"Saints Galore"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

Merry Christmas to all (from my kitchen window sill)!

"Mighty Tasty"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

Loved this image of our grandson taken this summer. When we saw this on the camp website, we stopped worrying that he might be homesick as a first year camper!

Portrait Challenge

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

At the end of year, Karin Jurick offers a portrait challenge for her participating artists of her DSFDF site. I was one lucky artist this year to have been sent this beautiful photo to paint. Karin had suggested doing more than one painting, which was great advice for me, since I was happier with my second attempt (see the original try posted below). I first printed the photo and painted from that, but feel that if I could have had the computer monitor and the easel side by side, it would have been a better reference. I paint in a different room than the office computer, but that's definitely something to work on in the new year.

See some of the first portraits submitted on You Tube! You Tube, part 2, part 3, part 4.

This past Saturday I spent a delightful afternoon with a fellow Dallas artist, Angela Elledge, visiting an outdoor painter's exhibit, and over lunch we were discussing Karin's upcoming challenge. I was concerned about being able to capture a likeness of my photo, while she was equally worried about what to do with a more whimsical photo she had received. Be sure to check out Angela's site and see her masterful portrait. I'm impressed, Angela!

Here is my reference photo.

Okay, didn't I just mention that I was lucky enough to draw a beautiful artist to paint! Wonder why I couldn't be as lucky and win the lottery!

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

This was my first try at the portrait, but felt it was too strong in color for the softness of the subject, so set out for a second attempt with a "lighter hand".

"Santa Fe Vendor"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed masonite

This is one of the vendors from the Santa Fe farmer's market...like I said in the previous post, a great place for "people watching".

"Fall Harvest"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

sold

On a recent trip to Santa Fe we stopped by the Farmer's Market at the newly renovated area near the railroad station. Fabulous produce on display and the best "people watching" in town! These baskets of apples in and out of the shadows and sunlight were meant to be painted!

"Airport Travelers"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Karin Jurick's DSFDF current challenge was this overhead view of airport passengers. And what a challenge it was! Check out her site for the original photo. EVERYTHING was in this mix...foreshortened figures, an overhead light source generating unusual shadows, geometrics, and lots of motion. Karin really knows how to push her followers, not to be confused with "pushy" or is she? Whatever the answer, I know that I am trying all sorts of paintings that I ordinarily wouldn't think twice about, and that is a good thing!

"Pumpkin Season"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Here's the finished product from the value study I worked on about a week ago. I had great intentions of posting all sorts of Halloween subjects...aw...too late...tonight's the night! Happy Halloween!!!

"Stars, Stripes and City Rooftops"

9 x 12

oil on gessoed masonite

Another entry for Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks site! Check out all the other artist's interpretation of her city rooftop photo. Where does she come up with these ideas? I'm always amazed at what Karin sees for a painting, especially this one. But it was a great challenge for dimension and perspective, values and shadows.

Value Study

Here are a couple of steps on working on values. Decided to start these pumpkins with a concentration on lights and darks, shadows and shapes, and reflective light. Just trying to get the values right without worrying about the colors. The ochre background is the result of a "wipe off"..do I need to explain that?

"Colorado Ranch"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

A week in Colorado and New Mexico in October proved to be the perfect time to capture the aspens in full color. Every turn in the road provided another photo or painting opportunity.

Award

Thanks to Silvia Williams for sending me the Kreativ Blogger Award, a nice surprise that was awaiting me after being out of town for a week. Please check out Silvia's blog and enjoy her beautiful watercolors. Thank you, Silvia, for being such a thoughtful follower and especially for this award!

"Sailboats"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed masonite

sold

This is a framed donation to the local fundraiser "Treasure Street" benefiting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Neighbors of ours helped start the event a number of years ago in honor of their granddaughter. October 22 is the night of the event, here's hoping someone likes sailing!

"Le Cupcake"

7 1/2 x 8

oil on masonite

sold

I'm always impressed when other artists photograph their works in progress and explain the various steps until completion. Well, those were my intentions, but only got one photo and before I knew it, I was putting on the finishing touches. So much for "planning ahead"! This at least shows the initial sketch and the start of the beginning shadows in the chef's clothes.

This is a little different "take" for Karin Jurick's current Different Strokes challenge. Be sure and check out the numerous entries of cupcakes. Have been out of town for a couple of weeks, so it felt good to start back painting with something fun and lite!

"Brother and Sister"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

9 x 12

oil on masoite

Recently finished these two paintings of a cousin's grandchildren, the same "models" in an earlier post of the "Siblings". Both oils were done from photographs.

"Lazy Days of Summer"

11 x 11 1/2

oil on masonite

Hope everyone's summer has gone well. It's been hot, hot, hot here in Texas and a lot of people I know have spent some time at water parks or tubing in nearby rivers. This couple seems to know how to "cool off" in the heat of the day.

