Riverbend

"Riverbend"

30"x40" oil on gallery wrap canvas

$1800.00

For this most recent session of classes at Butler Studio, Curt stretched us to use color vibration to design and build our composition.  He showed us how to employ abstract impressionism by building our painting slowly using abstract color notes with varied brushes and knives to VERY SLOWLY bring about our design.  He kept telling us that we should not see the subject until about the 4th class of  the 5 week session!

My color vibration was blue and green.  My colors consisted of a limited palette of ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow deep, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow lemon with a small amount of magenta (one of my new favorite colors) to add the purple/lilac mountains in the distance.

Here are a couple progress shots showing how this painting slowly came to life.

Stage 1 progress shot

Stage 2 progress shot (sorry about the light bulb glare)

The final class yesterday was spent adding more greens in the tree masses, brightening some of the sky and adding that same brightness to the flowing water.  I am very tickled to see those strokes of purple in the water to balance the same colors in the receding mountain range.   I was very pleased with how this one turned out and am always very grateful for all Curt does to help me "see the light".

Dining Room Sunlight

"Dining Room Sunlight"

10"x8"

I feel much better about this interior scene.  I loved the wonderful sunshine pouring through the bay windows and the shadows that resulted.  The beautiful home of my son and daughter-in-law have provided the photo source for this scene and the one I posted last week.  I am sure they were wondering why I was walking around their house snapping photos here and there!

I subscribe to a blog written by a wonderful plein air artist from The Netherlands by the name of Roos Schuring.  A few days ago her blog featured these words:  "Fail fast, fail some more.  Admit the failure and do better.  Failing can be fun.  Failing is a given."  These words resonated with me as I am struggling with these interior scapes but I keep plugging away and hopefully some day I will win!  

The struggle continues...

The Quiet Room

"The Quiet Room"

8"x10" oil on panel

One thing I have learned as I've grown older is that I am strong enough to put artwork out there that is not up to my standards...case in point, this piece of artwork above!  

I have been attempting a few interior scenes lately to stretch myself and also because I have always admired scenes of this sort.  I have learned that it is VERY difficult to pull off successfully.  I may do a few more to continue to practice but really want to learn how to do this so much better.  Someday I would love to take a workshop from someone whom I have long admired-Anne Blair Brown-and who does this type of work so well.

By the way, the color of these blue chairs on my monitor is very electric blue and not at all like the color I have painted them.  I usually do not have this issue but it is very evident in this image.  

Evening Glow

"Evening Glow"

10"x8" oil on panel

This is a diversion from my usual landscapes, but I wanted to give it a try.  I always admire the interior scenes done by other artists so I went around the house a few nights ago and tried to set up and capture scenes that might work.  

I have a couple more to paint, so please stay tuned!

"Henny Penny"

"Henny Penny"

12"x12" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

$325.00

This colorful lady is not shouting impending doom like her namesake in the famous children's story but is simply saying "look at me" in all my multicolored glory!

There was considerable discussion as to whether she/he is a hen or rooster but I am the artist and I went with hen!

Bessie

"Bessie"

16"x16" oil on canvas

$450.00

This purple cow is quite a departure for a painting topic for me.  But I must say I really like the way she turned out!  My photographer friend Jennifer graciously gave me the photo to use and I really let my creativity run with this one as far as the color goes.  Using various shades of purples and the complementary yellows really allow this one to stop you in your tracks when you first see it!  My sister-in-law Linda named her which is a good thing because I was going to go with the mundane "purple cow"!  Very original, don't you agree!!!

Art Studio Cleanup and Organization

CLEAN STUDIO-AFTER

MESSY STUDIO-BEFORE

After putting away all the Christmas decorations and getting my house back in order, I decided to tackle a very overdue project---MY MESSY STUDIO.  Since these past few days in January have been rather dreary and gloomy, I have put my time to good use by putting some order back into my studio!  For the last few years I have used an unfinished door that I bought for $8 at Habitat Restore.  I stained it and it made a very nice desktop atop some old filing cabinets for my studio.  As  you can see, it also allowed me to put anything and everything I had in my hands on it!.  My husband would always shake his head when he comes into my studio and ask me how I can operate with a mess like that but I have to be IN THE MOOD to take on a project like that.  These dreary days prompted me to clean up my act!  It actually has stayed this clean for several days now!  

