Threesome and the Universe

"Threesome" 4 x 6" Oil on Canvas Panel
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My granddaughter, Emma, loves strawberries and comes to play with Grandpa on Tuesdays.  So we always have strawberries in the house on Monday.  These babies are pretty good sized!

After our painting session this morning June and I took down our exhibit at the LAC Art Center in Lakewood, and as I was packing up I sold two paintings.  First thing this morning we had to pay our rent at the studio, and the sales of the two paintings were exactly the amount of the rent.  How serendipitous!  Funny how the universe works.  I like my brand of physics.

Happy Halloween!  And don't eat too much candy

Autumn Galas 5 x 7 Daily Oil Painting

"Autumn Galas" 5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Gala apples are my favorite! Sweet but tangy and crunchy.

I seemed to be yawning alot today.  Maybe it had to do with our trick or treat adventure last night.  We accompanied our son and family to Old Town Arvada for visiting the local shops for "treats", and viewing costumes on little ones and adults alike.  Our little one was dressed up as a ballerina/princess.  She wouldn't wear her tiara (smart girl) so Daddy wore it over his stocking hat.  Got lots of giggles from passers-by.

Cold Hands and Breaker Switches

"Pear in Blue Cup" 5 x 5 Oil on Gessobord
SOLD

This painting almost didn't happen today except for the tenacity somewhere in my bones.  We had no heat in the studio and it was below freezing last night.  And the space heater we used last year keeps tripping the circuit breaker and we end up with no electricity.

The landlord did come around and ask "How's the heat?"   We just said "What heat?"  The thermostat for our unit (#1) is located in another unit (#4).  That unit is being renovated for the reflexology tenant moving in next week.  We used to be able to go in and adjust the heat, but since it is now rented...that's a no-no.  Guess we'll be knocking on the reflexology lady's door next time we need heat!

Going to Old Town Arvada tonight to trick-or-treat with Emma.  Guess I'll be freezing tonight too!

"In Honor Of" 4 x 4 oil on Gessobord

Haven't painted an apple since Steve Jobs passed....so "In Honor Of" a quirky personality and a brilliant mind..

Yes, it's true, Denver is preparing for 6-10" of snow on Wednesday.  Go figure...it's 80 degrees today.  One of the things we did to prepare is to get the fireplace cleaned and ready for the first logs.  Thanks Hubby!

Floating and Displaying Small Oil Paintings

7 x 7" frame from Art City Frames on Etsy
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Table Top Easel with a 5 x 5" painting
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This method of "floating a painting" is easy.

Floater Frames
"Floating" paintings within the frame opening is very practical and popular these days.  You can buy a specifically cut "Floater Frames" like these from King of Frames in CA.  They are still considered, for example, a 6 x 6" frame for a 6 x 6" painting.  However,they are cut to allow for the 6 x 6 panel to slip right into the front.

I order my frames from Art City Frames, because shipping is free and if I order in bulk the owner gives me a discount. For a 6 x 6" painting, I order one inch bigger frame.  As an example if I am framing a 4 x 4" painting, I order a 5 x 5" frame. This will give about a 1/4" space all around the painting. Instead of the cardboard backing that Linda (the owner) usually includes, I ask her to replace the cardboard with a black foam core panel, and to skip the usual plexiglas.  I use double sided tape to adhere the painting right to the black foam core panel.

The practical side of "floating paintings" when they are small is that you don't lose any of the painting surface to the lip of the frame.  This allows an artist to use the whole surface of the panel for their composition. 

Hope this has helped answer some questions about how to frame small works for the biggest impact.

Fall Crock 5 x 5 and Pumpkin Soup

"Fall Crock" 5 x 5 Oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Picked up this little crock at the ARC (thrift) store, or maybe it's a sugar bowl...but I loved the color.  I especially loved the color under the warm light.  The colors and the mood remind me of fall.

Another beautiful fall day at the studio in Golden, and even better, June brought homemade pumpkin soup for lunch which was to die for.  Sweet and tangy.  Thanks JunieB.

Life is soooo good.

White Pitcher on Purple..a Golden Day!

"White Pitcher on Purple" 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord
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The fall colors were just wonderful today, everything has an amber glow to it.  Threw open the blinds in the studio, put some Lorena McKennitt on the CD player and had a go at the new little pitcher my hubby bought me.

Vintage Teacup 5 x 7 Oil

"Vintage Teacup" 5 x 7 Oil on gessoed canvas panel
SOLD

Rainy day in Golden and cold!  You have to paint fast to stay warm!!! 

I always find symmetrical objects hard to paint...so this was painted upside down from a photograph for the most part. 

I've also been experimenting with Raymar Canvas panels.  I don't like the feel of painting on canvas, so I used acrylic gesso over the canvas panel and I really like the textured look.

Punkin Season and Fleetwood Mac

"Punkin Season" 5 x 5 Oil on Gessobord
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Today was a pumpkin painting day and the music was from Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance".  My favorite song is "Landslide".....and "I'm getting older too."

Mini Orange and White (Pumpkins, that is)

"Mini Orange and White" 5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Haven't painted since last Wednesday.  Although it felt great to have a few days to just relax and do nothing, I have to say it felt wonderful to be back at the studio painting today.

I have a new DVD I have been studying by Jean Chambers.  I'm sure I will be influence by watching the video just not sure how exactly yet.  I am always looking for color combinations for rich darks.  I learned about Transparent Red Oxide and Ultramarine Blue from Daniel Keys, and from Jean Chambers I have learned about Veridian (Green) and Alizarin Crimson. The latter combo has been used in the background here.  I must admit I love the color.

This daily painting is actually a study for a larger piece with greenery in the mid-ground.  I used acrylic gesso on some canvas boards I had lying around, as I noticed Jean Chambers paints on a textured white surface.  I will be doing the larger study of these pumpkins on the textured surface.

Redhead 5 x 5 and Jazz

"Redhead" 5 x 5" Oil on Gessobord
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I had something entirely different in mind to paint today but this is what ended up "being". 

This was mostly painted to the music of Gordon Sumner, aka "Sting".  I'm totally into Jazz these days...locally thats KUVO 89.3 on FM.  They call the musicians and jazz listeners "cats" and they play "gigs" at jazz clubs like Dazzle in Denver.  

This cool "cat" is going home to take a nap. 

Pinky Pear and a Walk

"Pinky Pear" 4 x 4 Oil on Gessobord
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SOLD

Very productive day in the studio.  First of all, June made me go for a "health" walk.  I hated her at that moment.  But now I love her, because after all my whining, I was able to focus on a bigger piece today.
Thank you, Junie B. 

I can't show you the bigger piece yet, it's a commission, so once it's done I'll post.  I painted on the commission for a few hours and then switched to a real quickie.  This little pear...

Happy October!!!!

Mandarin and Stones - WIP

"Mandarin and Stones"
9 x 12" colored pencil over oil on Gessobord

This is another stage in the life of this painting...see where it started here. After finishing "Strawberry on a Plate" I decided to put this painting on the Icarus heated drawing board and see if I could get it to a point where Ilike it.

I'm starting to like it with the marks and the bowl lightened up and more color added.  I still have lots of work to do on the cloth, the rocks, the leaves and a bit of work on the mandarin.  The background and the tulip bowl are pretty well near completion.