"Saints and Santa"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard panel
sold

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with hopes of a lot of saints and santas in your holiday!

This past weekend the Outdoor Painters Society held their annual Christmas lunch and a "dirty Santa gift exchange". Over 30 artists attended and brought an 8 x 10 painting wrapped in brown paper, which were promptly traded and exchanged until all packages were opened. I am happy to show you my "gift" from pastel artist, Nancy Bozeman, who I had just met on a recent OPS paint out in the Palo Duro Canyon. Hope you'll visit Nancy's website and enjoy her other beautiful pastels. 

"Colorado Indian"

8 x 10

oil on gessoed hardboard

sold

At the end of August this year we were fortunate enough to be in Estes Park, Colorado for the Plein Air Rockies 2011 show. One of their paint outs included this wonderful American Indian model in full native dress, which was only enhanced by the brilliant warm sunlight.

"Late November"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

This was painted en plein air on the last day of November near a small lake next to our neighborhood pool. Because of the lack of rain in our area this year, the colors have not been as vivid as in past years but still beautiful with the late afternoon sun on the fall leaves.

"Low Water Crossing in Palo Duro Canyon"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

There were several low water crossings on the road in Palo Duro Canyon and this one caught my eye during the paintout with the Outdoor Painters Society last weekend. I set up just off the road where I was soon joined by two other plein air artists, several hikers, dirt bikers, other tourists, a white bearded gentleman from Florida who was in the area to play Santa at a nearby mall, and eventually a flock of wild turkeys. Never know who or what you will run into on a plein air outing!

"Palo Duro Canyon"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

The Outdoor Painter's Society planned their monthly meeting in Palo Duro Canyon this past weekend. Often referred to as The Grand Canyon of Texas, the state park is south of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. It is said that wind and water erosion continues to widen the canyon even today, so I imagine that it is much wider after this weekend's high winds! Fortunately there is a scene worthy of a painting in every direction, so the goal was first to find a spot that had some wind protection. This is my first afternoon's painting where I was able to set up right next to some stables. 

After the six hour drive from Dallas, I knew I only had a small amount of time to paint before the sun started to lower behind these beautiful cliffs, so I used a Anders Zorn's limited palette of cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black, and titanium white, plus ultramarine blue. The beginning of a great weekend with so many talented plein air painters! 

"Brown Lab"

Oil on moleskin gessoed paper

nfs

Finally back to painting after being away from the easel for a number of weeks while we were doing some updating on our house. This is my entry in Sharon Hodges book for our Texas Moleskin Round-Up. Check out the link and see what other artists have painted in these unique moleskins.

Thought I'd include a photo of the new studio/painting area we created. There was an outside atrium that we enclosed for my painting space, originally planned to be a separate room, but as we progressed it seemed better to open up the area to the kitchen. Have great light with the window at the top of the existing brick wall and have also included a light well in the ceiling, a good substitute for a sky light. The armoire stores most of my paints, brushes, etc. The open concept will force me to "stay neat" instead of just closing a door on a painting mess. First painting "done" in the new room and am looking forward to many more!

Artist Critique

Yesterday I received an unexpected email from Tony Moffit with Artist.Blog.Critique. Here is a review of his comments in reviewing my work, please check out this interesting site and discover what he has to say about other artist, listed on his left side bar.

Tony's kind words have left me a little speechless, but flattered. Thank you, Tony, this is just the kind of encouragement one needs to continue growing as an artist in hopes of producing even better work.

On another note, a second great "happening" yesterday was receiving the People's Choice second place award in the Associated Creative Artist show with one of my entries, "Mountain Stream". I have been studio-less lately as we have been doing some updating in our kitchen and adjoining studio area, and the only paint I have seen lately is out of a gallon can! But the end of the dust has almost settled and I'm looking forward to setting up shop soon!

October Pumpkins

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas

sold

Haven't posted in ages and felt like this painting was just the one to say Happy Fall! We are in the midst of updating our kitchen, so I've had a paint brush in my hand but it's been for cabinets and walls! My painting area is on the edge of this "mess" so have had to abandon the oil paints for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to getting set up again before too much longer. In the meantime I hope you all are enjoying this Fall weather and I wish you plenty of sunflowers and pumpkins in your days ahead!

"Eulogy Sunset"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Eulogy, Texas, doesn't that sound like a town's name out of an old western novel? Well this is my second plein air painting from the OPS paint out in Glen Rose this past weekend. Friday afternoon we all went about 10 miles south of there to a ranch in Eulogy to paint and later have a barbq. There was a "painting waitin' to happen" in every direction you looked in this beautiful part of the hill country.

