Navajo Monument
11x14 Oil on hardboard

Another painting from Don's hosting of the WC Southwest Nov. challenge.  Thanks for the wonderful ref. photos Don.. It was fun!

Navajo Monument is far more successful a piece than that of Shiprock below.  Mainly due to the feedback from other artists, and my never ending desire to do better work as an artist. 

Shiprock Revisited
22x24 Oil  on hardboard

 Its a challenge to be an artist that is never satisfied with their work.  The  drive to do better creates such a strong internal tension that I just can't leave it alone.  The painting of Shiprock below is no exception I could not leave it as it was.   The immensity of the area called out for a proper representation of the scale and depth.  So my goal was to learn how to represent these elements.  Thanks to a few suggestions from the Southwest artists I was able to incorporate what I learned into the painting.  A few elements  are not to my liking and I'm still not pleases with.   Joe, says "Sign it." and is  not wanting me to dab anymore paint on it.  My thoughts on that are.. He has to go to sleep sometime.  ;-)

Shiprock Arizona

Shiprock
Oil  20x24 Linen Hardboard

  The reference for this painting came from Don's hosting of the November Southwest Challenge at Wet Canvas.   Thanks for hosting Don!

This is a bit of a redo to be honest.  I did the challenge.. Liked it one day.. Then the next day didn't like it that much at all ::sigh::.  So had to repaint it and for now this is the finish.

Mule'n Around

Here is the finish. I learned quite a bit from doing this on.   The kind folks in the Southwest forum at WC really helped me move this piece along. Still a few things I see need a bit  of attention, but it is time to move on.  I hope to be doing many more  southwest themes as I do enjoy it so.

Flowers For Ruthie

Flowers For Ruthie
Watercolor 7x7

These flowers were painted for a special friend here in Naples.    The painting doesn't come close to the beauty of the flowers she has given me.  Thanks so much Ruthie!

Acrylic on linen
5x7

Acrylic on linen
5x7

Love vacation time!  I get to paint what ever I want.  Sometimes you need that..  A lot less like work when your painting for yourself not for others.  Not that I mind commission work and while I do enjoy painting what others like.. I find I'm more connected to the subject.
Here are two that I have been wanting to do for a few weeks. Its raining here.. but that is ok. .More time to paint!
 

Olgelbayfest

  A little note to for those who sent emails wondering if I had stopped painting. Nope.. I have been busy painting and getting ready getting ready for this show.  Hope be posting pieces in a few days or so.  Thanks for asking.. :-) 

Also.. I wanted to thank everyone who attended the Olgelbayfest and of course the Olgelbay Stifel staff as well.  It was a great time and I sold quite a few of my small works and all of my roosters but one!  Got a handful of commissions so all in all it was a good show.

The Texas Longhorn II

Acrylic, 11x14 Linen Hardboard

You might recognize this guy.  He was painted back in July.  I entered him in the Canfield Fair and there was a wee bit of a mix up by the fair people, the painting was sold twice.  Compromise was that another was to be painted, and here he is.  I was surprised to see how different the two paintings are.
(Thanks Jill.. I hope your bf likes him.)

Been busy learning watercolors and I have not gotten them to obey me yet.  I was told they never will and to go with the flow. Very hard thing to do.  But several are finished and hope to get pictures up.

Atwood Lake

11x14 Acrylic
Canvas hardboard

     I did a few quick sketches on canvas when we went fishing at Atwood Lake.  It was such a pretty area I had to bring my paints, but I forgot my white.. Oops.. One color not to forget so sketches it was.
     I have been using a very limited palette lately.  Tit. Wht, Lemon Yellow, Cad. Yel. Med., Alizarn Crimson, Ult. blue, and since I have not been able to find the tube of Chrome Oxide Green.. well I guess its even more limited.  ;-)
   

