Rushing Water

Rushing Water

6"x8" oil on panel $150
Purchase SOLD

Artist Note

When the guild classes were stopped 

in  March due to c-virus,

 I still owed the painters a lesson

so I gave some thought to what 

would be the most useful and guess what...

Absolutely...

Hands down...

THE Number one problem...

is watching artists

 trying to paint from a photo 

EXACTLY what  they see 

without doing a few 

The typical problems are 

VALUE

&

COMPOSITION

This is the original photo which I used for the painting.

As an Impressionist I had to add 

the colors I clearly remember seeing 

Water is full of colors

 in the sunshine and 

also reflects the sky. 

The dark values appear way too dark  

as we know shadows are transparent...

but notice how the tops of the rocks 

are not only competing with the value of the water

but tend to lead the eye out of the pic.

Below is how I check if the composition works.

I like to use 

"every quarter should be different" 

a very useful way to prevent matchy-matchy areas.

At the same time I mark off the center to help me 

remember to have a circle of the interest 

right in the middle. 

When I first became aware of art workshops 

in the 90's, I went to a 

few of the really good painters.

Ovanis Berbarian, for florals.

Dan Gerhart for figure.

Michael Lynch for landscapes.

plus

Richard Schmid, Burt Silverman - demos at ASL

They ALL said "paint what you SEE."

Trouble is... I didn't SEE what they did.

I had to learn.

But, hey, they too had to learn to "see."

I went back and found their early work 

and it was heartwarming to find

when they first started they made 

the same mistakes as all of us.

Time and learning are what make the difference.

Remember, shadows are transparent. 

If you are painting plein air 

you can see into the shadows very clearly

but a photo can make them way too dark.

Look above at original photo. 

I took this in Yellowstone

and I could see into those dark areas

and clearly "see' everything, 

all the bushes, stones and trees

surrounding this gushing stream. 

You cannot make any of those 

out in the photo

Sunsets are the worst offenders.

The ground is never as dark at sunset

as the photo makes them. 

I now take two pics - one of the sun setting 

and one of the ground. 

But logically, when you look how 

light the sky still is overhead, you know

it cannot be really dark on the ground.

The sky can look waaaay too dark 

in a poor photo. Usually it produces a

strong cyan blue - especially at the top, 

whereas it is actually

 more of a cobalt or ultramarine.

Take the photo to a window 

and look halfway up in the sky

to compare,

 and then down at the pic.

You will see it. 

The blue sky overhead is not what

you paint. 

Shadows are not the same gray 

over everything they travel.

A LIGHT COLOR IN SHADOW

BECOMES MORE OF A MIDDLE VALUE

A middle color value goes 

deeper in shadow BUT not as dark as

A DARK COLORS IN SHADOW 

The reverse is true in the light. 

BLACK MOVES TO A  MIDDLE VALUE

IN THE LIGHT and even lighter in some cases.

Remember the ABSENCE of light is the darkest

area. Underneath bushes, rocks or in still life 

it is the line you see under the object.

Strong sun bleaches out color.

If you cannot paint plein air

then the next best way is to paint from 

a monitor of some kind. 

Even then you sometimes have to lighten

the darks to see into them.

But if you have a stash of old pics

(like I do)

which inspire you to paint them 

then I hope these hints help.

If you are a decorative or abstract painter 

none of the above applies.

In my next post I will demo a abstract version.

Cheers everyone. Thank you for staying until the end.

Stay safe.

The Pincushion

 The Pincushion

6'"x 8" oil on canvas panel $150.  SOLD

Artist Note

This was a fun guild project.

The pincushion lesson wrapped up 

a busy month of reviewing

Shapes, Values and the Principles of Light.

We started with SEEING the simple 

base shapes in everything  

For a mushroom it would be 

the shape of

half a ball, ellipse, and cylinder stem.

Everything painted from life.

Drawing first on gray paper 

with white and black charcoal pencils.

