Morning Glories

 

Morning Glories 

8”x6” oil on Raymar panel. $150. SOLD

Artist Note

I started this one plein air in my friend’s yard.

(It was when I painted the pomegranates.) 

They were a beautiful 

purple color 

but as I didn’t take any photos 

I had to resort to some old pics

from a few years ago. 

Georgia O’keefe painted several paintings 

of morning glories and had one where she 

positioned this delicate flower

next to a large Ram’s skull! 

I have never forgotten the painting. 

Such an unexpected pairing. 

Any comments?

 I could not find a secure link

for you to visit 

Rams Scull and Morning Glory

But if you have nothing to do you may want 

to look it up and 

find out the interesting symbolism. 

Stay safe please. 

 

Watering The Glads, Vermeer and a series of changes

Watering The Glads

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

Artist Note

This is the second in the 

month-long focus of 

painting the figure

inspired by, but not copying,

 a famous painting

This one is inspired by

The Milkmaid

by

Johannes Vermeer.

The position is what I am after.

I saw this painting a long time ago

and the milk coming out of the jug

blew me away.

This was the start -
a demo for the class.

First, a sketchy start

 from an image in my mind

of my daughter watering her Gladiolus.

Next 

some interesting changes...

Someone asked what she would be like
if she had a fuller figure... like
Vermeer's woman.
I scraped it down leaving a ghost
and started to paint.

adding some weight on her,
I altered the hat, added
more paint everywhere
and developed the watering can.
Remember this is a demo.
Group opinions!
And then the next remark was
what would happen if I
had a white dress and darker background
Unfortunately, I did not photograph
that one so please pretend the one below
had a white dress first.
Verdict...much to stark
 even though I loved the
colors of her dress in shadow

I went back to the warm
 color harmony but the dark
background changed the light.
Sheesh - all under the scrutiny of
The guild members.
By this time I could have
thrown it out of the window...
except for no window in the studio!

So I scraped it off again and did a sketch

Me in my apron!
and that is what led to this painting

All inspired by Vermeer's Milkmaid.

Guess what...

I scraped this off!

Sorry I did it now, but for some reason

the receding hairline on the woman in

Vermeer's painting fascinated me 

and after class

 when everyone had left

I scraped it off and 

painted this on the same board.

 What did I learn from all these changes?

Lots. 

I did better when I posed myself

in front of the mirror and drew
a value sketch.
(More contemporary.)
Knowing the color harmony
ahead and sticking with it
would have helped and although
coping the idea of a pose from a
master painting
is a great learning experience,
it is not as easy as it sounds.
One thing remained constant
during all these changes...
and that was what blew me away
after seeing the original.
Did you notice it?

The Knitter

The Knitter
8”x6”   Oil on canvas panel. $150.
SOLD

Artist Note

The figure is the focus
this month at the Artist Guild.
We started off building
from the stick figure
for the first week, moving into
incorporating the figure
in a painting inspired
by another artist’s work.

The one below on the left
is by Norman Rockwell.
I know it is
totally different from how I paint
but that is one of the goals -
to look
for inspiration
and not an exact copy.

I liked the position of the woman
at her task and the chest behind.

I have memories of my
mother knitting most evenings
and that influenced
a lot of my version. 

Without showing them 

side by side

would you have ever have guessed

the source of

my inspiration?

Another Long View.

Looking toward the Jemez, NM.  

6”x8” oil on canvas panel. SOLD

Artist Note

Like in the previous post, 

this is another “long view.” 

This time it is a high dessert

area between 

Santa Fe and Albuqerque. 

I love the drive. The views are amazing. 

and throughout the many years of traveling

I have never got tired of it. 

This was painted on a overcast day. 

The view was so vast I could see it raining

in several areas at the same time. 

Sometimes the rain never touched the ground.

Interesting ground shadows 

were cast from the clouds

Best of all... there were no trees to block 

the beautiful long view!!

Poinsettia Celebration

Poinsettia Celebration

8x6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note

This painting was one of a little series

of holiday-themed paintings.

the gallery had asked for.

They all sold fast so I just 

finished another one I have given them.

It is a 6"x6" gallery-wrap canvas

so it stands or can be hung.

 Sides are painted red.

If interested, please call the 

M Phillips Gallery

575-525-1367

This is my last post before Christmas.

My hubby and I are off to visit my daughter

who has a husband in Afganistan.

I am looking forward to seeing her 

and all my grand-pets.

I wish you all a very 

Peaceful and Blessed Christmas.