"The Gift"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

My husband has a golfing friend who works for a nursery and on occasion sends a plant home for me. These gifts are usually at their peak of blooms and seem to always arrive just when I'm looking for the next subject for a painting.

"San Francisco Hills"

3 x 6

oil on masonite

Another one of Karin Jurick's DSFDF challenges. Yikes!

"Are They Biting"

8 x 10

oil on canvas board

Another of Karin Jurick's DSFDF challenge. Started this one with a golden toned canvas and added the fishing theme to her original photo. Wish greens weren't such a menace to capture with a camera.

"Spring Fields"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Another demo from Elizabeth Tolley's book on Landscapes. These are great lessons for working on values, also color formulas. So much to learn!

"Early Morning"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

I have been reading Elizabeth Tolley's book on Landscapes, and this is painted from one of her demonstrations. Am looking into a fall workshop on plein air landscape painting, all very foreign to me, so thought I'd read up on the process.

"Cool in the Shade"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

My granddaughter and I went out for a walk and she ran home the last block, and when I caught up with her, she was "resting in the shade". When I saw her sitting there I couldn't help but think how fast they grow up.

Here is a painting of her that I did about eight years ago right after she learned to ride a tricycle.

Reminds me of an older friend who use to tell her daughter to "stop it", and when the daughter asked, "What did I do?", the mother told her to stop growing up so fast...I think it's time to tell my granddaughter to "stop it"!

"Lifeguard"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed masonite

This is Karin Jurick's current DSFDF challenge, what seems to be a lifeguard on Lake Michigan off the Chicago shoreline. The plan was to paint this in the soft hazy grays of the photograph, but somehow the stronger bolder colors jumped onto the canvas!

"Veggie Stew"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

This painting is from a reference photo on Susan Carlin's blog. Susan is a San Antonio artist and offers lots of wonderful painting advice, including on-line painting sessions. For the next couple of weeks you can follow her travels to Ireland where she will attend a painting workshop. I looked at where she is staying...I want to go!!!

If you are interested in this painting challenge, you can access the photo on Susan's blog where she will post other artist's interpretation. I found the cabbage a very hard color to mix and ended up digging into some old tubes of paint and came across a Cobalt Violet Light which helped. Through lots of trial and error and numerous "wipe offs", I finally settled on the above color, but because of that, I'll never look at a red cabbage the same way again!

Unfortunately caught a glare on the background...black is really hard to capture without it.

"Pink Hat"

8 x 10

oil on canvas panel

Painted this from a photograph that my husband took on a recent trip to South Texas and to South Padre Island. The original photo is on his blog, Jim Rogers Photography...check it out!

"Veggie Plate"

9 x 12

oil on gessoed hardboard

Karin Jurick's current challenge for her DSFDF blog is this plate of freshly picked Georgia vegetables. There are always unlimited subjects to paint in the produce aisle!

"A Day at the Lake"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

The is the smaller "trial run" of the 30 x 40 canvas I painted for my son's office.  It's a view of the lake on the East Texas farm that they enjoyed for weekend retreats.

"Play Ball!"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Taken from one of my grandson's soccer games. Looks like these two are waiting for the whistle to blow to start the game.

"Three Amigos"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Imagine we will see lots of scenes like this now that school is out for the summer!

"Yellow Lab"

8 x 10

Oil on Masonite

After spending some time with family on Memorial Day, I enjoyed the rest of the day painting this yellow lab "portrait"! Guess he should have had on a "stars and stripes" collar in celebration of this special holiday.

"Red Bandana"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

nfs

At an artist workshop last year, it was suggested that we practice different techniques of other artists that we admire. Afterwards I painted the above lab that was inspired by a painting by Cheri Christensen, an artist who incorporates wonderful backlighting in all of her works, most of which are farm animals. A link to her site is on the right. I think you will be impressed with the dramatic results that she accomplishes with the light source at the rear of the subject.

"Pennsylvania Landscape"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Here is another DSFDF challenge by Karin Jurick, from one of her many photos taken on a recent trip through Pennsylvania. She submitted a black and white photo that we could paint with our own value and color interpretation. Having never been to Pennsylvania, I imagine the terrain is much "cooler" than this painting. Guess I've been in Texas for so long that I see everything "hot"! Plus, are there red barns in Pennsylvania? Probably not, I think that's Texas also! The only thing missing is the Lone Star flag painted on the barn roof. Yep, we do that sort of thing down here!

Kreativ Blogger Award

I was very surprised and honored to receive this Kreative Blogger Award from a newfound friend from the blogging community, Liz Holm . If you haven't "met" Liz yet, you are in for a treat. She is an artist with not only incredible artistic talent but with writing skills to match. With the heart of an angel, she will become "your new best friend". Liz is so attentive to her on-line acquaintances, always there for you with helpful advice, and always, always with words of praise and encouragement. Liz has a way of instilling in you the desire to become a better artist. Visit her blog and become a member of her ever growing community. Thank you, Liz!

The award entails linking back to the person who sent the award, listing 7 random things you love, and sending the award on to others.

