Strawberries in a Cup

12" x 16" Oil on Stretched Canvas
Enough landscapes for a while - back to still life and portraits!  Recently on a Sunday afternoon I selected  a few favorite pieces of glassware  and created "set ups" here in the studio for a photo shoot.  Even with lighting being less than ideal, some of the photographs came out pretty good.  This painting was  started from life and finished using a photo.  Our kitchen has strawberry accents and there was space on the wall just waiting for it!

Summer Workshop

Where did summer go?  Colored leaves are raining outside my window inviting another attempt at a landscape painting!

The three pieces above were painted during the summer paint along on-line classes referenced in the August post.  These were fun challenges and three more  "starts"  from the series are stacked behind the easel that may or may not ever be finished.   While landscape painting will never be my favorite genre, I am now more comfortable diving into nature's wonderful  presentations and have a much better feel for selecting paintable scenes,  handling light and shadow and being ever aware of shapes, clones, and those dreaded "potato rocks"!

Smokey Mountain Mists

                          18" x 24" Oil on Canvas panel

On June 23 I participated in another on line paint along class with award winning master artist and instructor Johannes Vloothuis - Improve MyPaintings.com  The beautiful reference photo provided gave us mist covered rocky mountains to which I didn't particularly relate.  Much more inspiring to look out my studio window and paint these Western North Carolina mountains  so dear to me.  I did use the lower portion of his photo to attempt the underwater logs, fallen trees, etc.  I'm not too pleased with the way these turned out and may return to the easel and make them disappear.  Overall, I'm happy with this one and am learning more about landscape painting with each class.   These classes are inexpensive, at least 6 to 8 hours long and a download is provided for future reference.   Digital downloads are available for past classes for a fee.  Who knows - maybe I might become a landscape painter after all!

Water Lilies

24" x 12" Oil on Stretched Canvas

A spring photo shoot at the Naples Botanical Gardens resulted in a disk full of reference photos and this attempt to paint water lilies with exaggerated water droplets and sharp value contrasts.    As this one progressed, my husband teasingly referred to it as my "shower curtain piece" - Oh well....it's  definitely not ala Monet!

Next maybe it would  be fun to paint  lotus blossoms  with softer edges and a pastel palette. Wait - didn't someone do that already?

LITTLE MISS SPRING

Yea – I’m back at the easel in the mountain studio in Maggie Valley, NC. ! The move is always a bit overwhelming – closing Florida with hurricane shutters and tying all the loose ends! Upon arrival here, there’s family and friends to visit and lots to do in the house and yard…takes a while but we are settled in! Presently surrounded by four "starts" in various stages of completion, I'm enjoying my space!

 A few years ago, the initial inspiration for LITTLE MISS SPRING came from a drawing in my sketchbook - age and source unknown - and a little wicker doll carriage belonging to our daughter in law. Inspiration to now finally finish the painting came with finding a pretty frame and the need for a piece this size for the guest room. 

Grand niece Darian (you've met her before) must have been about three at the time, posed for me while helping her Granna bake a cake. Wearing only Strawberry Shortcake panties (Granna believes in damage control), she stood on a chair bending over the bowl of batter waving a dripping wooden spoon! I did not have her likeness from the beginning and, since this wasn't a portrait of her, didn't strive for it. Maybe this fantasy on canvas is finally finished - am going to look at it for a few days to be sure - and then it's on the wall!

 24" X 30" Oil on canvas glued to masonite

Portrait - Alexis Zibolis

Last year dear friend and award winning fine artist Irene Zibolis flew to Los Angeles to spend time with her lovely, talented granddaughter Alexis, who recently completed her second season starring in the online soap opera DeVanity, winner Best Soap Opera 2011, and who is busy with a number current acting projects!

On her personal website Alexis describes herself as " a silly, vivacious, and unique actress and human being". You can see her resume with lots of photos and video clips here. Via her grandparents I have followed her career since high school beauty pageant days! Kinda makes me feel like a proud "Auntie Rose"!

When Irene asked me if I would be interested in painting this portrait to commemorate their special time together, I jumped at the chance, and grandparents Zibolis are thrilled with their portrait, 20" x 16", Oil on Canvas. Life is good!

Just for Fun

Big Chick
12" x 12" Acrylic & Caran d'Ache on wrapped canvas

Earlier this month I had an opportunity to watch Steven Assael work his magic painting the portrait of a lovely model on a board toned bright red - not burnt sienna but RED! Steven's portraits seem to glow from within and are so very beautiful. Not quite ready to try a portrait on this ground, a larger than life "chicken" succulent rosette was less intimidating! Working in acrylic and without spending too much time, this carefree exercise was fun as I tried not to cover all the red! Who says I'm afraid of color?!!

