Hanging Sheets

12x9 pastel on pastelbord

$250 

PURCHASE

Switching things up a little this summer and practicing with pastels. They are nice because I can set up at the kitchen table and be in the area where my daughter is playing and I can just walk away from them - coming back to them when time allows. No clean up or paint drying out, etc.

That is certainly a benefit. I'm going to be working with them more this summer with the aim of getting comfortable and confident with the medium before offering them through my galleries. I still have to figure out the framing AND the shipping. Those are definite drawbacks to the medium.

PS - I have a number of friends and a lot of art acquaintances in the Denver area and my thoughts and prayers are certainly with them all as they deal with the dreadful fires and heat.

Laundress

10x12 oil on panel

Available at Tidewater Gallery

  

Basking in the Sun

8x10 oil on paper
$125 including shipping
PURCHASE

Sun Goddess

6x6 oil on linen

Available at Randy Higbee Gallery 6" Squared show, Costa Mesa, CA

A Well Earned Rest

18x20 oil on linen

Available at Russell Collection Presents.... group show at Wisby-Smith Gallery, Dallas

First, a small study, then the larger work. Both available at 2 of the 4 shows in which my paintings will be exhibited this coming month! I have been busy, as you can imagine.

If you are in any of the following areas, you should take a look at all the great artwork being shown at various venues around the country. Give a gift of original art this season - it is something that will bring you and yours joy for years to come.

Dec. 1 - Tiny Treasures opening at Loretta Goodwin Gallery, Birmingham. AL
Dec. 2 - Holiday Show opening at Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN
Dec. 3 - 6" Squared reception at Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
Dec. 9 - Russell Collection Presents...reception Wisby-Smith, Dallas TX

I wish I could attend them all, but will only be able to go to the Russell Collection show in Dallas. I will have 10 paintings in that show. Will post them here in the coming days!

Birds of a Feather

9x12 oil on linen

Gallery info to come.

This title seems quite appropos since I am going to invite you to a check out the new Artist's Way blog. I'm done with the book now but want to create a community of inspiration for artists who are, well, drawing a blank.
I'm going to have guest artists share ideas for managing their time, their business, and their creative blocks. Please feel free to start or join a discussion, comment and send me a paragraph or article of your own! Contributors are welcome and wanted!

Drop by the block - The Creative Block. Also on Facebook.

Passion Tea and Talk

12x16 oil on linen

Gallery info to come.

I really enjoyed painting all those people on the lawn and this painting is one of the larger ones I painted last week. I wanted to lighten the palette again because I didn't want the shadowy areas to get too heavy or oppressive. On a sunny day, lots of light is reflected into the shadows and I wanted a more glowing look.
I've been taking care of business lately. All those behind the scenes things like catching up with my galleries, redistributing work, bookkeeping (ugh!) and ordering supplies. Today I painted my monthly challenge painting. Check in tomorrow to see the group's project this time. It was a fun one for me.

Flockers

6x18 oil on three panels
Contact me to purchase the triptych

Today, I really wanted to loosen up. This was a great exercise because it was something so different. I just painted the large shapes and pushed the color. I didn't see the shapes as "birds" and get tied up in "what it is." I then worked into another painting with a human form to try to carry on this looseness. I will show you that tomorrow.

Now. My subject. Grackles are not terribly popular in Austin, though they are interesting birds. They are usually found in urban areas, but they've invaded my backyard recently. They are scaring my song birds away from the feeder. They are aggressive, loud, congregate in large groups, and can destroy your car if you park under their tree.

Catch of the Day

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

These are the same girls from yesterday. My neighbors actually. They play, and therefore offer me poses, frequently. The background is my own doing. I am trying to not be as literal with my settings... the people are the focus. This particular pose didn't invite much surrounding information anyway, but I hope to be able to simplify better on some more complicated scenes like restaurants. I think I have been daunted lately by the amount of information in such scenes. This painting felt good; I finally felt like I got my stride back as far as laying down my paint.