"Barnard Mill"

8 x 8

oil on gessoed hardboard

The Oil Painters Society met this weekend for a paintout in Glen Rose, Texas, about 1 1/2 hours drive southwest of Dallas. The temperature has finally cooled off a little after our record setting hot summer, so we had a super turnout for the plein air event, almost 30 really fine artists! It was exciting to be in such great company. The first morning a number of us painted Barnard's Mill next to the Art Museum (notice the stone building to the left, typical of Hill Country architectural material). The Paluxy River flows just behind the mill, or at least it would flow if it had any water in it. Lack of rain and the extreme heat have left a dry river bed for now. 

"Pathway to the Top"

oil in moleskin book

This is my latest addition to the Texas Moleskin Round-Up project, created especially for Linda Popple's book. Her theme is to paint whatever gives you joy. This scene is looking out over the Texas Hill Country from the highest point in the Fredricksburg area. 

"Dorsey Lake"

8 x 10

oil on ampersand hardbord

My second plein air painting in Colorado is a scene of Dorsey Lake at the entrance to the YMCA grounds just a couple of miles west of Estes Park. I'm still using a limited palette of ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson and cad yellow light, and white of course. 

"Near Mary's Lake"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Just got back home from a couple of weeks in Colorado and New Mexico which was a welcomed relief from our continual 100+ degree days. While in Estes Park we attended the Plein Air Rockies 2011 event and met the most talented artists. Although not participating, I did manage to get out and paint a couple of times. This is my first outing near Mary's Lake just south of the town of Estes Park. 

"Mountain Stream"

9 x 12

oil on gessoed hardboard
sold

More landscape practice in preparation for some plein air painting in Colorado. Cooler weather coming soon! Painted from a photograph from a previous trip to Estes Park.

"Aspen Pathway"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Hoping to do a little plein air painting on an upcoming trip to Colorado and New Mexico, so am trying my hand at landscapes again for a little practice with the greens and earth colors. Am mainly sticking with a limited palette of cad yellow light, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue and white. I earlier did an extensive color chart with just these three tubes of paint and white and amazed myself with the broad range of color. Now if I can only translate them into a painting. The painting journey continues!

This was painted from a photograph taken on a hike in Estes Park a couple of years ago. 

"Hill Country Thistle"

9 x 12

oil on gessoed panel

sold

While visiting friends in the hill country of central Texas, I spotted this field of thistle on an early morning walk this past Spring. There is a painting around every corner in that area so I know to always have my camera with me. Painted this on a red ground in hopes of subduing so much green.

"'Holy Cow"

oil on moleskin

This is painted in Kay Wyne's moleskin book, with the theme of Holy Cow. What a wonderful collection of cows she will have at the end of this project. If you haven't checked out our Texas Moleskin Round-Up in awhile, be sure to see some of the most recent entries.

"Do Not Disturb"

16 x 20 

oil on stretched canvas

sold

Can you really train a dog to not get on the furniture, even when you're not looking?

"A Day At The Beach"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

I painted this beach scene that was fashioned after a similar painting by deceased Dallas artist Helen Cuthbertson. I know very little about Helen or her work except that my daughter in law and her twin sister collect her paintings. I was fortunate to find this one at an estate sale and was thrilled to have found it a few weeks before my daughter in law's birthday which was today. Ever gotten a gift for someone else and really wanted to keep it for yourself? Well, that happened to me with this painting, but did the right thing and gave it away, but not before painting a smaller version for myself. The framed original was painted on a 16 x 20 canvas. Now we'll both be happy with our new works of art!

"Hydrangeas and Holland Tiles"

20 x 24

oil on stretched canvas - available at Dutch Art Gallery

                                       


Actually planned to photograph a sequence of this painting but only managed to get the original set up and block in (both included). Somehow I got so involved in the process, I forgot to stop and take  more photos...but you get the idea. Love these hand painted tiles from Holland, they were a "find" at one of my estate sale jaunts, but haven't installed them yet...someday they will find a permanent home!

"Lining Up The Putt"

20 x 24

oil on stretched canvas
sold

Here's the finished golfer that I posted last week in the beginning stages. The first post showed the block in, and using only a combination of burnt siena/ultramarine blue the value ranges were laid out. I usually paint in the alla prima style but worked on this for several days. What fun to finally add the color!

"Wanna Play?"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

available at Dutch Art Gallery
sold

How can you resist when a dog brings you a ball and looks up at you with that "wanna play" stare?

On the easel

Haven't posted anything recently, but have been painting. Thought I would show what's on the easel now in the "sketch" stage. Painted on a 20 x 24 which is a little larger than what I've been doing lately, mainly because of my small studio area. Looks like I'm creeping out into the living area of the house!

"Estes Park Stanley Hotel"

6 x 6

oil

sold

If you've ever been to the town of Estes Park, Colorado, you are certainly aware of the Stanley Hotel where Stephen King's movie The Shining was filmed. The first time we drove into the area, we saw traffic backed up, with cars pulled off the road, only to witness the most beautiful elk standing on a hill right in the middle of town with the Stanley in the background. Hollywood couldn't have produced a more beautiful site!

