Old New Orleans

24x12 oil on panel

Ask Tidewater Gallery about this painting.

Sunday Brunch II

10x10 oil on linen panel
$350 (sale price!)
PURCHASE

Last fall, someone from the Academy of Food and Wine Service contacted me from the UK and wanted to use an old image of mine for their membership brochure. Very cool.

I didn't have the original so I thought I'd paint a new one slightly larger and be able to get a hi res image of it for them. Well, they prefered the original so we made do. Perhaps the image is now in use for their organization.

What is next? Well... this is the last of my 2013 paintings and I've been mulling over some new ideas. I have some larger canvases and bigger ideas. Perhaps more "posed" and planned and less serendipitous references materials (models at home and posed family scenes) -- but narrative and inviting. I hope. I'm enjoying the larger canvases too. A LOT. Now a 12x16 seems tight to me.

I am debating the daily painters websites.... shouldn't mention that here I suppose, but I just don't think my work fits the genre. I get some inquiries, but my larger paintings are too much for most buyers on there. And now that I am going bigger still...
I have this constant debate with myself over how much self promotion and marketing to do. Should I bother with direct sales at all? Should I go entirely to direct sales? Should I enter more shows? Join more groups? Be all over ETSY and FineArtAmerica and DPG and DPW and advertise? Should I move my blog to my website? Open a "store" on my site? Keep everything on my own domain? Will I lose all my followers? Sheesh -- 717!?!?! When did that happen? (WOW!)
OR... should I enjoy painting and hope my galleries will do the work for me?

Its a real conundrum. The economy is still lagging, art sales continue to be slow and there are sooo many quality artists producing so much wonderful work that its hard to know how to compete and make my voice heard. Hence my desire to experiment more and move in new directions. Perhaps its just time for growth and I am ready for it. I started blogging in 2006. I started painting larger "gallery" work and dropped the small daily paintings somewhere in 2011. And now I'm ready for a new chapter.

Was this what I hoped this post would be about? No. It took on a life of its own. Its good to meander those unplanned paths once in awhile.
I'm hoping you all will come along with me as I wander.

At Court

16x20 oil on panel
Ask Castle Gallery about this painting

Sorry for my long silence. Life just moves at too fast a pace - no matter how I try to slow it down. Dogs (both ailing now), school, Girl Scout cookies, weather, life in general... you know the story!

The above is a scene from the Court of The Two Sisters restaurant in New Orleans. The photo doesn't do it justice - nor did I really. There are parts of it I like but sort of sent it out before I fixed a couple of things I'd like to adjust. Ah well... deadlines will do that to you.

I wanted to get it to Castle Gallery before their big Valentine's show "Amour de l'Art" which opens Friday night. Here's hoping another Arctic blast won't ruin their party.

I have been working on other things and stretching my wings a little which is exciting for me. I'm not ready to show the work yet tho. So for now, enjoy seeing what will be available at my galleries in the coming weeks.

Is Paco In There?

12x9 oil on panel

Available at Castle Gallery

Reframed, signed, varnished and sent to Castle for their Holiday Show opening Dec. 14.
More about the painting here.

No Waiting

 16x16 oil on panel

Available at Castle Gallery

This is an interior view of a Kerrville restaurant "Franciscos" that I like a lot. I painted the sidewalk in front of this restaurant during the Kerrville Outdoor Painter's event in Oct. and that painting won the Quick Draw event. I'll share a better photo of it tomorrow since its also available at the holiday show at Castle Gallery Dec. 14th.

Kitchen Konfab

14x18 oil on panel

Available at Castle Gallery

Castle Gallery will be hosting their annual Holiday Show Saturday, December 14, 6-10pm. From what I hear its always a fun party with great art, yummy food and live music!

This is a recent painting featuring the kitchen of a local Austin restaurant Roaring Fork (great name). I took some liberties with the chef hats - the togues are such fun.

Friday night I was in Marietta at dk Gallery and had a lovely time meeting Donna and her husband, the gallery staff, several of my collectors and some wonderful artists. The gallery is really a unique blend with some really exciting art. Wonderful to meet you all Susan, Holly, Elizabeth, and Jodie!

I am in love with "May-retta" too - lots and lots of painting ideas now!

Chartres St. Sunset

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


Revisiting New Orleans in my mind.

