For The birds!

For The Birds

6x6in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note

I was sitting on the patio 

at a local cafe 

and one of these little guys
came right on up to me

and took food right
out of my hand.

Talk about socialized...
and a bit cheeky!

Apache Autumn

Apache Autumn

6x6 in oil on canvas panel $110. SOLD

Artist Note

I recently joined

a group of

painters

who belong to 

"Lets Paint New Mexico"

This is my first painting.

Here is the photo 

submitted to all of us. 

We are free to paint 

our own interpretation.

The group was started 

by a wonderful artist 

I have followed for years 

DEE SANCHEZ

They  are on Facebook

and their website is

here

I enjoy the variety of 

the different artist' styles 

and the non- competitive 

attitude of their goal - 

accepting the challenge to create

a piece of art based on a 

photo of New Mexico.

Sounds like the type of

stress free challenge

I will enjoy because

New Mexico is visually

gorgeous and is not called

The Land of Enchantment

for nothing. 

I don't think you have to 

live in New Mexico to

 participate, but it helps

being familiar 

with the area.

I have painted in the 

Bosque del Apache

many times before.

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.

Lily Pond at Capistrano.

Lily Pond At Capistrano.

8x6in oil on canvas panel  $150

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

Last week a member of the 

Artists Guild

visited 

 Mission San Juan Capistrano 

and sent me some 

amazing

Lily Pond photos. 

I cannot wait to paint some more

of them

When I lived in Southern California

I visited there many times -

(every time we had visitors!)

and have a book of watercolor 

sketches recording many a view.

Now, if only I can find it...

It is 5 houses ago!

Snow, Water and Crows #1 - Day 28

Snow, Water & Crows #1

6x8in oil on canvas $130. SOLD

This is an abstract I have been looking 

forward to painting and the start of

a new series.

For a year I have photographed, 

painted and sketched this spot

5 days a week. 

through all of the seasons.

Situated in the heart of the city, it is

a drainage pond for a local factory.

It is surrounded by unattractive

buildings on one side - two roads 

and a parking lot.

I LOVE THE PLACE!

I have never seen another person

even give it a second look.

I proudly showed it to my good friend

Lisa Graham 

when she came to visit. She understood

my fascination.

(hey, Lisa, can you believe I have actually

started on it?!!!  )

Just in case you cannot find the crows...

look carefully and you will see three small

dark spots (middle-ish left) and they 

are the crows. As I said...an abstract.

The factory is a pecan processing

plant and the crows flock there for 

their pecan fix! 

Watercolor Floral - day 28 in the Challenge

Watercolor Floral

12x9" on Yupo paper

Unfinished

Day 28

Artist Note

I am trying new colors and a 

truly, truly

limited palette with watercolor.

One red - one blue and one yellow.

I have experienced continual cloudy days and

I find it has really

affected my color vision.

It also has provided me with a deeper understanding 

of the old master's paintings 

when brown was 

dominate in the background.

 Candlelight was their major source 

of illumination at night and on 

rainy days I now feel I understand

what it was like.

Explains a lot!

I have been presented with more fresh

pomegranates and think I will remove

the pears in this still life and 

put at least one of the poms in. 

That is the beauty of Yupo.

Wipes off clear back to the white.

I will show you tomorrow what it 

looks like with the changes.

Rose Bouquet

Rose Bouquet

14x11in  oil on Raymar canvas panel  $600. unframed

This is my 600th post so I am celebrating with posting
a larger than normal painting.

Artist Note.

I have learned so many things about myself and my art
during this time, but the best thing to
come out of it has been the fellowship and support
of the amazing community of fellow blogging artists.
I sincerely thank you all.

My Easel

My Easel

8x6in oil on canvas  125. SOLD

This is my easel at the Guild Studio.
The one in my studio at home has a crank.
Handy for the 6x8in boards - joking!
I was not doing them small when I got
the easel.


Artist Note.

This easel was given to me by a close friend
and amazing artist Kate Palmer. (check her art)
She lives in Santa Fe with her wonderful
husband Robb, who made this easel.
Kate's studio was featured a couple
of issues ago in Southwest Art.
I remember years ago when I first saw
her studio my jaw dropped.
Not only is it gorgeous - it is TIDY!

