Museum Garden Aspens

"Museum Garden Aspens"

#1 of 30

8"x6" oil on canvas pad

$75.00

For the first time, I am participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  This is probably the fourth time Leslie has sponsored this challenge and it is a way for artists to get motivated and get in the studio and PAINT every day.  As of today, there are over 850 artists from all over the world!  Leslie suggests each artist pick a theme for their challenge and paint a small painting each day based on that theme.  I have chosen "Vacation Memories, or Not".  The "or not" paintings may be plein air paintings because I will be participating in a plein air workshop and event in Georgia during part of this time.   It is my hope to chronicle the vacations and trips we have taken over the years and this will be a selfish way for me to relive and remember those trips and the memories that were created.

About five minutes north of Jackson Hole, Wyoming is the National Museum of Wildlife Art.  It is a gorgeous 51,000 sq. ft. building housing some permanent exhibitions of 19th and 20th century American Art.
Last year at this time I spent a week in Jackson Hole plein air painting with two art friends.  While inside the Museum we also saw the 2013 Western Vision show with works by many of todays notable contemporary artists.  The Museum overlooks the National Elk Refuge and these aspens painted above were in the beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding the Museum.  Just one of the sights to see while in Jackson Hole!

Shades of Red

"Shades of Red"

24"x36" oil on gallery wrap canvas

$995.00

"Shades of Red" is my most recent painting that I just finished up yesterday.  There is a lot of juicy color all over the canvas.  The barn alone has so many reds, violets, deep purples and pinks.  The wooded hillside of trees has so many deep rich colors which really sets it apart from the fields surrounding the old sturdy barn.  One aspect that I really worked on is edges and I had a lot of fun putting in many small details that I am sure you cannot see in this photo.  

Next week I will begin painting in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge started by Leslie Saeta.  Last time I checked, there were just over 700 artists from all around the world participating.  My theme will be "Vacation Photos, or Not".  I hope to paint (and blog) every day  from photos we have taken on various trips but there will also be the occasional plein air piece thrown in.  I plan for most of my pieces to be 6"x8", 8"x8" and maybe a few 8"x10".  Wish me luck!!

Happy

Happy

10"x8" Oil on Panel

$295.00 framed

     I'm back!!!!  I have been off the radar for about a month with this blog.  I think I just allowed myself to get out of the routine of blogging.  I've been in a artistic slump like all artists go through occasionally but I think I am about to the end.  Thank goodness!!  

     During the month of May I have been participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 days of marketing and I have learned SO MUCH.  The amount of information and  knowledge that is out there is totally amazing and it is slowly filtering into my brain.  Thank you Leslie for sharing with all of us artists out here...we have all learned so much this past month.

     This "Happy" painting is my rendition of a handful of posies just waiting to be given to someone.  The energetic brushstrokes just made me "happy" when I look at it so I decided to call it just that! This painting is one of two entries that I have entered into the Guild of Charlotte Artists judged show at Christ Episcopal Church here in Charlotte at 1412 Providence Road.  There are over 80 pieces of artwork hanging so stop by and walk the halls to view some beautiful and colorful paintings.

Collage

Collage

      The month of May is stretching me to expand my technology horizons!!!!!  Leslie Saeta has invited artists to participate in her 30 Days of Marketing Challenge.  Today's challenge is to create a collage of some of our paintings and this is what I created in about 10 minutes!  One of Leslie's favorite phrases is: "It's easy!"  Sometimes she is right and sometimes she is wrong, but this really was easy.  Leslie, I need to trust you more often!  Thank you for making me stretch and accomplish things that I have never done before.

Bobbing Along

Bobbing Along

Oil

12"x12" 

$325.00

     This painting will be one of my two entries that I will submit for a juried Guild of Charlotte Artists show this coming weekend.  The show will hang at Christ Episcopal Church Gallery here in Charlotte for the month of June.  My friend Renee spent a couple weeks in Italy this past Fall and she took hundreds of gorgeous photos and she has graciously shared her images with me. 

     "Bobbing Along" was done completely with a palette knife which is a tool that I really enjoy using.  This past February, I took a workshop in Atlanta with Leslie Saeta, and of course, we painted boats which is one of her favorite subjects.  So for this upcoming show I decided to do another boat palette knife painting.