Highlandtown Lake- 3

Highlandtown Lake-3
5x7 Oil on Linen Hardboard

  Again, a little painting from a plein air sketch out at Highlandtown Lake, Oh.
  The camera didn't pick up the subtle blues and lovely pinks that are in this painting.  Why? Cameras are limited about 4000 colors rather than the roughly 6 to 10 million the human eye sees. A viewer's eye loves to play inside a good painting or drawing, being attracted to the colors, shifts in values, sense of line, and emphatic undertones that is found there.  Whereas a viewer will only scan a photo long enough for the brain to pick up what is needed to identify the subject. The "Ah.. I get it." moment.  There are exceptions to this though. Photos that create an emphatic feeling for the viewer also give the viewer pause and the brain allows the eye to linger and play.  When I paint I always ask myself if I am having fun on the playground, and do my paintings sing to the eye?

The Old Ohio-- East Liverpool

5x7 Oil Linen Hardboard

Hope to be back to a painting or so a day.  There are so many paintings I would love to get started on, and I plan to.

This was from a plein air sketch.  The Ohio River on a lazy afternoon.  Fish were lazy too!  Not one nibble but lots of scribbles.  :-)

Garden's Doorway

5x7 Oil on Linen Hardboard

Guess everyone can tell I'm more of a landscape artist, huh?  .. ;-)

To many interruptions the last few days to paint proper and there is a deadline looming in October.  It is also an honor as well. Olglebay Institute of Art chose me to receive one of the two Up-And-Coming Professional Artist Scholarships that they offer to artists.  I was floored as well as pleased!  My booth fees and any charges will be waved for the Olglebayfest Oct. 7-9th. 

Now I really do have to paint faster!

Mountain Trails

Mountain Trails
18x24 Acrylic Gallery Wrap Canvas

Lately I've had an interest in reflected light from more of a physics standpoint than through an artist's eye.  I want to understand how light works beyond what ones mind allows the viewer to see at specific moments in time.  When one views a breathtaking scene the eye picks up the little nuances or sparkles and shows the brain, the brain never really shows these on an intellectual level.  Instead the viewer gets an emphatic rendering of the scene rather than all of the information that is really there.  The viewer enjoys the scene but can't pick out specific reasons why.  If you don't think this is true ask yourself why the human language contains so many phases along the lines of, "To beautiful for words?"  See how many more you can come up with. 
As an artist I want to invoke those feelings that the brain imparts to the viewer, I think this is what makes art far more appealing than viewing a photo. 

Sailing

Sailing
11x14 Acrylic on Linen Hardboard

  The mast, rope lines, and reflections were a daunting addition that I was reluctant to add in.  So, after having it on the easel for 6 weeks I decided that if it didn't turn out I would just paint another.  I have a real fear of adding finishing touches on paintings.  The addition of just one color next to another, color relativity, can change the whole painting.  Been there done that.  ;-)  Thankfully those mistakes are becoming fewer and farther apart.

Highlandtown Lake II Plein Air

Highlandtown Lake II
5x7 Acrylic

   Painting has always given me respite from physical pain. Now I find the focus it requires gives solace from other kinds of hurt.  So quietly painting the last few days.  The last week has been very trying and sad. I  pray that the worst fear I have doesn't come to pass.  Lord willing dad will be with us a little while longer with a measure of health. In this I pray.
    Funny how one marks things in life's cycle.  One year and full circle today as I put a few paintings in the Columbiana County fair.  Last year it was the first place I started out. Fearful and anxious that my paintings would be looked at by others.  Now this year I'm expectant of perhaps doing well.   Ha!  If that is not a 180 deg. change in tune!

Rooster-Do

Red Rooster
5x7 Watercolor

Roosters are such fun to do and this little game rooster was no exception.  Just a quicky as I was trying out watercolors for the first time.  I have only used watercolor pencils and it was much different to start with a brush.

Texas Longhorn

Longhorn
11x14 Acrylic on Linen Hardboard

The reference for this piece came from the Wet Canvas Southwest Monthly Event. Probably going to adjust his horns and hair-do a bit.. But he is done.. Thanks for hosting Kay.. may have time for another one! 

