8  oil on canvas SOLD

This was done in the workshop.

A lot of fun.

I did a paint-a-long and it was

neat to see so many different 

versions of the same red ball

using the fracturing technique.

Artist Note

This is my last post before

Christmas.

Peace in the world - will

it ever happen?

I think of the refugees

trying to escape the horrors

of war in their homeland...

The countries who take them in

and the turbulence of of 

conflicting emotions...

I thank our military and their families

who sacrifice so much for the 

ultimate goal of 

Peace.

More than ever 

I am very grateful for 

my life.

May everyone's Christmas or

Holiday be full of joy and love 

for those we care for, as well 

as those who are now only 

memories in our hearts.

Be safe, be warm, and be at Peace

Blessings.

Workshop Demo

 Some Favorite Things

10"x 8" oil on canvas 

I am giving a

Fracturing Workshop

and this was today's demo.

I have an enthusiastic group

of artists, and I am

excited by the resulting 

paintings. They show a 

willingness 

to push themselves out of 

a secure comfort zone.

Artist Note

Last week I was lucky

enough to go with some 

artist friends

to Miami for 

Art Basel.

It claims to be the largest

Art show in the U.S.

Top galleries from

around the world pay a fortune

to display the work of their

artists in the

Convention Center.

Plus

Art Miami 

and Context

are nearby and equally

stellar.

I saw a wide diversity

of art. It was stimulating

and thought provoking.

Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Chagall,

Diebenkorn, Motherwell,

 mixed alongside some 

contemporary favs of mine.

I found I was drawn 

to some of the Chinese galleries

with their very accomplished artists.

Many artists of unknown 

pedigrees displayed.

some very interesting work

which kept me enthralled

and others, belonging to what

art critic Brian Sewell

humorously dubbed

the post-skill movement,

made me scratch my head.

Abstract and

non-representational

work were the largest category,

and I saw marvelous collage

pieces -  many of them

 were dimensional and 

the shadows created a 

wonderful extra level

of interest.

These made me think of a 

blogger I follow.

who is doing really

great collages. Check her out.

Libby Fife

(Libby, you would have 

had your nose right up to them) 

Some thoughts...

How will Globalization

change our perception

of art?

I was exposed to art from 

round the world,

 but saw many of the same 

imagery and techniques.

The easy access to media

sharing obviously has diluted 

the cultural influences 

which were 

unique to individual

countries. 

There appears to be a lack 

of an entirely new  

art movement.

 Everything I saw had 

a strong basis 

from previous movements. 

Installation Art is pushed by 

modern technology but is

still Installation.

Digital art is progressing 

and for the same reasons.

It appears most of the world is 

experiencing strife. 

Usually it emerges in art.

I will be watching for a new 

Guernica

Anyone have any thoughts 

to share on any of the above?

Watercolor Pleasure

Trio

6in x6in gouache on Aquabord 

Painted just for me!

Artist Note.

From my nest collection... 

a little jewel 

with a turquoise strand 

woven through it

 adds a touch of color

against the neutral 

grasses and twigs.

I added Chinese White  

to my watercolors to add 

the body I like.

Aquabord is perfect for 

this, and takes a protective

wax finish beautifully.

My daughter and a friend 

are in to help celebrate

my birthday so I will be

having too much fun

to reply to any comments!

I know you understand.

Yellowstone - Waterfall Near Sylvan Pass.

Yellowstone
Near Sylvan Pass.
8"x 6" oil on canvas panel  $135. SOLD

Artist Note
Another one of the
many waterfalls
at Yellowstone.
I can see where the name
YellowStone
came from. Some of the rocks
have a definite yellow
color in the sunlight.
I find them very interesting
and am fascinated by the
different colors in the water.

Bouquet

Bouquet.  

8x6 oil on canvas panel $135. SOLD

Artist Note.

A bit of color on a gloomy day.

Things sure are changing 

in the world.

I wish us all Peace.

Life Force.

Life Force

6x6 oil on canvas panel $110. SOLD

Artist Note.

I know...

I know...

 I thought my 

water paintings

were finished,

 but there is still 

a compulsion inside me

 to do more.

Loved painting it!

Roses From A Friend

Roses From A Friend

8x6 in oil on canvas panel  SOLD

Artist Note

A friend from the Guild grows these 

Peppermint Candy Roses. 

This has to be the fourth time she has 

brought them in for me to paint.

Not easy...

I have had the hardest time 

painting them.

Imagine - multiple petals and 

stripes on some and not others.

I finally got one that I liked

and fortunately she did too.

Thanks for your patience, Joann.

Floating Dahlias.

Floating Dahlias

Work in Progress

Artist Note

(yup...still painting water!!!)

I saw these wonderful floating 

dahlia flower heads 

in September when I was 

 visiting the 

Nedra Matteucci Gallery

in Santa Fe.

 I fell in love.

