Jason's home in Chicago

 

    

I'm back... Here's Steinberg......

Sorry, folks, it's been a long while since I've posted..... I wasn't able to figure out how to get the photos off my iphone and onto the blog.....         Oh, Whoa is me.....

     I've been busy with commissions, and having a great time in my studio, when I can get the chance... (the garden is looking a little forlorn with a new, terrible weed this year)  Anyhoo, I think that by emailing my photos from phone to email I can then retrieve them to the blog...YAY !

     Here is one of the newest paintings I've worked on, and the picture of the new plein air setup I was able to purchase because of the commissions I've been doing.... YAY, again !
    This is a commission of the Steinberg Skating Rink in St. Louis' Forest Park.  It is one of 2 that were commissioned of the facility by the manager of the rink.

Steinberg skating rink- update

     The person commissioning the painting asked for a few more skaters.  Here's the final draft for the painting, which will be quite a bit larger.  This one is only 11 x 14...

     More skaters, a good idea, I think..

Steinberg skating rink

     Here is a small study for the larger painting commission of the Steinberg skating rink in Forest Park, St. Louis.  We have a wonderful park, right inside the city, with great facilities that are used by citizens constantly.     The Forest Park began with the 1904 World's Fair, which was hosted in St. Louis.   Our Art Museum, Muny Opera and fabulous St. Louis Zoo are three main attractions. 
     The one buying the painting wanted the hospital buildings in the background.  Steinberg is very close to one of the city's main streets, Kingshighway, with it's row of great hospitals. The one to the right is Barnes, where I was born.  
     My friends and I would skate every Saturday at this winter rink.  Great memories.....

Maplewood shadows

 

          I thought I'd change it up a little, making the empty space at the end of the driveway the focal point of this one.....   I really enjoyed the shadow play on the side of this red brick home in neighboring community of Maplewood.   These trees against the light background were a challenge, for sure.....

Tuxedo Park

  

 

  I have taken lots of reference photos, walking down the sidewalks, scanning the various views..... People that are outside on their porches, or on their lawns usually notice that I am there, I never felt any need to be sly about what I was doing.   While taking this photo, the man from across the street was pulling out of his driveway, made a U-turn and came back around to stop next to me.... He rolled his window down and said, "What are you taking pictures for?"   He then asked me if I tried to come back to the homeowners and sell them the paintings, which I've never really done, except for the time I participated in the 'Paint Webster' event last year....I don't know if it's curiosity, so much, or fear of strangers...
     Anyway, most of the pictures don't get used.  It's really hard to get just perfect shots to use, but this one I really loved the shadows on the side of house, and the way the sunlight was catching here and there....

Sweet spot

     I had lots of fun at the ribbon-cutting yesterday for the new Kirkwood business called 'Sammysoap".   My artwork is for sale there, and it's a great new little shop in the heart of Kirkwood, Missouri on Argonne across from the landmark train station.    Sammysoap is a for-profit business which was created to provide jobs for developmentally challenged adults.   Their products are made right on site, and they plan on distributing them nation wide.   The soaps they make, dozens of kinds, are great, thoughtfully produced from natural organic materials, and smell great and make your skin feel wonderful ! 
     I was able to meet most of the local business owners in the area, and talk with lots of new friends about the 'arts' in our community.   I got excited about getting involved in the community art functions.   I've never been to a 'ribbon-cutting' before, and it was fun being part of it !

     Here is another of my "Webster" homes in our community.   This one I changed the original view just a bit by re-locating a tree !

Windows into the past

     I live, and was raised in a community which contains many century homes.  Owners take much pride in displaying their certified plaques next to the front doors, telling of the history of these dwellings.  While taking pictures one sunny day, I ran across some very interesting homes, and hopefully will create some paintings of these 100 year old beauties !

     I'm working bigger and bolder, using more color, and trying to get more excitement and energy.  Here's a new one, 11 x 14, from a photo I took in Webster Groves a week ago.   Lovely community with big older homes, many with Century placques by the front door.   Having fun with warms and cools, too !

Saturday studio

     In order to open the doors of the gallery where our show is presently hanging, several of our plein air painters have been doing a bit of studio work.   I started this a couple of weeks ago and gave it a finish yesterday, setting up with the same light conditions.  The ceiling are probably 15 feet high and the huge windows give incredible light for painting still-life.

Kentucky Dam Village

      This painting is from a picture I took while my husband and I were in Kentucky with my sister and her hubby.  The guys played some golf, while we went antiquing and shopping for quilt fabrics !  It was a fun trip staying in the village in a condo and cooking meals together.  Fun stuff...

Silver compote

     Does anyone still use these compotes?  I found 2 of them at a garage sale that had tons of pieces of old silver, that nobody wants to polish anymore.   We went to a Christmas House Tour today, in a little town in Illinois, where they had LOTS of old things like that, that people still treasure !
     I guess it's all a matter of 'perspective' and 'priorities',  Ha Ha !
     It makes a nice addition to a still life, though, with it's reflective qualities.....

Breakfast room still life

     I finally found the best place in my house to paint.... and it's not in the studio.  I love the natural light that I get in the back of the house... (I have LOTS of windows, but they aren't facing the right direction in the studio).    The breakfast room does NOT get used that much, either, so I think I'll set up there, when I can.   I kind of discovered this while my granddaughter was sleeping in the studio, and I had to look for another place... ha !
     The silver water pitcher was an idea I got from a still life a fellow plein-air painter set up a couple of weeks ago.  I loved the reflections she got in her painting.... Thanks, Dawn !

Little 'lady organics' from Whole Foods

     I thought these were so adorable, I had to buy them.  They are all two-toned, and very, very, small.  I've never seen them before, but they are called 'organic lady'.  I haven't tried to eat one, I just had to paint them, though..... (That's how some of us think.... ha !)

Trader Joes Sunflowers

     I set this up in the breakfast room, so I could paint while my granddaughter is napping in the studio.   That's the only time I paint sitting down.  This one was fun...
 

Paintable pears

     Shapely, colorful pears practically paint themselves.... It takes me awhile to pick them out at the store.  I guess people around think I'm a bit nuts, I look through all of them... put a few aside.... reexamine them for shape, color, stems, etc.   then pick the 3 I want to buy.... I feel like I need to tell people they are for a painting, cause they are looking at me in a strange way... HA !
    

persimmons

     With snow on the ground, it's a little hard to plein air paint for me.  I set this up because I love the look of persimmons.  They are fun to paint, now I guess I'll have to figure out how to eat them.

"Dorothy"

     I started this at the gallery on Saturday, where my plein air painter friends and I did a bit of studio painting.  The gallery is not usually open on Sat., during the day, so we decided to paint and open the doors, so visitors could come and look around.  We had quite a few wander in, including some friends, and chatted and showed them the exhibit.  Here's the painting that I finished up when I got home.

Lafayette Park houses

     I almost finished this painting, DID NOT like it.... because it was 'too tight', so this morning I just started completely over.  This one I'm happy with.  The only reason I'm putting myself through this is because it's a commission.   With every single painting I LEARN something.   It's amazing how at my age (just had a birthday, #68) we can all learn SO many things, if we are open to it !  Life is so cool, that way... Each new day we can start again, and reinvent ourselves.

Plein air at Lafayette Park yesterday

     I was enamoured by this wonderful tree.  The house started out in the dark, and later in the day it began to lighten... Darn, I was already done painting.  I did like the way it turned out, even though my hands were freezing by the end... ha !