"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!!!