Cafe du Monde - 60 Minute Study

12x8 oil on paper

Click to purchase this study in my new Etsy shop.

This is all I've had time to paint today. I spent the bulk of my morning doing lots of business things. And laundry (someone has to.) I am really proud of having gotten so much done, even if it hasn't been all painting. It might really surprise people who don't know what else goes on in an artist's studio to know how much we have to be business-type people as well as creatives.

Speaking of business, I have set up shop with Etsy so that I can offer these sketches on paper as well as other works which are in need of good homes. Please check it out.

Lighthouse

12x12 oil on panel

Ask Castle Gallery about this painting

This is based on a small work I did a few months ago. Again, I used a Hopper exhibit as the setting. Again, I stayed loose and gestural capturing the setting in an impressionistic, almost expressive way, rather than getting tight and detailed. Such details as the hard edges of the frames and walls often cause me to tighten up and paint objects... when I keep seeing just shapes of color and move my brush around a lot, like a conductor, I can ignore the boundaries.

Casual Observer

7x5 oil on panel
sold

This was painted yesterday after my "loosening up" exercises. I like it. I feel like I got the brushwork loose and gestural and got enough color notes to make it interesting, though its rather a tonal painting.

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.

Challenge Me

I need some help from my audience.

I am having a real block when it comes to the small works I offer on here. I think that the limited size of the panel feels confining and I have trouble thinking of what to put on so small a scale.

So my challenge to you, is to come up with some thing to get me motivated. Send me your photos, suggest I paint insects, animals, only in blue, something!

Leave your comments here so we can all have fun with this challenge and lets see if we can get me motivated!

Sunny Seating

14x11 oil on panel

on hold

This sunny spot is a scene from the River oaks Country Club in Houston where I did my recent live event painting. I have wanted to do more interior scenes, but have not found many good subjects unfortunately. I will be scouting for such in NY at the end of the month.

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.

Farm House - 30 Minute Study

6x8 oil on paper canvas

This little white house sits on a rise on a corner not far from where my husband grew up. He painted this house when he was in high school. The walls, that is. This was late evening after a rain when we happened by and the sun was just going down behind the hill.

I had a small painting today also - one to sell - but two of my lights are burned out in my studio and I can't get a good photo. I will post it tomorrow.

Jack - 30 Minute Study

12x9 oil on paper
nfs

This is Karin Jurick's Jack. I painted it to participate in her new painter's challenge Different Strokes from Different Folks. I love this concept. She posts a photo and anyone can work from it and it will be posted to the blog. Its fun to see all the varied interpretations and I look forward to doing more. Its so good for artists to do exercises and I am always looking for new ideas.

This was my jump start back to painting. What a long break I've taken. Remember when I said I was going to do something daily no matter what? I'm still laughing at that. Never put things in writing. ;-)

It was very hard going back to work, so that is another reason I am grateful to Karin for starting this. It at least gave me something to do. Otherwise, I'd be floundering with too many possibilities and feeling overwhelmed.

River Oaks Wedding Video

Well I can't believe I figured this out! I must give a nod to Qiang Huang who told me he uses Windows Movie Maker. Once I downloaded that, and ditched the other Sony software, this was a breeze. Thanks Qiang!

So, let me explain the video. I set my camcorder up behind my easel and out of the way. Once it got knocked and you can see the view change for a few frames. I set it to capture every 10 minutes I think and it was too long a time lapse, but you can see the work develop - though it kind of goes in spurts.
I left the audio as it was too so you can share the whole feeling of the event. In the beginning, the lights are up and the band is warming up. Then the people begin to arrive and the noise level increases, voices almost drown out the music. You hear snatches of songs, see guests stop and visit with me, and see me tapping along with the music until the voices fade, the music stops and the lights come up.

These events are so fun for me. Its so special too to share these amazing events with the families and friends.

A Taste of the Driskill

A very neat event going on Saturday for those of you in Austin. Its also game day for UT, so likely to be busy downtown. I'm going to exhibit some of my artwork - especially the wedding reception work during this event.

A Taste of the Driskill
Saturday, August 30, 2008
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Open house featuring food and wine tastings, pie bake-off, music, ghost tours, romance stories and children’s activities. A showcase of artwork of The Driskill created by local artists will be in the Jim Hogg room on the Mezzanine level.

