Seafoam

10x8 oil on panel 
Ask dk Gallery about this painting

I'm working on some small paintings for the upcoming "Small Gems" show at dk Gallery which opens December 6th. I plan to attend that opening and am really looking forward to that visit. I'm taking my daughter because I could not go to Atlanta without her or risk her eternal disfavor! She desperately wants to visit the Georgia Aquarium - she has hopes of meeting Jeff Corwin and working there one day. 

Tis the season for small. A lot of galleries and artists turn to these tiny treasures thinking that people like to buy for holiday gift giving. What a lovely gift original fine art makes. I am painting quite a few in the hopes of offering some here, entering the 6x6" Squared show again at Randy Higbee Gallery, and putting together a little event at Joel's Coffee House where V....Vaughan and I work together so often. We owe Brad, the chocolatier extraordinaire, some payback for allowing us to use his space to paint large and small, and do some occasional teaching.

Here it is framed and ready to go!

Beach Play

8x8 oil on panel
$225 + s/h

Another painted sketch for a large commission. One which didn't ever get painted unfortunately. Maybe someone out there in blogland would like to see one of these on a large scale? I'd love to paint a huge beach scene like this!

These were based on photos I took on Emerald Isle in NC. Its a lovely island community near Swansboro and Tidewater Gallery. It was very residential too which was quite special I thought. I hope to visit again.

Sunset Stroll

8x8 oil on panel
$225 + s/h

Last year I did some painted sketches for a possible commission. The idea was to capture a family, with young boys specifically, on the beach. I have several of these available still so thought I'd share them here.

Dolphin Watch

10x12 oil on panel
Available at Tidewater Gallery

I am looking forward to being at the coast of NC next weekend. I'm a little bummed that my family isn't traveling with me. When one works for "the man", the schedule isn't open enough. But then again, the paycheck is a whole lot better than when one is working for "the self". :-)

"Vignettes"

An exhibition of small works by Robin Cheers

Tidewater Gallery

107 N. Front Street

Swansboro, NC

910-325-0660

Opening reception Friday, June 15, 5-8 pm

Windy Beach on She Magazine Cover

I've had the honor of having one of my paintings printed on the cover of She Magazine - a faith-based publication located in South Carolina. Its a nice bit of publicity but even more of an honor because the May issue is all about motherhood. Its lovely to have my painting  reflect all those hard-working, infinitely loving, guiding, and nurturing moms out there. Happy Mother's Day early!

The painting Windy Day is available at Edward Montgomery Fine Art gallery in Carmel. Its 12x9 oil on panel.

Moses Botkin Monthly Challenge

Windy Beach
12x9 oil on panel

This month the theme was "blue" - in whatever way we wanted to represent it. Well, I had two thoughts - the big blue skies of Texas, which are pretty special, or the blue of ocean. Only it is bigger than the skies over Texas. Those skies are dripping some wet stuff on us lately, for which we are extremely grateful.

Enjoy my fellow challenge artists' interpretations this month!

Holiday Blues
5x7 oil on hardboard

©2011 Diana Moses Botkin

Blues
4x4 silverpoint and oil on gessoboard

©2011 Vicki Ross

Malibu Blue

4x8.75 oil on canvas
©2011 Ruth Andre



Blue Ice
16x20 oil on canvas

©2011 Suzanne Berry

Beach Walk

8x8 oil on paper
$125 including s/h
PURCHASE

I did a smaller version of these girls, which is at Randy Higbee Gallery for the 6" Squared show. And a similarly sized one which is at a gallery. And I thought I'd try it once again as I play with my timer and painting on paper. Obviously, I've enjoyed these girls on the beach.

I had a lovely surprise today - being recommended in the e-newsletter "Informed Collector" by Clint Watson. Thank you Clint!

Leading Edge

6x6 oil on panel

Available at Loretta Goodwin Gallery

This is available at the gallery for their Tiny Treasures show which opens Thursday night in Birmingham. The last month has been such a whirlwind that I am not sure if I posted this already or not! If its a repeat... sorry. The fans at Daily Paintworks won't have seen it yet. I've joined that online gallery site finally. And I gave my blog a little facelift too today.

Sorry about my rant the other day. I was overwhelmed, but things settled down nicely this week and I've been able to focus on a new project in the studio. While excited about a new idea, I'm at a loss for creating these small works for the blog/online galleries. I really struggle with finding a subject to fit on this small format. But I can't paint larger and offer those at low prices. I'm trying to find a new project idea for the blog to get my juices going and provide fans with affordable, collectible art. Its still very important to me to do that. Heck, I can't afford most of the art I'd like to have - being able to buy small pieces and books from my favorite artists is wonderful.

I know that the subject has to be simple, a single figure works best. Beach scenes. I might become the "beach scene blogger." The weird thing is, I paint loosely and quickly. You'd think a small format would be ideal for simplifying. That is my challenge. And maybe I ought to embrace that and work on it.

Downtime

6x6 oil on panel
SOLD

This was so much fun to do. I didn't think I could pull it off really - the start was rather ugly. But I'm really happy with the results. Click the image to see it larger and you can see the strokes, the lost edges and the suggestions which make it come together to the eye.
I really hit my stride yesterday leaving things loose and sloppy. That might sound odd, but it is sort of what I want. It felt really good to just let go and put the brush down before I tightened everything up. Will share that tomorrow! Facebook fans have had a peek at it.

