Painting Challenge Day 1

Someone, not sure who, started a "3 Paintings in 5 Days Challenge" on Facebook not long ago and if you are a Facebook user, you have probably seen some fabulous artwork going across your screen. I was nominated to participate by friend and fellow artist Melissa Arthur, CO artist with Texas roots. The idea is to post three paintings, starting with some earlier work and progressing each day to more current paintings...and each day nominating another artists...so you can see how the idea is spreading across the internet.

These three, as you can see, are pet portraits I did several years ago. I still paint pet commissions, so contact me if you are interested! Always fun to reminisce over older paintings, so will check my files to see what comes up tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Christmas Truck

6 x 6

oil on panel

sold

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

"Frida"

12 x 12

oil with acrylic border

sold

We are still so astonished by the hospitality of the entire town of San Angelo during the recent EnPleinAirTexas show, especially the gracious hosts that housed us for the week. I wish I could share with you their spectacular house, decorated entirely with Mexican folk art. As a thank you I have painted this portrait of Frida Kahlo. If you are not familiar with her, please google and find out about her life...she's a real legend in the Mexican culture. Believe me, this will not be the only Frida in our host's home! I'm sure I saw dozens there!

The portrait is painted in oil with the frame-border serape design in acrylic. 

Thank you Lori and Pat for your hospitality! 

"San Angelo Collage"

Here is a "taste" of the paintings I had in the San Angelo En Plein Air Competition Show. Wow, what a week we had here in West Texas. This was the inaugural event and because of the outstanding promotions, organization, sales and acceptance from the community, I feel sure this will be an annual event.  Feel very fortunate to have been in the show with so many talented artists from around the country, even France. Next goal...getting accepted in the judging next year!

The first day as I was painting the above train, I was approached by a local news agency, interviewed, and was featured on the evening TV news. How cool is that!

All the artists were wined, dined and introduced to the entire area by way of planned paint out locations, including the downtown area which includes the Concho River and Fort Concho, beautiful residential area with homes dated from the early 1900's at the time of the Santa Rita oil discovery, a beautiful winery in the small community of Christoval, and two days of painting on area ranches (truly West Texas country). Think rocky terrain, live oak and mesquite trees, cattle, goats, cactus, oil and gas wells, lots of areas only approachable with a four-wheeler.

All in all, a fantastic week of painting, meeting all the West Texas charming people of San Angelo, and mixing with fabulous artists from around the country.
I'm sure I'll be posting lots more about this first time event!

"Play Ball"

12 x 12 x 2

oil on stretched gallery canvas
sold

This is a donation for auction to Treasure Street, benefiting the Scottish Rite Hospital here in Dallas. The hospital does wonders for children with disabilities, which is especially dear to my heart since I had a brother who was a paraplegic all of his life. He was the director for Easter Seals in his area and always gave more than he received. He was very active in promoting handicap access to public buildings, and I always think of him when I see ramps and cuts in sidewalk curbs. Hope this little "eager to play puppy" will be of some help for a very deserving child.

Thinking of you, Buddy, love you and miss you!

"Dog Days of Summer"

4 1/2 x 12

oil on canvas

Purchase

Something a little different...have a Happy Labor Day Weekend! 

"Creek Bed Discoveries"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas
sold

A good part of the fun in painting is trying to capture the feeling that you had the first time you see a scene that intrigues you, and trying to keep that freshness that drew you in, in the first place. I was driving across a country bridge when I spotted these two boys, stopped the car and took a couple of photographs, thinking about how much fun they were having on this summer afternoon without a care in the world. Then there were screeching tires, and a mom yelling that she had been looking all over for them, get home immediately. Oh well, end of their fun....and mine too!

"Happy Hours"

9x12

oil on canvas panel

sold

This is a commission painting that I did for a client in Monteagle, Tn. "Happy Hours" is the name of this summer home, and seemed very appropriate to paint over the fourth of July weekend. Can't you just imagine the fun times this family has on that screened-in porch. 

If you are interested in seeing a great youtube about Monteagle, here is a link to the video that my husband put together after his photography workshop there. Photos are his students as well as some of his own taken during the week we were there. Enjoy the music as well as the photos!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kioriYtmKKs  

"Orange and Sunflowers"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Sold

I've been concentrating on plein air paintings so much lately, it was nice to do something different. 