I tried painting them in 

watercolor first, and found it 

waaay too busy to include 

the bird bath. Easy decision

to paint only the 

flowers, but it presented

a whole new set of problems.

In our culture we are only 

used to seeing the waterlily

floating on water, and 

they have many petals too.

How to make sense of 

floating flowers? 

How to make them 

appear to be in water.

Finally arriving at...

does it matter if they look 

like  another flower 

or in water?

Nope. What matters is 

painting something

close in my heart.

I went a little larger than my 

usual blogging size... 

because 10"x8"

 is a far easier size 

to work out 

problems.

Start.

Transparent washes of colors

 then fracture or disturb

the surface

The stage below is 

my personal favorite. 

basic and very abstract.

I am going to be exploring this

theme further

in several different ways.

Rain Puddles And Red Chili.

Rain Puddles

6x8in oil on canvas panel $135. SOLD

Artist Note.

A sight not often seen

here in early November.

This was during the two days 

of rain we got. 

This view of the chili fields

looks totally different 

than in the full sun. 

Far more muted.

Red chili is harvested 

later than the green chili. 

Left on the vine to turn red,

 it is picked and spread on

roofs and similar surfaces

to dry in the sun -

the traditional way.

I LOVE chili

green or red.

This may conclude my water series.

Notice the "may."

I have enjoyed it.

Stormy Day

Stormy Day

6x8in oil on canvas $135.
Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

We really need rain due to 

the severe drought we have been 

having in New Mexico, so

it is hard to complain about 

a couple of days of really

hard rains.

I had been hoping to paint a

special spot

on the way home
after visiting our son,
 but when we got there

this is all I saw

out of the window.

I did a small sketch

(below) in watercolor

 to get the basic values 

and shapes.
(courtesy of the 

windshield wipers

helping out and 

hubby softly snoring 

as he took a nap, sweet guy!)

The only light areas were
in the sky and water.
The vertical sides of the bushes
and hills were very
dark by comparison.

The sketch came in handy
when I was
back in the studio today.
It helped me recall the
actual structure of the dam.
Using artistic license
I made the falls less wide,
and eliminated a building
that was there.

The sky was still magnificent 

as we got closer to home.

Today is sunny and bright.

Not a cloud in the sky.

Am grateful our ground has

collected some 

much needed moisture.

BUT I am only too aware

of the devastation caused by

too much rain in other

 parts of the country.

I am truly sympathetic,

and cannot imagine the 

strength needed to 

restore and carry on.

Blessings to all.

Rushing Water - Yupo.

Rushing Water

7x10in Watercolor on Yupo

Artist Note.

Still involved with the 

water series. 21 so far.

I am on a short

 trip and did this on the 

way to our destination.

I love to paint in the car. 

I feel free to paint

 and not worry

if a bump creates an 

unexpected blob...or two!!

Just pure fun with paint

which makes the trip fly by.

Be happy with 

your paint today!

Winter Light On The Falls

Winter Light on the Falls.

6x8in oil on canvas. $135.
Purchase HERE

Artist note.

This is the painting I did over the 

unintentional wiper 

shown in the previous post.

It is on oil primed linen

so I am glad I could 

rescue the board.

This was a demo for the 

Friday group at the Guild.

They insisted I not wipe it off 

like I usually do after a demo.

(Bossy Lot -they keep me in line!)

The demo was about keeping your 

dark areas as transparent 

as possible. I used three colors

plus Titanium White.

Viridian, Ultramarine 

and Tsp. Brown Oxide.

I did some touch up areas to 

bring it up to speed and 

now I am glad the

Friday group 

were in charge.

Thank you, guys!

Quick Note.

Thank you from "Daisy"

(click to enlarge)

I received this wonderful 

note from Daisy asking me to thank 

all of you who voted to make her 

best cat so she could be 

as proud as her sibling was

before passing on to

kitty heaven.

I am so impressed with how arty the 

card and note are. Even the envelope!

A halo for everyone 

who helped.

Afternoon Light On The Falls

Afternoon Light on the Falls

6x8in oil on canvas 

Artist Note.

About a major ooops!

My husband called me at work

 as I was cleaning my palette

ready to go home.

We started talking about his day

and I continuing to clean with

the phone in one hand

 and palette knife in the other. 

(Cleaning the paint piles etc.)

He had me laughing and

I was relaxed getting out the 

alcohol to finish cleaning the 

palette...only it wasn't the palette

I had cleaned...

it was my painting!

Nothing left but mud.

Trust me, 

it was not a laughing Julie

who hung up the phone!!!!

Moonlight at Yellowstone

Moonlight At Yellowstone

6x6 oil on canvas WIP
(work in progress)

Artist Note
This is for the
Daily Paintwork Challenge
this week.
ONLY three colors -
red, yellow and blue, plus white
allowed for oil and acrylic painters.
This one has
Transparent Red Oxide
Ultramarine Blue
Titanium White.
It is unfinished deliberately
for the Challenge,
I will add another couple
layers of colors
when it is dry- maybe.