These chrome storage shelves were ordered from Amazon because we could not find the size I wanted (72"x36"x24") in our local stores.  It arrived in two days, was easy to put together and Steve inserted these dowels in between each shelf to hold things upright and separate the multitude of frames and old canvases that I wanted to store.  I found some never used carpet remnants in the attic from when our house was built 13 years ago and they provide the perfect cushion so frames, etc do not get damaged.  Now everything is in its place and very easy to locate.

You will notice that I have not posted any photos of the OTHER SIDE of my studio!  Actually it is not that bad-just a little cluttered.

Bass Lake Stroll

" Bass Lake Stroll"

8"x8" Oil on Panel

SOLD

Earlier today I received a very welcome phone call from Debbie, the owner of Providence Gallery here in Charlotte, telling me that this little painting sold shortly after New Years.  This was a study I did last spring from a photo Steve and I took in Blowing Rock a few years ago.  Bass Lake is a lovely small body of water about a mile or so from the quaint downtown streets of  Blowing Rock NC.  After doing this study, I created a 24"x24" painting of this same scene.  Love getting phone calls like this-great way to start 2015!!!

Hotel Metro

"Hotel Metro"

30"x30" oil on gallery wrap canvas

$1,200.00

Hotel Metro was the hotel my daughter Kim and I stayed in a couple years ago when we traveled with her Meredith College alumni group to New York City.

The theme or topic for the past five-week session in my art class at Butler Studio was city lights and nightscapes and I felt my photo created the perfect scene.  It was fun playing with the bright, shiny night lights, making reflections on the marquee ceiling and adding the figures walking along in front of the hotel in the city that never sleeps!

NYC Ornaments

"NYC Ornaments"

6"x6" oil on panel

$350.00

For the last three years, I have entered the Randy Higbee 6" Squared Exhibition and Sale.  Every painting submitted must be 6"x6".  Randy owns the Randy Higbee Gallery and also owns King of Frame where he sells beautiful frames to artists all around the country and the world.  Each year, I have been fortunate enough to be juried in.  This year, "NYC Ornaments" was juried into this hugely popular show.  I think almost 1,200 pieces were submitted.  I am not quite sure how many pieces were accepted but those that are accepted are all framed in his beautiful floater frames and are displayed in his Costa Mesa CA warehouse/gallery with a huge opening reception in early December.  He always posts videos of the opening on YouTube and Facebook so all the artists can participate virtually by watching the videos.  It is exciting to see the people mingling among all the paintings displayed.  It is quite impressive to see hundreds of paintings all the same size displayed all around his well-lit gallery space.  

I took this photo in New York City two years ago while my daughter Kim and I were coming out of Radio City Music Hall after seeing the Rockettes perform their annual Christmas program.  For those who have been to New York, you know how HUGE these ornaments are!  For those of you who have never seen them, take my word for it-they are probably a story tall!  

Very excited and honored to be included in this show!  

Highway 84

"Highway 84"

24"x36" oil on gallery wrap canvas

$995.00

This is a piece that I completed back in the Spring and I don't think I have featured it on this blog before.  I recently entered it into the annual Paul C. Rhyne Art Competition sponsored by the Arts Council of Lincoln County.  The judge awarded it an Honorable Mention and I was thrilled to read the comments made by the judge.  I think most artists would agree that when a piece you have worked hard on to create wins an award of any sort, it is very gratifying.  I know I certainly am!  

McAlpine Creek Bank

"McAlpine Creek Bank"

24"x24" Oil on gallery wrap canvas

$795.00

This is the first piece I have finished since I completed the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge during the month of September.  It felt good to paint larger and in many ways it is easier.  

A couple of years ago I took this photo during an early spring walk along one of the greenways here in Charlotte.  The greens were just beginning to come alive and the trees were still bare for the most part.  I have kept this photo handy and always loved it for the light streaming from the sky onto the shallow waters of the creek.  

Hope you like it as much as I do!

September 2014 Collage

September 2014 Collage

30 Paintings in 30 Days

Here they all are together in one place!  

These are the paintings I have painted in the month of September for the challenge.  Whew!!!!  Technically, I painted more than what you see above.  I was in art class and posted progress shots of the painting I am currently working on and did not include those in the above collage.  Also I was out of town and attended a  plein air workshop and participated in a plein air event but those paintings are listed above.  So anyway you look at it, I have painted a lot this month and I am so proud of myself for completing this amount of work.  