Finding how the light gives it the 

volume and values.

Next we did the white tulip.

A rectangle or cylinder -

both worked.

The emphasis was also on

the principle of how...

White in the Shadow 

moves into a middle value

AND

Black in the Light 

moves to a middle value.

This was a black container

set on middle value gray paper.

The light hitting the top

was a similar value to the 

middle gray behind it.

(I deliberately made the area between

the bottom handle lighter to show

how light white would go.)

I find this is the hardest principle for

most artists I teach to grasp.

It is very hard for ME

 to get it exactly correct.

I have to " intellectually" do it because 

as 

I am looking... 

my mind says 

black is black!

White is white

LOL. they sure ain't!

Like an apple is not always RED!

Anyway, after having 3 weeks of  that 

it was fun to going into bright color. 

Same simple shapes...ball 

(a bit squished) and cylinder.

plus single light source.

Everyone did a great job and I have 

several of these demos to enjoy finishing.

Enjoy a peaceful time in your studio...

or happy place!

Snowy River

Snowy River

8'x10in oil on canvas  SOLD

Artist Note

This is such a busy time of year

and it will most likely be my last post

until after Christmas.

I am grateful to all of you who follow

my blog and provide such wonderful support.

Thank you.

Hope you don't mind a posting

of an older painting. It remains one of my favorite

landscapes. I hope to get back outside

and do some plein air painting in 2020.

Is it too much to hope for 

Peace in the World?

Wherever you live -

 I know we must all wish for it.

May everyone's 

Christmas or Holiday

 be full of joy and love for 

those we care for, as well as those who 

now are only memories in our hearts.

Be safe, be warm and be at peace.

Blessings!

Waterlily Pond

Waterlily Pond

6"x 8" oil on raymar panel $150 SOLD

Artist Note
We are still using Monet's color harmonies
as the focus at the guild this month.
In the one above, I have used the
Analogous Harmony of blue and green.

This is painted from a photo I had taken in
 Cloudcroft, NM, but I have a good friend
who has just returned from a trip
to Giverny Water Gardens
and I am excited to see her photos.

It means my series of lily paintings
will get a shot of inspiration
in my painting arm!

Favorite Nest of 2018

Wishing you all a terrific and creative 2019.

Artist Note

This is my favorite nest of last year

I painted it three times.

The one above

 It is 8"x10" oil on canvas.

Lots of layering went on...

and on... and somehow 

I feel as if I built this nest -

instead of painting it!

It is a Bluejay nest.

Friends from Santa Fe gave it to me a couple

of years ago when they were having an addition

put on their house and found it. 

It is on a beautiful sycamore branch in my studio.

The one below was 24"x24"

HUGE for me. 

I LOVED painting it.

 Ladybugs, grasses, feathers, leaves, 

are all in there -  part of nest making!

.

Sunrise colors are behind the large one but 

I became creative with blue twigs

in the top one. I found I enjoyed playing

around with colors and glad I stuck to it.

So, as you see, the same nest provided me

with hours of pleasure

How many of you thought I meant the 

PAINTING at top was my favorite

and not the nest itself?

Interesting how we read things. 

Though I better put it right!

Both of them sold and I hope the owners 

enjoy finding little areas of interest 

that have my heart and soul

embedded in them.

Again....happiest of years ahead 

and thank you for following my blog.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia

6"x 6" oil on Raymar panel SOLD.

Artist Note

This was a demo done during the workshop

last week. 

My last workshop from my own studio. 

I had a great group of talented artists

who did some wonderful

fracturing work.

It is not easy to break up 

a perfectly nice piece of work and 

I know that, but, with some 

encouragement, it was very rewarding to see

them beam with pleasure when they finally

got it!

They all traveled many miles to attend

and I am grateful and honored

they chose to learn from me.

A personal chat.

I have mixed feelings about not hosting

any more workshops because

I really enjoy teaching and have met some 

amazing artists from Hawaii, Canada, 

South America, Mexico and all areas of the US,

but I selfishly want to have more time for 

my own development. 

