Anemones

Anemones

9" x 8 1/2" oil on canvas panel  $225. SOLD

Artist Note.

This is a weird size and 

 I cannot think how 

to crop it in any other way -

so this is it!

This one was fun for me because 

I can see all the colors much

better, and, as you know...

I love color!

Regarding my computer woes, 

(see the previous post)

they were fixed with

a complete close-down. 

I had to download everything

onto a hard-drive and then

install them again.

The IPad was then able 

to get caught up with  

redoing settings after getting rid

of cookie cache and re-setting

Passwords and Accounts.

Not easy and very frustrating

for this computer challenged gal!

Thanks for all the hints 

and support from you guys.

Jennifer hit it right.😊

Cerro Pedernal Storm

Cerro Pedernal Storm 

Near Ghost Ranch, NM

8x6" oil on canvas panel  $150.SOLD

Artist Note.

Georgia O'Keeffe's ashes are spread

at the top of this mountain.

I enjoyed an annual visit 

for five consecutive years at

  Ghost Ranch, NM.

A stunningly gorgeous area in 

northern New Mexico.

Sometimes with an artist friend 

and other times with my

hubby who would patiently

read while I painted.

The water you see is Lake Abiquiu

- an important reservoir 

for this high desert area.

The Plein Air Convention (2018)

which was held recently in Santa Fe,

enjoyed a painting trip out there

 and I confess to being totally envious.

.Hydrangeas.

Hydrangeas 

8x6' oil primed linen on panel   SOLD

Artist Note.

I recently moved and a good friend

brought over a magnificent

Hydrangea plant. Another friend brought

me a Calla Lily plant

so I was in hog heaven painting

both of them. 

This was a class demo and went

 much easier than the first one!

Mixed Bouquet.

6"x 6" oil on canvas  $110.  SOLD

This was a demo to show the importance

of having a transparent underpainting.

Artist Note.

 I had a request

to repost this one from last year . 

I am a big believer in leaving

some of the darker areas in

 a painting, transparent. 

There is a certain glow which 

doesn't happen with opaque

dark areas  - in fact I find

they can look, pretty "chalky."

My transparent colors 

used for the demo were:

Viridian

 Transparent Oxide Yellow TYO

Alizarin (permanent)

Ultramarine Blue.

 After a wash of TOY 

I did a mass shape using  Viridian.

Next I lifted out the lighter areas

using a rag.

I followed this with more lifting

with a small amount of Gamsol

on my rag and a scrubby brush.

This was to hit my lightest areas. 

I added Viridian and Ultra 

with touch of Aliz to make darker

greens in jar and leaves.

I added more TOY to back and front.

and shadowed the area 

behind the jar

 linking into the dark leaves

Bringing in color but making

sure to keep it all transparent.

Then the fun part - I fractured it!

(See FREE tutorial on tools and what

I use for fracturing  HERE )

I enjoyed bringing it back 

into form by

 taking advantage 

of the broken areas to add 

interest 

Now into the opaque colors.

I added 

Titanium 

Permanent Yellow and 

Permanent Red light to my palette

I started using a knife and a brush

at this point. 

I left the flowers 

very abstract on purpose. 

That was the easiest part -

 because they were all imaginary.

There are transparent areas

peeking through the opaque 

marks, and to me it makes 

for an exciting surface.

Thick - thin,

transparent - opaque,

warm - cool.

If you are not already using the

transparent colors - or have not 

used them for a while then

please let me know if you are 

inspired to try them.

Happy Painting

Enjoy your weekend.

Sunlight On Rose

Sunlight On Rose 

6x6 oil on canvas panel 

Artist Note.

This one is for the 

Daily Paintworks Challenge.

The Rose Challenge was submitted by

 an artist whom I

admire greatly and I have followed

her for quite a while.

Her name?

Drum roll....

Kaethe Bealer

She is brilliant at nailing her values

with beautiful, rich colors.

Here is a link to her

Rose Challenge

Be prepared to have your 

socks knocked off when you 

see the rose she painted 

from the photo.

You will see many other 

beautiful rose paintings

this challenge has inspired. 

 Here is a link to 

her gallery page

Kaethe Bealer

You can see she paints a variety

of subject matter

but all of them, magnificently.

Still putting together my workshop post.

The Other Yellow Roses

Yellow Roses #2

8x6" oil on canvas  $140 SOLD

Artist Note.

This is the second painting 

I did from the gift of

yellow roses
I received last month.
The first one was a
square close-up
and on this one
I made  an angle
to divide the
flowers and leaves.
The bud breaks it up
so it isn't too abrupt.

Hope all mothers
 enjoyed their special day.
I enjoyed calls
from my kids and as
my own beloved mother
has been gone for
quite a while,
 I wore a blouse
and a locket of  hers
that I treasure,
and remembered
happy times.
It was lovely!

Ducklings.

Ducklings

8x6in oil on canvas panel  $140.SOLD

Artist Note.

This is from a photo 

I took in April last year.

Such a sweet scene.

At first

I was attracted

to the reflections 

more than the ducks, 

and then

 the ducklings

came along  and my heart 

did a little bump of

pleasure. 