At times I thought there is no way I can do this!  Then I thought "just do it" and see how it goes!  I experimented and used some colors that I have not used in quite some time, used some brushes that I had not used for awhile and tried new approaches.  Some paintings worked and some did not but those are things that are all part of the struggle and hopefully I learned from them and grew.  

All in all, it was a great month and I am so glad I participated.  I thank everyone for viewing, "liking"  and commenting and I hope you did not grow too weary of being bombarded with artwork every day.   Some of the pieces are sold and/or spoken for and for that I am very grateful.  If  you see one you would like to purchase, I would love to hear from you!

Pumpkin Field - Day 30

"Pumpkin Field"

#30 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

$75.00

This morning I went plein air painting with the Plein Air Buds out to Hunter Farms just a few miles from my house.   Pumpkins by the hundreds were grouped together in large masses all over this large sunny field so I positioned myself in the shade to capture a few groupings.

This is the last day of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  It has really been a great learning experience and I have struggled many days but I survived!  Participating in this challenge every day has helped me to not only paint daily but also blog daily, share my blog daily on facebook, update my website on a daily basis and link my blog daily to Leslie Saeta's blog along with the hundreds of other artists around the world! 

 It has also been so interesting to discover the work of some of the other artists and follow their progress.  I will miss the challenge but because of the struggles and hurdles I had to jump over, I came out a stronger person and stronger artist. My theme for this 30 day challenge was
"Vacation Memories".  For a purely selfish reason, I have enjoyed going through my vacation photos and reliving the memories created during those trips.  Because life happens, I could not always paint  from my vacation photos and occasionally inserted paintings done plein air (like today) and from earlier in the month when I was in Georgia at a plein air workshop.  

 I have thoroughly enjoyed this month!

Moulton Barn - Day 29

"Moulton Barn"

#29 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

The first time we went to Jackson Hole in 2005, Steve and I got up early one morning before sunrise to sneak out to the iconic Moulton Barn which is just north of town.  How naive we were to think we would be the first ones out there!  We joined 30-40 other people who had the same idea we did!

It is part of the Mormon Row Historic District which began to be homesteaded starting about 1890.  The Moulton Barn is a mecca for photographers and is the most photographed barn in America.

Experimenting - Day 28

"Experimenting"

#28 of 30

8"x6" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Some days it works and some days it doesn't.  Today it didn't!

Today's painting started out very different from what you see here.  I think I couldn't quite figure out what I wanted to convey from this photo taken in the Grand Tetons and therefore kept changing it.  I purposely used colors today on my palette that I have not used in awhile.  I had forgotten about some of them and started combining them with other colors to see what combinations I could come up with.

I guess you could say I played and experimented today and that's a good thing even though the painting did not turn out well.  

Telephone Boxes - Day 27

"Telephone Boxes"

#27 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Back in the Spring of 1999, Steve and I spent about a week in London to celebrate our 30th anniversary.  London is a very walkable city and we must have walked several miles a day.  We were based in London for the week but took a few day tours to Canterbury, White Cliffs of Dover, Stratford-on-Avon and several other places.

Just outside St. Paul's Cathedral we snapped a photo of two telephone booths, (known as a "telephone box" in the United Kingdom) something that is a relic from the past these days!  They were so bright red and really caught our eye.

St. Paul's Cathedral is where Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married back in 1981 as well as the  location of the funeral of Prime Minister Winston Churchill which took place in 1965.    London is a beautiful city full of architecture that has survived through the years and I would love to return!

Let Me Do It Again! - Day 26

"Let Me Do It Again!"

#26 of 30

8"x6" oil on canvas pad

Two days ago I painted my oldest grandson Cameron coming down the water slide while we were in Holden Beach several years ago.  Today I did a second version of him taken from the rear.  I like this one much better and is the one I originally planned to do first.

Block in stage - Day 25

Block in stage

#25 of 30

24"x24"

Last Wednesday, I posted a black and white study and a color study from a photo I took a few years ago along the bank of a local creek.  Those studies were necessary preparations for doing a larger piece.  This a a progress shot of what I did yesterday in class.  It is a block in where I tried to overpaint and establish my darks first and then slowly began adding various lighter values in the sky and also began adding numerous color notes in the creek waters.  Hopefully in a week or two I can show you the finished artwork.  Stay tuned.