When I started fracturing 9 years ago,

very few oil painters were into 

any form of the 

"create, destroy, rebuild"

school and it took time for me to find 

my own way of doing it.

 It took me even longer to 

show the public, and that was 8 years ago,

but, it became noticed

and I was asked to make a video 

for Daily Paintworks!!

I still am gobsmacked at how successful

it has been.

Fast forward to the present time.

I see many, many more 

"messy" paintings 

- as my husband calls them - 

and I am excited to be mainstream

where people are not asking me 

why my lines are not smooth!!

I want to push myself further

and see what develops.

Pomegranate Pair.

Pomegranate Pair 

8”x6” oil on canvas panel $150.

PurchaseHERE

Artist Note

An artist friend gave me some

beautiful poms right off her tree. 

I have painted them in

three different sizes and 

this is the first one I finished.

A bright glowing red can be 

very difficult 

to paint. 

Adding white can cool it too much. 

I used 

Grumbacher Red (napathol)

Naples Yellow

Alizarin Perm. 

Thalo Blue

I used white to make a purple

from the aliz and blue. 

The greens were made with 

that wonderful 

Perylene Black and yellow. 

Transparent Brown Oxide

is always on my palette. 

I looked back at the poms 

I paint every year. 

These are the first 

I have done with them

hanging from their branch. 

I enjoyed having the leaves

to help with the design. 

I have made a little video

I will be showing soon. 

Learning to edit!

Sunflowers and Daisies

Sunflowers & Daisies

10"x 8" oil on canvas panel  $250. SOLD

Artist Note

This is my first painting

with my new pupils!

Notice it is larger than my usual 6x8.

I am having a bit of trouble 

with the small size. 

Out of practice!

This is not my first painting

since cataract surgery

by any means,

 but it is my first completed one.

 My depth perception is

slightly askew.

 and I am having

to learn color without a 

seeing a green haze

Meaning lots of tossers! 

The only way to stop me

from painting over and over

on the same canvas, 

(trying to get it right,)

has been to razor it!

Bet you are saying...

been there, done that!

Anyway, I am very excited.

with my new vision

and 

look forward 

to the joys of painting

once more.

Poppies!

Poppies!

6"x8" oil on canvas panel  $150

Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

I really love this type of poppy

with the white next to 

the dark center.

I painted it a while ago

keeping it close because I

 really liked the touch of blue!

Personal Note

Many thanks for the wonderful 

sharing of ideas and hints regarding 

my vision needs

 after cataract surgery.

Apparently, many of you have 

experienced the issue.

I am having my other cataract 

removed in the morning. YAY!

The first one has revealed

a crisp, bright new view

of the world

- amazing -

BUT

My brain has NOT co-operated

with the other eye which is 

close-sighted so the monovision

 is totally out 

and "readers" will be needed.

One in every room!

BUT

another blogger has shared 

what she has done 

and it has me all excited. 

I have to wait a couple of months

for the eyes to settle then 

I will pass it on it it works!

Flowers and Stripes

Flowers and Stripes
8"x6" oil on linen panel $150 SOLD

Artist Note.
I am always fascinated with stripes.
The hard part is fracturing them
so they are not hard and straight
but still look like stripes..

I was playing around with  leaving
the natural linen color as a border.
It didnt work for my style.
Bummer!

There is a wonderful artist
who does this very effectivly.
Check him out  - see link below.
  Click on
one of his landscapes to enlarge
and see how effective it is.

Jeff Cochran


A little aside for those who know
what is going on in my life.
The house was just appraised
on Tuesday by the VA. We have no idea
how long before we get the results.
Fingers crossed!

Blessings Are Everywhere.

Blessings Are Everywhere

watercolor on Yupo

Sold

First, let me wish you all 
a grateful and peaceful

Thanksgiving

Every 7 years it falls on my birthday

and this year is THE one.