***

Upcoming Events:

• December 6: Small Gems show dk Gallery, Marietta, GA
• December 14: Annual Holiday Show, Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN

Carrie's Family

12x9 oil on panel - sold

This is a commissioned piece for a very dear "old" friend. The kiddos are her niece and nephew and I hope I am not spoiling any surprises by sharing this here now. Carrie came to visit me at our Chocolate and Chiaroscuro event. I hadn't seen her in quite a long time. We reminisced about "coming a long way, baby" since our first meeting in Austin as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. 

I used to have an annual party and forced all our friends (think construction types) to put on suits and nice dresses to come to my little apartment for a Christmas Ball. We had no other reason to dress up so I made my own fancy dress party! Ah, good times. 

Incidentally, I met my husband on the construction site. I saw him walking with a heavy box of nails on his shoulder... he had a good swagger (that we still laugh at today!) He came to my Christmas party that year... cleaned up very nicely. We were engaged the next Christmas and married in April ('00). Ah, even better times.

Carrie sent me this photo to work from. It was a neat composition - right up my alley. ha ha! 

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

 

Collins' Climb

16x12

Oil on panel

Third place Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event

I was honored to win another award at the plein air event opening reception Saturday night. This painting was almost a sketch really. But that is more of how I approach plein air painting. The driveway into Collins ranch is about a mile and a half on caliche and goes up and down two crazy steep hills. I loved the view from top and bottom but finally settled on this view. It was late Thursday evening and the sun was moving fast. I started badly, wiped off and started again. My friend Terri Wells - http://www.terrimwells.com - was sitting next to me (we scrambled to catch the light and just sat in the road to work) and painted one of her amazing watercolors. 

What a fun weekend. Our judges, Joe Anna Arnett and James Asher, were lovely people. Many of our local plein air group were representing - taking 3 of the 5 awards! 

The sun didn't perform well in the mornings but was sure brilliant and putting out its strongest heat in the afternoons. A cool front came in late Saturday. We had really interesting sites again and the event staff and volunteers at the Kerrville arts center did a fantastic job!! 

Congratulations to Julie Davis on her much deserved first place!!

http://juliedavisstudio.com/

Aw Shucks!

16x16 oil on panel

Ask DK Gallery about this painting

This began - and sort of ended - as a sketch. I just thought that I had said enough once I got the initial block in done. Its painted over a toned panel which allowed me to just be vague about the non-essential bits.

Friday opens the Farm to Table show at DK Gallery on the Historic Marietta Square. The show features all their gallery artists sharing works celebrating the growing focus on farm fresh foods. I am happy to contribute with some of my favorite subjects featuring foods being prepared or enjoyed. To see a preview of the variety of works you can click here. 

I'm still really excited to be part of DK Gallery. They have monthly show openings coinciding with their local First Friday Artwalk. The shows give artists and patrons an opportunity to explore all kinds of ideas and themes. I wish I was nearer and could attend. I'm hoping for a visit during their Holiday small gems show.

This scene is from my New Orleans trip earlier this summer. We walked for a long way to find that Cafe du Monde serves nothing but beignets. That wouldn't do for my family. We then found The Original French Market Restaurant nearby serving some excellent Cajun food and got to watch this man shucking fresh oysters for those so inclined.

Corner Bistro

16x20 oil on panel
sold

I'm excited to announce that I am going to be showing work as a guest artist with DK Gallery in Marietta, Georgia for a couple of their upcoming shows. The first one opens in August and is a gallery show called "Oh, the Places You'll Go".

My works will feature some NYC and New Orleans work - and maybe a museum or birds-eye piece to see how they are received.

I'm glad to have the opportunity to show my artwork to a new audience and new collector base. I never like to talk about the sordid business side of art on this blog, but let's face it, its the elephant in the room. The economy remains sluggish and so do sales. Its challenging being a creative individual these days. Prints and posters are so widely available - and so much cheaper - that people find it easier to purchase a cool scene from Target while they are getting their new fall throw pillows and accent rugs than to search galleries and attend art fairs to see what original art there is. I think too that people are unsure about buying art - "maybe its not good!" Oh, its a whole lot of reasons. The main one being that housing is slow, people are still out of work and there is a lot less spending money to play with.

That being said, having my paintings seen in a new area and being a new face in a gallery might give me a boost. The gallery represents some really interesting contemporary artists too and I'm excited to be  explore a more modern approach to my work and framing options as well.

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Shades of Summer

8x8 oil on panel
$375 + s/h
Email me

Ah summer - I had to get to the beach at least in my mind! We will try to hit the Texas coast sometime this summer. But I will miss the Florida gulf beaches a lot. The water there is so beautiful.