Seven things I love! Family, Friends, Faith, Travel, any good art and design, a great bargain, and did  I mention Chocolate? There are too many things in this great life to mention, a grandchild saying "I love you, Mimi" for no reason at all, the changing of seasons, a sunny day, a good book or good music, hiking in the mountains or a stroll on the beach, the good feeling after a Yoga class. Hey, that's way more than seven!

There are also way too many great artists in the blogging community to mention, but here are seven that I enjoy following.

Julie Davis 

Trish Siegal

Cathleen Rehfeld

Karen Bruson

Jerry Points

Jennifer Woodburn

Dana Cooper

Thanks again, Liz, and to all of you in the blogging community who are so open and giving with your artistic talents!

 

"Hydrangeas"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

My husband came home with these beautiful hydrangeas. Known to be real showy plants, both of these were just that, full of blooms and lots of color!

"Daisies"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Spring rains have been perfect for the outdoor plants. Thought I better paint the fresh blooms before the upcoming Texas summer heat changes their minds!

"Lake Gilmer"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Thought I was going to be gone for about two weeks taking care of grandchildren whose schools were closed because of the flu, but after packing and then driving about 30 miles out of Dallas, we got a call from our son saying the schools were to be opened the

next day. So...with a u-turn, we were on our way back home! Will miss spending some time with them, but home and a place to paint is a good place to be! The above painting is a smaller version (also slightly different color) of the larger 30 x 40 that is in the works.  The name comes from a lake on the farm, a weekend getaway, that our son owned in Gilmer, Texas...a beautiful piece of property in East Texas. Here is the picture that was the inspiration. I'm still working on a looser style. Why do so many of you, my new found blog friends, make it look so easy? It's not!

"Plants"

Both are 9 x 12

oil on masonite

Nothing like cramming in some painting time when you know you are going to be away from the easel for awhile. Our grandson's school is closing for a couple of weeks because of a swine flu case diagnosed in his building, so the working parents need help during this unexpected "vacation" from school. Knowing that I would be busy with other things for awhile and feeling the need to keep up the "almost-daily" painting, I quickly tried to capture these two flower pots from our backyard. I guess being in a hurry sent me back to old habits, so the paintings are not as loose as I would like. That will still be my goal when I get back "at it"!!!

By the way, do you know how hard it is to photograph a black background? These took numerous attempts, but it looks like I avoided most of the glare!

"Madison Avenue"

4 x 8

oil on masonite

sold

This is another entry to Karin Jurick's DSFDF. She preceded her current photo of New York with a little talk on getting out of your "comfort zone". Well this definitely took me out of mine! Guess that means it's a good thing that I get a little nudge every so often. I felt so out of my element with this one, that I just picked up a small leftover piece of masonite with every intention of "tossing" it when I finished. Before I knew it, I was so "into it", I found I couldn't put the paint brushes down and painted way into the night. A few minor changes this morning and I heard myself saying...STOP, enough already! Thanks again, Karin, for the extra push that you give to all of your fans!!!

"Gathering Rocks"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

Haven't posted anything in days and felt the need to keep the blog going, so am including an older painting I did of one of my grandsons. Thought it looked like he was gathering rocks, but actually I think he was scratching mosquito bites...nothing but Texas size mosquitos around here!

Have been painting, although nothing new to post just yet. Am working on a 30 x 40 canvas (large for me these days) for my son's new office. Hope to have it finished soon!

"Hide and Seek"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

After a trip to the Texas Hill Country a few weeks ago, and not seeing many Spring bluebonnets because of the draught, we later drove to Ennis, about 30 miles southeast of Dallas and drove around their Bluebonnet Trails. The fields were spectacular with "oceans of blue" and could have only been prettier with a sunnier day. Hopefully some of those fields of bluebonnets will turn into paintings. But first I couldn't resist this longhorn who tried to hide every time we got a little closer, as if to say, "Can you see me now!"

"Echo Park"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

This is the most beautiful triangular shaped park right in the middle of the city of Highland Park in Dallas. If you haven't seen the azaleas here in the Spring, it's a must-see! Our family calls it Echo Park because our children used to play in the gazebo and when you stand in the middle, you can hear your echo. Several years ago, our son proposed to his wife in the gazebo, and months later, she had her wedding portrait made here. For their first anniversary, I gave them a similar painting to this one.

"The Gift"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

A good friend, who is also our retired dentist, has taken up wood turning in the last couple of years. After eyeing this bowl, made of maple, walnut and rosewood, he was kind enough to present it to me as a gift. Love seeing it every day, sitting in front of a window and watching the ever changing light dancing on the different colors and shapes. I think it was begging to be painted! I'm continually amazed at other people's hidden talents!

"At the Beach"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

sold

This is the donation that I have given to our church's auction and dinner benefitting our youth mission, the event coming up this weekend. The painting is a more colorful version of the previous post "Siblings". Including the frame does seem to give a more finished look to a painting.