"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.

"Diana's Temple"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Here is another entry to Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different Folks. The statue is a companion to Diana, and I chose to place her in front of Diana's Temple. I now see why this is called a challenge, working all in one "color" on the figure and trying to get the tones just right is definitely a challenge. I had to take several photos of the painting and still didn't get the exact match. The reds came out too strong in the photo, but changing that made too much of a difference in the rest of the picture. Oh, well, like I said, "it's a challenge!"

"Happy Easter"

8 x 11 1/2 (nfs)

oil on canvas board

Now that we are in the middle of the Easter holiday, I thought it was appropriate to post this painting I did a number of years ago. In fact I had originally painted this for an auction donation at my son's college, but due to a car accident, I never made it to the auction and neither did the painting! I have since had it reproduced as a print and it has been used in greeting cards and also as framed prints, usually for baby gifts. Happy Easter!

"Girl's Best Friend"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

sold

Camera, always in my purse, captured this photo at one of my grandchildren's soccer games. I was impressed by how much this young girl loved her beagle, spending lots more time paying attention to her pet than to her younger brother's game.

"Siblings"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

sold

This painting is from a photograph of a cousin's grandchildren. Found it a good exercise in monochromatic tones in the clothing, also movement in the wind.

"Three's a Crowd"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Couldn't resist capturing the unusual coloring of these apples!

"Almost Stew"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

More inspiration from the produce isle! Had several good days of painting with "models" from the grocery store.

"Almost Salsa"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Another painting from the grocery store produce isle. My husband loves to keep homemade salsa in the refrigerator and this was just before the "chopping"!

"Beach Family"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Several weeks ago I discovered Karin Jarick's blog Different Strokes from Different Folks. Every two weeks Karin posts a photo for other artists to paint and submit their interpretation of her photo. This is my first entry to her site and look forward to seeing "what's next"! I have found the network and support of other artist on the web quite incredible.

"Red Peppers"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

There is a wealth of subjects to paint from the grocery store and I have done several new paintings after spending way too much time in the produce department, trying to decide what would look good on a canvas as well as on the dinner plate! These peppers became a delicious roasted red pepper soup!

"Annie and Bella"

8 x 10

oil on masonite

Annie and Bella live in our neighborhood and "sit in the lap of luxury" as most of ours pets do! They were great models for their portraits.

"Rainy Days"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

I'm sure every artist is constantly trying to improve their style, and my attempt is always to "loosen up" my strokes, to have a more impressionistic, softer feel to the subject. When your natural instinct is to be detailed and linear, you keep that inner voice saying, "simplify, less is more, use those lost and found lines and minimal number of strokes". I think this background is getting "there"!

"The Reader"

9 x 12

oil on masonite

Our granddaughter loves to read and never shows up at our house without a book. I loved capturing her at our breakfast room table one morning, the morning sunlight highlighting her features.

"Ready, Aim,..."

9 x 12

oil on masonite

If you are an artist viewing this, you know how sometimes you can work on a subject for hours just hoping to capture the moment, maybe even put the brushes down and try another day. Well, for some reason, this painting just "flew" onto the canvas. These are the times that keep bringing you back to the easel. I loved this moment when our oldest grandson was learning about gun safety from his father and uncle...the first BB gun shot.

My first blog entry!

Here are two street artists from the Montmartre area in Paris. A couple of years ago my husband and I were touring the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and afterwards walked through the town square in the village of Montmarte. It was filled with artists at work, some painting from photographs and others using live models. I thought these paintings captured the Bohemian lifestyle of the French art colony. They are both 8x10 on gessoed masonite.