"Watermelon Reflections"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

Carol Marine continues to come up with great exercises for the DPW weekly challenge! This was a photograph that was presented upside down. By painting in this manner, one focuses more on shapes, values and colors rather than a certain object. This was especially challenging with all the reflections and then the reflections of reflections, do you see all that? It's always a pleasant surprise when you finish and finally flip the painting right side up! Try it, it works!

"Garden Gate"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

This is a plein air piece painted on a recent OPS outing, the garden gate from the B&B where we were staying in Fredricksburg.

"Fresh Cherries"

6 x 6

oil

The DPW challenge this week is The Balance Challenge submitted by Cathleen Rehfeld. Lots of fun entries to check out!

"Little Ranch Hands"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas
available at Dutch Art Gallery

A couple of young guys at a local rodeo, dreaming of the day that they will be ridin' and ropin'. Loved painting these young boys, makes me think of our two sons...how quickly they grow up! 

"Confetti Gift"

6 x 6

oil
sold

After being out of town for a couple of weeks and house guests after that, I hadn't painted in about 3 weeks so it was fun to get back in the grove with the DPW weekly challenge.  

"Hill Country View"

9 x 12

oil on canvas board

Painted on the last day of the OPS paint out in Fredericksburg.  We had the most perfect location with these incredible views at the Tonkawaya Ranch, noted for being the highest point in Gillespie County. Would love to go back and spend a week there taking in the most breathtaking scenery, and that doesn't even take into consideration the fifteen longhorns grazing throughout the hills. What a true Texas experience! The Howard's were extremely generous in opening up their property for the artists. The is a view facing west, can you just imagine what the sunsets must look like!!!

''I'm Looking At You''

6 x 6

sold

Dreama Tolle Perry submitted a cat photo for this weeks DailyPaintworks challenge. Having just finished a "dog portrait", I just kept on with one more cute fuzzy critter! 

"Cowgirl"

oil on moleskin paper

This painting has been done for Angela Elledge's book for the Texas Moleskin Round-Up. Angela and I were out painting en plein air one day when her daughter stopped by the park with their dog Cowgirl. How Texas is that! Couldn't resist snapping a few photos of this precious pup, which resulted in my moleskin entry for Angela's book. 

"Sliced Orange"

6 x 6

oil

Here's another small painting for the DailyPaintworks vegetable challenge for the week. Oops, just realized this is a fruit, hope that works!

"Radishes"

6 x 6

oil

sold

DailyPaintworks challenge this week is Paint Your Vegetables, a subject that I love to include in most any still life. A trip to the produce aisle in the grocery store conjures up all sorts of painting ideas. After a few days of plein air, this was a fun project for a rainy day!

"Near Luckenback"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

This past week Outdoor Painters Society had a paint out in and around Fredericksburg, Texas. This was painted on my first day, just down the road from Luckenbach. On driving through the small community of Luckenbach (by small, I mean post office, general store, beer stands and lots of picnic tables), we encountered a good number of bikers preparing for a rally over the weekend, but, sorry, no sightings of Willie and Waylon!   

Self Portrait en Plein Air

oil on canvas sketchbook paper

Normally don't do self portraits, but that's the Daily Paintworks challenge this week, so tackled this from a photo my husband took of me painting en plein air. Remember when we were younger and talked of older people as "blue hairs"...OMG, I looked at this painting and realized that I R 1 !!!!

"Can You Hear Me Now"

8 x 8

oil on gessoed hardboard

The Daily Paintworks challenge this week is a photo of a windy day in New York City taken by Linda Popple. Carol Marine, who started this weekly challenge, sent out a call for ideas and Linda provided this photo. Such a typical scene these days as we all try to stay connected. Check the link for all the different interpretations!

"Rainy Day in Rome"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

A couple of years ago on vacation my husband and I stopped at this cafe in Rome and enjoyed lunch under the umbrellas on the left, unaffected by the afternoon showers. The rain stopped just as we finished eating and when we left the cafe I turned around to take the above photograph. Great memories!

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!

"Caged In"

8 x 10

oil on stretched canvas
sold

Carol Marine of The Daily Paintworks has a "chicken challenge" for this week, which gave me the chance to paint these guys that I photographed about a year ago in Monteagle, Tennessee. We stopped by a local flea market and there was everything from toys, farm equipment, typical garage sale items, locally produced honey, horses and lots of smaller animals in cages. We are going back this year and hope to be there again on market day!

"Colorado in October"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

It's just the first part of April and already 90 degrees and humid, makes me wish for this cool October day in Colorado. Painted from a photograph taken near Pagosa Springs.

"Down The Road"

6 x 6

oil on panel

The Daily Paintworks has another challenge this week by Carol Marine, this one of a winding road in the German countryside. She provided this photo with lots of color and late afternoon light and shadows.  A nice way to have a quick trip to Germany!