I have an upcoming plein air competition event this fall so will still be getting ready for that, but hope to do more fun pieces like this as well...altho, believe it or not, this too was painted outside from a still life set up. 

"Til The Cows Come Home"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Spotted these guys on a ranch outside of Dallas. Seems as they were very curious about me as I was determined to take their photograph. Found the back lighting on this late afternoon especially interesting. 

"White Rock Stables"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Had a great day out with some of my painting buddies for a day of plein air. White Rock Lake in the middle of Dallas offers wonderful painting opportunities away from the hustle of city life, not only the lake and boats, but hiking and bike trails, and a real hidden jewel is the stables. 

Wasn't sure how this photo would turn out, seems I've misplaced my camera charger, so took this was taken with my iPhone camera. Think it's pretty close to the original painting. Have new batteries and charger ordered so will retake when they arrive and compare the two photos.

"Heidi"

9 x 12

oil on stretched canvas

commission, sold

Meet Heidi, a friend's Schnauzer, and truly the "queen bee" and love of her family. Guess most family pets fit into that category! I had a ton of photos to paint from, but knew immediately that this was the pose that stood out of all the rest. She does look very queenly and proud of herself, don't you think! 

"Power to the Bluebonnets"

9 x 12

oil on canvas panel

Purchase here

Spring is the best time to head south of Dallas to the Palmer/Ennis area to find the bluebonnets in bloom. Met several other plein air painter friends there last week to capture the beauty of our Texas state flower in full bloom. The rancher whose house is in the background came out to visit with us just as we were setting up. There is a designated Bluebonnet Trail in this area and the property owners are more than generous and welcoming.

Someone said that if you are a painter and live it Texas, you HAVE to paint the bluebonnets...it's the law!!!

"Hill Country Shadows"

16 x 20

oil on canvas

The hill country in Central Texas offers the most beautiful views!

"Hillside Siesta"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Knew immediately as we rounded a corner on a country road in the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee that this "had" to be a painting. Sometimes scenes just "speak to you"...I love when that happens!

"South Rim"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

This is my first view of the South rim of the Grand Canyon. It is so spectacular, no one can prepare you for the vast beauty, ever changing with light movement. 

We visited this past fall, and would have loved to have lingered longer for more photos, but the winds were blowing at 40 mph which made the temps freezing cold. Definitely not a good idea for getting too close to the edge. 

It's been fun revisiting this day, but in a warm studio. Hope you enjoy!

Barn at White Rock Lake

9 x 12

oil on canvas

Painted this barn on Goforth in the White Rock Lake area this past Monday when the temps were in the 70's. Can't pass up a plein air day like that in January. Today we are in the 20's, and so goes Texas weather. And a big thank you to all the welcoming neighbors who came out to see what our group was painting.

"Buddy"

6 x 6

oil on panel
sold

A Christmas gift commission for a friend's granddaughter, hope it was a hit. I was told that Buddy always has his tennis ball, so that had to be included in the painting.

8 x 10

oil on canvas

sold

Another commission, headed to Tennessee.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Wishing you a new year filled with good health, happiness, and good art!

Christmas Greetings

6 x 6

oil on panel
sold

Wishing everyone a very Merry "Doggone Good" Christmas as we head into the last week of this special holiday!

"Young Indian Girl"

8 x 10

oil on canvas panel
available at Adobe Western Art Gallery

This is the last of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days. Had some interruptions this month, mainly internet connection, so didn't get the full 30 in for the challenge. But have learned a lot, painting more regularly and trying new techniques. 

There is no end to the art journey, it's a constant learning experience! 

Thanks for following along!

"Pueblo Girl"

8 x 10

Oil on canvas

A  young beauty from the Indian pueblo.

"Fuel City Longhorn"

8 x 10

oil on canvas

sold

Several of these guys live between two expressways in a grassy space behind a business called Fuel City. A nice bit of "Texas" right in the middle of the big city!

"American Indian"

8 x 10

oil on canvas
available at Adobe Western Art Gallery

Here's another addition to the 30 Paintings in 30 Days. Unfortunately, we had a break in our phone and internet cable last week and we were without service for several days. So that's my excuse for not posting lately! Have been painting, just not posting to the blog. I think we forget how dependent we are on technology these days until something like this happens. 