Water Slide Fun - Day 24

"Water Slide Fun"

#24 of 30

8"x6" oil on canvas pad

First of all, my sincerest apologies to my oldest grandchild for this rendition of him coming down the water slide.  As most of you may know, I usually paint landscapes and people very seldom make it into my paintings.  That is a good thing based on this poor painting.  But this challenge for me has been to push myself and stretch and for that I am pleased.

Cameron is now a tall, handsome, very athletic 15 year old.  (Can you tell I am a very proud Grandma?)  Back in 2004, he was just a week or so shy of his 5th birthday.  We were at Holden Beach in NC where we try to go every summer.  He was brave enough to go down the water slide and of course, as proud grandparents, we were there to capture it on camera.

I had chosen another image of him taken from the rear and I may do that one another day.  In hindsight, I should have done that one but I wanted to see if I could capture the rushing waters and his poor little face just got in my way!

St. Thomas Cove - Day 23

"St. Thomas Cove"

#23 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Towards the end of our week-long Caribbean cruise, our Dawn Princess docked in St. Thomas for the day before we sailed back into San Juan to fly back home.  The island is known, among other things, for its shopping and "bargains" to be had by tourists.  We did the obligatory strolling and shopped along the narrow alleys in the shopping district.

Because the island is so large, we rented for a few hours a car and driver who drove us all over the very mountainous and beautiful island.  It was so nice to have someone else navigate the twisty and winding curves and be our tour guide for the afternoon!

Sailing in St. Maarten - Day 22

"Sailing in St. Maarten"

#22 of 30

8"x6" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

In March 2000, Steve, I, Jane and Gene went on a week-long cruise to several islands in the Caribbean.  One day we were in St. Maarten and asked our taxi driver to take us to the nude beach.  Fully clothed, the four of us tried to casually stroll down the beach and not stare too much at the others who were sunning and also strolling the beach.  Most of these people obviously had been to nude beaches before this day!  We tried not to be "too obvious" but we did see some interesting sights!

After our stroll we already had booked time in the afternoon to go sailing.  It was a beautiful day and we all helped "work the boat".  Another sailboat raced against ours (we lost) and we spent a fast and furious afternoon racing in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean!

Dusk on the Pier - Day 21

"Dusk on the Pier"

#21 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

For this painting, we are still in Beaufort SC.  While we stayed in Beaufort, Steve and I walked all over the town and along its streets filled with shops, galleries and wonderful restaurants.  We drove out to the beaches, drove along the marshes and tried to soak up as much of the town as we could.  This scene was just outside of the main area of town and it was late in the day and shadows were very long.

Fall Colors on the Marsh - Day 20

"Fall Colors on the Marsh"

#20 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Back in October of 2011, Steve and I drove to Beaufort, SC to stay for a long weekend at a cute cottage owned by a woman who had brought one of my paintings a couple years earlier.  She wanted an autumn marsh scene and offered her cottage for us to stay in.  So we drove down and took about a hundred photos and enjoyed our stay in this picturesque little town.

Beaufort is a very quaint southern coastal town and is known as the locale for the early 1980's movie "The Big Chill" which was filmed there.  When I paint, I always listen to Pandora Radio on my computer and Marvin Gaye sang to me as I was painting this!!

NYC Ornaments - Day 19

"NYC Ornaments"

#19 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Back in November 2012, my daughter Kim and I flew to New York City with a group of alumni from her alma mater-Meredith College in Raleigh NC.  We went on a walking food tour through Hell's Kitchen, attended a couple Broadway shows, shopped and basically enjoyed being tourists.

On our last day there we watched the fabulous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall do their annual Christmas spectacular.  As we exited this beautifully refurbished building, we saw these huge Christmas balls in front of an office building across the street.  I cannot tell you how enormous they were!

Such a festive site and another great memory!

Somewhere... - Day 18

"Somewhere..."

#18 of 30

8"x6" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Our trip to the Canadian Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer took place in June 2010 and at that time I still sent my images off to Snapfish to develop them.  I always enjoyed putting them in an album and documenting some details about where we were, etc.  Unfortunately I had a few images left over and could not figure out where in our week-long trip some of these photos were taken. That is the case with this one.  