Zack

14" x 11" Oil on Canvas

Last Easter our son and daughter in law hosted Easter Dinner for family and friends complete with an exciting egg hunt for the children. Twelve year old Zack found a perfect vantage point for overlooking the activities. The sun was kissing his temple and dancing off his hair creating a portrait artist's ideal model.

Zack and his little brother are grand nephews in our extended family. I wanted to see if I could capture the essense of the spring day, the twinkle in Zack's eye, his calm demeanor and his gentle smile. Pleased with the outcome, a photo of the painting was emailed to his mother requesting permission to blog post it. Lo and behold, she loves the painting and the wants to purchase it! How cool is that!!

Zack is holding his sunglasses so this portrait is included in the Shades Series which will eventually be come a book.

Ike for the Man Cave

24" x 24" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas


Last fall A client requested a post humus portrait of a precious pug incorporated within an Ohio State theme as a Christmas gift for her husband and his man cave. Wow - Didn't this sound like a fun challenge?! It was! I visited the man cave - not your ordinary "man sanctuary" - this one is free standing and reached via a boardwalk extending from the house. Accent colors are red, black and grey and it's obvious this fellow is a Buckeye fan! His little buddy had a been a constant companion for eleven years and the man cave was just not the same without Ike's presence. Hopefully this portrait will be a loving reminder of the bond they shared.

I am thrilled they are happy with the portrait and appreciate the photos!

Sun and Wind - Jed

This 14" x 11" oil on canvas portrait was my entry in the 2011 Gamblin Artist Materials Torit Grey Competition.

In a nutshell, every spring, Gamblin collects pigments from their Torit® Air Filtration system. They filter the air around the areas where dry pigments are handled so workers are not exposed to pigment dust. Rather than sending any of the high quality, expensive pigments into the landfill, Gamblin paint makers recycle them into "Gamblin Torrit Grey". Each spring in a Torrit Grey store promotion, through the end of April in celebration of Earth Day, participating retailers give customers a free tube of Torit Grey.

This year my special tube was mailed to me by my dear artist friend Zena King. She is fortunate enough to live near Jerry's Artarama in Raleigh, N.C. You may see all entries including Zena's and mine in the Gallery.

I am happy with the painting and grandson loves it and, while it was not one of the four top winners, all participants received a nice letter from Gamblin's Product Manager along with three 37ml tubes of paint and nice color brochures indroducing their oil paint colors and mediums. Since there is no entry fee - this is a win-win challenge!

Princess

6" x 6" oil on wrapped canvas

This little painting may be seen at Gallery 86, Waynesville, NC in the Haywood County Arts Council's "It's a Small Works Show" through Saturday, December 31. These little studies were fun and have generated many positive comments from friends and family who attended one of the two receptions or otherwise took time to see this special exhibit during the holidays. The reference photo for PRINCESS came from Wet Canvas.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

L'INNOCENSE by Bougeureau (detail)
14" x 11" oil on Canvas


Christmas Blessings and Happy Holidays to my wonderful blogging
friends. Thanks to all who visit and leave encouraging comments!
You are appreciated more than you know and I am forever grateful
for your support!

May the new year bring you peace, happiness and good health with
many creative opportunities!

Since copying the work of "old masters" is a worthwhile self-teaching tool for me, L'INNOCENSE by William Adolph Bougeureau provided the inspiration for our Christmas card this year. Even using a cropped version, it would have taken more hours than I could spare to do this piece justice. An old tube of Shiva Olive Green never before opened was used in the flesh tones. The mixes were interesting and I will continue to experiment with this hue. I do not know the size of the original but would like to download a high resolution photo and paint this favorite again in a large format.

First Merit Award - Faces and Figures Show

A nice way to wind up the year - Christmas commissions completed and delivered and a pretty ribbon and cash award to wrap it all up! I'm smiling! Artist life is good! This show expressing the human form in a variety of media will hang through December 29 at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda and was judged by Florida's Ambassador to the Portrait Society of America, Kerry Vosler. Thanks Kerry and thanks again to my wonderful models, "Morgan and Baby Girl"!

I'm Sorry

6" x 6" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Another little painting currently on the wall in the small works exhibit, Gallery 86, Waynesville, NC.

When our German Shepherd gets into trouble she brings a peace offering , usually one of her toys. She sits and stares pleadingly into our eyes and is, of course, instantly forgiven. When I came across this Wet Canvas photo reference, I was reminded of Jade and her actions thus the title.

Sun Kissed Kitty

Oil on 5" x 5" Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This little painting is one of three currently showing in the annual "It's a Small, Small Work" Exhibit at Gallery 86, 86 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC.

Show dates are November 15-December 31 with receptions to be held November 20 from 1-5pm and December 2 from 6-9 pm. This Haywood County Art's Council gallery is open daily Monday - Saturday from 10am-5pm . All entries are original with paintings not to exceed 12" in any dimension and are available for sale "off the wall" - no waiting.

Wet Canvas provided the reference photo for this little kitty and my two additional entries which will be posted soon.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!