Be safe.

New Mexico Kitchen Sink

New Mexico Sink

8x6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

I am on vacation and, yes...thank you...I am

enjoying a very relaxing time. 

We have been visiting wonderful friends and

I have painted every day

This painting is a re-post from 3/13/13

Off to visit son #1 today in his new home. FUN!

Hubby at home guarding the fort!

Artist Note.

It was Lisa Graham who sent this comment on

my last post of a Chili Ristra hanging by a door.

"Whenever I see a Ristra I always think of an old

Mexican kitchen with a large window over

the sink and shutters. 

Then I want to make enchiladas."

I could see the image she created so clearly in my

mind and this is what I came up with.

As this developed entirely from my imagination,

it kept on growing when I added items as I

recalled them. Most likely from the many,

many kitchens I have been in in Mexico and

El Paso.

Hand painted tile, no granite. No dishwasher.

Garlic and Chili Riestra's hanging by the window.

Tomatoes ripening on the windowsill.

Casual flowers or pretty weeds in a jar.

If she painted it...

Lisa's version most likely would have a plump,

motherly type rolling out the flour tortillas.

All painted in her wonderful unique style.

See her work HERE

Thanks for the inspiration, Lisa. I enjoyed

painting this.

Artists Studios Online Tour - A Blog Carnival

This is a fun blog happening. Marla Laubish came up with the great idea of having several bloggers do a little bit about their personal studios.
Have you ever been curious about where an artists creates? Yes? Me too. I am really going to enjoy the privilege of being invited into other artists studios.
Some of the artists will also be offering giveaways. Neat deal.
I hope you take the time to visit them. if you are busy then one or two a day can make for a wonderful week of studio visits.

Marla Laubisch	Carol Schiff	Kaethe Bealer	Jo MacKenzie
Michael Chamberlain	Charleen Martin	Sally Binard	Jacklyn Karabaich
Sharon Graves	Sea Dean	Johnna Schelling	Taryn Day
Julie Ford Oliver	Sarah Sedwick	Kim Rempel	Cindy Michaud
Joanne Grant	Carmen Beecher	Cindy Williams	Cathy Engberg

MY STUDIO.

It is too messy to show you. Yes, I admit to feeling too embarrassed to let see what it really looks like. Every so often I go on a cleaning binge, swearing to keep it that way... and then I get so caught up in painting, in no time at all it is back to what it was. Sigh. I see gorgeous immaculate studios and go green with envy.
By the way, I keep my house neat. Go figure.

I am blessed to have an enormous studio next to the house. The previous owner had a bar, Pool table , weight room, ham radio room and storage room. It is 1700 sq ft.  This is a painting I did of my water bottle on a TV tray including the surrounding studio space. 

The large room is split into two areas. Behind the screen is my large desk, water cooler and shelves. To the right is the entrance to another large room. Go past that and there is a framing room. In the front of the still life I have my very large easel with a crank, computer, printer AND... drum roll...exercise bike!  It is a valuable addition to the studio. When stuck on a painting I get on and pedal furiously while thinking about the problem. I do not always get a solution but do feel better for the exercise.
Behind the easel is a large mirror which is absolutely invaluable. I spot my errors - especially in values much easier with it. It is a mirrored closet door so has handy little wheels to easily move it. I have a high window so the natural light is cast downwards. Over my easel are two Verilux 48" florescent bulbs -  perfect lighting when dark.. The wall along to the right and out of view, has thin shelves to prop my paintings on to dry.  Next to the mirror are my brushes. Blushing at so many. (I have been known to part with a few to university students who cannot afford good ones, but not easily so cannot take credit)
This is a very short video I made of my collection of brushes.

Here are even more brushes. These are my watermedia brushes. I have a different area in my studio for my watercolor and acrylic

Below are shots of my different areas. Frames -  objects - canvases -flowers - books - more props.

I have so much stuff and I have another studio too with more still life objects for the classes

Over the years I have used the kitchen table, a bedroom, garage and have even rented an apartment for a studio. This one is the largest of them all and the one I feel most comfortable in. It has not necessarily produced the best paintings so size has nothing to do with that!

For my give-a -way I offer this watercolor

Farmer's Market Radishes

5x7in watercolor on acid free paper

OR

4 chances at getting a Fracturing Handy Tool

Please let me know which you would prefer and the reason why.  I will have my hubby, Jim, select the ones he likes best. He is more impartial than me.

I thank you for taking the time to visit my studio.