All I know is it is "Somewhere..." in the Canadian Rockies!

Creek Bank Study - Day 17

"Creek Bank Study"

#17 of 30

8"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75,00

Today's painting is not a travel photo like most of the other paintings in this challenge.   Instead it is a study I did today in class of a nearby creek.  It is based on two photos that I taped together to fashion a panorama shot.

First I did a black and white study using three values to get my values set (see below).

Then I did the second study in color.  Hopefully this color study will translate into a 24"x24" painting over the next couple weeks of class.  Stay tuned for more.

Seranak - Day 16

"Seranak"

#16 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

Over ten years ago we flew into Albany NY to attend the wedding of the daughter of our old friends and travelling buddies.  Both the bride and groom worked for the Boston Symphony Orchestra which spends summers playing at Tanglewood which is their summer home in Lenox MA.  We had never been to the Berkshire Mountains and what a treat that was!

The wedding reception was held at the former home of a long-ago conductor of the BSO.  The conductor named his sprawling home Seranak and it is now used for events and receptions such as this.  This view from the back of the house overlooks the lawn and far off mountains with, I think, Seranak Lake in the distance.

Recap of my week - Day 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

I am still coming off my "high" of participating in the Blue Ridge Mountains Art Association plein air paint out and taking part in Jim Richards's fabulous two-day plein air workshop.

The adrenaline is slowly oozing out of my body and I am chilling for a day or so.  Being with great art friends/painting buddies and driving ALL OVER NORTH GEORGIA was such a glorious five days and I am so blessed in so many ways to be able to do these things and have Connie, Dottie, Robin and Durinda in my life.  (Karen, we MISSED you!!)

I was the designated driver and my navigators told me where to turn and when (EXCEPT when Dottie dozed off and Robin was talking on the phone).  All of a sudden I saw interstate signs I had never seen before and alerted my navigators that I think we are in places we have never been before!  They quickly got me turned in the right direction and we were on our way again!

Day 1 of the workshop with Jim Richards took us to Elma's property in Dial GA.  Jim did a great demo, as only he can, and then we started painting with Jim making the rounds to each of our easels.

"Elma's Springhouse"

#11 of 30

8"x10" oil on linen panel

"Across the Road"

#12 of 30

8"x10" oil on linen panel

Day 2 took us out to Mineral Bluff GA and the home of Marsha Savage which is on the Toccoa River.  Jim did a demo of the rocks and rushing waters of the river then we tried to do our best to replicate what we saw as we spread out on the banks.  

"Bend on the Toccoa"

#13 of 30

9"x12" oil on linen panel

Saturday morning we drove out to Noontootla Farms and painted from a small portion of their 1,500 acre spread.  GNATS by the BILLIONS reside here and everyone battled these most pesky insects all day!  By the way, the gnats won!

"Peace in the Valley"

#14 of 30

8"x6" oil on panel

$75.00

"Ramshackle"

#15 of 30

8"x10" oil on linen panel

$100.00

These last two images were painted at Noontootla Farms and these are hanging in the plein air exhibit at Blue Ridge Mountains Arts in Blue Ridge until mid October.  Not my best work but I am still sharing them here. 

 We experienced adventures and memories to last a lifetime!

Elk Refuge - Day 10

"Elk Refuge"

#10 of 30

6"x8" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

A mile or so north of the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming is the National Elk Refuge.  Exactly one year ago at this time I was in Jackson Hole for a week and painted plein air all around the area.  As usual, I also took about a hundred photos and I just painted the above painting from several photos I took at this location.  It was late afternoon and the sun was shining brightly casting these long shadows on the grassy areas leading over to the Elk Refuge.  

In late Autumn each year, the elk from the high plateaus of southern Yellowstone County, Grand Teton National Park and the Teton Wilderness instinctively head down to the National Elk Refuge,  During the winter months, an average 7,000 elk make this valley their home.  The following Spring, their migration begins back to the high country, bulls leaving first followed by the cows heavy with their calves.  The cycle begins again the following Autumn as they make their way back down into the Jackson Hole valley.

Bet you didn't know you would learn about the migration of elk today, did you?

I am off to the north Georgia mountains in a couple hours for a long anticipated  two-day workshop with Atlanta area artist James Richards followed by a two-day plein air event.  I may or may not be posting anything while I am gone.  We will see how that goes!