Thursday, May 28, 2015

medium

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I think I have steak on my mind because that is what is for dinner tonight.  Celebrating my 32nd anniversary AND my son who lives in Chicago is coming in tonight.  Yippie!

This painting bordered on being well or over done because I kept messing with it.  I am happy with it but hope I stop earlier in my next one.  Or...dang it....don't put your brush to canvas unless you are sure it is right. I am going for rare. This is painted on a 24 x 24 x 2" linen canvas.

I don't even like steak.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

rectified

 Today's post is a painting that I reworked from a study I did at Nancy Franke's workshop.  I never felt good about the bottle in the original for a couple of reasons.  The bottle was too similar to the pear shapes and I painted it too close to the edge of the canvas. This is painted on an 8 x 10" linen panel that has to be framed so it was a very real factor.  I was happy with the way I painted the pears so I am pleased that I found a nice solution.sold

This weekend I am participating in Art on the Lake.  It is an art show benefitting Children's Harbor .  Children's Harbor provides a retreat for children that are struggling through serious illnesses.  The art show is on the campus of Children's Harbor and the artists are set up alongside Lake Martin .  Patrons come by car and boat.  This is the 10th year for this show and my fifth to participate.  20% of our sales goes to support Children's Harbor so come on out if you are in the area. Saturday 10-5 and  Sunday 10-2.


Friday, May 15, 2015

on her own

I was drawn to the color and light in this photo.  It is painted on an 11 x 14 x 2" canvas.sold

Tomorrow is the Mt Brook Art Festival at Crestline Elementary  athletic field.  25 Vine street, Mt Brook. The hours are 9 - 4.  Please come out and support some local artists if you are in the area.  

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

getting there


This is the first painting I have completed since returning from my workshop with Nancy.  It is so important to paint as soon as you can after doing a workshop.  I am trying to hold on to and practice some of the concepts she taught.  It is NOT easy.  It is NOT easy for her. Painting is NOT easy.  It is a constant learning process.  I have worked very hard to get where I am today and hopefully I am not close to where I am going.   Even though Nancy's paintings look effortless, they are not.  Thousands of hours have led to her effortless looking style. Practice, paint, study and BE patient.  ( I am talking to myself!)
This is painted on a 24 x 24 x 2" canvas.  

Please join us at the Mt Brook Art Festival this Saturday at the Crestline athletic field right next to Crestline Elementary. 9 - 4.  Do not bring rain.sold

Monday, May 11, 2015

breathe

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I have felt a little frantic since I got home from the workshop last weekend.  The song "breathe" by Anna Nalick just played on my Pandora station as I was deciding on a title for this painting.  I needed that advice and I liked the title better than "two onions".  I have been painting a lot trying to keep fresh the approaches that were stressed. I really do need to chill a little.

This was the last painting I did at Nancy's workshop.  We did timed paintings so that we would not get too bogged down.  I always like my paintings better if I don't allow myself to keep noodling.  This is painted on an 8 x 10" linen panel.

Some of Nancy's thoughts and stresses....

"Quick impressions have a spontaneous power and engage the viewer."

"Use a bigger brush, lots of paint, and the result just may be a looser, free-er painting."

"Spend more time looking (yes, while squinting) and less time applying paint.  Mindless brushing will guarantee a weak painting.

The Mountain Brook Art Festival is this Saturday at the Crestline Athletic Field. The hours are 9 - 4.  Come out and see me and lots of other artists.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

something to talk about



I was inspired by Bonnie Raitt's, 'something to talk about" but I really do have a lot to talk about.  I just returned from a wonderful working vacation in Atlanta.  I woke up both mornings before the workshop feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. I was going to get to watch Nancy Franke paint and have her help me.( And give me wine at lunch.)The biggest issue I wanted to improve on was making the area around the  subject matter flow and compliment the whole piece. aka..the  background. The painting above is a 20 x 24" piece I did Saturday morning. Nancy's goal for us was to have fun, paint some free, loose studies and focus on capturing the essence of the things we were painting with out getting wrapped up in the details of the objects. 
  Nancy is one of my favorite artists and I have always admired the freshness in her work.  I think one of the things that leads to this is her limited palette.  She uses cad red medium, cad lemon, cad yellow light, ultramarine blue, titanium white and cerulean blue hue on occasion. I had gotten used to using this palette after working with her in a "painting children" workshop.  I keep my palette fairly close to this most of the time.  I use burnt sienna and a couple of other colors when I am painting animals. 
   I will take the next few posts to share some of her insights with you.  Lots of things are whirling around in my head right now.  I am trying to latch on to some key points that will help me go forward and improve. I really need to go celebrate Mom's day by lying  on the couch but I wanted to get some painting done and thoughts written down. Sold

Nancy painting her first demo.

A redo of a BORING background.  You may like the first rendition but not me.

Lastly.....Happy mom's day!  I am fortunate to have my Mom very much in my life and also to have three wonderful sons.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

bobber

One of my favorite subjects.  A study for a larger painting including his two brothers.  This is painted on a 10 x 20 x 2".

I am headed to Atlanta to do a workshop with one of my favorite teachers, Nancy Frank.  We will be working on painting from life.  And....I get to stay with and catch up with an artist friend Beth!  Good times!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

easy silence

I love the Dixie Chicks song ,"easy silence", and that is what I was listening to as I finished this.  Nice how that works out sometimes.  This is painted on a 10 x 20 x 2" canvas.sold

Saturday, May 2, 2015

headlong

Not another dang cow Carol! I can not resist a good cow face.  I am not supposed to be painting cows right now because I need to paint water themed paintings for an upcoming show.  I photographed this bold heifer the other day close to my aunt's home in west Alabama.  I only had my iphone with me but I still got some good shots. Who would have ever thought we could take pictures with a phone? Or...that we could have a phone with us where ever we went?  I still remember my grandparents phone that was on a party line and you had to wait until someone finished their conversation until you could use it.
This is painted on a 12 x 24 x 2" canvas.sold

Friday, May 1, 2015

high life

 There is nothing like water to bring calm.  Be it lake, ocean, creek, pond, pool or bath.  What a beautiful gift from God!
This is loosely based on some of my friends enjoying the water of Lake Martin. No one is safe when I am around with my camera. This is painted on a 20 x 40 x 2" canvas.  Both of these pictures are a little washed out.sold