My daughter will be doing the cooking!

Artist Note

I painted this one in the car going

to and from the dentist. 

A trip of an hour each way.

It was almost finished 

by the time I got home

(as you can see in the car photo.)

I spent another hour tweaking it

in the studio. 

I really, really like it,

partially because it is 

totally from my imagination.

Pulling on my memory of shapes

and movement of the birds, etc

It is larger than 

my usual daily paintings 

and when matted and framed

I hope it will continue to please me.

Steps

to start...

I deliberately used a staining blue

and took it right across

the page and then lifted it off leaving 

a light blue foundation.

Next, using a big brush I 

placed puddles of 

yellow pale

transparent orange oxide 

and transparent brown oxide

then fractured into them.

I lifted off the shaped of the birds 

with a paper towel and water.

I then began the details...

the fun part, but also what takes

the longest and is the most absorbing

with all the decisions to be made.

Double Beauty

Double Beauty

6"x6" oil on canvas panel. $110.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

The last roses of the year. 

A warm protected spot 

produced an extra gift of beauty
during this busy time.

My son came to help with sorting
and moving all my art books.
A huge job as most had to be
brought from the studio
and into the house...
up and down a flight of stairs.

He said he felt he had moved the
Library of Congress!

Anyway, they have been
all thinned down
to just under a hundred
of those friends I feel
 I cannot live without.
Downsizing bit by bit!!

The Blue Screen Door

The Blue Screen Door

6"x6" oil on canvas panel $110.

Purchase SOLD

Artist Note

A typical New Mexico door...

except this one was in Texas!!

I am always drawn to 

blue doors wherever I see them.

This place had lots

of cats hanging around 

and I attempted to paint them.

Notice the word

attempted...and notice,
 no cats!
Paint, scrape, paint, scrape.

Sigh.
But loved painting this anyway.

Wish I could wave a magic wand 
and restore everyone's homes
lost to fire or hurricane.
It is beyond my comprehension
the scope of what I am seeing.

Prayers to all and extra
gratitude
for those who help in such
dangerous situations
like the
 firefighters, policemen 
and other heroes.

But please...
also remember the 
voiceless, displaced animals.

Silver, Red & Turquoise!

Silver, Red & Turquoise!

6"x 6" oil on gesso board $125. SOLD

Artist Note.

I am proud of this one.

Big beam and a happy Julie!

Tomorrow is the last day 

of the 

Fracturing Technique workshop. 

(The cherries were painted before it.)

What a great group of

talented artists, I was lucky

enough to have.

I will ask their permission 

to show some of their work

in my next post.

First, I need to relax.

Spilled Cherries

Spilled Cherries

6x8inches oil on canvas panel $140. SOLD

Artist Note

This went thru several incarnations,

starting off with a silver bowl.

It became a fight of reflections!

I know when I am beaten 

so I went and got a white bowl

off the shelf.

This is another painting

 from the big box of cherries

we bought at Nichols Ranch

See HERE for directions.

Situated a beautiful 80 min drive 

from Las Cruces,

the orchards are 

at an altitude of 6,800ft

- much cooler than here!

Leaving, we stopped to admire 

this view

of the brilliant streak of light

below the distant mountains 

created by

 White Sands National Monument.

seeHERE

Hot today with more 

heat on the way.

 My new studio in nice and cool.

The Striped Pitcher

The Striped Pitcher

8"x 6" oil on canvas/panel $140. SOLD

Artist Note.

I LOOOOVE my new studio!

 I want to show you my

set-up for painting a still life

 I needed  something that was: 

convenient to get to... 

right by my easel...

      and very versatile...

This fits the bill perfectly.

I screwed two shelving strips 

into the wall

making them long enough 

so I could adjust

the viewpoint from either,

eye level - see below

- or moving it down for 

taller still life set-ups.

 (See last image)

It is so easy to adjust. 

. I used the longer18-inch brackets

to support a good sized surface. 

