Day One Hundred-Eighty Nine

'Spring at Last'

6 x 8 oil on panel
90.00 + 4.00 s + h

I thought Spring would NEVER get here, this year. We"ve had a very long, cold winter, and I'm glad we've finally seen signs that Spring is here. This is commemorate that fact, and utilize the jonquils in my garden... very hard, I might add !
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Day One Hundred-Eighty Eight

'Coral Floral'

6 x 6 oil on panel
80.00 + 4.00 s + h

I love to sew, and I buy lots of pretty fabric for quilts, and little girl dresses, pillows, etc. I picked up some great fabrics, like this one to use in still lifes, too... Just one more excuse to buy all these cool fabrics. This was for the white painting challenge on the Daily Paintworks site. It was kinds tricky to get the colors right, but it was fun, too.

Day One Hundred-Eighty Seven

'Sunday Morning'

6 x 6 oil on panel
80.00 + 4.00 s + h

Anyone for coffee? I love the old vintage 'avocado green' cup, with it's saucer. I found it at Goodwill, I think. It was very challenging, because I had so many greens to contend with.... the main 'body' color, the two different colored stripes, and the shadow color. I hope I pulled it off. I was sure fussing a lot with it, which I want to get away from... I'm hoping my Carol Marine workshop in August will help me stop doing that !!

Day One Hundred-Eighty Six

'Sunlit Glow'

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This is the last of the bigger paintings to show you. It too, is acrylic, and 24 x 38.

Day One Hundred-Eighty Five

'Tree Peony"

This painting was done awhile back. It hangs in my son's diningroom, and is 24 x 38. I used to work big, and I enjoy that too, but, daily small paintings are fun from the aspect of experimenting and learning new techniques. This one is also acrylic, instead of oil. (I personally love oil the best !)

Day One Hundred-Eighty Four

'Home Grown'

6 x 6 oil on panel
80.00 + 4.00 s + h

The thought and sight of sliced tomatoes reminds me of my mom. She grew these in her garden... In fact, that's the only thing she grew...and she loved to pick them, slice, salt, and eat them while they were still warm from the sunshine. I'll never forget how delicious they tasted. She would make a meal, like a lunch, out of just sliced tomatoes. They always tasted better than the store-bought ones. I still love them... AH.... memories.....

Day One Hundred-Eighty Three

'Native American Woman'

6 x 8 oil on panel
90.00 + 4.00 s + h

I've always been fascinated with faces like this one. All the wrinkles and strong values make them interesting. The wisdom, I think, shows on their faces. This woman, to me, looks very wise.

Day One Hundred-Eighty Two

'Floral light'

24 x 38 acrylic on stretched panel
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This is a painting I did awhile back. Actually I was recovering from surgery on my hip at the time. My son has this in his kitchen.

Day One Hundred-Eighty One

'Mr. Lincoln'

8 x 8 oil on panel
100.00 + 4.00 s + h

I took the Daily Paintworks Challenge to paint the traditional photo of Mr. Lincoln, our 16th president. This is the picture you've seen hundreds of times, but while studying it to draw and paint him, he became more of an actual human being. I tried to search his soul, in his eyes, to discover the icon that has become a symbol for freedom in our country. It was a priviledge to take part and post my painting.

Day One Hundred-Eighty

'Keepin' it Simple'

6 x 8 oil on panel
90.00 + 4.00 s + h

After loads of detail, I thought I'd try for something simple, and straightforward today. I enjoyed the unusual little bowl, although it was challenging to get the shape. Plums are also a lot of fun !

Day One Hundred-Seventy Nine

'Saddle Oxfords'

8 x 8 oil on panel
100.00 + 4.00 s + h

Back in the day all kids had to learn to tie their shoes, and that was a big accomplishment. Learning to make the bow was always a bit of a trick, to get it just right, and be able to pull it tight. With straps, velcro, and elastic, some kids don't ever have to learn it !

Day One Hundred-Seventy Eight

'First Saddle Oxfords'

8 x 8 oil on panel
100.00 + 4.00 s + h

Do any of you out there remember wearing these? They were very popular when I was in school. We had ones called 'Spaldings', and mine were brown and white... They were also a bit of a challenge to paint... especially the laces... serves me right, I used to make my students draw shoes with laces as a sketchbook assignment !