I took the photos 

thinking that as a painting

it would be too much 

on the sentimental side.

BUT

today I needed a bit of the

'gooey" area of my heart

pampered...

and as I am painting birds

at the moment

I went looking for the photos.

Guess what? Cute

and sweet works...

I ended the day 

more relaxed

than when I started.

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.

LilyPond - Misty Morning

Lily Pond - Misty Morning

6x6in oil on canvas panel  $110.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

Last weekend I was in 

Cloudcroft, NM.

Think of the name...

Cloud... croft. Land in the clouds!

I was lucky enough to enjoy

a misty morning and it was 

truly atmospheric and beautiful. 

So different from fierce colors 

and beauty the dry air creates

here in Las Cruces.

The Lodge Resort has a 

 large lily pond and I was able

to take many photos.

The colors were cool and muted 

with very soft edges.

(The Lodge also has a ghost - can you 

imagine her coming out of the mist!!)

The DPW Challenge has

The FOG Challenge this week

so hoping that the mist will substitute

because fat chance of me seeing 

fog in this neck of the woods.

I checked - there IS a 

difference between mist and fog 

even though they are both 

created with water droplets.

Thank you for visiting.

.

WASH DAY

Wash Day

6x8in oil on canvas panel $135. SOLD

Artist Note. 

I went plein air painting with a couple 

of artist friends and my reward for 

getting up early on a non-working day

was finding this place.
Rare to find someone hanging their
laundry outside any more.

Would you believe there was a 

chicken coop too!

The little cluck clucks were as 

cute as can be.

Dilemma...put them in

or leave them out.

Such a small space so I left them out, 

but will go back and paint them

for sure.

Linking The Darks - NM Farm

Mesilla Valley Farm, NM

6x8in oil on canvas panel  $135. SOLD

Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

Classes have resumed at

the Artist Guild of Southern New Mexico.
This was one of the demos
on Linkage.

Linking the darks in a painting

was a good way to start 

off the new semester. 

We all need a reminder after vacation 

of some of the basics. It makes it

easier to avoid what I
refer to as "spotty paintings" 

- caused by having light areas
in what should be the shadow pattern.

Starting with a Notan in
transparent oxide brown

with a touch of Ultramarine Blue,

makes it easy to follow the pattern
of light and dark.

Thanks for all the neat comments 
on my previous post about the snails.
Hope you will understand 
why I have not been
able to answer as
I have been rather busy.

The guild studio was all spruced up 

Carpet cleaned

Shelves dusted

Cupboards tidied
Tables scrubbed and easels checked.

Bins of colored papers to test 

shapes and colors -

mannequins, heads, hands, 

and Freddie the skeleton - all got cleaned up

vessels of all types

flowers galore

Fruit and veggies

The drink station.

Lots of different teas

Yes ...that is instant coffee...

No time to waste cleaning 

a coffee pot!

I love it when everything is tidy and clean.

Thanks for sticking around.

Now I am off to look at everyone's

posts.

Pike Street Market - Painted Clothes!

Hand Painted Clothes

8 x 6in oil on canvas panel $135. SOLD

Artist Note.

I always admire the merchant 

who uses the air space

 above their tables to display their wares.

This vendor cleverly strung lines to hang

layers of hand painted clothes.

I was drawn to the scene, 

but it turned 

out to be rather difficult. 

To arrive at a good design

I had a choice to make...

 feature the hanging clothes 

OR 

the two women. 

As you know - 

the eye nearly always sees the 

color white first 

so I arched the white items together, 

and offset the women to the side.

 I started off with one woman, 

but preferred it when I added another.

Lots of scraping off while 

trying to solve problems as

they emerged, 

completely held 

 my interest while painting this one.

Enjoy the weekend! 

Peppermint Roses and Solution!

Peppermint Roses

6x6in oil on canvas panel  $110. SOLD

Artist Note. 

Remember when I asked for help

last month?
( see LINK HERE )

Everyone came through

 sharing their own
personal stories. I was comforted
knowing what I experiencing
was more understandable than I thought.
Then I got a private email from a blogger
friend I had met in Carol Marine's
workshop a few years ago
suggesting I may want to see
my doctor...

When I told the doctor my symptoms she
ordered tests. She wanted to make sure
I had not had a TIA  (small stroke)
because some of
my symptoms were similar.

Results are in... Thankfully no TIA!
Instead it appears I could have been having
"painless/silent migraines."
Confusion and not being able to focus
 are part of the game.
I have had two more recognizable
events since, but I am not scared anymore
about the temporary forgetting how to paint.
(I watch my video!)
or how to evaluate it.

Anyway, I am trying to find the trigger,
(Could be some very old, potent,
balsamic vinegar presented as a gift)
but wanted to pass on the
results just in case anyone else
out there experiences a similar
situation. The advice to go to the
doctor for a check was very helpful.
Grateful Julie.

Another link to the original post  HERE

If you missed it, it is invaluable to read 
what 31 artists
shared about their own experiences.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/julie-ford-oliver/peppermint-roses-and-solution!/374669

Snow, Water and Crows #3

Snow, Water and Crows #3

6x8 oil on canvas panel  SOLD

The colors are not accurate and I do

not have any editing tool to correct it

at the present time.