Round Robin

Today we met for sketching and painting with a small group at Joel's Coffee shop in north Austin. We each worked on our own things for a bit and then decided to paint birds to help support V....Vaughan's wonderful Birdseed Project. 

V's mother is in an assisted living facility and V has discovered how much joy birdwatching brings to the residents and guests of such places. She has begun an amazing project to help buy birdseed and feeders to attract the birds to nurture nature and people. I know from sitting in my own backyard how much fun the little birds can be. What a blessing they would be to those who are more or less "homebound."

Please consider making a contribution to the Birdseed Project. Your tax deductible gift provides feeders and seed, and maybe a NEW BIRDSEED PROJECT to a home near you! Click to donate to

Threefold Cord Ministries. Mention Birdseed Project on the ENVELOPE.

 

Below are paintings my mother and I did today!  I couldn't resist the lovely fat Robin and wanted to try to abstract him a little into the background. My mom hasn't worked in oils in ages, but seemed to get the knack back in a short time with her little sparrow. To make a purchase, and therefore contribute birdseed to V's project, email me!

Round Robin
8x8 oil on panel
artist: Robin Cheers

Spare Sparrow
8x8 oil on panel
artists: Opal Cheers

Exit Row

24x18

oil on 2" cradled panel

Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

Afternoon

24x18

oil on 2" cradled panel

Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

I am so clever with titles. Not. Anyway - this is a larger bird's eye scene than I have ever done before. I love to paint these scenes as they are so simple and almost abstract. Its always fun to play with shadows. I think though that they have taught me how to fill in large empty spaces in interesting ways. With subtle shifts in temperature and color and by varying brushwork, the empty fields are not boring. Its also taught me to make interesting greys.

This week is spring break in central Texas and I sure wish I was able to visit Naples, FL for the opening this week. If you are in the area, go and tell me how this show is. I'd love to see all these artists work in person, and see their subjects. Would be very inspirational.

Maestro

12x9 oil on panel  

Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

"Slice of Life" opens March 14th. The theme couldn't be more right for me. Its what I like to paint best - those moments in life that seem less than extraordinary, but are what the stuff of life is made of. Life here is finally taking a turn for the better. My husband is going back to work soon. My parents are making plans to move to the Austin area finally. Spring is in the air and I feel my heart lifting as these weighty matters come to resolution. Not to get too personal, but I feel very blessed that these last months have made our family stronger and closer when the difficulties could have produced very different results. I'm really proud of my husband. And my daughter.


My work is now turning to kitchen and domestic scenes. Its all relative. :-) 

Yesterday I met my lovely friend V....Vaughan and we painted while we visited in a very welcoming and cozy coffee shop in northwest Austin - Joel's. Its also the home of Austin Truffle Company and nothing will get you through a crazy time like excellent mocha truffles (and friendship.) I did the two studies above from photos while we enjoyed our hot chocolate, tea and truffles. Will be working them into larger works soon.

Conductor

Conductor
8x6 oil on panel
$175 + s/h - sold

Houston Symphony
20x24 oil on panel
Commissioned by the Houston Symphony League

Above is my final painting for the Houston Symphony celebrating the last year their conductor, Hans Graf, will lead them. I have had such fun painting scenes from this event. Now I need to get backstage at the Austin symphony, or maybe the opera. How fun would that be?

Brigade de Cuisine

14x11 oil on panel
sold

One of my favorite subjects to paint. Its on its way to the Florida for the "Slice of Life" show. Below is a nice little write up on the show which appears in the March issue of American Art Collector. I am still starstuck at the company I am keeping in this show! My parents are going to drive down to see it, and I wish I could join them especially as that is spring break week here in central Texas.  

Allegro

Allegro
8x6 oil on panel
$175 + s/h
PURCHASE

Yes, I am still here! I've been painting and now finalizing my work for Gardner Colby's "Slice of Life" show which opens March 14 in Naples. I also finished up the large commissioned painting for the Houston Symphony conductor. I really enjoyed painting scenes from that night. I have several smaller ones like above and larger ones which will be available in my galleries.

Sorry for my long absence. Its been hectic at home. My husband is still out of work, we had Girl Scout cookie season, show prep, sick dog, a trip for interviewing out of state, and the usual things like extra curricular activities and lots of laundry, etc. Just a whirlwind start to the new year. I make the time to paint, but not so much to post.