"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".