Personal Art Blog

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

Friday, September 28, 2018

Snowflake Dove

Snowflake Dove
6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150. SOLD. 


Artist Note. 
I have been wanting to paint 
this beautiful dove ever
since I since I first saw it. 
I have painted it seven times 
learning all about 
its shape, feathers, beak and that 
amazing eye...and this finally
is the closest to what it is like
and importantly...the one I like best.

An interesting fact.
I cannot find a thing 
about Snowflake Doves.
I have tried Google and books.
Zip - nothing.
Here is a pic.

Any of you know anything about them?
(David Gascoigne - an expert on the avian world)
They are so truly beautiful 
with the snowflake markings on their wings.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Asian Pears


Asian Pears 
8x6' oil on panel SOLD

Artist Note
The fruit was a gift from a friends garden 
She is an artist so she left a 
couple with branches. Happy smiles!

I tried something different with this one.
I first painted the panel with gray gesso
and then I painted it as I would
a vignette in watercolor.
I really liked the effect in a frame - 
it kind of makes its own border
so I am going to do some more this way.

Here are some greens made
from the 
Windsor Newton Perylene Black
Look how natural they are.

Top row - Lemon and P Black
Middle row - Yellow deep and P Black
Bottom row - ochre and P Black

The 3 blue/gray spots are with white added.
You can see why it makes good greens. I think it 
would be perfect for the ZORN palette
(Vermillion, yellow ochre, black, white)
because it is a beautiful blue-black


I am picking up steam with my painting.
I will be posting more often as I continue
to get comfortable with paint again.
Thanks for sticking with me...
you are the BEST!


Monday, September 17, 2018

Video Demo - Landscape!




Artist Note.
I came across this old video of me painting a landscape.
It was painted on Senso linen. 6x8'
It is at a MUCH faster speed than I paint!
Hope you enjoy it.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Waterlily Light #2

Waterlily Light #2
6x8" oil on panel   $150.
Purchase HERE

Artist Note
Here I am - back to the Lilypond. 
I am really captivated by the 
three components...
Water, plants, and light. 
It appears almost
 magical to me when
the sun casts through the shaded areas.

I can see why Monet devoted 
so many years to painting
his waterlily series. 
He bought the land and 
diverted water from a stream
to start designing what he wanted.
Seven years of planting, building
and creating.
Then he spent 30 years 
- the rest of his life-
painting it!

The two 80-ft oval rooms
in the 
Orangerie of the Tuileries. Paris,
where the enormous and stunning
murals of 
his water garden are shown
are often described as the
"Sistine Chapel of Impressionism."


Thinking about all the people
and animals who are 
suffering in
The Carolinas 
in the aftermath of Florence.
Sending heartfelt prayers




Sunday, September 9, 2018

Anemones plus Hint


Anemones
8x6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note
I really enjoyed painting this one. 
I can see red again!
And painting every day 
I feel the old flow 
is coming back.


I sent out my Fall Newsletter
with this new painting in it and 
was really pleased with the response. 
I am going to paint it larger
and see if I can capture the same 
color harmony. 
Easier said than done!

Artist Hint
I have added to my palette
Windsor Newton/Perylene Black .
if you do not already use it,
TRY IT!
It makes fabulous greens 
with different yellows. 

It also makes a beautiful blue/black
when white is added.

I am excited to find a replacement 
for my LeFranc Cassel Earth black paint. 
which I previously used for olive greens.
This Perylene black produces a much 
greater range of beautiful greens...
and I still get the olive with adding ochre.

I was told LeFranc & Bourgeois had a fire
and that is why it is impossible to get their
paint anymore.  
They were the oldest 
European oil paint manufacturer
and their Titanium White was a joy to use.
Sure hope they come back.





Monday, September 3, 2018

Santa Fe Adobe


Santa Fe Adobe
6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150 SOLD

Artist Note.

Most of you know how much
I love living here in the southwest 
and this is the painting which
got me back into the flow
of painting again
after having cataracts removed.

I feel like a whole new person.
 I am enjoying seeing clearly.
Life is good
... but the painting part of my life
has only just starting to flow 
instead
of hit and miss.


I have completed
several paintings 
and I am going to 
show them first in my newsletter.
It has been sadly neglected
so I am hoping to make amends.

If you feel you would enjoy 
getting it about four times a year
you can sign up on my website 
using link below

Enjoy your week.
Maybe I will be back before then.