Thanks for all the comments on my last post.
I was without internet for two days and
wonders of wonders...no withdrawals!
I had a marvelous and very special trip.
Great to see our daughter looking so happy.
I managed to paint there and back so the 6 hours
each way flew by.
For those interested in my travel set-up in
the van see HERE

Before and After: Fracturing

After Fracturing
8x6in oil on canvas NFS

Before Fracturing,
6x8 oil on canvas  NFS

I thought I would show two paintings I have side by side
in my little gallery area here at the Guild.
I placed them together for visitors to understand what
and how the fracturing technique changed my regular imagery.
This is in my early days in exploring the technique, but
I have kept both pieces side by side as it really helped
me keep going forward in using the color and fracturing
in a more adventurous way.
My goal was to loosen up...and this is for those of you reading
who have the same goal.
I took workshops from great artists like Dan Gerhartz...twice!
How about the loose and juicy work of Ovanis Berbarian - took
from him too. Then our marvelous artist and friend Carol Marine -
see any of her signature brushwork above? I enjoyed one with her.
How about Qiang Huang - I even organized a workshop twice
to try and get loose like him.
So I ask you... do you see any of it in the painting directly above?
Nooooo, you sure don't and why is this? I sure tried, and
would "get it" in class, but...
after a week or so back in the studio my old habits would
creep back in and after a few week I would find only ONE
thing would have stuck from the workshops.
I kept getting parts of it and next thing I knew I
would head back for the security of what I knew best,
and that was ordinary realism painted in a safe and normal way.
THEN I discovered painting with a credit card...when I had
forgotten my brushes on a paintout.
More on that breakthrough tomorrow!

Artist Note.

Three more artists have graciously given permission to show their
first fracturing attempts.

Sue wrote how she got the video when it first came out and
had many attempts before this beautiful one she shows on
her blog. She recommends a great book too so be sure to visit.
 Click on Sue Church Grant

Roxanne wrote she is a plein air painter
stuck indoors over a wicked winter so she was happy to try new
ideas in her still life work. Check what she did here
Roxanne Steed
See, Flowers for Vincent and scroll down to see the
Flowers and Fechin. Two lovely pieces.

The other artist is Jeanette Jobson who wrote that she enjoyed
playing around with the technique after watching the video
and said so on her wonderful blog called  Illustrated Life.
See the results here jeanette

This is another case of three very good artists, still enjoying
trying new techniques, and generously sharing the results
with other artists.

I thank them for mentioning the Fracturing Artbyte
It helps DailyPaintworks also and can take people over to see
the wide range of excellent tutorials available.

I hope you visit their blogs.

Pansy Time

Pansy Time

6x8in oil on linen  $125.

Every year I get into painting beautiful, colorful pansies.
I subdued this first attempt.

Artist Note.
I was really delighted to see some artists share their fracturing
experiences after viewing my video artbyte.
Check out this wonderful Sunday post by Celeste Bergin.
Even though she is already a fabulous painter
she still is not only willing to experiment,
but to also let others know and pass on credit.
Celeste Bergin (click on name to see)
I love her two paintings.

Another one is Lisa Graham  (Click on name to see)
She works in a completely different medium and
visual technique, but was still courageous and
publicly willing to give it a go and give credit.
She achieved some great layering effects.
To my eye, the surface became interesting with the
multiple marks. Her story telling is always a pure delight
and I am an avid follower of her blog.

One of my favorite artist is one we all know. Kind and
generous, Rita manages to get to so many blogs to support
and comment.She tried the fracturing with watermendia.
 Rita Vaselli (click on name to see) I really loved what
she achieved on a couple of her paintings. Again, what an
adventurous spirit to try something new and share it by
passing on the information to others.

These talented artists are all established, but willing to try
something new. I am indebted to them as it thrilled me no
end to see them have a go.

Send me your attempts and I will be so pleased to share
them on my blog.

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.

Winter Closet

Winter Closet

6x6in oil on canvas board  $100.

Day 25 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.

It was a comment by Helen Moreda, laughing about the
mouthwash post asking,"have you visited your closet yet?"
that put this idea into my head. Thanks Helen.
My winter clothes last for years as they never wear out in
our short winter season.
I hang all my winter tops by color.
My hubby used to tease me about this until he started
helping with the laundry, and now he loves it because
he knows exactly where to hang up my clothes.

Artist Note.

My new computer with Windows 8 goes very, very slow
on Blogger to the point where I am waiting until I get home
to do it on my laptop.
I wonder if anyone else has this problem
or maybe I am doing something wrong

Candy Mints

Candy Mints

8x6in oil on canvas board  $125. SOLD



Day 18 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.


The gallery adjoining mine always keeps a bowl of
striped mint candies for their customers.
I went trolling for something to paint after class ended

and they caught my eye.


Artist Note.

These candies have a cellophane wrapping and it was
interesting trying to capture the transparency with all
the shiny highlights.
On my first attempt I painted what I saw and
it turned into a real mess...shiny wrapping, white candy, red stripes
and highlights. Way too much all together.
I scraped everything off, and this time I painted the candy
without the wrapping and then I came back in with suggesting
the shape of the wrapping in the similar manner to when
I paint a wineglass or a glass vase. Just the parts that gleam.
 Much better!

 I think they make a very interesting abstract.
In fact my hubby had no idea what this painting was about...
and he enjoys one of these mints every time he visits the gallery,