Check all the good paintings
using three colors
HERE


Sorry about the light catching
the ridges of paint,

Sunrise On The Firehold River - Yellowstone

Sunrise On The Firehole River
Yellowstone.

6x6in oil on canvas panel $130. SOLD

Artist Note

Steam rising up by the river

at sunrise was a jaw dropping
sight that has stayed with me.

I had to work out
how to do the steam
first because I had not
painted it other than
from one or two
 geysers before.
The palette knife was handy
for "mushing" to achieve
the softness.

Next it was just a matter of 

adding the colors of sunrise.

I am very happy with 

the way this one turned out.
especially the
colors in the steam

One of the highlights of my 

visit was 

seeing a room full of 

Thomas Moran paintings

Below are the notes 

from my sketchbook

 I noticed the
absence of GREEN in his work!

Here is a link to the collection.

Thomas Moran Yellowstone Watercolors

Falls At Yellowstone

Falls At Yellowstone

8x6in oil on canvas panel $135. SOLD

Continuing the water series.

This one is a more intimate

view of a shorter set of

falls.  

I went less abstract in this one 

because I painted it from 

memory and 

I remembered 

every beautiful area..

Artist Note.

I was asked how 

I can paint from memory.

Here goes.

Before I start to paint from

memory

I sit quietly and recall

a place until I see it clearly

in my mind. 

I NOTICE THE 

QUALITY OF LIGHT FIRST 

and jot it down.

Next I try to pull up the 

sounds - hear the rushing water, 

birds singing, if there was a breeze etc.

This gets me totally in the mood.

When I feel I am "back in time"  

I pick

up my knife and mix

the basic colors first.

I establish the harmony on the 

palette, placing the spots of color

next to each other...

and if it jives with my inner vision...

then off I go!

(Hope this helped Mr. Franklin)

Again, all done with the palette knife

Falling Water

Falling Water
8x6in oil on canvas panel $135.SOLD

Artist Note.
My series on the waterlily pond
has taken me into painting the
water itself. First reflections
and now the falls.
All palette knife.

This one appeals to me because
when I was in Yellowstone
a couple of years ago
I painted waterfalls with
great pleasure.
I found I was excited just seeing
one. I would yell - stop the car -
and because the beloved driver
wanted to be assured of a
pleasant evening - he would
screech to a halt, sometimes even
doing a u-turn so I could
jump out and quickly do a watercolor.

I felt that excitement painting this one.

Sunrise in New Mexico

Sunrise in New Mexico

6x6in oil on canvas panel $110. SOLD

Artist Note.

Totally done with a palette knife

this little painting came together fast.

I have to ask myself...

why do some work and not others?

Could it be because it is an abstract? 

Or could it be - it is all about 

a mood - a harmony?

Any ideas anyone?

Reeds and Reflections

Reeds And Reflections

 6x8in oil on canvas &135.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

I like the simplicity in the design

on this. Guess what is underneath...

yes, two Koi!

When I started the painting

 this is the path I was on.

I was trying to get the 

shafts of light on the water .

I couldn't quite get what I wanted and 

I realized I had repeated the pattern 

of two fish swimming together...

been there - done that 

type of thing. Scraped it off.

(left a neat ghost.)

No Koi,.. no Waterlily...

just the reflections and reeds.

I like it. It's different for me.

Yellow Crocs - Santa Fe.

Yellow Crocs

6x8in oil on canvas  $135. SOLD

Artist Note.

I saw this lady with the

bright yellow crocs

catching the rays in Santa Fe.

When I asked if I could take a photo 

she said, "sure" but she never looked up 

from her writing...

and her dog's eyes 

never stopped watching me.

The dog had a purple leash

and next to the yellow crocs

my heart was captured.

My First Alcohol Ink Painting - Koi.

Koi.

9"x9"

alcohol ink on Yupo NFS

Artist Note
My first time with the alcohol inks.
I found the inks powerful
in saturation, luminous
and tricky to work with.
I can see the benefits of
experimenting especially on
the Yupo paper.

Last week I joined
some  painting
 buddies on a trip
to Santa Fe to paint the
aspen leaves turning gold.
Aspen???
Guess what interested me more...
remembering I have been involved
with a series from the
waterlily pond?
Yep - my mind was still
on the water reflections and fish.
Funny how I couldn't just
be attracted to anything else.
A series is a series!

For those of you who have
never been to
Santa Fe
 there is a gallery
with a magical sculpture garden.

Formally known as the Fenn Gallery
It is now the Nedra Matteucci Gallery.
I have been visiting there for many
years. Look how gorgeous it is.
(click to enlarge).

I did do a plein air of the aspens
up by the ski area.

And loved seeing all the 

Chamisa  (rabbit grass)

in full bloom.

I encourage you to treat

yourself and

explore the link

Nedra Matteucci

 Gallery

 I am going to enjoy catching up 

with everyone's blogs.