Almost Caught Up! (3 more!)

#105 - New School Jitters (Back-to-School Challenge)

I took this picture on Jackson Square (French Quarter, New Orleans) back in the spring. I've been wanting to paint it ever since, but because I'm really not a figurative painter, I haven't tried. What better time to do it then "A Challenge!"

There was actually a whole group of children; apparently, they were on a field trip, all lined up in their matching uniforms. They were there for soo long that they all looked just miserable! Boy, remember those days!?

Sold

I posted two others that aren't really numbered DPW pieces. This first is one of my larger pieces that I just finished (link below for the story behind it).  It's called Cloud Farming:

$750

Click here for more information

Here's the other one: It's called Cabo Girls (click link for story).

$550

Click here for more information

Three Fog Paintings

Ok. Back again in my catch-up mode. Next 3 (drum roll, please........!)


#100 - Fog I (DPW Fog Challenge)

This was painted for the weekly challenge. I gessoed the canvas panel a couple times with a lightly tinted gesso (with purple and umber), then sanded in between to try to smoothen it a little. As you can see from the picture, it didn't work that well. Something you might not be able to see in the photo is that the water is a hint warmer than the sky. I used cerulean and raw umber, and alittle sap green for the tree line. Oh, and obviously (and mostly) titanium white. A fun, maybe 10-15 minute painting. :)

$30

Click here to purchase

#101 - Fog II 

The fog was a fun challenge, so I had to do another one! This one took longer to photograph than paint! 10 minutes to paint, 1 hour to photograph! haha
Same palette as first one. No pure white.

Sold

#102 - Fog III

Ok, so I had to paint one more fog painting that day. This challenge was just too fun!
Thanks, Leanne! :)

I ended up getting a lot of comments on this one. Sometimes when you paint something, you don't know whether you really captured what you were trying to capture. Apparently, I did on this one. Ya just never know!

Sold

Painting Walls and Huddle House

Sold

#069

People always talk about how painting is therapeutic, how it's relaxing, reduces stress, and gets the endorphin's going. Most of the time people are referring to artistic endeavors involving oil paints, watercolors, pastels, canvases, brushes, etc. But, I've been painting walls -- with gray paint, of all colors -- and found it almost comparable. Almost! If it weren't for the limited palette, one brush and one roller, the last two weeks of painting might have felt as rewarding as when a painting turns out better than you expected. AND, I'm really on top of my trim game now! I must say, my technique has really blossomed... come into its own. No need for painter's tape here! 

Above is a painting of my husband paying the tab at our local Huddle House. It's down at the foothills, and one of the few places to go for breakfast if you don't feel like "dressing up" or driving too far. At HH you just throw on a hat, a favorite sweatshirt, and your most comfortable jeans (belt loosened, of course). It makes the grits and country ham taste even better that way!

And no, I can't think of a connection between painting walls and the HH (in case you were expecting me to draw some sort of conclusion at this point). But, if you think of one, let me know. 

Study

Click here to bid!

#068

One of the main reasons I started doing daily paintings, is to help with my larger pieces. (I was getting bogged down, too tight, and loosing the "fun" inspiring part of painting.) Trouble is, I've had so much fun with the daily small ones that I've neglected any of my bigger work. Art shows have been coming and going and I have little new to exhibit anymore. MY BAD! Time really does fly when you're having fun. Anyway.... I've had a painting sitting in my studio for months .... ok, a year ... almost finished, with people asking about it. (It's part of a fairly popular series that I started a few years ago ... ok, maybe a decade.) 

Anyway... trying to get back into my larger works with this study. (Obviously) there's a hand in the painting. I had my husband pose for this. What I learned:  1. The positioning of this pose will work... mostly.  2. I need to add a lot more shadowing, and accentuate a very warm top-down lighting.  3. The cool shadows will have to be warmed up.  4. The inside of the hand can be softened.  5. My husband has an extra fold between his top two knuckles on his index finger! (How'd I miss that?) Guess I'll have to soften it or eliminate it entirely. The fold, that is. :)

Happy Painting!

Five O'Clock Somewhere II

Click here to bid!

I was so excited about the results of bowl games yesterday that I couldn't sleep last night! Well, it's true... but it's also an excuse for posting a painting I actually did a couple of years ago.  The other excuse is that I spent all day packing away Christmas decorations, dismantling mantles, and sweeping up pine needles. I hurried with these chores, but somehow the day got away from me and there was no time left for painting.

This painting was painted (roughly) from a friend's photograph taken in a hotel lounge somewhere in Toronto, Canada.  I completed a series of paintings from her "bar top" photos, and from time to time, still paint from these awesome references.  This one is on a wrapped canvas so the painting actually continues around the side for 2".  It measures 18" x 18", and is still one of my favorites.

All these days off for the holidays, and now it's the weekend! Hope yours is great!