How Do I Stack Up?

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Recently I hosted a book group dinner at my house, and one of my friends brought me a bouquet of white mums. I decided I had to paint a few. Here's the first. Thank you, Colleen!

Take Your Turn

 

Click Here to Buy for $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

For almost half a year I have been dealing with a health issue that has greatly affected my life. I have been seeing doctors but they are so far baffled by my symptoms. Fortunately I am still able to paint, but that is just about all. Recently I made the hard decision to cancel my workshop that would have happened this summer, and I'm so sorry to those of you who were signed up for that. Recently I was referred to the Mayo Clinic and will hopefully get some answers there.

Your Rosy Highness

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - starts at $100

I can't always find flowers that want to be painted, but I got these gorgeous orange roses that were just screaming at me. They were definitely ready to be stars. I told them, "One at a time, please."

Reaching High

 

Click Here to Bid - 5x7in. - Oil - starts at $100

This is the same bowl and apples as in yesterday's painting, but with companions this time, and different light. Apples get lonely and bored easily. You probably didn't know that.

Eat the Apple

 

Click Here to Bid (starts at $1) - 10x10in. - oil - "Eat the Apple"

This is the second experiment from my "Just Try Sh*t: Composition" ArtByte (online tutorial). To review: I copied a painting with a composition I liked, then set up and painted my own composition using what I had learned. This was my second try, and I'm quite happy with it. I was trying for a more unusual composition than what I normally do, and a more sketchy style.

And a Fork

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "And a Fork"

A reminder: I am heading off to Europe on Monday, and will be gone for 20 days. Unfortunately this means I won't be able to ship any books or paintings until I return (May 20th), including this one, since the auction won't end until after I'm gone. I apologize in advance for the inconvenience!

Roses Forward

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x6in. - oil - "Roses Forward"

We are now at 11 of the dozen! Just one more. How will he pose?

Two Poses

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "Two Poses"

I'm imagining these two at the Oscars, posing for the cameras in their "naked dresses". How scandalous!

Morning Dew

 

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This was a fun change of pace for me - painting little details like water droplets.

Five Servings

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - starts at $100

I've been trying to get myself to paint a few different things lately. And it's made me realize why I don't normally choose them. Because they're HARD!

Tall Shot, Small Shot

 

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Here's a silly one, but I couldn't resist. It's got a bell bottom butt crack. : )

Circling the Water

 

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The point of camping for my husband and I (besides seeing new places and enjoying the outdoors) is to get a new point of view. To simplify our existence down to basic survival stuff - keeping fed, keeping warm (or cool), making sure we don't get eaten by bears, etc. To force ourselves to get away from all the stuff we normally do and think about, so that we can see our lives from a fresh perspective.

After a few days outside I start to get ideas popping randomly into my head, about all kinds of things, but I always hope some of it is about art! At a certain point we both look at each other and say - lets go home. We are both re-inspired and ready to get busy again with our respective projects.

Camping is our thing, and we love it, but I'm curious what you do to get a new perspective. (?)

Whatchu Lookin' At?

 

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

Here is another acrylic. Just a fun, little goldfish. But wait until you see the crowded reference photo! -> So I opened it first in Infinite Painter on my ipad, completely erased the background, and then tried out a whole bunch of alternatives on a layer under the fish layer (I had to try at least 10 before I liked one!), and then painted it.

Lily Pad Party

 

Click Here to Bid (5x7in. - starts at $100)

I've gotta say, the pink ones are particularly hard to paint, especially from a photo reference. The saturated bits tend to be blown out. I had to try this one twice before I was happy with it.

Ruby Lake From Above

Click Here to Bid (8x8in. - OIL - starts at $100)

This is the last one (that turned out) from my trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains last month. This one is from a solo day hike to Ruby Lake (from base camp at Garnet Lake). I found this scene not far from the trail, and while this trail is not heavily trafficked, for some reason a bunch of people walked by right as I was in the very ugly beginning stages of this painting. I was working fast because this light was changing by the minute. And some guy said, "Oh, are you painting?" Ummm, yes. "What you are you painting?" This scene. "Are you going to paint the whole thing?" Nope. "Which part are you going to paint?" Uhhh, it's hard to explain? 

At this point I think the inflection in my voice, and the fact that I turned my back to him so I could focus, convinced him to stop asking questions. The next time I looked back he was gone. Sorry dude. I'm not great at answering questions when I'm painting.

I was only able to get a rough sketch and some color notes that day. I took a bunch of pictures and finished it in my studio. I'm really happy with how the blue shimmers against the green.

The Sheer Face of It

 

Click Here to Bid (8x10in. - OIL on linen panel - starts at $100)

This is another perspective/format of the same rocks and water (at Ruby Lake), a little later in the day, after a lunch break. They say the middle of the day is the worst time for landscape painting because the light is boring. But if you're an outdoor still life painter, I would argue that you can still find plenty.

Ruby Lake Rocks

 

Click Here to Bid (6x12in. - OIL - starts at $100) (click image to see larger)

Another one from my Sierra trip. On this day I wanted to hike to Ruby Lake, which was quite a trek. I asked all my painting pals and had no takers, so I did it by myself. It was a lovely day. The shadows on these rocks changed super fast, so I took lots of pictures as I painted, and clarified it a bit more in my studio. I seem to be more interested in what I call "outdoor still lifes" than "landscapes."

Sunflower Power

 

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I got sunflowers to decorate the table for the Fourth of July dinner party we had. But then I couldn't let them go to waste, could I?! Of course not.

Overseer

 

Click Here to Bid (8x8in. - OIL - $250 )

I have just one more painting to show you before we head out on vacation. One more peony. Happy summer everyone!

Apart Together

 

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - OIL - bidding starts at $100)

Here's another attempt at suggesting peonies. I've been painting more regularly lately, and have to say that working daily (at anything) is the only way to grow! I can think about painting every day, but unless I'm also doing it, I'm not really learning. Maybe I should write a book about it - oh yeah, I think I already did! Oh the lessons we learn, over and over and over.