Almost Daily Paintings

Woman Reclining--Pastel, 5x5 on paper

2009-01-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

Lesson learned here? Fixative is my friend whom I will entertain often! I really struggled with this but am pleased with the result. It was a good value study. Now I need to get in gear to meet Karen Jurick's next deadline.

Different Strokes from Different Folks- end of the year challenge

2008-12-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

Pastel, 5x7 on paper. For this challenge, Karin Jurick put 130 names in a hat, and paired artists off to paint each others portraits. 130!! When you have a chance, check them out!

Work Boots--Pastel, 5x7 on paper

2008-12-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

This was my submission to this week's Different Strokes for Different Folks blog.

Three Graces--5" x 7" pastel on paper

2008-12-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

I have painted this in oils as well but prefer this version because I really like the mottled affect of the dry pigment and the way I am able to layer color without muddying it. Is muddying a real word?

Zen Challenge - 5x7 pastel on paper

2008-11-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

This was a submission for the "Different Strokes from Different Folks" blog. The photo I worked from was very high contrast with little color. The challenge was a bit daunting..... but it's always fun when you are pleasantly surprised by the outcome!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Upside Down Exercise

2008-11-18T08:09:00.001-08:00

Check out a relatively new blog.... differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com
It is facilitated by Karin Jurick (see her website link under "my favorites"). Every week she posts a new challenge. It is fun to see different interpretations of the same material.

This weeks post was painted upside down to help focus on shapes/value, not things. Very useful!

What's new?

2008-11-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

Since time has been of the essence lately, I've been experimenting with a new medium (for me), pastels. I love the immediacy of pastels, their pure pigment, and the layering options they afford. Stay tuned for more...

Summer vacation

2008-06-13T23:22:00.000-07:00

The kids are out of school and we are trying to establish a new routine around the house. I haven't had much time for painting, but hope to get back to it soon. Thank for being patient and checking back shortly.

Carnival 1 - 16x20 on board

2008-04-16T11:30:00.001-07:00

Here is my latest project. It's nice to paint a larger canvas after doing some smaller pieces!

Asparagus - 6x8 on board

2008-03-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

I tried a new recipe for Easter. Yummy!

Pink Ladies - 6x8 on board

2008-03-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

I like how the brushwork is more open here. That is my goal!

We have been really busy with things around the house, dance recitals, and Easter. Next week is spring break. With Chloe home from school, I may not be able to post for a while. Happy Easter!

Inlet - 9x12 on board

2008-02-22T13:12:00.001-08:00

I'd like to do more landscapes in the future. Trying to simplify a rocky crag is hard!

Sunflowers - 6x8 on board

2008-02-13T09:14:00.001-08:00

My favorite part is the leaf!

Blue Iris - 6x8 on board

2008-02-11T09:52:00.001-08:00

I'm really pleased with this one. During the process, it wasn't always the case. I find that with each exercise I go through a period when I hate what I'm doing and doubt I can pull it off. Why do I put so much pressure on myself?!? It's just an experiment! I think what really turned this one around for me was going back and adding stronger line in places.

Green Bottle - 6x8 on board

2008-01-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

Chloe's Doll - 9x12 on board

2008-01-23T13:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I threw a surprise party for my husband's 4oth birthday (I'll try to post some pics!), and the last of our guests left today. Hopefully, I can paint more regularly now. I must admit, I'm feeling a bit rusty.

Wipe Off! - 6x8 on board

2008-01-10T14:40:00.000-08:00

I should have walked away and come back after a while, but instead I picked at it until it was beyond hope..... and after such a promising start! Oh well. I'll try it again tomorrow.

Natalia- 9x12 on board

2008-01-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

Thought she could use a bit more work, so I refined her features.

Red Shoes, Take Two - 9x12 on board

2007-12-21T10:32:00.001-08:00

Macy's Event

2007-12-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

I've been invited to paint perfume bottles at the local Macy's for a special fragrance event they are hosting 12/15 and 12/22 from Noon-4pm. Below are some samples I put together for customers to choose from. Below- The Ralph Lauren "Romance" fragrance is a clear bottle on all sides. The four different motifs are a little difficult to make out in the photos because of the see through nature of the glass. Sorry!

Front- Stockings over Mantle

Side - Mistletoe

Hope you can make it!

Natalia - 18x24 on board NFS

2007-12-13T12:52:00.000-08:00

This lovely girl is my good friend's daughter, Natalia, at our last open studio. I had so much fun doing this project because she is such a joy.... as are all the Camilo girls. Interestingly, my favorite parts of the painting are the areas that took the least amount of time to paint..... her pants, shoes, and sweater folds. They seemed to paint themselves. What a blessing it is when that happens!

I seem to struggle with feature placement when I try to fill in local color as I'm "blocking in." For future portraits, I think I will try laying in the mid-tones first, then going back in with my lightest lights and darkest darks. Fortunately, there isn't only one way of doing this, I just have to figure out what works best for me. Also, I purposefully made her neck a little short to avoid cutting off her hair line. I regret that now (I don't think it would have hurt the composition).... because it seems to have made her head a bit rounder then it is in person. But as Matisse once responded to a critique of his anatomy depiction, "This isn't a woman, but a painting." Ha! Creative license is a beautiful thing.

Anyway, all in all, a successful experiment. Thank you, Natalia, for being such a sport!

This will probably be my last post for the week. I seem to be fighting a cold and have a busy weekend coming up I need to be ready for. Stay healthy everyone. It's cold out outside!

Stacks of Cups - 8x10 on board - NFS

2007-11-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

I'm very pleased with this painting. I started Tuesday night and just finished. It's funny.... I don't like painting flowers unless they are on china... then I LOVE them! Can you tell the teacup in the back is by far my favorite part of the painting?

Since Chloe is home from school for parent/teacher conferences, this will probably be my last post for the week. I promised her a trip to the park Friday. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Three Blue Vases - 6x8 on board

2007-11-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

Flowers are such an opportunity to simplify colors and shapes. I'll be posting more of them. Not because I enjoy painting flowers, mind you, but they are always a good lesson.

Ladies Dining - 16x20 on board - SOLD

2007-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Now I can say I have a painting in a "private collection in FL". I'm sending off a painting I did in August of these lovely ladies dining in Carmel, CA. One husband is buying it for his wife's birthday next week. Isn't that sweet?

Coffee Break - 8x10 on board

2007-10-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is my new favorite! I was psyching myself out on the floral saucer ...wanting to make blocks of color that implied the pattern. I really like the results. It leaves a little bit to the viewer to fill in. Thanks for dropping by.

Girl on Scooter 5x7 on board

2007-10-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

I decided to try something new on this one.... using a heavier paint application. It was fun to use color boldly without putting so much emphasis on line. Artist Peggy Kroll-Roberts does this to great effect!

Bananas 8x10 on board

2007-09-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

Some days everything goes smoothly. This was one of them. The challenge was finishing the painting before Jack could eat his snack!

Have a good night.