Clowning Around

10x10 oil on linen panel

Ask Edward Montgomery Fine Art about this painting

This was a fun little scene. I couldn't resist trying my hand at those colorful socks! This little gem, as well as some other paintings, are headed to sunny California to Edward Montgomery Fine Art gallery in Carmel.

While I Breathe, I Hope

24x24 oil on canvas

Available at Russell Collection Fine Art in Austin.

This is my contribution for the fundraiser for the new Seton Breast Cancer in Austin. The Russell Collection gallery invited their "Best of Texas" artists to each create a painting on the theme of hope. When I think of any trials that life throws our way, my hope seems to always fall on the next generation - the youth, energy and infinite possibility of our children. This is a likeness of my daughter, blowing bubbles. Lots of symbolism in here really. I'll let you all interpret it. The title is the Latin - Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope." And blessedly, I have this outlook on life even in the darkest of hours.

Tuesday night the gallery hosts an event to unveil the paintings together.

Imagine

14x11 oil on canvas

This little scene is my donation for the Lutheran Social Services New Life benefit Feb. 26 in Austin. I donate a painting for their event every year. New Life is a treatment center and home for abused and neglected girls ages 11-17. Its a wonderful place of healing and growth for these girls and so very important. The theme this year is "All You Need Is Love" with a bit of Beatlemania going on. The Eggmen, a really talented Beatles tribute band, will be playing after a very fine catered dinner and the live auction. Its a fun night and I'm proud to offer something to help them reach their goals to support the girls at New Life Treatment Center. If you are local, you should get tickets and enjoy the fun!

Ella sketch

12x9 oil on paper
nfs

At Christmas we draw names to exchange gifts among my husband's numerous siblings. Last year I got my sister in law Johannah and I painted a little sketch of her older daughter from some pics I took of our kids playing at Grandma & Grandpa's house.
This year she rigged the draw so I'd get her again. So here is a sketch of her younger daughter. Hope she doesn't look at the blog and see it before Christmas. You can see last year's gift here.

I've not touched a brush or pen to sketch for the whole month. Been very busy with the usual holiday rush - those important things like school parties, our annual gingerbread house making party, friends and family time, etc. I hope you are all doing the same.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Moses Botkin Monthly Challenge

Water! Water is life. We've had a very hot and dry summer here in Texas. The other day I was out near one of the inlets at Lake Travis and it was completely dry - had grass growing in it in fact. People's docks were dangling off the hillsides. We've had a lot of rain lately, but the lake levels are still very low (~50 feet still.) I've been enjoying these rainy days and welcome them, knowing we're finally putting this brutal summer behind us. But there are good memories to go along with summer, like the sprinkler park I've painted below!


Sprinkler Park
11x6 oil on linen
$150 + s/h

Water Bottle
16x20 oil on canvas
(c) 2009 Suzanne Berry



Cool, Cool Water
8x8 oil on panel
(c) 2009 Vicki Ross



Ocean Waves
18x24 oil on canvas
(c) 2009 Marie Fox



Fish Tale
8x6 oil on hardboard
(c) 2009 Diana Moses Botkin



Half Full
8x8 oil on board
(c) 2009 Michael Naples

His Space

5x7 oil on panel
click to buy

This young man seems to be marking out a nice circle of protection around himself. Maybe that is my point of view at the moment as I settle back down to my work - reclaiming my space. My in laws left this morning and are on their long drive home. Father in law is recovering well enough. He will likely heal quickly as he's in very good physical shape but its not any fun in the meantime.

So its back to "work" for me! I am so glad.

Monthly Challenge Group

Below are paintings from a new challenge group, organized by Diana Moses Botkin. One of the group chose a subject and we were all to paint our interpretation. We did not share our results until this weekend. Today we are unveiling our first project. Its so fun to see what everyone created based on one of the most loved children's toys!


Anna at Play
6x6 oil on panel, Robin Cheers


Le'go my Sake
12x6 oil on panel,(c)2009 Vicki Ross

Snow! Why'd it Have to be Snow?!
3.5x 5 oil (c)2009 Diana Moses Botkin

With apologies to Indiana, I thought the little guy's smirk was perfect for this snow job.

The Line Up
(c)2009 Michael Naples


Toy Knight Turns Artist
5 x 9 watercolor on cold pressed paper
(c)2009 Dianne Mize

"With this little knight's whole-hearted permission, we traded in his sword for a paintbrush."

Call Me Plastic Figure One More Time
8x10 (c)2009 Silvina Day


Soldier Boy, Please Don't Go!
8x10 oil on canvasboard
(c)2009 Marie Fox


(c)2009 Mike Beeman

Laurel

10x8 oil on paper
nfs

This is another gift. My niece. I hope her parents like it. Its a quick study and about all I've had time to do or think about. I have not finished Christmas shopping and baking yet. We have company now too and so all my thoughts are for celebrating and enjoying my parents and family. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and all have the warmth and comfort of friends and family surrounding you.

The Texas Louvre

Chalk Artist
10x8 oil on panel - sold

Here is your chance to purchase some wonderful art, at a really good price, and help some Mary Hardin-Baylor students - The Texas Louvre.

V Vaughan is a very good friend and an amazingly talented artist and when she asked if I'd like to help her son with his class project I was very willing. Years ago, I painted Tanner on the beach.. now he's a college senior! Anyway...Here is a bit from V's email.

My oldest son, Tanner, in his last semester at Mary Hardin-Baylor, with a degree in Marketing, has a class project where the prof gave each group $20 and the objective is to earn as much as possible in 3 weeks with this seed money. His group has put up a web site of daily paintings, called "Texas Louvre"! With his "connections" he found three of the best daily painters who have a few unclaimed gems, and he created a web site to auction these 15 or so paintings...at AMAZING PRICES!!!

THANKS TO ROBIN CHEERS and TOM BROWN! What a couple of gamers, agreeing to put in a few GREAT paintings to help out! YOU JUST GOTTA SEE their wonderful small works, which they are sharing with "Texas Louvre".

Be sure to check out the gallery part to preview upcoming auctions which you can "buy now" (before others see the auction.)

Delayed Game

5x7 oil on panel
$100 + $11 s/h - sold

This young lady found a good way to occupy herself while waiting for her soccer game.

Making Her Mark

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $11 s/h - sold

Another view of the little girl developing her artistic talents at the child's art event at Russell Collection.

I had notice that one of my paintings was chosen as a February finalist for Raymar Panel's art competition. The juror was Kevin Macpherson, so I am pretty pleased to have caught his eye. The painting is "Chefs de Partie."