Downtown IV

7x5 oil on clayboard
$100 + $11 s/h via Paypal

I am really pleased with this little series. And in particular this guy resting in the doorway. I hadn't really intended to do a series, but the images keep presenting themselves to me and its been a lot of fun to paint urban people. I think the reason I am drawn to figures so much is that I like to pause life and let the viewer interpret the narrative. Is he resting? Is he homeless? Is he panhandling? Is he waiting for the store to open?

Downtown III

7x5 oil on clayboard
$100 + $11 s/h via Paypal - sold

Musicians are quite often seen in the Austin landscape. Here, a well-worn guitarist is walking along Sixth Street.

Downtown II

7x5 oil on clayboard
$100 + $11 s/h via Paypal

Another sunny day downtown. I think I am in a city mood because I just signed up for a workshop with Charles Sovek to be held New York City in August! I am very excited about the trip and learning from a wonderful artist and teacher.

Downtown

7x5 oil on clayboard
$100 + $11 s/h via Paypal

This lady was outside a restaurant waiting for her ride after Sunday brunch one sunny morning.

After The Storm

7x5 oil on clayboard
$100 + $11 s/h

I've been watching too much news... and not sleeping well. I am just so saddened and sorry for the people of VT. This little vignette is sort of an expression of hope though. The rains have stopped and the sun is glinting off the damp pavement and my young neighbor here is twirling her umbrella looking at something beyond our vision.

My Alma Mater

My heart breaks today for my alma mater, Virginia Tech, and all those people involved with the terror there today. I love VT and had some of the best years of my life there. I can't imagine that pretty campus being the scene to such awful events. I am really rather speechless but felt that I had to express my sympathies and shared hurt in some way. My prayers for the victims and their families and those left to question and find peace in a formerly safe and comforting home away from home.

Thoughtful Spot

7x5 oil on clayboard
$100 + $11 s/h

This lady is meditating the contemporary collection in the Blanton Museum in Austin.

Pole Barn

6x8 oil on paper
nfs
This is a bit more work than the original seven strokes. But the limited strokes were a great way to start a painting, as I mentioned yesterday.

Seven Strokes

oil on paper

My friend and fellow artist V Vaughan inspired me to try this "technique". Today I painted at her farm with Plein Air Austin and did several scenes using just seven brushtrokes. The idea is to plan the values and colors and how you'll lay it in, and load your brush and not lift while you make your strokes. It was a great experiment and I really enjoyed the exercise. I also found that it was a great way to lay a scene in quickly allowing more time to dabble with deatils while the light remains. I wonder if this would work for figures/cafes?

Down Time

I have not disappeared... but my time has become so very limited lately with school functions, appointments, spring garden and house cleaning, business things (taxes, slides and contests) and my daughter's 4th birthday plans. It will be another week before I am able to get back into any routine of painting.

I've always worked in spurts, to be honest, so this is normal to have a few weeks downtime - I've just never had an audience!

I am processing though and will reenter the studio with fresher eyes and more motivation.