Farmers Market #23 - Musicians

Farmers Market #23 - Musicians

8x8in  oil on canvas panel  $150. SOLD

These are two guys who entertain us at our farmers market
on Saturdays, here in Las Cruces, NM.
It was the market in Santa Cruz, California which got me started
on painting this series, but the one here in Las Cruces was
voted the #1 Farmers and Craft market in the country
two years ago. Who would ever "thunk it"
Right outside my door!
The Artists Guild building is on Main Street, downtown, and
the market occupies three city blocks of the street every
Saturday. I have been out regularly with my camera and sketching.

Artist Note.
I went to a larger size with this one after I had complete
failures trying to get this one on the smaller square.
For some reason this was one of the hardest paintings I
have done in quite a while.The success is having recognizable
figures. The features are almost non existent but body type
comes across and someone saw it and knew who these
guys were right away.

Fractured Flowers

Red and White

6x8in oil on linen SOLD

I have had so many emails asking if everything was okay that I thought I would pull up something I did almost a year ago and visit for a while.
I love the colors in this one.

Artist Note.

I have found I can no longer multi-task in my painting subject matter and output.
My whole focus is on the theme of my show and painting anything else
seems unnatural to me. Do any of you have the same problem?
I had to do a demo for the Artist Guild last week and found it very difficult.
It has been five years since I had a one-woman show - preferring instead to exhibit in invitationals.  I only needed about 10 extra (but larger) paintings as I have been working on a series close to my heart for almost three years, just for the pure pleasure of it. I have found there is the world of difference
of painting something in a relaxed and inquisitive way and painting for a deadline.
I am sure some of you are nodding your head in agreement.

I want to thank you all for your wonderful comments on my last post.
Because of the time it would take, I dare not get on the computer to start visiting 
everyone's blogs and I have gone through genuine withdrawals because of it. 
I really miss the fellowship and stimulation.
I am BUSY! I come home from teaching and start painting. I do have three day weekends when a lot gets accomplished, but for every good painting I have to toss some others. I am working on a large
48"x36" piece which may not make it in the show unless it all comes together. Struggled today.
But only one more weekend to go until everything is delivered to the framers,
then life should return to normal and I will happily start visiting
your blogs to catch up and replying to all comments.
Thanks for being understanding and supportive.

Grapes and Pitcher

Grapes and Pitcher

6x6in oil on canvas panel $100. SOLD



This is an older piece that I always liked
so I rubbed a little linseed and Gamsol on it
and painted a little fracturing over it.

Artist Note.

It was fun this weekend concentrating on paintings
for my upcoming show in May.
I worked on three. The smallest one is 16x20
I starting with texturing the canvas with acrylic
modeling paste. I then brushed on a couple of
coats of gesso.
When dry, I did my charcoal drawings
over which I sprayed Krylon fixative.  Really handy
to do it this way just in case I got something wrong as
it would be easy to wipe it off without losing my drawing.
The next step was getting the getting the large shapes
massed in with transparent color. I will be
developing them more completely next week.