"Boxer"

12 x 12 x 1 1/2

oil on stretched gallery canvas

sold

Half way through the 30 Paintings in 30 Days, # 15!!! What does this boxer have to do with the Indian theme of the challenge...absolutely nothing!

"Tribal Leader"

8 x 10

oil on canvas

 Day 14 in 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

"Cowboy Fan"

8 x 10

oil on canvas

Painted with several friends the other day and we had Raul, wearing his Dallas Cowboys hat, as our model. It was 'one of those days' and my painting was a disaster, so to prove to myself that I could do this, I painted this portrait when I got back home as a challenge to myself. 

This is #13 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

"Cactus"

8 x 10

oil on canvas-$95

Click to Purchase

 Day 12 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days. This was painted from a photo taken inside the garden gates of the Alamo in San Antonio. Loved all the shades of blues and greens accented by the cactus blossoms.

"Indian Village"

8 x 10

oil on canvas-$95

Purchase here

One of the benefits of painting often is trying new things with technique, style and color. Feel like I "mixed it up" with this one in a more abstract way. Fun to try something different. This is #11 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

"Straw Hat"

8 x 10

oil on canvas

The is painting number 10 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge, which means I'm one third of the way through this challenge. Guess by the look on this guy's face, he's not as happy about it as I am!

"Dog"

8 x 10

oil on canvas-$95

Click to Purchase

I know that my 30 Paintings in 30 Days theme is the Indian and the West. Well, this looks like an Indian dog...right?

"Indian Territory"

8 x 10

oil on canvas-$95

Click to purchase

It's been a week now since the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge started, here is entry number eight.

"Pigtails and Feathers"

8 x 10

oil on canvas

Day 7 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

"Papoose"

8 x 10

oil on canvas
sold

This mother and child painting is entry number 6 in the 

30 Paintings in 30 Days. I'm also including the block in

to show the beginning stages and some of the values in the 

early stages.    

   

"Feather Headdress"

8 x 10

oil on canvas
sold

Day 5 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

"Turquoise Necklace"

8 x 10

oil on canvas

It's day four in the "30 Paintings in 30 Days"!

"Brave"

8 x 10

oil on canvas-$95

sold

Day 3 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Warm Blanket"

8 x 10

oil on canvas
available at Adobe Western Art Gallery

Day two of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days. Thanks for following along on this challenge with Indian and Western theme.

"Chief"

8 x 10

oil on canvas
Available at Adobe Western Art Gallery

Well, here I go again! You might remember this past January that I participated in a painting challenge, 30 Paintings in 30 Days, offered by a California artist, Leslie Saeta. She is sponsoring this again for the month of September. I found this to be a huge "growth experience" and couldn't resist another try! I found that a theme was much easier to follow for the process. Did ranch inspired paintings last time, and as you see here, you guessed it...Indians and the West this time. I'll be heading to NM and AZ this fall, so have this idea in my head. Will definitely be prepared for the Wild West when I get there!

Hope you will follow along with the other artist as well, almost 350. Click on Leslie's name above to see the rest of the participating artist's work.

Again, my apologies if my followers find this "too much" in your mailbox each day. I'll give you a rest, and myself, in October! Thank you so much for "following", you give me much encouragement!

Birdhouse

I know this seems a little "crafty" for an oil painting blog, but wanted to show you what I have been asked to paint for a donation to a fund raiser. The event is called A Feathered Affair and benefits TRAC, Trinity River Audubon Center, here in Dallas. The birdhouses, about 25 that will be stuffed with gift certificates, will be auctioned off during a reception in October.

When a friend saw a photo of what I had painted, she said in horror, "You put a cat on a birdhouse!!!" I know....what was I thinking???

   

Here are a couple of more views showing the painting on all four sides.

"Doctor's Office-1895"

9 x 12

oil on canvas

This is one of my entries in the plein air show at the Dallas Heritage Village. Need a doctor? This is where you would go in the late 1800"s, complete with examining room, operating room and pharmacy all in one place.

The art show will be in October at Heritage Village, I'm sure there will be some great plein air paintings in the exhibit.