Just Red Still Life Painting

"Just Red"
8 x 8" oil on canvas panel
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$100
Layaway available

New Surface - 1.5" Cradled Panel Needs No Framing

"Wild Cherry"
4 x 4 x 1.5" Oil on Cradled Panel
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The wet paint is giving off a little glare.

I taped around the edges to keep it clean.

Back of painting. Can hang on a nail or sit on a shelf without easel.

When I was in Santa Fe I noticed much of the contemporary art is on cradled board. I really like the look although the cradled boards are more expensive.  I can see where it would be great for buyers since they now don't have to worry about a frame or an easel.

Painting Two Days in a Row!

"Lime"
4 x 4" Oil on Gessobord
SOLD
Going to Michigan

Can I make it 3 days in a row tomorrow?

Sunflower Painting - More Experimenting with China Marker

"Sunshine"
6 x 6" Oil on Gessobord (with Black China Marker)
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I began this painting several months ago and had no focus to concentrate on the complex (for me) shapes. So I put it away. I got it out today to experiment with the black china marker.

First I sanded the old painting to get ride of the ridges from the earlier painting. Then I drew a loose sketch over the old painting with the china marker and once the shapes were established I could then focus on the colors.  The appearance would give one a feeling of opaque watercolor, pen and ink.

Once the painting is dry it will get a coat of varnish to protect the surface.

Ruby Red 2 and Leaning to the Abstract

"Ruby Red 2"
8 x 8" Oil on Canvas Panel

Last week I spent a couple of days in Santa Fe with JunieB and we did the Canyon Road gallery walk. We were looking for inspiration, a spark of creativity to fill up my parched well.  We were there in 2006 and it seemed there was a lot of traditional art - realism, impressionism. This time however it seemed color and contemporary art was the art du jour.

There seemed to be new textures - torn canvas wrapped on a support, tea bags, old ledger sheets, old sewing patterns. It was fascinating!

I took notes and hit Meininger's Art store when I came home. I bought oil bars by Winsor & Newton Oil Art Bars, china markers, and various other new fun things.

This painting was a makeover of an older painting, just for an experiment, but I loved playing with the abstract shapes and the lines of the marker.

A new path to travel for a few miles.

Iterations of Peach

"Peach on Wednesday"
3/18/15
4 x 4" oil panel
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"Go Into the Light"
1/13/14
4 x 4" oil on panel
SOLD

"Turquoise Peach"
12/16/13
4 x 4" oil on panel
SOLD

 I have a peach reference that I paint from time to time. I'll show it below. It's interesting that it's always a "different" painting in the end, depending on where I am personally and in my quest for technique to lay paint on the canvas.  The oldest one was more about color, the next one was more about form and realism, and the one from today is about having fun putting the paint down and moving it around.  I attempt to bring more to the painting than just the "thing" itself.  Otherwise, a photo would do nicely.

I hope you've enjoyed the mini journey.

Reference for Peach

Lemon Zest

"Lemon Zest"
4 x 4" oil on panel
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A victory! I actually painted all on my own today. I haven't been able to paint without having my studio mate, JunieB, urging me on.  But today I put my big girl pants on and actually got paint on the board.

It's so tempting to lay around and nurse my hurts, but life goes on and so must the painting.

Roses - Then and Now

"Roses"
12 x 12" oil on panel

"Roses" is the final outcome of a painting started waaaay last year or maybe even 2013. I got so far and realized I had no idea where to go with it. After starting to paint again last month, especially my "come down off the ledge" paintings, I've been able to loosen up and just think about "impressions". The brush strokes are much looser, edges are softer, and colors are more intermingled. While there still some things I can do to the above painting, I might just let it sit for a bit and see what more I might want to do with it.

First Iteration of Roses
Tight and muted color.....

Apple-A-Day

"Apple-A-Day"
"Come Down Off the Ledge Series"
5 x 5" oil on panel
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Painting days with JunieB are better than therapy. I'm slowly talking to myself and saying it's OK to "come down off the ledge." Life is going to be good again.

There is such freedom in not "copying" exactly what you see, but trying to express what you feel when you see the object.

Cherry Pop

"Cherry Pop"
4 x 4" oil on panel
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Painted last week and needed to clean up just a few things.  It was the second painting of the day of painting with JunieB.