CHIPPED BOWL

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

I'm trying to loosen up and I think I succeeded with this one. I had a blast pushing the paint around and softening edges. This bowl belongs to a friend and she was so kind to let me paint it - thank you, Linda! I want to paint it again. It really is beautiful and such character with the chip.

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FIGURE STUDY

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

It's been a really busy week, but a nice one. I think I am back on track with my painting schedule and look forward to more painting this week.

This figure study was painted on Saturday with our group of artists. We had a good model and I managed to do this and a head study, which I may post at a later date. We worked from natural light from the windows and so I had to get the light as fast as I could. As always there is room for improvement, but I am happy with this. I enjoy painting the figure and hope to do more of it.

SWEETHEART CANDIES

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Yesterday I had nothing ..... nothing but wipe-outs!!! So frustrating. And today wasn't much better. It's a good thing that I have perseverance or I would have just thrown in the towel. The towel that was full of paint!

A good friend, Doug Clark, has just begun blogging. He is a sculptor and painter and an all around great guy! Please take a minute to visit his blog and take a look at his work. Click HERE.

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TIME FOR BED

5x7 Oil on Raymar Canvas Board n

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PLAY TIME

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

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SATURDAY NUDE

8x8 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This beautiful Saturday morning was spent in studio with a group of fantastic artists and a fantastic model. The model will be back again next Saturday and I plan to go again. It's been soooo long (as you can tell!) since I've painted or drawn a model from life and it was such a treat. I didn't get anywhere near finished, but I had fun trying. I will probably wipe this out and begin a new one next week. I hope everyone else is having a good day, too!!

SOAP

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This is challenge #2 from Great Painting Ideas for Artists by Carole Katchen, which is to paint something you see everyday. I think soap qualifies for that (one would hope so!). I took a photograph of the soap in a dish located on the corner of the bathtub. The lighting was terrible so the photograph had little value change. For help I put the photograph in photoshop and increased the value changes and further increased the values in my painting. Photoshop is wonderful, but I have no idea how to use it. I can change the image size (very helpful!) and just learned how it can help with values. I can see that photoshop could become a crutch, but if used correctly it would help in learning how to see!

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HAVE A FUN FILLED WEEK-END!!

CLEAN UP

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord n

A few days ago I came upon Norma Wilson's blog. She has begun a challenge to do 200 paintings with the help of Great Painting Ideas for Artists by Carole Katchen. She has completed the first three challenges from this book. The challenges are not done each day, but whenever she feels like doing it. She invited anyone who is interested to join her. I think this would be fun and I would continue to learn from other artists. I bought a used copy of Katchen's book from Amazon and today painted the first challenge - a group of boring subjects. I decided to find 3 simple things in the house that were related in some way and attempt to take these boring subjects, put them in a painting and make it interesting. A stack of washcloths, a toothbrush, and a bar of soap made it to the set up. I am pleased with the result and also pleased with the thinking process that I used in my decision. Take a look at Norma's blog and see how she has interpreted the first three challenges. Better yet, join in!!

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LIME WEDGES

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord n

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BEACH

5x7 Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel

This is my submission for Rookie Painter. Take a minute and look at the other submissions. I haven't painted or drawn figures for quite a while so this was really a challenge! Good for a stretch!!

GOOD NEWS!

9x12 Oil on Canvas Board

In June of last year I submitted "Longhorn Cadillac" for Some Texas Artists Like To Paint. Little did I know that a few months later I would get a call from the American Cancer Society wanting to use my painting in their advertising materials for a fund raising event in Florida. I am so honored and excited! Please take a minute to look at how the graphics department used my painting - click HERE. Thanks!! :-)

TOOLS OF MY OBSESSION TWO

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

In July of last year I painted The Tools of My Obsession. At the time I thought I would paint more brushes, paints, palettes, and all those things associated with painting. However, just as now, there are many, many subjects waiting to be put on canvas. I don't think there will ever come a time when there is nothing to get excited about when choosing something to paint. So now, six months later, I added another painting to my obsession.

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COWBOY UP ... HAT

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

The January challenge for Some Texas Artists Like To Paint is Cowboy Up. This term originated in the rodeo. When a cowboy was ready to leave the stall it was yelled, "Cowboy Up!" From there it has come to mean that when life is tough, you don't complain and whine, but you pick yourself up and keep going.

This hat reminds me of my grandfather (we called him Dad) who was a rancher in Gustine, Texas. Dad wore a white Stetson (this hat is not a Stetson). He had difficult times in his life. Work was hard and he took his responsibilities seriously. Dad was a respected and loved person. "Cowboy Up" was not in his venacular, but believe me he did "Cowboy Up" every time a problem crossed his path.

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BUTTONS

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

It's Friday!! Have a fantastic week-end!

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REFLECTION

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

While searching for fabric I bought some glass and will use it for painting reflections. I really enjoy reflections so I'm glad I now have some glass on the shelf to pull out when needed. There is ALWAYS something new and exciting to explore in art!

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THREAD

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

THANK YOU for all the birthday wishes!

I was at JoAnne's the other day looking for fabric and found some beautiful threads. This is one of them and it was fun to paint. I'll be painting thread again. I haven't worked up enough nerve to paint the fabric yet. There are patterns involved! Yikes!

On another note, please take a look at Michael Chamberlain's blog. He is VERY talented and has just begun daily painting. It will be a treat for you! Click HERE.

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IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!

AUBIE

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

NFS

Tonight is the game for the National Championship. Auburn University vs. University of Oregon (the Ducks - LOL!!). All I can say is .................

WAR EAGLE!!!!

CHERRIES IN BLUE BOWL

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

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MARCH OF THE CHERRIES

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This painting was completed by putting down one stroke and leaving it. No messing around was allowed - well, except a couple of places. I think by painting the cherry yesterday helped in knowing what to do and, of course, SQUINTING!! Not much value change in cherries, they are so dark. I'm please with how this painting turned out.

ONE

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

I've seen many beautiful paintings of cherries these last couple of weeks. They have been an inspiration (thanks to all the cherry painters!) so I decided to try my hand at painting this fruit, too. This little cherry shows deep, rich reds. Really gorgeous colors ..... oh, and they taste good, too! :-)

On another note, I ordered some frames from King of Frames and they arrived yesterday. If you need frames I recommend this site - King of Frames. Today they are offering a fantastic special with Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry. I just ordered my "special" and can't wait to receive it!!

It's Friday! Have a great week-end!!

ONE LEMON

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

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LEMONS

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

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BIRTHDAY BOW

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This was a real challenge, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. There are so many twists and turns. Really difficult to keep track of where I was in the bow. It was a learning experience in values, too. I'm pleased with the final result. :-)

I am sooo excited because I won a painting from Dana Cooper! She is one of my favorite artists. How lucky am I?!! Thanks again, Dana!

Also, I signed up for Karin Jurick's workshop in the fall. I can't wait!!

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APPLE AND MUG

6 x 6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

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THE USUAL SUSPECTS

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

More apples, of course. I really enjoy painting apples, pears ...... well, just about anything!

TCU won!! WAHOOOO!

The next big game is January 10th. Auburn vs. Oregon

Auburn Tigers vs. Oregon Ducks (Ducks? Are you kidding?)

It is WAR EAGLE all the way!!

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APPLE TRIO

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

I'm beginning 2011 with an apple painting ..... original, huh? I hope to do many more this year!

I'm watching the Rose Bowl game with Phil - GO FROGS!!!

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