Sleepwalking

     This reminds me of the middle of the night, when I can hardly make out the shapes in my own house, as I wander to the kitchen at 3:00 in the morning.   Sleeplessness is baffling, and bothersome, but not so much that I'd take a medication for it.... ever.  The moon is sometimes surprisingly bright.  Bright enough to read my book.... who knew?
 

Mediterranean abstract

     Reminder of the beautiful blue Mediterranean sea, the red sunset, and the hint of focus, in the darks.

"Illusive"

     These are challenging, although you might not see why.  They require a different type of "educated eye" to evaluate and work to get the desired results.....
"things that make you go, Hmmmmm"
 

In Progress....

     I had fun starting a couple of bigger ones this morning.  I need to let this one steep a little while longer, to see if I need to add something besides a signature.   Any suggestions? 
 

Abstracts in oil--- such fun

     I've been exploring abstracts, and having a ball.  I need lots of canvases to work on, and I work spontaneously, backing up every now and then, to see from a distance.  I've also been working flat on the table, getting a sense of a series, with freedom to move from one image to the next.
     It is so much fun, and it is so illusive.

     I just looked up that word, and it gets confused with elusive, which could be applied here, too....     
      Illusive- based on illusion, Elusive- something that is evasive (hard to catch, or obtain)

Anyhoo, I digress:  These are exciting, and you're never quite sure if you've "got it" or not.   With a realistic painting, I know whether or not I've been successful, but with these, it's all emotion, which is exciting, but hard to judge.   I'll let you be the judge, and I'll just keep doing them. (like a quote from Andy Warhol)--"It's not your job to say whether it's good or not, just go back in the studio and keep creating art"   (not a word for word account, but pretty close.)
     I'd love your comments on these, if you could leave one for me... thanks

fun with acrylic experimentation the last few days......

     I'm toying with the idea of big abstractions.  I'm exploring some techniques, getting my juices flowing.  Fun, fun, fun, I'll have to say that !
     Acrylic inks are fabulous, made by Daler-Rowney.  I've had them for a long time, and never played with them before.  I especially love the pearlescent ones !

     Next I'm going to work on collage, and abstractions, too.

Tibet #152

     I tried something new this morning... (the dark outlines are something I did probably 35 years ago)... Anyhoo, I thought I'd do a painting of a picture from our daughter's travels to Southeast Asia, China and Tibet a couple of years ago.  She is a photographer, and now a photo and art teacher at her old high school.  

Sunlight in the vineyard #151

     I think I should be able to put the finishing touches and sign this tomorrow.  This one really took some serious time, but I love the way the light captures the forms here and it seems to logically move your eye around the painting... another 30 x 40 !  I'm getting to like working BIG ! ha ha

Peony #150

     Brought out my new, bigger brushes for this one.  They make such a difference.   Bigger, sweeping strokes, like I love to do.    Expensive, but worth it, I think..... (plus a 40 % off coupons !)
     This tree peony is a 30 x 40, too.   

My tree peony #149

     I tried working bigger today.  Actually, I couldn't sleep last night, and got up to paint, sketching the whole painting in by about 5:00 in the morning.
     I started with the color, and worked from about 10:00 to noon, when I had to leave to go out to take down some paintings from a gallery in town.  (The owner wanted me to just move them, and leave them there, so I was happy about that.) 
     I came home, and I worked on it before dinner, and I think it is finished now.  I don't want to overwork it.   

      I'm so used to working in the 6 x 6, and 8 x 8 size, I decided to go with a 30" x 40" today !!

p.s.- this is a tree peony from my yard.  Sometimes the blossoms can get as large as 7" across !

Fruits of my labor #148

My paintings today.....  I did wipe one, too.  (got an early start)  ha ha

 

 

Sunflower/gerbera demo #147

     Here's the painting I did yesterday, as my demo.  I was working outside, with my new easel, at the Webster Groves, Mo. 'Art on the Town' event.  It was fun, with music, art, kids' activities, and lots of food.  The local dance studios participated, and entertained the visitors.  It was the first time I had done a demo and I didn't realize how much stuff you have to bring along.....
     I had lots of traffic and great people in my booth.  I made some sales, too, and even got a couple of commissions.   A really fun experience, that I plan on doing again next year !