The three panels so far have an uncanny 

way of looking as if they could be

part of a whole. It is because I am using the same 

limited color palette.

I am finding that I have an interest in learning

to paint the crows...

so I have started to do some little studies.

I am enjoying painting all of this snow and 

water...we have no snow left so am 

depending on memory and photos.

Feeling free as a bird (no pun intended)

after the pressure of the Challenge.

I also worked quite a few more hours today

on the 

large Farmers Market painting.

I am learning a lot from working on such

a huge size. Like my shoulders ache!

Spider Mum - Watercolor Workshop. Day 15

Spider Mum

13x17in 

mixed water-media on rag paper.

Different for me I know.

This is a workshop painting and is still 

not finished. I may have to do some tweaking 

after I have time to look at it.

Artist Note.

It was an exciting and very busy day.

The instructors are

two award winning sisters

who have a mission to free

artists from the constrains of 

the traditional, and introduce

new methods to achieve 

creative fulfillment.

Their motto is 

COURAGE LOOKS GOOD!

Today, the first of two days out of four,

were with

Nancy Frost Begin

(Click her link at bottom)

The painting above was worked on top 

of an old painting which we had varnished.

I went freely into it with

great inspiration after watching Nancy's 

amazing demo using gouache.

She applied it in a certain way and then

 moved some around with various tools

allowing random areas of the original

painting to show through. 

This created beautiful abstract areas. 

My flower would look dorky on a regular

background, but I feel this method

provided some oomph!

Tomorrow we try another exciting method

involving tempera paint and permanent black ink.

Check out Nancy's amazing work 

Nancy Frost Begin

Rose Duo - Day 10 &11

Rose Duo

Watercolor on Strathmore paper

NFS

Artist Note.

Sorry - a lousy photo for accurate color, 

but seeing I did 

not post yesterday I went ahead

and posted it. 

Yesterday my hubby and I drove to 

Santa fe to visit a dear friend

who was critically ill in

the hospital. It is a four hour drive 

so it was an overnight trip.

Glad we went because she had just been 

taken out of the ICU after 5 days

and into CCU. A good sign.

She has a long way to go but the 

prognosis is good.

I painted on the way there

something from memory

I painted on the way back

experimenting on Yupo

Several more "starts" were fussed over.

Maybe to be worked on the next trip?

The weather difference was quite profound.

This is what 300 miles can do.

This morning we left this weather in Santa Fe

and sailed past this beautiful scene with just

one hour left to arrive back in Las Cruces.

I love the diversity of this beautiful

Land Of Enchantment.

Painting in the Car - Tips.

A Decorated Nest

6x6in Casein. Gifted.

My daughter gave me this nest earlier this year.

The bright blue coated wire,

woven into the nest, had caught 

her eye as she was doing yard work.

 I have been wanting to paint it so

 I took it on the trip to paint when we drove 

through a long, boring area.

Before this happens though we go 

thru a really beautiful area called the Hondo Valley.

Some of the Wyeth Family 

have lived and painted there.

My goal, as I pass through, is to capture

shapes and colors only. It is impossible 

to get a finished painting, but easy

to look ahead and gather enough

info to maybe use in the studio. 

Besides...time flies by when I am painting!

On the way there...

snow on way back...

Looking ahead gave me time to get basic 

shapes quickly blocked in.

When we got closer I could see tree shapes

and I scrubbed those in as we whizzed 

past at over 75mph. 

(Memory painting becomes important 

when my hubby is at the wheel!)

I found a wonderful water holder which does 

not splash around during bumpy areas.

The lids are attached (bliss) 

It has two chambers - quite marvelous!

And the lid allows the inevitable

sloshing around without spills.

It fits in the pochade box below.

(See the nest peeking at the side.)

the watercolor container

see HERE

This box is a treasure for travel.

see HERE

mine holds a 6x8 board but different sizes

are available.
Shown is a sable travel brush
(with a metal handle)
I rest the box a lap tray. One of those with a
cushion on one side. Comfy and stays put.

I will show the snow study in the next post.

Pansy Pleasure

Pansies and Purple

6x8in oil on canvas SOLD

The colder weather means the pansies 

can now be planted.

My friend Sharon has a lovely new

area of them, bringing a bit of sunshine

warmth to a cold day.

Artist Note.

I am posting an old painting at top.

One I really like. 

I am going to try one in watercolor 

and use it as a reference.

Stay tuned...

Fall at Ghost Ranch, NM

Fall at Ghost Ranch

10x12"

Oil on crappy paper

NFS

The cottonwood trees turn a brilliant gold 

in the fall and when the sun illuminates 

them they look like 

they are alight with flames. 

Artist Note.

This was a demo of painting trees with

a palette knife.

Underneath was first done with transparent washes 

applied with a fan brush using the 

chisel motion shown in my utube short tutorial

 - link below.

fan brush technique

Starting this way gave the edges of the 

trees a more natural shape by blending

effortlessly into the other colors/values 

around them.