Totally Tubular

6x6 oil on panel
$125 + s/h
PURCHASE

I'm taking a vacation... in my studio! I wanted to get back to painting regularly and thought I'd start on some uncomplicated and fun scenes to warm up! Beach pics are a good start.

Beach Dunes Sketch

page from my sketchbook

This is just a little sketch I did from our back patio at the beach. This is our last day in FL at my parent's house. All my spoiling will come to an end and I have to go back to being a fully functioning adult/parent. :-)
But I miss my hubby and my dogs. And fish, and garden, and so on....so will be happy to get home. Until next year!

Beach Study - Sunset II

6x6 oil on panel

This is the same sunset as I posted previously, but a little later. I had loaded my palette with alizarin crimson and cad yellow medium and couldn't get the true bright red/orange that was happening on that higher cloud, but this is the general feel of it. The next time, for the beach scenes I used scarlet red. I usually use a cad red hue from Sennelier, but I need to get new supplies when I get home. Didn't have a tube of ultramarine blue to travel with either and had to borrow one from my mom. Good thing she is an artist also and has lots of goodies to play with here. She mostly does watercolors though.

Below I thought I'd share a painting that I did a hundred years ago! Feels like it at least. It hangs in my folks' house and is a large portrait of my mother holding my young nephew (he is now 19!) I wonder what it would look like if I painted it now?

Beach Study II - Sunset

6x6 oil on panel

We had such clouds and a fair amount of rain at the beach that we only had good sunsets twice during the week - but WOW - what sunsets they were. Just devastatingly beautiful!
What amazed me also was how long my paintings stayed wet. In Austin they dry overnight. Not here, what a difference the humidity makes. At home even the paint on my palette hardens overnight - which is very annoying and wasteful.

Beach Study

Beach week is over. I am in central Florida now with a nice rain falling. We actually had rather cloudy skies and rain at the beach as well, but its ok with me. I am not into burning in the blazing sun. Though the shadows and bright sunlight would have been preferable for the artist in me. I got some good sketching, and a few oil studies in.

The painting above was a study in values. It was an overcast sort of day and looking down beach it all seemed almost misty except for the bright beach umbrellas.


My little cigar box set up on my knees. Limited palette - but tried two different blues since my mom had brought them both.

No photo editing software here. I somehow allowed a virus on my husband's laptop too when I got on Facebook last week. Oops. Hopefully he will have that taken care of before he goes back to work! My daughter and I continue our vacation this week. Lucky us!

Happy Independence Day all!!

Rough Surf

11x14 oil on panel

My thoughts are turning to the beach this week. We leave in a week for our annual family trip to Siesta Key, Florida. Like many, I've been so depressed about this oil spill and worried about all our gulf coasts - from Texas to Florida. I hope that our lovely white sand beaches and manatees who swim with us in the surf are still as beautiful as ever.

I can't wait to paint and sketch on the beach. They have the best sunsets from "our house" there as well.

Lighthouse House

Here we are at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. Its been lovely. Though a little windy. I painted yesterday morning and could barely keep things from blowing away. Done a lot of sketching in my book too.
This is a house down the beach a few doors - we call it the light house. I'm reminded of Hopper's paintings when I look at it.


roughly 6x6 oil on paper

Below is a very tiny painting I did on the other end of the paper above. This is that "museum board" or carton paper that I like, though I don't know yet how to frame it. I suppose it should go under glass. I don't like the thoughts of that. That is just another reason I love oil paints so much. No messing with matting or glass framing.



I am having a thoroughly wonderful time lazing about and alternately basking in the sun and being pounded by some rough surf. Speaking of! There have been surfers here too and I've gotten lots of great photos as well as sketches! Between this trip and NYC I will have things to work on for a year or more!

Pier Surfing at Galveston

10x10 oil on panel

Hopefully this looks a little like California because that is where its going. It doesn't resemble Galveston anymore since the piers were wiped away by hurricane Ike. From what I have heard, the damage was great and the recovery slow. Keep your good thoughts going that way.

Tomorrow is the day we post our Monthly Challenge Group painting. I just finished mine but can't show you yet! It was a fun challenge which pushed me in several ways.

Skimboarders at Siesta

12x16 oil on panel

Another scene that brings me joy. The boys of summer. It will be available at Edward Montgomery Fine Art next week.

Tonight I am going to attend the opening banquet for the Salon International show at Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio. The show opens tomorrow and hangs until May 1. Its an exceptional show, at an exceptional gallery and I'm looking forward to the evening being surrounded by art and artists. Maybe I will get to meet Daniel Greene also.

Double Dog Dare

10x12
oil on panel

What fun! Fun to paint and fun to remember the scene. You can almost hear them taunting and goading each other. These two were on Siesta Key beach practicing with their skimboard.

This painting is going to Carmel By The Sea, California. I am really excited to share the news that I am joining Edward Montgomery Fine Art Gallery. My paintings should be there early next week. I wish I could go with them. Soon!

Hot Mama

7x5 oil on panel
$100 + $12 s/h - sold

Ya'll - I'm struggling. I know, I know... you say its my own fault for not being consistent. You're right.
I worked on several things today and didn't really like anything I did. Then in the last hour, I set my timer, and painted this. Just a half hour!

I've realized one important thing. When doing a small painting, the subject needs to be simple. I can't squeeze three or four figures, or a crowded city street scene, into a format this small. I get too tight with the brushwork and feel compelled to put in details, which are too small to paint (given my style). So lesson learned today.

The scene is from Siesta Key in Florida.