Plein-air #146

     Since I'll be painting on site next weekend at the 'Art in the Town' in Webster Groves, I thought I'd better get my easel out (I'd yet to use it) and see if I could set it up.... Good idea, right?
     I also needed to see exactly what I will need to bring along.... I discovered I'd better pack a pair of gloves and some kleenex, if  it's chilly like it was today.
     Here is my very FIRST attempt at plein-air painting.  I see why it's so challenging.  The light keeps changing !  I suppose that's why lots of artists take reference photos, along with their painting, so they can go back to the studio and tweek the shadows and highlights, if necessary !
     I enjoyed the whole process, and plan on doing a lot more plein-air work !

 

 

Sunflower trio #145

     I'm working to get back into the groove of my daily paintings.  I've been busy lately, and haven't been at my easel, except for my travel paintings.  I did enjoy painting them.  They gave me some unique challenges, that I learned alot from.   I think there is another travel series of some kind in my future....
     Nevertheless, I DO love painting flowers, and they are readily available at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, not too far from my house, so I'll do my best to get reaquainted with them.... ha ha
     Here's the first 'keeper', since I wiped out the first two.   Painting is certainly a life-long learning process for me !

SOLD-Someone's Christmas gift this year.....

Husky the Muskie... #144

     Husky is a giant fish sculpture in Kenora, Ontario.   I never saw it in person, but my son says it's pretty cool.....

  His official name is "Husky the Muskie"

Just love the red patent leathers.  Wish the girls still would wear these, I'm afraid they are a thing of the past. 

Asian Marketplace #143

I loved the color and composition of this one.  A bit challenging, it took alot longer than some others.  I'm happy with the final painting, though.

Mary Janes for my sweet grandbabies.  I have 3 little granddaughters.  Their shoes are so adorable.

I love apples, especially the pink ladies I find at our local Whole Foods... yum....

     Here's another one from the succulent series that SOLD at the Green Door Gallery in Webster Groves, Mo.   Both paintings actually sold to the same buyer....  

SOLD- and off to a new home.  From the Green Door Gallery in Webster Groves, Mo. 

Lake Tahoe #142

     Couldn't sleep, so started on this pic of Lake Tahoe, for Vivian's travel series, for her bedroom.   I've never been there, but Jim and Amy have, and they said it was beautiful.    Maybe someday we can go there, too !  Until then, this will have to do.... ha !

Thailand girl #141

 An updated version of the girl from Thailand.  After posting, I made a few changes, so here is the final painting.

Thailand ? #140

This scene is from one of the many countries my grandbaby's mom has traveled.  It's been awhile since I started this series, and I can't, for the life of me, remember where it is.     I know she's traveled to Thailand, so it might be there.

African Elephant #139

I've always enjoyed drawing and painting elephants.  I did many during my teaching days, both in pencil, colored pencil, and paint.   I really love the massive body shape, how it fills the page, how powerful the shape is, and the use of color from sunlight and shadows, etc.... (I really do love elephants, too, they are regal animals, I think)

     This one, in an 8 x 8 format, is for my granddaughter's bedroom, as part of her world travel series.  I hope some day she can see one on a safari, in the wild.

African Zebra #138

     I finally got back to my cool, I mean COLD easel, and got another painting done for my newest grand-daughter, Vivian.  I'm doing this travel theme series for her wall, because she will be a traveler soon..... or so her mommy and daddy say, so here is a zebra from her mom's trip to Africa several years ago.   I had fun with it, but it was a challenge to keep the stripes believable, and yet use soft edges to give the overall looseness of the painting.  What do you think ??

???

Venezuela beach #137

 

Another in the series for our new (yet to be born) granddaughter.   I wish I had been there, but Jim and Amy have.

Lone cypress #136

We spent a year on the Monterey peninsula with our family back in 1988, while my husband was attending the Naval Postgraduate School there.  We have such great memories of that year with our kids. Tracey was in 4th grade, Ted in 6th, and Jim was a sophmore at Monterey High.  We all met friends there that we still have in 2013 !
     This is another in the series for the new grandbabies wall. 

The Painted Ladies #135

 

San Francisco favorites, they line the edge of Alamo Square a couple of blocks from where our daughter used to live.  For any of you old enough to remember, they were shown at the start of the old  TV series, "Full House", which our daughter used to watch.