Plein Air #5 Highlandtown Lake

Highlandtown Lake
Oil 11x14 on Linen Hardboard

Plein Air in oils on linen hardboard.  We went fishing.. Nice relaxing evening.  One thing about the oils though they are messy to bring home.  Joe is still chiseling a bit of paint here and there from the car.. ;-)

Redwood Forest

Redwoods
11x14 Acrylic on linen panel

The older redwood forests have a powerful dynamic thrust which tends to obliterate long patterns of light and shadow.  This is a young forest and while the trees are still large by any standards the branches are more open and allow such a wonderful stream of light to cascade in.  I tried to capture that.
 Thanks Jack for the many pictures..  Keep taken those wonderful vacations! 

YSU Arts Festival

Setup for the YSU Show.

    I had a wonderful 1st Festival, The YSU Festival of The Arts, in Youngstown, Ohio.
   To all that stopped in to view, comment, and take a painting home, "Thank you!"
    There are no words to express my appreciation and thanks to all the artists, who helped with little gems of wisdom, and also to the staff and volunteers who excelled at making this show a wonderful event for both the public and the artists. A heartfelt thank you to all.


   Last month I imagined art as a melody and song, and I hoped my melodies would sing well to others  This weekend I found that they do sing and resonate.  I am honored by all those who heard my song..  Thank you.

 

Mountain Ruts

Mountain Ruts
18x24 Canvas Acrylics

In the high mountains early sunrise.. The colors are spectacular.  In trying to capture this concept of color, rather than the realistic view, I got a little lost.  This has been on the easel for a month.  Today was the day to finish it.  

Quiet Seas

Quiet Seas
12x16 mixed media

Started this painting at a workshop.  I had never gone to one before and was very very sadly disappointed.  But.. Lets not go there.
  I sketched in the main points.. and sponged in the values and shapes with acrylics.  Took all of about 25 mins.  I quit as I was a bit disillusioned and decided to take this home and finish it in oils. So that it would not be a wasted day I studied the painting and made mental notes as to how to complete it.  I have been trying to do the mental painting more often.  To help my brain really see what is there in front of me and not what I think I see.
  This is the final result.

 

Rock and Flower

Rock & Flower
16x12
Mixed Media / Oil & acrylic

Finally got to go out and play outside. Been a bit under the weather lately so it was a nice little outing,  Did a acrylic under painting plein air of one of my backyard flower beds. Then finished it in-studio with oils.
    I'm finding it a real challenge to paint outside without an audience.  But, when unexpected company shows up, well I just wanted to hide.  So when very sweet young man of  12 or so showed up suddenly to see what was going on. I panicked..but since dashing away would have really look silly, I stood my ground. I must have had the deer in the headlight look as my Joe was watching from the pier with his 'amused country boy grin' on.
  Braced for the worst.. as the visitor unabashedly sauntered up with his fishing pole.  I watched in slow motion, it seemed. As he checked out my painting...  "Lady... That is a really nice painting!"   I could barely sputter out.. "Thanks."
   Then Joe let out a deep rumble of heartfelt laughter. "Now are you going to believe me Honey?!"  I smirked and grinned.  Sure did make me feel a whole lot better about painting in front of strangers.
  If I attend the YSU Festival Of The Arts, July 9t & 10th,  I signed up to do painting at my booth.  The intent being to help me get over painting with people watching.  I think they have  pysc program there.. ;-)  I may need counseling afterwards... ;-)

Mountain Trail

9x12 Acrylic

18x24 Acrylic

Had some fun today with a photo from the Southwest Monthly Challenge.   I did this one to help me get warmed up to finish the large one. ::Sigh::











I started this one earlier in the month in a bigger format as well as in a different style.  Here is sits...  I'm stuck..  Should have finished it immediately.  Now I'm afraid of it.. LOL..

  To me the center is done.  The left and right corners have been the areas pitching me fits.  Mentor Bill says to get bigger brushes and knives.
Feel free to comment if you have a suggestion.