I used a 20"x20" piece of plywood

on top of the lower brackets

and  placed a piece of

24' foam core over the top

This also prevents my overhead light 

from interrupting a

single light source.

I can have fabric over this 

to drop down behind

And I can also use colored paper

The gooseneck light

 adjusts in any position

from any side.

This shows how 

I can also use the

  sight-size method. 

So there it is. I hope I get a 

lot of use out of it.

Whoo hoo!!

Rose Duo

Rose Duo

detail 

oil on canvas

Artist Note.

This is a detail from a painting

in the M Phillips Gallery.

I am in the middle of moving my 

gallery/studio and into a new space.

Lots of planning, etc.

And I am also working on a 

couple of paintings

but they are not completed. 

Trying to stay stress free.

Presently I have a retail space

right on Main Street, downtown
Las Cruces.

Great location - except they close 

down Main Street without notice

causing a lot of aggravation.

I am still going to be in a building
on Main Street,

but in the next block.
It is an office space with parking 

right behind it.
Nice and clean but a few things
had to be done.
You can see a partition wall was
removed so the two rooms
became one large room.

Then a neutral grey paint painted
on  all the walls. A guild member
is doing all the painting and he has
done a great job.
Thank YOU, Rich!

Here you see the start of
space planning.
My easel in blue,
and white tape for
shelf placement.
File cabinet footprint.

There is a lovely curved wall
in an area I will have for a table
to each lunches at.
I will also have a another
workstation
 along the wall or me
to do demos etc for the classes

I have until the middle of April
to do everything and many
members of the guild
are offering to help.
It will be FUN!

Peacock Feathers With Roses

Peacock Feathers With Roses

7x5in oil on canvas panel  SOLD

Artist Note

The beauty of the rose always astounds me,

but place it next to a peacock feather and real

competition for the top spot happens.

The real dilemma for the artist is deciding

which one wins.

Rose or Peacock Feather?

This is a pick-up from an older post.
Still swamped!

The Old Red Chevy

The Old Red Chevy  (1948)

6x8in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note

The inspiration for this one comes from

the Lets Paint New Mexico group.

February 14th Challenge

see here 

The original photo was of a 

rusty blue truck -

 beautifully rusty - but as the theme 

this month at the Artists Guild 

was on painting

RED 
I thought I would demo

red in the sun and shade.

In my opinion,

Red is one of the hardest 

colors to paint in the light

without going chalky or 
losing its local color and turning
pink
due to adding 
too much white.

 These are the colors I used
for the truck.
Permanent Alizarin
(with a whisper of green
from all the trees around)
to darken into shadow.
Permanent Red and Grumbacher Red
as base colors
then I
added orange with a touch
of Naples Yellow  Light
to make it
even lighter.

The basic principle involved
when painting a dark value like red
is that it cannot possibly go as light
as a middle or light value can. 

The exception being highlights 
or reflective light on shiny surface.

I really admire this painting by Sargent
using all the values of red.
The background is rich, dark red.

Dr. Pozzi At Home
 Hammer Museum, CA
An amazing, life sized portrait.

notice how dark a value

the red in the light is

below

The one below is by Gauguin.

Women of Tahiti, on The Beach
Musee d'Orsay, Paris.

It  is perfect for
showing red in light and shadow 
plus
pink in light and shadow.
Pink can go lighter due to it already
being a lighter
value to start with.

Easy to write about, but not as easy for me to do.

I am always intrigued how the principles
are followed by the masters in every style.

I have certainly picked
the pursuit of lifelong learning.
Does anyone else love the fact
that we  artists can keep
getting better at our craft...forever?

Red Hearts and Sunflowers

Hearts and Sunflowers

8"x 6" oil on canvas panel $140.SOLD

Artist Note

Thinking ahead to Valentines Day.

I have had this terrific vase 

for many years 

and it is sturdy enough 

to hold large Sunflowers. 

Something bright for 

cold days.