Summer Halo

8x6 oil on panel
$450 framed

Available at dk Gallery

Today I am framing and packing my small works for the December show at dk Gallery. I am excited to get to attend the opening reception this time on Friday Dec. 6. If you are in the Atlanta area, I'd love to meet you at the gallery.

Today would be a good day to be wading in Barton Springs like this little girl. I bet its packed with people and dogs playing. Its near record highs today in Austin. Though earlier this week, it was near freezing overnight. I can move my plants back outside now I think.

***

 

Upcoming Events: 

• November 20: Chocolate and Chiaroscuro Event, Joel's Coffee House, Austin
• November 29: Major's Fundraising Art Sale begins 
• December 6: Small Gems show dk Gallery, Marietta, GA

 

Gelato Counter

18x12 oil on linen
Available at Russell Collection Fine Art

We had a very fun opening reception last night at the gallery for the Femme show. What a great bunch of artists and a very eclectic show. Nine of the 11 featured artists were there. Several of my new paintings sold which I consider high praise. 

I had fun taking pictures with my iPhone apps. I used Hipstamatic on these below.  The show hangs until Dec. 22nd so do stop in to see it if you can.

 

Giddy

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

Gorgeous day in Austin today! Had a leisurely lunch at an outdoor dining area in the Domain, strolled an outdoor art festival, listened to some live music and enjoyed family time. Not a day at the beach, but a close second. :-)

Catch and Release

10x8 oil on paper
$125 including priority shipping (US)
sold

I've been trying to come up with a new way to create paintings for my blog again - for art collectors on a budget (and aren't we all these days, really?) I just can't paint those little canvases though. I find that they cause me to tighten up which could not be more frustrating for me. I've done 'sketches' on paper before and I like the results and the room to be expressive.

The paper is 9x12 and I am taping off the sizes I want to paint so there is a white border around the painting. The paper is substantial enough to stand up to the paint, its coated, acid free and it has a slight weave like canvas. While the works are larger, they aren't going to compete with my gallery work. I'm limiting myself to 30 minutes on these, and I can't tell you what a great exercise it is for me. A digital timer is the best tool in the studio. More on that later.

And finally, here are some fun ideas I've found while surfing the web for those of you who buy small paintings or my works on paper and want to display them creatively and cheaply.

1. Clipboards

2. Wooden hangers

3. Clips

4. Or you can easily get a ready made from with glass any home decor or craft store

Sister's Care

8x8 oil on panel

Available at Loretta Goodwin Gallery

I've spent my morning preparing and packing six small paintings to go to Alabama to the gallery for their "Tiny Treasures" show opening December 1. I hope people are thinking of decorating their beach homes, because everything I have painted were beach scenes! Obviously a favorite subject of mine!

In Her Tube

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

Another view of the little tuber, playing in the waves at Siesta Key Beach. This year we're not going to vacation in FL because I bought one of those living social deals to COZUMEL! We haven't traveled abroad in many years - and our daughter has never been out of the country, so I've been busy getting our passports renewed and getting the child's first ever. She is so excited. I am not sure how much traditional Mexican scenery I will find, but I'm sure to enjoy the beaches and snorkeling. Now, if I can only figure out our summer vacation schedule! I have to work around my parents who will be joining us, my hubby's work, my trip to NYC :), summer camps and a trip to see our IN family and meet our new nephew! No problem.

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!

Light Reading

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

I just had to do another painting of this scene. And will likely do more. I'm still playing with light and shadow - figuring out values. I really like the effect I achieved here without going so dark in the background. And without getting tight. It seems to have more atmosphere, like you can see the dust floating in that patch of sunlight. And believe me, its floating!

ps - this is my daughter, and this side of her head is the one she pulled all the hair out of, so its quite short. Pixie-like. But she won't let me cut the other side to even her up.

Moses Botkin Monthly Challenge

This month Diana chose our subject - striped socks! And what fun it was to think about and paint. I think everyone had fun with this subject. Who can't be happy when painting colorful footwear?
My image was inspired by my model... my daughter. Hand her a book and she poses very well for a short while. What I love is that she twists her lithe little body into all kinds of positions so naturally. I just wait and click the camera. She is never still, so painting from life is not possible. This didn't come out QUITE like I meant... seems to be my modus operandi lately. I am going to approach this scene again.
I love the other paintings. They are so fun. I think it would be very cool to have all of them hanging together!


Pink Glow
10x10 oil on panel
© 2010 Robin Cheers



Socks First
24x18 Oil on canvas
©2010 Marie Fox



Sockdance
24x24 Oil on canvas
©2010 Suzanne Berry




Sock Puppets
8x8 Oil on board
©2010 Michael Naples




Two Step
5x7 Oil on hardboard
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin




Liam in Striped Footies
18x12 Oil on panel
©2010 Vicki Ross



Cozy Knits
5x5 Oil on panel
©2010 Jeanne Illenye

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!

Watching Rehearsal

pencil sketch

This little girl was in her leotard, just came from her dance class, and got to watch the big girls rehearse The Nutcracker.

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.

Hopeful

7x5 oil on panel
$100 + $12 s/h
Purchase this painting

We just got back from D.C. a few days ago and I began to go through my photos today. This one of a young lady looking at the Hope diamond in the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum really struck me. I love the drama of the lighting and the way her head is almost against the glass as she gazes at this gorgeous piece of jewelry.

The title too has meaning beyond wishes for fine jewels. I voted yesterday in early voting. You should too. Unless you are for the other guy. ;-)

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.)

In Her Own World

10x8 oil on panel

Purchase info to come.

This painting rather turned out to be one of high contrast. I really pushed the darks. It reminds me of an artist Sherrill Cooper who does some really neat figurative work.

Scribbling

10x8 oil on panel

Accepted in the Small Works North America show at the Greenwich Workshop Gallery.

Too tired to write much about this. This week has been insane. My daughter's been at camp every afternoon and its down at Zilker park, so I've been in the car a lot. My dog had surgery yesterday and has been needing babying. Husband works insane hours. So much for my painting/posting daily. Well - I did sketch yesterday, literally on napkins in Starbucks, but was interrupted by the vet's call detailing all the trauma they were going to put my pup through.

Sunday Best - 40 Minute Study

12x12 oil on paper
nfs

This is my daughter relaxing in the backyard in her Easter dress. I made her get gussied up and pose for me one day last spring. This was so much fun to sketch. I felt so free. I am hoping some of this is carrying over into my gallery work, but today I rather struggled when I got out real canvas. Is it the idea that its more permanent the issue, or the actual texture?

Beach Girl

7x5 oil on panel
nfs

This is my little girl and its so like her, that I just can't part with this painting. I've been bouncing all over the last couple of days with larger pieces of art patrons, the city and beach! I can't make up my mind what to paint while I have so much time. My daughter is in a day camp the next two weeks so hopefully I will have more to share with you all and a couple (at least) small works.

Sidewalk Artists

11x14 oil on panel

Ask Castle Gallery about this painting.

This mommy and daughter were perfectly posed as they focused on their sidewalk art skills at the arts festival downtown Austin. I had a bear of a time painting the lady's feet though. I hope I have them correct now. If not, I don't want to hear about it. ;-)
Have a wonderful weekend. We will likely be enjoying the fine weather and the reggae festival.