Plein Air Chalange #2

10x12  acrylic
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Always wanted to paint outside.. hard to do on ones own.  So a few of the Wet Canvas people are doing it virtually.. Pretty cool.  We are painting 100 plein air to get a good understanding of subject and composition,values, hue, and chroma.  This is #2.  Three hours..  its harder than it looks.. ;-)

Blue Heron

Oils 5x7 Hardboard
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Just a little 5x7 taken from the Wet Canvas Wee3kend Drawing Event.  Finally got one done early!  Eye Paint is the host this week and again.. lots of wonderful ref. photos.  I even did the challenge, which was to use knives.  What country gal doesn't like to play with knives.  ;-)
I hope to get a few more little ones done today.

Yellow Rapeseed

5x7 Acrylic Linen Hardboard

I love old trees with character.. Not that I can paint them well.. But I do try.. This was a WDE hosted by Scatty.

Little Chestnut Mare

5x7 Acrylic on linen Hardwood

Took a day just to paint. Garden is planted and to wet to put in the rest of the flower beds.. so why not?

Scatty was the host for the Wet Canvas WDE, she had quite a few referances that I would like to do so picked two..
First was this little mare.. I didn't do her justice.. but sure did enjoy painting her.

Summer Jetty

Summer Jetty
Oils 11x14
Canvas Hardboard

Water has such an intimate draw to humans. When I watch people who stand on the coastline, I see their eyes constantly scan the expanse before them. Occasionally their fascination with the undulating rhythm is interrupted by a seagull or other creature. But soon their gaze returns to the sea. Then off come the shoes and they reach in to pat and play as the water swirls about their ankles. I am no different than those on the beach and the years have not diminished the my yearning and study of the colors and shapes are within the waves. They say paint what you know.. I say paint what drives you! Whatever the connection that we humans have to the ocean, it is a marvel to behold.    One of God's wonders laid out in all its splendor which I am driven to put to canvas.  But a shallow copy of the splendor He lays before us.  An artist can but try....

Blue Alaska

Blue Alaska
Oil 11x14 Gallery Wrap Canvas

Alaska revisited.. A year of study changes how one perceives the world. Value, and color is not just what is put down on the canvas.  The creative mind adds harmony and the brush becomes an instrument that sings to the viewer.  I hope my paintings sing well.

Water Lily

Water Lily
Oils
11x14 Linen Hardboard

       Its been two years since the accident.  Lots of  mixed feelings and lack of interest in things, painting being one of them.  As much as I prayed for a perfect healing, I know I will never have my health back.  I thank God that the neck surgery has given me a measure of relief and the pain is now bearable. What a joy it is that I can plant flowers, and take a walk about with my Joe.
    So yesterday I decided to quit being so melancholy and paint! Went to the Week End Drawing Event at Wet Canvas.. Picked out a reference, sat down and painted!  This past week Robert (Skappy) graciously hosted.

Awaiting Renewal

Awaiting Renewal
Oils
18x24 On Linen Hardboard

Hard to believe that only 8 days have past since I started on this.  It consumed me a bit so it feels more like a month has gone by.  Hard part was waiting for the oil to get tacky enough to press forward.  For the 'moment' I'm happy with it.  Probably put this one in the Crosscurrent Stifel Show this week. 
  The reference for this came from the Wet Canvas April Landscape Challenge.  I wandered over to the forum to see last months work and liked the ref. so I decided to paint it.

Yesterday... A good painting day..

I have been very quiet. Not painting much the last two weeks.  Makes me feel guilty when I don't at least try and paint.  Made up for it yesterday though.  Painted 3 5x7s and just had fun.

Camera died.. :-/  So I am at the mercy of a not so good one..  Running up to the camera shop on Thursday to see what works well with knife paintings.  The studies of the building are from the Steubenville (Ohio) Blast Furnace Plant.. Sadly now empty.

 

 I really miss my camera...  Ocean Jetty... Well better than no picture at all

Ocean Jetty
Oil 5x7 Linen Hard Board

My First Best In Show Award!