Art to Heart '08

Bucket Brigade
12x12 oil on panel

I thought I'd make a note about an upcoming art auction where the above painting is going.

The event, Art to Heart, is to benefit Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center in Wilmington, NC. And the young ladies who founded the program are two sisters, one of whom has a rare heart condition and recently had surgery to correct the problems. To give back to the children's hospital where she had her treatment and raise awareness for the recognition of Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome, they are having what may turn out to be an amazing art auction. So far nearly 100 fine artists have contributed work for the event which is to be Friday, November 7 at the Balcony on Dock Street in Wilmington.

Heart problems run in my family, so fundraising efforts to increase awareness and treatment both for preventable and genetic heart health issues are close to home and I couldn't say no to these young women's efforts. Its ironic that I sent the painting today, and tomorrow I am going in early for a test on my heart to check for a leaking valve or other issues. One never knows.

Arte y Pico Award

I had a nice note while I was traveling. Lorrie Drennan nominated me for an art blogging award - the Arte y Pico Award. What is so nice about this concept is that it is a jury of one's peers essentially. And with so many fabulous artists in the blog world, its really a pleasure to be considered creative enough to receive a commendation like this. The info about the award and how to nominate other artists is farther below, but here are my Top Five favorites, based on their inspiring work and their blogging style. I could do so many more than five though.

David Lloyd
Mike Rooney
SC Shisler
Miro Sinovcic
Sharman Owings

And two more interesting blogs about art and the making of art: Uncle Paulie's World and ArtMaker.

FYI...The Origin of The Arte y Pico Award and Rules if you choose to accept.
You might be interested in the origin of the "Arte y Pico Award" The designer of the award puts it like this..."The Arte y Pico Award has arisen from the daily visits that I make to many blogs which nourish and enrich me with creativity. In them, I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain and enrich me day to day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few."

The Rules:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award through creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.
3. Award winners have to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award.
4. Show these rules and the paragraph (above) explaining the awards origination.

Live Event Painting - River Oaks

24x36 oil on linen

Here we have the final event version. I will be making final adjustments and refining the painting, but I wanted to share with you the result of my 5+ hours of painting of the reception for William and Kate. I also set up my video camera and taped at intervals, so when I come back from vacation (which I very much need now) I will play with editing that and posting it to my site. I very much enjoyed this and hope the family will love the final painting. Stay tuned for photos of it in a few weeks.

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.

News from the Studio

Tomorrow I'm heading for Houston to paint the wedding reception of a lovely young couple at the fabulous River Oaks Country Club. I'm excited to do another live event. Its very exhilarating, in a terrifying way. But once the band is playing and the crowd is humming, I really get into a groove. The guests are always so thrilled to see the work develop and what an honor it is for me and my work to be included in such an important day!
Ask me how it all works if you have a special event you'd like to have memorialized in your own impressionist painting.

After the quick trip to Houston, I'm off for one more family vacation before school starts, so the posts will be irregular again! I will visit Castle Gallery in Fort Wayne one of the days, but will just miss their summer show on Aug. 21.

Just think what fun I will have painting and posting when school starts and I have more time than I've had in years.

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?

Trail Horse - 30 Minute Study

12x12 oil on paper
nfs

Another quick study to loosen up and get things flowing. Interestingly, the paper canvas pulls the oil out of the paint pretty quickly, making the stroke "stick" fast which makes me get looser with my color and I do more just putting the paint on and leaving it alone and get a little bolder with color. So the paper, and the fact that I set my timer, are creating some fun results for me.

Chillin' - 30 Minute Study

oil on paper canvas

On Friday, I read Harley Brown's article in International Artist regarding working inconsistently, and it really struck home.

"Although I alluded to this before, I'm jotting down the subtleties that are really the underpinning of an artist with EVER DEVELOPING skills who draws and paints continuously. The confidence factor from working each day makes THE difference. I've talked with dancers and writers and musicians who say the same thing about how the previous day's work is important to each ensuing day. So goes the rhythm of confident strokes."

There pretty much is the philosophy behind the painting a day movement. And my "journal" here. I think that after one takes a break, there is this learning curve to starting again and a real loss of confidence. I've been so inconsistent this summer that when I do have time, I freeze up. So I decided I have to keep the paint brush wet, no matter how small or brief a work I do. It is my goal to post here daily, be it a pencil sketch on a napkin, a study, a small painting to sell or a gallery work. I hope you enjoy the journey along with me.