Day One Hundred-Seventy Seven

'Crazy Color... with lemons'

6 x 6 oil on panel
80.00 + 4.00 s + h
SOLD
I almost drove myself crazy with this background fabric, but I think I like the results.... Challenges are, as Martha Stewart says, "A Good Thing"

Day One Hundred-Seventy Six

'Banana Bonanza'

8 x 8 oil on panel
100.00 + 4.00 s + h

I love the sculptural aspect of a bunch of bananas. (I love to eat them, too !)

Day One Hundred-Seventy Five

'Vine Tomatoes'

6 x 8 oil on panel
90.00 + 4.00 s + h

I've been working with background fabrics lately, and find they give loads of color and interest, but are very complex sometimes, and time consuming to paint. Do they add or distract? what side are you on?

Day One Hundred-Seventy Four

'Apple stripe'

6 x 6 oil on panel
40.00 + 6.00 s + h

I've been out of the groove for a couple of days. Numerous problems with scanners, computers, electricity in our house, etc..... Never a dull moment... but, seriously, Gotta get back to it, NOW !!! Tomorrow it's 'Katie Bar the Door !'

Day One Hundred-Seventy Three

'Gabby'

This is one of the few baby paintings I've done. This little one was just waking up while I was doing photo portrait studies of her mom to paint.
Gabby is the cutest little girl now. She's 5 or 6, and is the granddaughter of my sister's husband.

'Loutrece'

A sweet, shy girl, Loutrece is great at Drawing. I had her in both the Drawing 1 and Drawing 2 classes. I hope she is doing well, wherever she may be !

'Mary'

Mary used to wear the bonnet for the sake of her mother, from the Mennonite tradition. She no longer wears it, and is in college. I see her occasionally on facebook. Mary is a VERY special, sweet, smart, and super young woman...
This portrait of mine was always one of my daughter's favorites, so it hangs in her apartment now...

Day One Hundred-Seventy Two

'Alex'

One of the best artists that I've EVER had in class, Alex is a 'natural' ! He is so creative, and such an incredible craftsman, whether it's 2-D or 3-D. Amazing ! such a great kid, too. Although, the hair is gone now.... He's one of our United States MARINES !!!

'Megan'

What a natural beauty, when she was in school, and now that she's in college, I see her on facebook, and she's even prettier.... She's a DANCER, too.... (some people get it ALL !!! -that's Megan !)

'Alana'

Alana was my cadet teacher, helping me with classes, giving out supplies, helping with duties in the classroom..... I don't know if she went to school to get her certification or not. Sad that I've lost track of her... Great Kid !

Day One Hundred-Seventy One

'Eddie'

I love our wonderful, funny, sweet, mailman. He WAS going to retire, so I asked him to pose for a picture (I didn't say I was going to do a portrait of him) and I presented it to him... As it turned out, he had to keep working because his son lost his job, so Eddie can't retire just yet! He is such a doll, all of us in the neighborhood love him !!!

'Becky'

Becky was my student, and so was her cute younger brother. She was in my Art foundations class, and later took the Drawing Classes from me, and then one called 'Applied Design', where students learned, collage, altered books, to knit, and lots of other stuff... what a doll ! Becky is going into Art Education, too ! they make me so proud !

'Amanda'

What a cute, spunky, girl, full of personality and charisma ! She has such a unique style about her ! She's gonna go FAR !!!

Day One Hundred-Seventy

'Otis'

12 x 12 oil on stretched canvas
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Otis was a student of mine, and his portrait was one of my series from my retirement show. These paintings were 12 x 12 oil on stretched canvas with painted edge. Most of this grouping were either sold or given to the person in the painting.

'Latoria'

Latoria, another student, had several paintings done of her. She was a great subject. This painting is for sale at a local gallery in Webster Groves.

'Brittany'

Brittany has graduated and is in college studying secondary art education... yay !! she is so talented and sweet and will make an excellent art teacher !


The reason I'm posting these is because we will have no electrical power today(they are redoing our electrical box) so I thought I'd better do this while I can !! As soon as the sun comes up, and I have enough light in the studio I'll paint !!! hooray !