The Steubenville Art Association had their Art Show reception today. I knew I had won an award but would not find out which one till the opening. I just knew it was an honorable mention and I was super excited just to be considered at the show. I started walking down the hall looking at all the great paintings. I glanced up and became quite dumbfounded then went right into shock from there. Is that my painting? Why is it on an easel?..No.. No... Can't be... Ribbon.. no.. Yes.. Its a Purple Ribbon! My first Juried show.. and a best in show. I'll be painting on cloud nine for a few days

"SeaGull"

I had been planning to work on a still life.  But someone ate the grapes. ;-)   Not a  lost morning though as I had snapped this little guy sunning himself at the Naples beach last year and had him tucked away in the to-do file.  Since the oils are still out.. I grabbed a knife and now he is finished.  Much more colorful in real life.. as blues and purples never are quite right in pictures.  My main goal was making this a bright, cheerful, and sunny.

5x7 Oil on Linen Hardboard
$45.00

"Attitude"

Spring is around the corner.. I can tell.. Chickens everywhere!  I didn't plan on doing so many they just cropped up on their own.  This one is cross between painterly and tole.  Used knifes and acrylics to get an impressionistic feel. 

   I have been busy trying to clean up paintings that I started over the last two weeks.  There is a painting I want to get started on from the WC Landscape Challenge for this month.  Its much larger size wise than I normally do but I want to work bigger this summer.  Nothing like a big landscape painting.. Or so I think.. ;-)

Acrylic 11x14
Linen Hardboard

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"At Roads' End"

This was just a little study that became something more.  I love the solitude of the old out building in contrast to the depth of the scene.  This piece had a lot of contemplation to it and took far more time than I normally find myself dedicating to a painting.  It was a joy to paint.

6x9 Acrylic Mounted

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"What? Who Me? Chicken?"

 Did I mention earlier that I liked to paint chickens?  Here is one that was done for the Daily Painter's Challenge.  He was fun to do and since white is very hard to paint its not often you find me painting a white subject.  Feathers are so hard to do in acrylics.  So, I broke out my oils..  I wonder why I ever strayed from them!  They were a joy to paint with!

Oils
5x7 Linen Hardboard

Studio Revamp

Being new to what a studio is and how it should be laid out.. Has been frustrating.  I have been putting paintings in a pile because I was not quite sure what to do with them.  People would come and ask to see certain pieces and they would watch me dig about.  That was then.. This is now!

Karla's Blog Life On The Flip Side had a little blip on how she did her studio walls.  I thought it would be perfect, and it is.  Hubby was skeptical and decided that he would get enough molding for one wall.  He put it up last night and when he saw how well the system worked it was a no-brainer.  Went to Lowe's and got enough to go around my whole studio. Thanks Karla!

The Wave

Another WDE piece.  Li was kind enough to host with some great pictures.  My first wave.  I thought it would be an easy ref. to paint and thought I would use it as a warm up study to start the day.  It was not the case!  Waves are hard!  Took 7 hours.

The Wave
8x10 Acrylic
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Red Rock Mesa

Just a quick one to break up the monotony of the afternoon.  Southwest Art Forum at Wet Canvas has a monthly challenge that I have been joining in for the last few months. Laurie is the host for April and this particular ref. photo really caught my eye.  I guess I am procrastinating a bit.  There are three paintings just on the verge of being finished.  Just can't seem to get them done.  I think its a fear of maybe ruining them that has me hesitant to do more than just dab.  Promised myself that I would work on them tomorrow.

Red Rock Mesa
9x12 Acrylic
Knife work on canvas paper
$45.00

Winter Pines

Winter Pines
11x14 Acrylic
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From a Wet Canvas WDE (Weekend Drawing Event).  Bonnie was kind enough to host and had lots of wonderful reference photos to chose from.
   I do hope that this is the last cold spell of the year!

Blue Bird

Blue Bird
9x12 Acrylic
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Fowl have always been a favorite of mine.  Chickens free range here most of the summer.  Love to watch them do their thing. 
This fellow was done with knifes.  I have found that I really enjoy using them to paint.